Oh no! I fell in love with my first read of 2022 and now worry that nothing will compare to it.
Light From Uncommon Stars stole my heart. It blends sciOh no! I fell in love with my first read of 2022 and now worry that nothing will compare to it.
Light From Uncommon Stars stole my heart. It blends science fiction elements with the fantastical, features LGBT characters, and is simply the most beautiful story I've read in a long time.
Despite some of the tougher themes - anti-trans views, child abuse, sexual assault - it's a soothing and tender read, a sweet story filled with nurturing and generous characters. Reading this book feels a bit like wrapping yourself in a warm hug.
The writing is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, and Aoki will either make you weep into a fluffy doughnut (that tastes of home), or will make you want to repair a violin.
At the very least, it'll make you want to listen to a classical concert.
Right after finishing, I declared this may be my favourite read, since I first came across Pride and Prejudice two decades ago, which means a lot, truRight after finishing, I declared this may be my favourite read, since I first came across Pride and Prejudice two decades ago, which means a lot, trust me. Don't worry though, this is NOTHING like Pride and Prejudice.
House of Suns is something special. Filled with wonders and surprises. A story spanning millions of years and several galaxies. It took me a few chapters to wrap my head around the world; it's a lot to take in at first. Afterwards, I couldn't put it down. I just ploughed through, savouring each word.
Alastair Reynolds' prose is just as wonderful as the world(s) he's created. I'm gushing, I know, but I can't help myself. I'm in love with this book.
I didn't know anything about the plot when I started reading, and I'm glad I didn't read any reviews, because I feel like it's best experienced blind. Just dive into the galaxy and trust Reynolds to tell a compelling and captivating story.
The characters are all amazing and somehow Reynolds wove a love story into this tale that made me weep.
I recommend House of Suns to all sci-fi fans, especially those of you who love space opera. I wish I could give a sixth star!...more
You know how sometimes you read a book and from the very first few pages you fall in love and can't really say why? And every time you pick it up someYou know how sometimes you read a book and from the very first few pages you fall in love and can't really say why? And every time you pick it up something magical happens? That was this book for me.
It took me almost 300 pages to realise there are parallels to The Count of Monte Cristo and only then did it hit me that Edmon Leontes, the main characters name, is pretty damn close to Edmond Dantès. And you know what? That discovery made me giddy, because damn do I love The Count of Monte Cristo. (And no you don't need to have read Monte Cristo to enjoy this book... it was just a nice tidbit.)
It's a dark book and I know as a writer you're supposed to torture your main character and make things worse for them, but for Edmon it just does not get any better EVER. Throughout the book until the very end I thought, oh my... MORE? Leave the poor boy alone. It does not help that Edmon just can't keep his mouth shut when necessary... he keeps pushing.
The book is told in first person present tense which I often dislike, but I highly enjoyed Burch's prose and writing.
The world is exciting and I loved the idea of a planet that no longer spins and thus has a side on which it's eternally night while on the other side it's always day.
Edmon is a well developed character who loves music, and I really liked that he was so much into art and so opposed to fighting.
I can't really talk about the female characters in this novel without spoiling the plot. Let's just say that's the one bit that bothered me somewhat.
I highly recommend Song of Edmon to Science Fantasy fans.
P.S. Can I just hijack my own review to say: if you're into anime and love The Count of Monte Cristo as much as me and are not opposed to have it set in space and the Count be some sort of space vampire, please please please check out the absolutely underrated Gankutsuou....more
After my re-read I'm upping this to five stars in July 2018. (First read was in 2016.)
Tom Toner may be the new Steven Erikson of Science Fiction, becaAfter my re-read I'm upping this to five stars in July 2018. (First read was in 2016.)
Tom Toner may be the new Steven Erikson of Science Fiction, because he drops the reader straight into an unfamiliar world without any explanation. I'm a fast reader and sometimes tempted to skim more than I should, which works with books set on our world where not every third word is strange and unfamiliar. After reading a third of this novel, almost putting it away for good because I had no idea what was going on, I decided to start from the beginning and take my time.
Whew, what a ride. I've hardly ever been this immersed in another world. Tom Toner presents a world so rich and so fleshed out, I was blown away. It's a creative mix between Science Fiction and Fantasy presenting an innovative future filled with diverse, unique cultures and breathtaking ideas.
Now, let me mention two negative things, because I think they're important. The first thing that bothered me is that this the first book in a series, and it does not stand on its own. It's more a chess board, and now all the pieces have been set, ready to attack.
The second thing is the complexity of the book. While I personally do not mind not knowing what's going on for a good portion of a book, I think Toner expects a lot of attention from the reader, introducing many characters and a dozen different species and places. I was actually taking notes in the beginning. It's not a fast read either, the prose is beautiful but dense. However, the fact there's so much world building, lore, and attention to detail in this book, made it absolutely worth devoting so much time to.
The characters are well developed. Lycaste was a tough one to emphasise with at first, because his mind is so very childlike, but I am very intrigued to see where Toner takes him.
Everything else is fantastic. Toner has definitely created something ambitious and memorable.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but I loved this so much, I have purchased a paperback copy of this one and the sequel, The Weight of the World....more
In Flowers for Algernon, Charlie Gordon, who has an IQ of 68, volunteers to participate in an experiment previously tested on mice. It's an operation In Flowers for Algernon, Charlie Gordon, who has an IQ of 68, volunteers to participate in an experiment previously tested on mice. It's an operation that will gradually make him smarter, something he's been longing for all his life. The story is told in the first person through a series of progress reports that he has to write. At first his grammar is so bad it makes the first few chapters a little hard to read, but don't let that deter you, the writing improves quickly.
Flowers for Algernon has become a favourite of mine even though I've only read it the other day. I can't stop thinking about it. In fact I find it difficult to express the range of emotions I experienced while reading this book.
It's thought-provoking, devastating and heartbreaking but also beautiful. It discusses how we treat disabilities, how we treat fellow human beings and what it means to be human.
The last two chapters made me tear up and I immediately handed the book to my girlfriend who read it in a day. She loved it just as much as me. I'd possibly recommend this one to absolutely everyone, that's how brilliant it is.
I've since handed this book to my 'I only read literary novels and non-fiction' mother and she adored it, and that's the biggest praise a book can get....more
I finally read this book and am really glad I did. I haven't read a book this good in quite a few years. The characterisation is amazing. Each charactI finally read this book and am really glad I did. I haven't read a book this good in quite a few years. The characterisation is amazing. Each character is very real and has a lot of depth. This book shows the best and the worst of humanity. Most of the characters are not likeable. And I don't think I was rooting for anyone. The plot is quite simple. Barry Fairbrother dies and his death has an impact on the entire community of Pagford. He leaves an empty seat on the Parish Council and several people are interested in this seat for various reasons. That's it. That's all. Just a small town, a bunch of characters and a new situation. The book depicts how these characters adapt to this new situation and how they deal with it. I absolutely loved it....more
Beautiful prose, warm and infused with humour. I finally picked this book up and read it and I must say it was a beautiful read. I love most of the chBeautiful prose, warm and infused with humour. I finally picked this book up and read it and I must say it was a beautiful read. I love most of the characters. Scout is written in a fascinating way. I loved watching her grow up and try and understand the world around her. Atticus is a very moral character, calm and correct. The way he speaks to his children, treats them as equals is inspiring. He tried to teach his children to never hate anyone. The book tackles themes like racism, prejudice, kindness, fairness and justice. Will definitely re-read. ...more
I can't even start putting into words how good this book is. So, I won't. Just read it. I can't even start putting into words how good this book is. So, I won't. Just read it. ...more
I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. After a few pages I already knew that this would be one of those books I'd stay up for until 5 AM tI haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. After a few pages I already knew that this would be one of those books I'd stay up for until 5 AM to finish it. Hugh Howey is an excellent writer. His words are gripping, his descriptions sharp and his dialogue is some of the best I've ever read. Take one underground silo, a hundred floors (no elevator) and a forbidden, poisonous outside. The worst punishment is being sent out to clean, a death sentence. The offender gets an airtight suit, limited oxygen and gets send outside to clean the cameras which project the view of the outside on to screens in the upper levels of the silo. Eventually the oxygen will run out and the cleaners die. To sum this book up: Dystopian, post-apocalyptic and simply perfect. ...more
It was good. Gripping. The extensive file on the family was interesting and kept me hooked. My main problem with it was that it was unnecessarily longIt was good. Gripping. The extensive file on the family was interesting and kept me hooked. My main problem with it was that it was unnecessarily long. A lot of chapters did not advance the plot and some characters were introduced that were not actually part of the family or important. My other problem was that I don't like Rowan Mayfair. The rest of the book was well written and I liked it....more
Sarah Waters is an excellent writer and this book is a pearl. One can't say much about the story without spoiling it, so I won't. Just one thing: WheneSarah Waters is an excellent writer and this book is a pearl. One can't say much about the story without spoiling it, so I won't. Just one thing: Whenever you think you have the story figured out you'll be surprised again. ...more
While I loved The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco blew my mind as a teenager with Foucault’s Pendulum.
It’s a book filled with so many interesting tidbiWhile I loved The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco blew my mind as a teenager with Foucault’s Pendulum.
It’s a book filled with so many interesting tidbits about history, religion, philosophy, esoterica etc. And it’s easy to get lost in the wealth of information Eco so clearly possessed.
But...the beauty of this book is that everyone can enjoy the story.
There’s no need to retain any of the tangents and info, or to look up any of the rare vocabulary, you can just read the story and you’ll still understand it.
But for people who want to dig deeper, there’s layer upon layer of fascinating bits to uncover and connect.
Three editors come up with a conspiracy theory that rewrites the entirety of European history and gives it a new meaning. And it blows my mind how easy it would be to believe that this made-up theory is exactly why our history unfolded the way it did.
It’s a book about meaning and how nothing has meaning and how meaning can be found in everything.
This is not a book about characters, it’s about the plot and the cynic in me would say: it’s about Eco showing off his knowledge.
But Foucault’s Pendulum still amazed me the second time around, and I enjoyed most of Eco’s tangents. Had I read it for the first time I’d be giving it 4, perhaps 4.5 stars.
However, I fondly remember the way it made me feel as a teenager, and that’s why I’m keeping it as one of my few five star books....more
I have decided to re-read this book, remembering that I liked it very much when I first read it several years ago, after watching the movie with KeiraI have decided to re-read this book, remembering that I liked it very much when I first read it several years ago, after watching the movie with Keira Knightley.
The book is just as excellent as I remember it.
It is about an imaginative 13 year old, who witnesses a few things between her sister and a young man. She doesn't understand those things, draws her own very wrong conclusions and ends up ruining the lives of several people.
McEwan's prose is gorgeous. It's beautifully written and a joy to read. It's a book I can't put down after starting. It's a book that made me shudder, wince and sigh. And it's a book that in the very end made me cry and still it's a the most gorgeous written piece of fiction....more
The way I was introduce to this book will always be special to me. I was maybe about eight years old. Yes, you read that right. I remember reading a fThe way I was introduce to this book will always be special to me. I was maybe about eight years old. Yes, you read that right. I remember reading a fairy-tale about a man who wanted to learn fear by the Grimm brothers. And, as children do, I decided, I too wanted to learn fear. I asked my father to obtain me a book that would scare me. (Back then I wasn't aware 'horror' was a genre.) He brought me a collection titled "scary fairy tales for children". They weren't scary. Not one bit. I told him those were for babies (pretty sure I used those words), and that I wanted to find out what it REALLY means to be scared. The next day IT was waiting for me on the dinner table. That night I slept with the light on... I love Stephen King's writing. I think he paints characters in a beautiful and incredibly vivid way, and he excels at giving them depth with just a few paragraphs. Most of his stories had a huge impact on me and IT will always be special to me....more
Edmond Dantes is a good guy. Truly a good guy. He comes home from his travels aboard a ship and wants to marry his fiancée, Mercedes. On his wedding dEdmond Dantes is a good guy. Truly a good guy. He comes home from his travels aboard a ship and wants to marry his fiancée, Mercedes. On his wedding day an intrigue sends him off to prison. After years of sitting in a cell alone and almost losing his mind he finally manages to flee. He finds an immense treasure, thanks to a deceased inmate and goes back to Paris to get his revenge on the ones that took away his life. The way he serves his revenge (cold) is delicious. Everything in this story fits and it's one of the books I can read again and again and again. ...more
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