Asta
I loved one timeline in this book, I felt like it portrayed the desire to have a child in a way that felt real, and Julia Whelan's narration was perfect for it.
Unfortunately the other timeline went exactly where I was afraid it would, and that ruined the whole book. You can't just go and then she woke up and it was all a dream and claim that's a thriller!
I think I would've given this a higher rating without Goldman's annotations, or if he'd actually worked on the story rather than the legend around it. It's unique, sure, but it didn't really endear me to the story more. Maybe if he'd just had less annotating in between the actual action of the book I would've liked it more?
Hard to say.
The Princess Bride has been one of my favourite movies for a long time, and the actual story in the book is on level with it. I do wish there was less sexism, but I guess that's the 70s for you...
The “first chapter” of Buttercup's Baby felt like Goldman had had bits in his story that he didn't quite know what to do with, and this was the result.
Went from 4 stars to 2 then back up to 3.
Unfortunately the time between 4 and 3 stars was very long and boring, making me almost DNF the whole thing. I feel like the author made the plot more complicated than it needed to be, added way too many moving parts and topped it all off with unbelievable “luck” that prevented the MC from being either caught or killed.
It's a shame cause I did really like the beginning.
Best crime book I've listened to for a long while! The suspense was built well and the story kept me wondering about the guilt of all the offered suspects until it was made clear what was going on. I liked the characters and felt their stories to be believable. Only downside was that the ending was dragged a bit too much and the only reason I didn't give five stars that I wasn't quite pulled in so I had no difficulty having days between listening.
Osittain itselleni tuttua, mutta myös uutta tietoa vaateteollisuuden ongelmista ja mahdollisista ratkaisuista, tehokkaasti alleviivaten sitä faktaa, että suurin merkitys on kulutuksen vähentämisellä.
Kävi loppua kohden pitkäveteiseksi ja olisi ehkä voinut olla noin kolmasosan lyhyempi, en esimerkiksi koe että digitaalisia vaatteita olisi tarvinnut käsitellä juuri tässä teoksessa. (Digitaalisuus kun on ihan oma nykypäivän vitsauksensa!)
Not bad, not great. I probably didn't understand half of it, whereas the other half was either thrilling or boring.
I went through every footnote and reference that was actually inside the book, and that too was a mixed bag. Sometimes it was interesting, sometimes it just kept referring back to itself which got frustrating.
I think I would've enjoyed the story of The Navidson Record on its own, as Johnny Truant's bits were just incomprehensible most of the time and not really much of interest until towards the end when he finally let go of the drugs and sex.
On the good side I was reminded of Susanne Clarke's Piranesi, which is one of my favourites and has a similar labyrinthine feel to it, although a lot more literally than this!
I rarely enjoy such slow, philosophical writing, but I guess bringing gender and it's nuances into the mix is what I needed to get me going!
Along with gender, or lack of it, Le Guin explored many interesting points about life on a frozen planet and what kind of cultural norms and taboos might grow in such environment and how an alien from earth arriving into the planet might find themselves facing those differences.
Based on this I look forward to reading more from the author.
A fascinating insight into a field of never considered before. If I or anyone close to me ever becomes a victim of a mass fatality event, Jensen is definitely the person I'd like to be working in the aftermath.
I did not expect to be so moved by this book, but am happily so as the author shows how kindness and respect can make a huge difference to those who's loved ones have been killed and their remains and possessions scattered in an explosion, a flood or a collision.
I found Jensen's dedication and mindset admirable, even if at times I wondered if he was just a bit too sure of his own righteousness.
Definitely a recommended read.
Well this was a waste of time. I knew it before I'd even reached the halfway point but for some reason I persevered.
The suspense was nonexistent, the mfc was beyond stupid to the point where it wasn't even believable anymore (“why hasn't my Airbnb host told me how his parents died, he's totally keeping secrets!!”, “omg he lied about liking Brussel sprouts!!!”) and the advertised twist was not a twist for anyone who's ever read a thriller before. It was until about the 80% mark before anything suspenseful even happened, despite how often the mfc thought to herself how off everything felt. Please, for the love of god, SHOW don't tell!
Add to this a poorly placed smut scene (why. who wants that in a thriller), mmc whose only purpose seems to be to repeat how much he desires the mfc and some unnecessary and very gory dream scenes and you've got yourself a one-star-shouldn't-have-bothered-with-why-was-this-even-published novel!
I loved this book. It reminded me of Neil Gaiman's Stardust and Neverwhere, which have been my favourites for a long time. The only reason this wasn't a five star read for me was the fact that there wasn't a lot of detail, which made things seem superficial at times.
However, I am now convinced all stories need at least one chicken.
Was a steady 3- stars throughout, but the ending dropped it to 2. There's a good way to have an open ending, and then there's this.
The mystery was the best part, with many suspects and a not too obvious but still logical solution. Some of the characters were used to further the plot and then never seen again, which felt clumsy. I think this could make a good tv-series, but there probably already is one with the same or at least a very similar plot.
Flat characters, massive plot holes and contradictions. And for some reason the only death described is that of a dog?
I believe there would've been potential for better, as the idea is really interesting, but it feels like the author focused more on building a timeline than giving the characters any depth or creating consistency.
The movie, in this case, works better and takes less time off your life!
If you, like me, are thinking of reading this because you expect the story to be more thriller than horror, then know that I was looking over my shoulder and scared until I was about into 60% the book. I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to ghost stories!
There were a lot of twists and turns at the last 40%, so much so that it felt a little too much to be plausible even though I enjoyed the reading experience.
That said, I think I'll rather take my crime stories without the added supernatural elements thankyouverymuch.
PS. The name has nothing to do with anything. That's annoying.
Todella Finlandiansa ansainnut teos! En ole varmaan koskaan aiemmin lukenut suomalaista nuorten kauhua, joten en osaa sanoa onko tarina lajityypillinen, mutta yksityiskohdat olivat toimivia ja hahmot uskottavia. Pohdin olivatko koronayksityiskohdat ihan tarpeellisia, saati sitten seksikohtaus, mutta eivät ne ainakaan tarinaa huonontaneet, vaikka ehkä saattavat tuntua vieraannuttavilta nuorille jo muutaman vuoden päästä. Pidin rasismin käsittelystä ja siitä, miten Laurin tausta oli yksi osa hänen kokemustaan muun juonen seassa.
Based on how how I usually like my books more character-heavy, you'd think I wouldn't have enjoyed this one as much as I did. However, since there's also a good amount of simplified science, I ate this one up with the same enthusiasm I did Project Hail Mary a year ago. My biggest grievance with the story was the undeserved demise of Ian Malcolm and all the raptors that just wanted to have a good time and make some raptor babies.
