Pallas Poppies
I don’t feel comfortable rating this book, maybe it’s a very good book on the subject, I don’t know.
It’s not easy going and fun like some history books are so maybe not for everyone and best suited for people with a special interest?
I don’t feel comfortable rating this book, maybe it’s a very good book on the subject, I don’t know.
It’s not easy going and fun like some history books are so maybe not for everyone and best suited for people with a special interest?
I don’t feel comfortable rating this book, maybe it’s a very good book on the subject, I don’t know.
It’s not easy going and fun like some history books are so maybe not for everyone and best suited for people with a special interest?
I don’t feel comfortable rating this book, maybe it’s a very good book on the subject, I don’t know.
It’s not easy going and fun like some history books are so maybe not for everyone and best suited for people with a special interest?
The murder and mystery is kind of fun but it’s a book of it’s time. You can tell by looking at people if they are foreigners, “The man is a Frenchman—I would take my oath on that—”
And then we have Captain Hastings, a man in his 30’s lusting after a child, “ I judged that she was little more than seventeen…”
The murder and mystery is kind of fun but it’s a book of it’s time. You can tell by looking at people if they are foreigners, “The man is a Frenchman—I would take my oath on that—”
And then we have Captain Hastings, a man in his 30’s lusting after a child, “ I judged that she was little more than seventeen…”
Jake Livingston is not like the other kids at St. Clair, he’s black and he sees dead people. Seeing ghost has become easier for him but one day a ghost stands out from the rest, it has bad intentions.
It was kind of funny because I picked this book a little on a whim. I wanted to do Blackoween despite half of the month being over, had seen this book mentioned and then I saw it by accident at the library so I grabbed it and liked it!
I haven’t read YA in a long time, might have to change that. It came across a lot more mature than plenty of fantasy I have started and DNF and plenty of cozy mystery.
It’s a pretty dark book and brings up suicide and school shootings. For me the spooky elements were not very spooky but the dark world view was in a way.
There were areas that could have been better, the magic was a little unclear and even the writing at times were a tad confusing but I just thought, “F it” and went with it.
SPOILER: How did he get away with murder/arson tho? After that fire wouldn’t the cashier mention the kid that came in? The kid that later cashed his car possibly not that far from the fire… and there was kerosene all over the place? No? Also wished there had been an resolution between Grady and Jake.
Jake Livingston is not like the other kids at St. Clair, he’s black and he sees dead people. Seeing ghost has become easier for him but one day a ghost stands out from the rest, it has bad intentions.
It was kind of funny because I picked this book a little on a whim. I wanted to do Blackoween despite half of the month being over, had seen this book mentioned and then I saw it by accident at the library so I grabbed it and liked it!
I haven’t read YA in a long time, might have to change that. It came across a lot more mature than plenty of fantasy I have started and DNF and plenty of cozy mystery.
It’s a pretty dark book and brings up suicide and school shootings. For me the spooky elements were not very spooky but the dark world view was in a way.
There were areas that could have been better, the magic was a little unclear and even the writing at times were a tad confusing but I just thought, “F it” and went with it.
SPOILER: How did he get away with murder/arson tho? After that fire wouldn’t the cashier mention the kid that came in? The kid that later cashed his car possibly not that far from the fire… and there was kerosene all over the place? No? Also wished there had been an resolution between Grady and Jake.
Jake Livingston is not like the other kids at St. Clair, he’s black and he sees dead people. Seeing ghost has become easier for him but one day a ghost stands out from the rest, it has bad intentions.
It was kind of funny because I picked this book a little on a whim. I wanted to do Blackoween despite half of the month being over, had seen this book mentioned and then I saw it by accident at the library so I grabbed it and liked it!
I haven’t read YA in a long time, might have to change that. It came across a lot more mature than plenty of fantasy I have started and DNF and plenty of cozy mystery.
It’s a pretty dark book and brings up suicide and school shootings. For me the spooky elements were not very spooky but the dark world view was in a way.
There were areas that could have been better, the magic was a little unclear and even the writing at times were a tad confusing but I just thought, “F it” and went with it.
SPOILER: How did he get away with murder/arson tho? After that fire wouldn’t the cashier mention the kid that came in? The kid that later cashed his car possibly not that far from the fire… and there was kerosene all over the place? No? Also wished there had been an resolution between Grady and Jake.
Jake Livingston is not like the other kids at St. Clair, he’s black and he sees dead people. Seeing ghost has become easier for him but one day a ghost stands out from the rest, it has bad intentions.
It was kind of funny because I picked this book a little on a whim. I wanted to do Blackoween despite half of the month being over, had seen this book mentioned and then I saw it by accident at the library so I grabbed it and liked it!
I haven’t read YA in a long time, might have to change that. It came across a lot more mature than plenty of fantasy I have started and DNF and plenty of cozy mystery.
It’s a pretty dark book and brings up suicide and school shootings. For me the spooky elements were not very spooky but the dark world view was in a way.
There were areas that could have been better, the magic was a little unclear and even the writing at times were a tad confusing but I just thought, “F it” and went with it.
SPOILER: How did he get away with murder/arson tho? After that fire wouldn’t the cashier mention the kid that came in? The kid that later cashed his car possibly not that far from the fire… and there was kerosene all over the place? No? Also wished there had been an resolution between Grady and Jake.
Added to listGolden Age of Detective Fictionwith 5 books.
We follow Opaline, Martha and Henry whose lives are circling around a somewhat mysterious bookshop.
This took me awhile to read, parts of Opalines story were hard for me to read and I just hoped for her to turn John Wick but that didn’t happen (there will be fanfic!!). Her story was still my favorite but there were a few things that I didn’t like, because I’m picky like that.
Martha was a bit meek, which is understandable due to her circumstances but she was confusing. I assume her age was maybe 20 but I don’t remember (age wasn’t mentioned much), and she doesn’t know you need a library card. She thinks you walk into a library, grab some books and leave.
Henry, dull, bye.
I liked the magical elements, I liked some of Opalines story but will I ever think of this book ever again? No.
TRIGGER WARNING: Forced institutionalization Not a major spoiler but you will know what happens to one of the characters.
We follow Opaline, Martha and Henry whose lives are circling around a somewhat mysterious bookshop.
This took me awhile to read, parts of Opalines story were hard for me to read and I just hoped for her to turn John Wick but that didn’t happen (there will be fanfic!!). Her story was still my favorite but there were a few things that I didn’t like, because I’m picky like that.
Martha was a bit meek, which is understandable due to her circumstances but she was confusing. I assume her age was maybe 20 but I don’t remember (age wasn’t mentioned much), and she doesn’t know you need a library card. She thinks you walk into a library, grab some books and leave.
Henry, dull, bye.
I liked the magical elements, I liked some of Opalines story but will I ever think of this book ever again? No.
TRIGGER WARNING: Forced institutionalization Not a major spoiler but you will know what happens to one of the characters.
Nine people have plans to spend the weekend at a secluded inn up in the Catskills. A snowstorm rolls in and they are more isolated than they hoped for, and on the morning one of the guests are found dead at the bottom of the stairs, but was it really an accident?
I’m a sucker for the snowed in trope.
A quick read, feels a little like fast food in book form. You finish it fast but you don’t feel full or nourished.
Story uses several POVs and feels like a story told before, doesn’t bring anything new to the table.
SPOILER: I found it so funny how they left the body at the bottom of the stairs and walked around it. Reminded me of Clue or similar movies, it was great.
Nine people have plans to spend the weekend at a secluded inn up in the Catskills. A snowstorm rolls in and they are more isolated than they hoped for, and on the morning one of the guests are found dead at the bottom of the stairs, but was it really an accident?
I’m a sucker for the snowed in trope.
A quick read, feels a little like fast food in book form. You finish it fast but you don’t feel full or nourished.
Story uses several POVs and feels like a story told before, doesn’t bring anything new to the table.
SPOILER: I found it so funny how they left the body at the bottom of the stairs and walked around it. Reminded me of Clue or similar movies, it was great.
Nine people have plans to spend the weekend at a secluded inn up in the Catskills. A snowstorm rolls in and they are more isolated than they hoped for, and on the morning one of the guests are found dead at the bottom of the stairs, but was it really an accident?
I’m a sucker for the snowed in trope.
A quick read, feels a little like fast food in book form. You finish it fast but you don’t feel full or nourished.
Story uses several POVs and feels like a story told before, doesn’t bring anything new to the table.
SPOILER: I found it so funny how they left the body at the bottom of the stairs and walked around it. Reminded me of Clue or similar movies, it was great.
Nine people have plans to spend the weekend at a secluded inn up in the Catskills. A snowstorm rolls in and they are more isolated than they hoped for, and on the morning one of the guests are found dead at the bottom of the stairs, but was it really an accident?
I’m a sucker for the snowed in trope.
A quick read, feels a little like fast food in book form. You finish it fast but you don’t feel full or nourished.
Story uses several POVs and feels like a story told before, doesn’t bring anything new to the table.
SPOILER: I found it so funny how they left the body at the bottom of the stairs and walked around it. Reminded me of Clue or similar movies, it was great.
Dee wants to get out of her dwindling career as a screenwriter and falls in love with a small inn, it’s love at first sight and her BFF (and ex husband) joins her as a partner in the business.
A former colleague from Hollywood shows up as their first guest and is soon found dead, not a great start to the new business and Dee needs to solve the case so the dead guy isn’t their one and only guest.
I liked that Dee and Jeff are friends, the idea of an ex husband not being an enemy is great. I also liked that the MC adopted the previous inn owners dog, that was sweet. Other than that it didn’t really do much for me, I wasn’t that invest in who did it, or anything. I’ll try to have a break from cozies and see if I like them more when I return.
Dee wants to get out of her dwindling career as a screenwriter and falls in love with a small inn, it’s love at first sight and her BFF (and ex husband) joins her as a partner in the business.
A former colleague from Hollywood shows up as their first guest and is soon found dead, not a great start to the new business and Dee needs to solve the case so the dead guy isn’t their one and only guest.
I liked that Dee and Jeff are friends, the idea of an ex husband not being an enemy is great. I also liked that the MC adopted the previous inn owners dog, that was sweet. Other than that it didn’t really do much for me, I wasn’t that invest in who did it, or anything. I’ll try to have a break from cozies and see if I like them more when I return.
Dee wants to get out of her dwindling career as a screenwriter and falls in love with a small inn, it’s love at first sight and her BFF (and ex husband) joins her as a partner in the business.
A former colleague from Hollywood shows up as their first guest and is soon found dead, not a great start to the new business and Dee needs to solve the case so the dead guy isn’t their one and only guest.
I liked that Dee and Jeff are friends, the idea of an ex husband not being an enemy is great. I also liked that the MC adopted the previous inn owners dog, that was sweet. Other than that it didn’t really do much for me, I wasn’t that invest in who did it, or anything. I’ll try to have a break from cozies and see if I like them more when I return.
Dee wants to get out of her dwindling career as a screenwriter and falls in love with a small inn, it’s love at first sight and her BFF (and ex husband) joins her as a partner in the business.
A former colleague from Hollywood shows up as their first guest and is soon found dead, not a great start to the new business and Dee needs to solve the case so the dead guy isn’t their one and only guest.
I liked that Dee and Jeff are friends, the idea of an ex husband not being an enemy is great. I also liked that the MC adopted the previous inn owners dog, that was sweet. Other than that it didn’t really do much for me, I wasn’t that invest in who did it, or anything. I’ll try to have a break from cozies and see if I like them more when I return.
Updated a reading goal:
Read 100 books by December 30, 2024
Progress so far: 100 / 100 100%
I really wanted to like this one. Sounded like so much fun, cozy mystery set in Dublins drag queen world. A drag queen cozy and it’s Irish, I’m there, take my money.
But it was poorly written. I started thinking it was self published with all these odd sentences and bad pace and threads here and there feeling so off and ugh. And I didn’t like the characters either, our MC never listens to everyone “Huh, sorry?” whenever someone is talking to here and the fight with her roommate felt like kids.
A drag queen, walking in someone elses heels on a very rainy night slips and falls? No, that could never happen, never, it must have been murder. Okay.
I do believe there’s a decent story there but this is bad first draft that needs work. It was a mess.
I really wanted to like this one. Sounded like so much fun, cozy mystery set in Dublins drag queen world. A drag queen cozy and it’s Irish, I’m there, take my money.
But it was poorly written. I started thinking it was self published with all these odd sentences and bad pace and threads here and there feeling so off and ugh. And I didn’t like the characters either, our MC never listens to everyone “Huh, sorry?” whenever someone is talking to here and the fight with her roommate felt like kids.
A drag queen, walking in someone elses heels on a very rainy night slips and falls? No, that could never happen, never, it must have been murder. Okay.
I do believe there’s a decent story there but this is bad first draft that needs work. It was a mess.
Blix Windway (yeah that’s her actual name) is off as a travel companion to Egypt, she’s also carrying a book for her uncle that he as promised to a friend.
Crossing the channel, makes her way to Paris, has a car race before getting herself to Egypt, minus her traveling companion but she’s found a new one so no worries. Then she gets into the desert and over to the pyramids and finally she stumbles over a dead body. The local police insist that a native did it and wants the case to just go away, Blix is of an other opinion.
I might be becoming a grumpy old lady but, the MC has a car race through Paris which I assume is fun but all I see is her putting other peoples lives in danger, very little concern for others and I didn’t like it.
The murder happens pretty deep into the book, first in a new series so you do need some space to build it up and present the MC, I get it, but 13 chapters?
Never really warmed up to Blix or her new travel companion. Not getting a proper mystery or sleuthing from this one. Won’t continue the series.
Blix Windway (yeah that’s her actual name) is off as a travel companion to Egypt, she’s also carrying a book for her uncle that he as promised to a friend.
Crossing the channel, makes her way to Paris, has a car race before getting herself to Egypt, minus her traveling companion but she’s found a new one so no worries. Then she gets into the desert and over to the pyramids and finally she stumbles over a dead body. The local police insist that a native did it and wants the case to just go away, Blix is of an other opinion.
I might be becoming a grumpy old lady but, the MC has a car race through Paris which I assume is fun but all I see is her putting other peoples lives in danger, very little concern for others and I didn’t like it.
The murder happens pretty deep into the book, first in a new series so you do need some space to build it up and present the MC, I get it, but 13 chapters?
Never really warmed up to Blix or her new travel companion. Not getting a proper mystery or sleuthing from this one. Won’t continue the series.
Blix Windway (yeah that’s her actual name) is off as a travel companion to Egypt, she’s also carrying a book for her uncle that he as promised to a friend.
Crossing the channel, makes her way to Paris, has a car race before getting herself to Egypt, minus her traveling companion but she’s found a new one so no worries. Then she gets into the desert and over to the pyramids and finally she stumbles over a dead body. The local police insist that a native did it and wants the case to just go away, Blix is of an other opinion.
I might be becoming a grumpy old lady but, the MC has a car race through Paris which I assume is fun but all I see is her putting other peoples lives in danger, very little concern for others and I didn’t like it.
The murder happens pretty deep into the book, first in a new series so you do need some space to build it up and present the MC, I get it, but 13 chapters?
Never really warmed up to Blix or her new travel companion. Not getting a proper mystery or sleuthing from this one. Won’t continue the series.
Blix Windway (yeah that’s her actual name) is off as a travel companion to Egypt, she’s also carrying a book for her uncle that he as promised to a friend.
Crossing the channel, makes her way to Paris, has a car race before getting herself to Egypt, minus her traveling companion but she’s found a new one so no worries. Then she gets into the desert and over to the pyramids and finally she stumbles over a dead body. The local police insist that a native did it and wants the case to just go away, Blix is of an other opinion.
I might be becoming a grumpy old lady but, the MC has a car race through Paris which I assume is fun but all I see is her putting other peoples lives in danger, very little concern for others and I didn’t like it.
The murder happens pretty deep into the book, first in a new series so you do need some space to build it up and present the MC, I get it, but 13 chapters?
Never really warmed up to Blix or her new travel companion. Not getting a proper mystery or sleuthing from this one. Won’t continue the series.
There was something missing here for me. The MC reads a little young, she’s 27 and maybe I have forgotten how young that is or she’s a bit immature.
Her mother really wants her to get a boyfriend (I’m so over this trope) and even the MCs best friend wants her to find a boyfriend. Because men solves all problems.
The love interest is detective Trudeau so my brain flashed an image of Justin Trudeau every time he was on the page and it was not good. I found him annoying and obsessive and treated her as a child, they’ve just met a few times and of course he has treated her as a suspect at first and then he’s just telling her what to do and gets angry she doesn’t. One times he catches her and her best friend sleuthing and starts yelling at the MC and when her best friend tells him off, “Don’t even get me started on you, young lady.” Half expected her to shout back, “You’re not my dad, you can’t tell me what to do!” but luckily that didn’t happen.
Not much of a mystery or sleuthing and what I want from a cozy mystery, is a mystery, I’m always looking for a puzzle.
There was something missing here for me. The MC reads a little young, she’s 27 and maybe I have forgotten how young that is or she’s a bit immature.
Her mother really wants her to get a boyfriend (I’m so over this trope) and even the MCs best friend wants her to find a boyfriend. Because men solves all problems.
The love interest is detective Trudeau so my brain flashed an image of Justin Trudeau every time he was on the page and it was not good. I found him annoying and obsessive and treated her as a child, they’ve just met a few times and of course he has treated her as a suspect at first and then he’s just telling her what to do and gets angry she doesn’t. One times he catches her and her best friend sleuthing and starts yelling at the MC and when her best friend tells him off, “Don’t even get me started on you, young lady.” Half expected her to shout back, “You’re not my dad, you can’t tell me what to do!” but luckily that didn’t happen.
Not much of a mystery or sleuthing and what I want from a cozy mystery, is a mystery, I’m always looking for a puzzle.
Netgalley read.
I didn’t expect it to be a list of comebacks, I expected a little more text but it made me think of those magazines I bought as a teen, there were always lists like this in those. Feels like a book many will get for their birthday, “Not that you need any help in this area but I thought of you when I saw it.” Did trees deserve to die for this? Not sure. I had the audiobook for this and the author/narrator does a good job but feels that this book should be TikTok videos. He does address that men reacting with angry is a second emotion from something else happening inside, I found that interesting.
I was attracted to this book because I like the painting (which I first saw on Tumblr of course), it’s In a Roman Osteria by Danish painter Carl Bloch.
Netgalley read.
I didn’t expect it to be a list of comebacks, I expected a little more text but it made me think of those magazines I bought as a teen, there were always lists like this in those. Feels like a book many will get for their birthday, “Not that you need any help in this area but I thought of you when I saw it.” Did trees deserve to die for this? Not sure. I had the audiobook for this and the author/narrator does a good job but feels that this book should be TikTok videos. He does address that men reacting with angry is a second emotion from something else happening inside, I found that interesting.
I was attracted to this book because I like the painting (which I first saw on Tumblr of course), it’s In a Roman Osteria by Danish painter Carl Bloch.
We get to follow a group of women working at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, all under the leadership of Mrs. Skogh. The year is 1901 and things are different, especially for women.
There is a feel good feeling in the book but, everything just chugs along smoothly. Even something bad happens there no really problem that needs to be solved, no big obstacles that they need to figure out, no consequences… It does make things dull.
We get to follow a group of women working at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, all under the leadership of Mrs. Skogh. The year is 1901 and things are different, especially for women.
There is a feel good feeling in the book but, everything just chugs along smoothly. Even something bad happens there no really problem that needs to be solved, no big obstacles that they need to figure out, no consequences… It does make things dull.