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wordsofclover's Reviews (2.16k)
Dr. David Henry is forced one snowy night to deliver his baby, as his wife goes into premature labour. What happens is a shock to him. One perfect baby is born. One, not so perfect. It's the 60's and in Dr. Henry's mind, this child with Down's Syndrome would never live long, he who lost his own sister young and witnessed his mother's grief would not allow that to happen to his own wife and son. So he makes a decision that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
This book was a lot more touching and poignant than I thought it would be. The words, often dark and twisted, brought me straight into the pages, looking through the eyes of David's camera, listening to Paul's music or fighting with Caroline for Phoebe's right to an education. Two families, one that should have been so perfect, another that would never have existed if the former's hadn't been torn apart.
I felt a deep sadness for David Henry. The weight of his secret, his guilt and his grief is so heavy in the book and written deep within the pages. And not only that, but I felt a deep resentment towards Norah and Paul for their treatment of him. They both seemed so selfish, arrogant and silly with the way they pushed him away when he was trying to be close in the only way he knew how. For me, it was hard to understand Paul's deep anger, why did he feel like this towards his father when it was his mother having the countless affairs? Surely, that's not right. even his reaction to David's eventual death, slow and not to piercing, an acceptance. And even with his death, both David's son and wife make remarks about him that are so cutting.
There was a lack of forgiveness in the book which I would have liked to have seen. Norah taking a step back, seeing how she had acted and how badly she had behaved, yet because it was David who had kept the secret, Norah had her angel wings back. I couldn't buy it and i really didn't like it. Paul, only starting to accept his grief for everything at the end of the book was a bit better than Norah, he had the room and time to grow into what had happened.
At the end of the day, Dr Henry could have told Norah, she had just had the one baby...and things could have turned out a whole lot differently.
This book was a lot more touching and poignant than I thought it would be. The words, often dark and twisted, brought me straight into the pages, looking through the eyes of David's camera, listening to Paul's music or fighting with Caroline for Phoebe's right to an education. Two families, one that should have been so perfect, another that would never have existed if the former's hadn't been torn apart.
I felt a deep sadness for David Henry. The weight of his secret, his guilt and his grief is so heavy in the book and written deep within the pages. And not only that, but I felt a deep resentment towards Norah and Paul for their treatment of him. They both seemed so selfish, arrogant and silly with the way they pushed him away when he was trying to be close in the only way he knew how. For me, it was hard to understand Paul's deep anger, why did he feel like this towards his father when it was his mother having the countless affairs? Surely, that's not right. even his reaction to David's eventual death, slow and not to piercing, an acceptance. And even with his death, both David's son and wife make remarks about him that are so cutting.
There was a lack of forgiveness in the book which I would have liked to have seen. Norah taking a step back, seeing how she had acted and how badly she had behaved, yet because it was David who had kept the secret, Norah had her angel wings back. I couldn't buy it and i really didn't like it. Paul, only starting to accept his grief for everything at the end of the book was a bit better than Norah, he had the room and time to grow into what had happened.
At the end of the day, Dr Henry could have told Norah, she had just had the one baby...and things could have turned out a whole lot differently.
3 Stars. 3.5 Stars. 4 Stars????? I HAVE NO IDEA.
Before going into this book, I knew about all the hype. I had heard so many good things about it, and i knew it was suppose to take your breath away and there was a massive gasp-like twist that left people reeling. I reserved this book from my library around the same time that BookTubeaThon was on, I think, because loads of people were reading it and reviewing it. But because of some system changes, the book had to be reserved again and basically it took a few months before it landed in my hands. But that was a good thing because by then my expectations had decreased and I wasn't riding on the expectation carousel.
We Were Liars centres around a very rich, privileged family and how they all spend their summers on a private island with their own houses, docks, beaches and servants. But something happened that caused a terrible accident and two years later, Cadence is back and trying to piece together the forgotten memories of her fifteenth summer on the island.
Basically, despite the great detailed writing, this is a story about terrible people doing terrible things. There's nothing quite redeemable about the family. It has a bit of a King Lear quality to it, except I couldn't quite tell which aunt/sister was Cordelia. They were all very Goneril and Regan at different times. The weaving of the fairytale stories was a nice little twist and I enjoyed them. But at the end of the day, everyone, even Gat, was selfish, spoiled and pretty rotten.
When the big twist came, I had't guessed it at all but nor was I falling off my chair in shock. It was more of a small, "oh, okay, I can work with this" and carried on reading. I'm glad I gave this book a chance and that I finally read it but it definitely didn't blow my mind.
Before going into this book, I knew about all the hype. I had heard so many good things about it, and i knew it was suppose to take your breath away and there was a massive gasp-like twist that left people reeling. I reserved this book from my library around the same time that BookTubeaThon was on, I think, because loads of people were reading it and reviewing it. But because of some system changes, the book had to be reserved again and basically it took a few months before it landed in my hands. But that was a good thing because by then my expectations had decreased and I wasn't riding on the expectation carousel.
We Were Liars centres around a very rich, privileged family and how they all spend their summers on a private island with their own houses, docks, beaches and servants. But something happened that caused a terrible accident and two years later, Cadence is back and trying to piece together the forgotten memories of her fifteenth summer on the island.
Basically, despite the great detailed writing, this is a story about terrible people doing terrible things. There's nothing quite redeemable about the family. It has a bit of a King Lear quality to it, except I couldn't quite tell which aunt/sister was Cordelia. They were all very Goneril and Regan at different times. The weaving of the fairytale stories was a nice little twist and I enjoyed them. But at the end of the day, everyone, even Gat, was selfish, spoiled and pretty rotten.
When the big twist came, I had't guessed it at all but nor was I falling off my chair in shock. It was more of a small, "oh, okay, I can work with this" and carried on reading. I'm glad I gave this book a chance and that I finally read it but it definitely didn't blow my mind.
3.5 stars.
I liked this way better than Fallen! Torment begins with a strange and intriguing conversation between Cam and Daniel which of course is confusing, cause weren't they trying to kill each other before? Luce on the other hand, is being shipped across the country by Daniel and then promptly dumped into another school - the complete opposite to Swords and Cross.
Shoreline was the kinda place that makes me loves books about teenage Nephilim, witches, faeries, you name it. I love these schools with their crazy classes and the kids who levitate without meaning to and travel to the Underworld on a whim. It's exciting and it's why I love fantasy. I think Luce's time with Shoreline and her growing friendship between Shelby and Miles were the reasons I liked Torment so much better than Fallen.
Of course, Luce is annoyingly stupid as she was in Fallen and blind to a lot of obvious things. Like the 'note' from Daniel, COME ON! And then Shelby's constant descriptions of her boyfriend with the washed out eyes and how he was weirdly into Luce. Stop thinking about boys Luce and open up your own eyes, you haven't been rejected from heaven, you still have your sight!
I did like that Luce explored her feelings in this book and she wasn't totally okay with just accepting Daniels, 'we're in love forever and that's final', thing. And how she came to the realisation that Daniel had been cruel in always taking her away from a good life and good people with a kiss and leaving behind grief and shattered lives. Of course, it's not totally his fault but the man has no self-control.
I'm really looking forward to the next book and getting a proper look into Luce's past lives!
I liked this way better than Fallen! Torment begins with a strange and intriguing conversation between Cam and Daniel which of course is confusing, cause weren't they trying to kill each other before? Luce on the other hand, is being shipped across the country by Daniel and then promptly dumped into another school - the complete opposite to Swords and Cross.
Shoreline was the kinda place that makes me loves books about teenage Nephilim, witches, faeries, you name it. I love these schools with their crazy classes and the kids who levitate without meaning to and travel to the Underworld on a whim. It's exciting and it's why I love fantasy. I think Luce's time with Shoreline and her growing friendship between Shelby and Miles were the reasons I liked Torment so much better than Fallen.
Of course, Luce is annoyingly stupid as she was in Fallen and blind to a lot of obvious things. Like the 'note' from Daniel, COME ON! And then Shelby's constant descriptions of her boyfriend with the washed out eyes and how he was weirdly into Luce. Stop thinking about boys Luce and open up your own eyes, you haven't been rejected from heaven, you still have your sight!
I did like that Luce explored her feelings in this book and she wasn't totally okay with just accepting Daniels, 'we're in love forever and that's final', thing. And how she came to the realisation that Daniel had been cruel in always taking her away from a good life and good people with a kiss and leaving behind grief and shattered lives. Of course, it's not totally his fault but the man has no self-control.
I'm really looking forward to the next book and getting a proper look into Luce's past lives!
I agree with a comment I saw below saying this series can be very hit and miss. It's this exact way for me. I wasn't sure of my feelings for Fallen, I didn't buy the whole love at first sight thing and the weird connection, and all the secrets. It took me a while to unravel everything and really understand what the hell was going on. On the other hand, I really enjoyed Torment, and found myself ravishing it. I think this had more to do with Luce's new school more than anything else. Nephilim kids? Yes, please!
Now Passion, kinda fell in between Fallen and Torment for me. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it (in saying this, I managed to read it in about 3 hours). I was looking forward to falling into all of Luce's past lives and figuring what she was like and what era it was, and how she lived in it. But increasingly, it felt like I was more confused about the point of her travelling than Luce, and she was pretty damn confused. It felt like a mixed up squiggle. I'm not sure what the exact point was except to know that Daniel's love was real (which he has been saying for the past two books) and that the Devil is evil (no way!). I felt like Passion was an excuse for Lauren Kate to have a bit of fun with all of Luce's past lives, and there wasn't actually a real solid plotline to it.
Now Passion, kinda fell in between Fallen and Torment for me. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it (in saying this, I managed to read it in about 3 hours). I was looking forward to falling into all of Luce's past lives and figuring what she was like and what era it was, and how she lived in it. But increasingly, it felt like I was more confused about the point of her travelling than Luce, and she was pretty damn confused. It felt like a mixed up squiggle. I'm not sure what the exact point was except to know that Daniel's love was real (which he has been saying for the past two books) and that the Devil is evil (no way!). I felt like Passion was an excuse for Lauren Kate to have a bit of fun with all of Luce's past lives, and there wasn't actually a real solid plotline to it.