I promise I don’t go into reading popular books intent on disliking them. But most of the time, the ones that are hyped up beyond belief are just ok. I promise I don’t go into reading popular books intent on disliking them. But most of the time, the ones that are hyped up beyond belief are just ok. And this was just ok. The premise got me, but everything, from the writing to the characters to the magic, just fell flat. Will I read the next one? If I can get it in a decent timeframe from the library, maybe. But otherwise, it’s not on my must-read radar. ...more
This book made me think about a lot for sure, but the ending got a little too sugary sweet for me. I really enjoyed the different scenarios of how we This book made me think about a lot for sure, but the ending got a little too sugary sweet for me. I really enjoyed the different scenarios of how we would all react to the strings in real life and sadly, I think it would be similar to what happened in the story. ...more
I would give this more like 3.5 stars, rounded up. This thriller was unique and had a ton of twists that I really didn’t see coming. But it was only aI would give this more like 3.5 stars, rounded up. This thriller was unique and had a ton of twists that I really didn’t see coming. But it was only almost 400 pages and it felt so much longer. I think the time jumps just became super repetitive and some of them weren’t essential for the plot. ...more
I wonder if this is a book I would have liked more if I had read a physical copy instead of listening to audiobook. The audiobook narrator was kind ofI wonder if this is a book I would have liked more if I had read a physical copy instead of listening to audiobook. The audiobook narrator was kind of monotone and maybe that was part of the reason it didn't come "alive" for me. Loved the concept, but felt like there were some plot-holes that needed addressed. ...more
If I am being honest, this is more of 3.5 stars for me, so rounding up to 4. I really loved this as a historical fiction novel, I learned a lot, I criIf I am being honest, this is more of 3.5 stars for me, so rounding up to 4. I really loved this as a historical fiction novel, I learned a lot, I cried a few times, and there was a moment so shocking in this about halfway through that I literally was gasping aloud (my husband asked if I was ok). I found the pacing to be challenging (at over 500 pages, there are a lot of sections without much action or even advancing the plot and there are long periods of time that are also kind of glazed over). My biggest qualm is that this book is FILLED with footnotes and while I found the ones that were explaining the etymology of words to be helpful, so many of them were overlong and were describing plot points or characterizations that should have just been included in the actual story. I felt pulled out of the story every time I had to read a long footnote and the annotations of footnotes were also hard to spot on the page so I had to go back and find the reference point so they made sense. The reading experience just felt cumbersome at times because of that. This was overall really ambitious and was executed pretty well. I will for sure be picking up more of Kuang's books. ...more
For a book with such an awesome sounding premise, I was so incredibly bored. I listened to this one on audio and maybe the experience would have been For a book with such an awesome sounding premise, I was so incredibly bored. I listened to this one on audio and maybe the experience would have been different in print, but I doubt it....more
This book reminded me of a father/daughter version of my one my favorite films, About Time. It was fine and the audiobook version was well done, but IThis book reminded me of a father/daughter version of my one my favorite films, About Time. It was fine and the audiobook version was well done, but I was (perhaps unfairly) comparing it to that movie as I listened and it fell a little short. ...more
I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it. I appreciated how atmospheric it was. The mood and descriptions of nature and the seasons took the forefront oI enjoyed this book but didn’t love it. I appreciated how atmospheric it was. The mood and descriptions of nature and the seasons took the forefront over the actual plot. I felt like there were too many time jumps though and for a book that only spans the course of a year, they weren’t necessary....more
I really enjoyed this book so much. I haven’t read a piece of fiction in a long time that I absolutely could not stop thinking about it, so this was lI really enjoyed this book so much. I haven’t read a piece of fiction in a long time that I absolutely could not stop thinking about it, so this was like a breath of fresh air. It was heartbreaking at times, but also just beautifully written and thought provoking. This book is a cross between magical realism, Greek mythology, and satire and I found it completely unique. The closest thing I could even maybe compare it to would be George Orwell’s Animal Farm, but even that is a bit of a stretch. ...more
I’d give this 4 1/2 stars. The writing is beautiful and the individual stories of the siblings and how they wove together after they learned their “deI’d give this 4 1/2 stars. The writing is beautiful and the individual stories of the siblings and how they wove together after they learned their “death date” really stuck me. I haven’t read a book this good in a long time and I didn’t want it to end. ...more
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