This book ruined all other books for me, changed my life, and improved me as a person5/5 StarsThatCannotPossiblyConveyTheMasterpieceThatIsThisDamnBook
This book ruined all other books for me, changed my life, and improved me as a person. A story such as this one is the kind that lingers throughout the rest of your life, nestling deep within your mind for ever more.
The way this book found me was quite entertaining and a bit like fate.
First appearing as a gifted copy from the publisher (or from a corporate marketing associate), the cover caught my attention and admiration. Alas, my reading slump prooved too great a foe for this book to overcome. An inordinate amount of time passed. Then, the book inexplicably appeared in a shipment of boxes at the bookstore, and was proffered to me due to the intriguing cover and enticing title. This book is relentless in its pursuit of my attention! I vowed to read it at some point since it continued to pique my interest and appeared to have a mind of its own. It seems this vow was not good enough for the book as it then caught my attention at the library where it was placed on a shelf exactly where it was meant to be placed. I hadn't been looking for it, in fact I'd set my mind on reading an entirely different genre, but there it was! Ripe for the taking. Strange analogy, but I'm rolling with it. I just happened to be browsing the M's when landing on this persistent book, and decided to check it out.
I was not ready, could not possibly prepare myself for this story.
When I claim this book changed me, I mean it with full vehemence. Until reading The City of Dreaming Books, I would not bother with stories that neglected romantic subplots. Romance was something a book had to include or it wouldn't hold my attention, and I was stubborn with this belief. My bias blinded me to thousands of possibilities in stories and adventures of which I wouldn't give the time of day.
No longer!
My eyes have been opened to the purity of enjoyment in literature, the transformative and transportive experience of reading.
I realized Romance was what I counted on as the entertainment of a story, what I relied on to hold my attention captive while the rest of the plot floated on by. Now, I don't think I could care less if a story has Romance. What I need is a damn good adventure.
And this book is exactly that.
The way The City of Dreaming Books comes to life is unlike anything I've ever experienced in reading. This is one of those books that will be eternal and immortal, changing hands and changing lives. It will find its way into the clutches of readers in perfect timing.
I will be in awe of this story for a very long time. Even now, words to describe what happened and how I felt about it all elude me. Easily a favorite for all time. ...more
...when white people compliment her...it doesn't always feel good, because sometimes people are gonna be surprised by the fact that she sh
4/5 Stars
...when white people compliment her...it doesn't always feel good, because sometimes people are gonna be surprised by the fact that she showed up, rather than the fact that she had something to say when she did.
Oof this was a perfect hot mess. I felt the same way about this book as I do when reading a comment thread on Facebook where people (hilariously and unfortunately) show their true predjudiced mindsets, and then somehow I learn from both sides about humanity.
I read this book in the 24 hour period I purchased it, so obviously it was enjoyable beyond expectations!! I adored the story and the writing. It was devourable. That isn't a word but it is now because of this book.
Kiley Reid opened my eyes to these little seemingly-insignificant ways we offend people and hurt people with our actions and "good itnentions". I grew and changed while reading, and that's the best compliment anyone can give any book. For words on a page to alter your thoughts and feelings, to educate you and chip away hurtful/harmful ignorance? That's why I love reading. I think that's why most of us love reading. So I fully recommend this book to anyone who craves a little bit of radical life change.
Eventually, we learned that was his way of dealing...By being in his favorite place, high up in the sky, getting away from everything he'd
5/5 Stars
Eventually, we learned that was his way of dealing...By being in his favorite place, high up in the sky, getting away from everything he'd lost down on the ground.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the Publisher for granting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
5/5 Stars
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I'd never claimed to be honora
Thank you to Edelweiss and the Publisher for granting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
5/5 Stars
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I'd never claimed to be honorable. I was no one's sacrifice. Not then. Not now. Not ever. He probably thought me the devil. He wouldn't have been wrong.
This novel was everything I could possibly rub a lamp and wish for in a book. I've been zipped-shut speechless because of this story. It was delightful and empowering, I grew because of this book, and I honestly feel gratitude for the emotions this story wrought.
Every adult aspect about this book truly warmed my twenty-something heart. I'm so weary of stories pretending to ignore how young adults actually are in this time. I'm just...truly grateful for everything about this book.
Edelweiss granted me this ARC in exchange for an honest review, and honest is what I will offer you.
1,000,000/5 Stars
My dears, this book is the most iEdelweiss granted me this ARC in exchange for an honest review, and honest is what I will offer you.
1,000,000/5 Stars
My dears, this book is the most immersive book I've ever dipped my toes into. The story and the characters are wholeheartedly charming, while the writing is spectacularly captivating.
"You have the strongest character in the family, my child. Forget what I said to you last time. Here, before you, I predict that your husband's will is going to shatter against yours."
...as long as she could face up to her reflection every morning, she would belong to no one else but herself.
It's a #1 Bestseller in France for a reason, it is near perfect. I found absolutely nothing problematic about this plot, about the characters, about my love of everything between the covers... This whole review will be my ranting fangirling. I laughed, I screamed, I grew attached to a goblin scarf with sass, a wise old man who definitely belongs in Spirited Away as the old guy terrorizing the black dust creatures, a redheaded servant with all the charisma in the world, a mysterious spunky mechanic girl with alluring secrets, and (most of all) a young tenacious woman who slowly grows into a fearless take-no-shit kind of leading lady. THESE CHARACTERS ARE PERFECTION!
Magic in this world is surprisingly elegant in its simplicity and creativity. Ophelia can read the history of inanimate objects and travel through mirrors, others can conjure illusions, or attack the minds of others to cause physical damage, some share their every experience with whoever is connected to them through the same magic, and so so so much more!
She was trying to soothe the scarf, which, half mad with joy half with anger, was coiling itself round her neck, her arms, and her waist for fear of again being separated from its mistress.
Ophelia is the kind of girl that sneaks up on you. She's clumsy and dorky yet she's a fireball of independence and intelligence. She's self-sufficient, rightfully judgmental (there are several characters that are despicable), steely in not showing her emotions, she doesn't easily trust nor does she get swept up in anything like most YA leading ladies. She's my favorite sassy fictional woman.
Ophelia stiffened on her chair. Really, that was it? "You're a murdered, perfect, pass me the salt..."
No, she decided, observing her face upside down in the bowl of her spoon, I'll be sure to create a different future for myself, whether they like it or not.
The plot is so satisfying and atmospheric, I felt completely transported to this world. There were twists everywhere, turns that took me in crazy unsuspecting directions with who to trust, what was happening, and how the story could possibly keep going. Murder, deceptions, magic, political intrigue, this book was a dream come true for a reader like me. Never a dull moment. It will forever and always be a book I will cherish and reread for years to come.
"Make your own choices, little miss. If you don't seize your freedom today, it will be too late tomorrow.
Give this book a chance. It will surprise you and take you on a journey of a lifetime. Prepare to be swept off your feet by a magical living scarf, a world of impossibilities and mystery.
Add it to your TBR, I dare you.
The quotes included in this review are subject to change prior to release date....more
I'm not sure how to rate a book that has changed my life. THE ONLY THING I didn't like about this story was the cliche quarterback b.s that made me crI'm not sure how to rate a book that has changed my life. THE ONLY THING I didn't like about this story was the cliche quarterback b.s that made me cringe because it was 100% unnecessary to the story. Aside from that, wow. This Book Changed My Life. And for the better. So, how do you rate that?
This book, without reading anything, had already eerily connected to my life. I live in Texas now, having been raised here and lived here for 17 years of my life, and have lived in frigid Denver and hot-as-literal-Hell Vegas, so I understood moving from my home, from where I grew up and spent most of my life. The second MOST CRAZY COINCIDENTAL part came from Death in this book. Damn. I've never seen death written like this, ever. I applaud Colleen Hoover. I connected to Will's story of losing your closest family members (people you've always lived with) in an awful car wreck, and I connected to Lake's experience because **SPOILER** Since my twin passed away, at random times I've been reminded that one day I won't have my mom or my dad and I fall apart every damn time. I mourn them before they're even gone. Because I know the pain. I hate the pain. This book tells me that it's okay to PUT THE EMPHASIS ON LIFE because Life is not the worst thing to happen to someone (a mantra I've had since the beginning of After...) ITS ACTUALLY THE BEST THING. And being strong for other people in your situation, is damn hard. It's DAMN HARD.
The most eerie part of it all, I had downloaded a ton of Avett Brothers songs, songs that weren't even quoted in the book because now I'm in love with that band. So whenever I pick up this book, I put my Avett Brothers on shuffle, all four albums and then some random other songs. ...I was 3min 23sec into Ten Thousand Words when I turned to Chapter 19. LOW AND BEHOLD that song was quoted on that page, almost syncing up to the perfect timing in the song on my phone.
This book changed my life.
On page 309 I discovered exactly what all this creepy eerie stuff was for. (I'll keep that revelation to myself) but ultimately, this book was written for me to read. It was fate. I do not believe in coincidence. Thank god I scanned that book store section a fifth time.
Five stars? If I could, I'd give you the night sky....more
KristynRene
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