sola
it's honestly 4.5-4.75. i can't decide yet. the pacing was a bit of an issue for me but overall i LOVE the world. i adore the writing and the smart perspective we see the story through, it's a wonder in itself. i am very attached to mia, and i love her dearly. that's MY pale daughter, and it's been a while since i loved a main character with quite a strong and tender love. the same thing goes to mr. kindly. what a good book, what a wonderful story i just finished reading
i don't know what happened to the end of the book, but if we just close our eyes and consider that chapters after the last log of pastor's diary simply don't exist, it is such a good story. i would say that the addition of mythological or fantastical elements to the retelling of the real historic events the way it is done here is so good. highly recommend to try
a piece of advice, if you allow me, do not approach this story through audiobook. definitely had a negative impact on my overall expression (not because the reader is bad; they are good, but because the story is meant to be read, not listened to). it is very confusing to listen to, and it makes everything not feverish as it was supposed to be but unnecessarily complicated and unbearably boring. i did end up switching to the actual text from the second half of the book so everything became a bit better. still can't say i enjoyed it overall but currenly i do not regret reading. i would say it is a solid 3.5
it is probably the toughest relationship with a book i had this year. i couldn't stop thinking about it, but i can't say that i couldn't stop reading. on the contrary, it was so hard, and yet i enjoyed it. and yet i need to know what happens next despite not fully losing myself. it's a challenge but i like it
«My own definition of a feminist is a man or a woman who says, ‘Yes, there's a problem with gender as it is today and we must fix it, we must do better.'
All of us, women and men, must do better.»
—
«Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.»
Russian review: here
To be honest, I'm little confused about this book. Firstly, I thought that the best would be 4 stars, but later I switched to 3,5 stars. I'm afraid that despite all my attempts, I can't write “clear” review about this book. Anyway, I'll try.
What I like in this book: language and atmosphere. It's easy to read, you don't feel like crying all the time or want to die because of the emotions, you have tension and a nice plot. The biggest advantage is LGBT-theme in the YA book. Sometimes in YA books, this theme can be a little hide or a little “too much”, sometimes unreal or confusing, but here it's really wonderful. It's comfortable and normal because they are just teenagers with problems. They are not someone else with problems because of the orientation, they are the same teenagers. Also, I like characters. Mark and Kate are very charming. You want to sympathise them, you hope that all troubles will be solved at the end. There is dynamic in the novel, what's important, but doesn't completely capture.
The leading role is given to relationships and its development. Relationships between friends, new and old, between lovers, between parents and children. All the issues are opening gradually, coming one after another and most of the subjects are covered well. However, problems sometimes began to “interrupt” each other. Rather than connect and help a reader, they disturb perception, because, personally, I couldn't decide what I wanted to see at first—love or friendship.
What I don't like: the plot. I wasn't captured completely, I haven't wished to come back to the book and now I still don't want to. The book has given me everything. There are a lot of details which are becoming important for the characters and the plot. There are instant mentions about them, like photos or poems, but in reality, I don't understand why they're so important. What's behind them? And despite the fact that practically all the relationships I like, I can't accept speed. Mark and Kate have become friends too quickly, girls have fallen in love too quickly and an even situation with Mark looks unreal at the end. That's why I couldn't let go the idea of illusion and imagination, not reality, in the book. Of course, not all the book should give us the reality, but here I wanted to see it.
You Know Me Well is a really good book with the sun inside, good representation, attractive characters and nice relationships, that's why I think that this book may seem wonderful to many people, even the favourite, especially in YA-literature. Also, it's the book for the moment when you really want to read something light and exciting, this novel is the perfect option.
Russian review: here
One simple thing at the beginning: I love this book. Why? I'm going to explain.
One of the main reason why An Ember in the Ashes is worthy reading—eastern theme. Middle-east fairytales, battles and fightings. When we read this story, we can literally hear melody snake charming's voice deep into the words and it hypnotizes us. We can feel how close to characters the jinns, the afreets and the spirits are walking. The atmosphere's incredible and georgous. It's like the oriental tent which you don't ever want to leave.
But without a good plot the atmosphere can be ruined, can be nothing, but An Ember in the Ashes is nothing like that. That's because Sabaa Tahir created a story full of secrets, mystery, interesting plot-twists, challenges, drama, deaths and never-ending fight. And all of them are in the one vessel without any extra ingredient. But more than that the actions're so intimately connected that sometimes it can remind us of elegant pattern on the carpet, maybe even magic carpet!
What can be more important than a plot if not characters? And, again, each person is soooo great. Everyone owes special story, everyone is unique and everyone is interesting, deep. They open in unexpected way every time when we, readers, think that we understand them. The characters bare either thier cruelty or their unlimited softeness. Of course, there're main characters— Elias and Laya .
They're in the spotlight: Elias is a solder who hates all his kingdom and just wants to be free, wants to escape despite the fact that he's the best; Laya's just a girl who has lost everyone beloved except the brother and she'll go threw the death, the desert and withstand tortue to save her family. Both are amazing. Both have strong character development, but I like Elias more than Laya. Sometimes I wanted to hit Laya because of her stubornnes and stupidity, though at the same time I like her for that. Because she is not Mary Sue. Because she doesn't know how to fight. Because she's just trying. . I'm sure that further we'll see her as a great woman.
Also, despite the main characters, I absolutely love Helene Aquilla . She's the Goddess. It's all. To be honest, I can speak about how much she's wonderful for hours, but I won't. You need to read at least because of her!
It's necessary to say that the main anotogonist, the Commandant is perfect. Of course, she's a bitch , an evil on her face. She makes readers fear in reality. It's such kind of character when you're so afraid of what else the antogonist can do, that you can't simply and calmly read. We can feel practically the same fear as the slaves have. BUT! We see the Commandant as a human, we see her other sides, we see her almost completely! It's so important for YA-fantasy-distopia novel.
Actually, I think that An Ember in the Ashes is 4.5 stars for me. Why not 5 when I've said so many things? I don't know but I wanted to have something more, I can't say that I was impressed as much as I expected I would be. Also, I'm afraid that it's because of the little strange love line and Laya. I respect her, but not love at all (but I really want to!)
The verdict— R E A D . This book is too broad, it has too many facets just to speak about and go away. Among the majority of YA-fantasy—this is a diamond.
WOW! It's extremely heavy book. So realistic, natural and hard. When I was reading it, I've felt bored at the beginning, but then.. Can't stop reading, cant't stop feeling desperate, angry and others bad feelings. After the finishing I practically felt depression, cause I can't believe that life can be such hard, such unfair. I think that this book should be read by a lot of people, as I'm sure that it can teach others not to give up, not to be envy and fight with world, even you're not sure in victory. All summary gives people theme to think about crisis and attempts to reach better life, attempts to improve something inside. However! I absolutely disagree with the endings, due to reason that I strongly believe - books must give hope, not disappointment.
Why such ending? Why? I can't find the reason for it. Was so angry with it. About characters - I like Mathilda, but why the author didn't say, open her throughly. About story - I think that it tells us about desires, money and lie. About one person who wanted to be star, but didn't have necessary opportunities. It's story about clever man with great ideas, but without patience and “wisdom”, it's lesson to us - we need to wait and peer to others, but we mustn't ascend above other people, too proud of themselves, because otherwise our fate is to be lonely. If you believe in destiny, you must work hard and go to goal, but if you don't know what you want, sometimes it's better to listen to advice. Despite this right meaning, I can't see words about love to only one first woman, I didn't notice it, I was sure that Julien, the main character, was deeply in love with Mathilda, because his passion and behavior told about it much more strong that previously. Also I wanted to accent on idea which I saw in book - men can be destroyed only by passion, by woman.
I've already read two Maurois's books and if you want to compare them to September Roses, don't do it! September Roses is worse than Letters. I can't say that this book can open something special or new or brief, it's just a story of love and passion and marriage, and how important to combine its. The main question - what's the matter? The main what I like in this book - traveling and idea - how only one meeting can change many in life. I can't even say something not usual about this book, cause I didn't notice great thoughts or important, maybe only idea that people who pretend to call themselves loving, need to confirm this. We're just people and we need be reminded.
I think that when you finish this book only right thought is “What a brilliant talanted and the cleverest person”. With each page I thought - what the effect on people could have this letters. Letters, full of right ideas, powerful words and deep sorrow. Practically always we can hear that letters is something private and we mustn't read it, but Van Gogh created something absolutely amazing and inspiring, so I think that it won't be a criminal to fall in love with this masterpiece. If you love this artist, if you want to see all his paintings anew, just read this letters.
This book looks like ordinary story about boy with sadness inside, but it's much more deep than we can think at first. Story tells us not only about how important to be loved by parents and if your family have a disaster, you have to think about people around you. I was absolutely surprised when understood: the author makes readers to think about muslim, about their difference between terrorist and normal citizen. This theme is perfectly told and give a chance to think about it throughly. I love this book, because I noticed so much moments about family love, parent's love and others as how children can need mother and father, what can help to hold on in this cruel world sometimes, how dreams can improve broken things.
At the end of this book I was divided, my heart torn into million pieces, I can't stop crying due to super heavy moments. I've practically never noticed such talanted describing of extremely sad moment, which can't fail to touch soul. The main thought which I saw - each person, not matter children or adult, need one loving creature at least.
Однажды мне сказали: “Ван Гог - это его письма”. Не думала, что эта фраза настолько точно попадёт в центр, окажется полным отражением всей сути того, что рисовал этот гениальный человек.
Читая его письма, мы проникаемся этим художником и замечаем, насколько образованный, талантливый и умный это был человек. Даже если кто-то не восхищается так его творчеством, как я(а я могу гордо назвать себя едва ли не истинным поклонником), то эти письма могут открыть целый мир мыслей художника. Кроме того, именно здесь вы можете увидеть, насколько одаренным критиком был Винсент Ван Гог, его замечания всегда точно и достаточно объективно попадали в цель, что немаловажно, если учесть, что критика воспринимается достаточно тяжело даже для тех, кто привык к ней.
“Письма к друзьям” стала первой книгой с письмами моего любимого художника, которую я прочитала и по отзывам, она даже несколько уступает “Письмам к брату Тео”, из-за чего я осмелюсь предложить, что этот сборник не является истинной ценностью, хотя и, безусловно, важен для тех, кто хочет хотя бы немного прикоснуться к душе мистера Ван Гога.
What did you expect from this book? Were you prepared for long and bored explaining of some scientific things about people's psychology? If you were, it's exactly not such kind of book. “What We See When We Read” - wonderful book with amazing design. She is written very soft, simply and interesting! However sometimes the design distracted from the content. Sometimes I through what I had some insults and it were really unpleased. This book reminds us that we actually can't focus. We can't really imagine our favorite characters. The artist and the musician perceive the book and present her in completely different ways. Though such book helped me to understand that my strong criticism towards the movie and TV-shows is wrong, only because the producer can't have equally picture in mind as mine.
The book presents very interesting theory, readers can think about it later and maybe discuss with someone, as it's theory is worth to be discussed. But I need exactly answer. The research seemed thorough at first look, but later you would want details. Despite this I can say that it's first such kind of research that I've met, in addition it has proof from true reader. The easy and playful language of explanation is really big advantage.
In reality, I don't know what how I want to estimate “What We See When We Read”, so let it be fourth stars.
I've heard about this book very much, but at the same time I didn't expect anything, but at the end I had really fun and sapid story. “Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore” has elements from different genres - detective, roman, some kind of drama. I only want to tell that I wanted more books, less technicals elements. I also should mention that through the history, each time I wished characters to be opened much more. The author could create the atmosphere of secret and made me think, speculate, but I couldn't exactly imagine such end, so, Author, you did a good job!
The idea of immorality as the legacy that we leave future generations - I like it. The thought that we should strive to do as much as we can, create something precious to become immortal was wonderfully beaten. But I'm full of sadness that amazing and unique bookstore was destroyed to be just an office. Theirs bookstore caught readers from the beginning and what this dreamy place has at the end? It's terrible. I'm disagree!
Actual rating: 4,5
This book can to reader so many thing, maybe too many. In the fact I wouldn't give “The BFG” to children in early childhood, only in age of 13-14. I'm afraid of mind and outlook of little child, because this book sometimes has so serious ideas about killers of people(especially, when The BFG asks Sophie to remember only live creature who kills their own kind and she can't) and cry of plants and trees. It's not simple and easy, but heavy and too serious. The main reminder of this story is - all monsters are inside and if we don't want to be cruel and wild as Giants, we must have patience and tolerance.
This story can be fairytale only due to the end, though sometimes I had an idea - “it's just their nature, they were created to kill people, how must they deal with it”. The author put in an impossible position, where characters can't even think about another solution.
I'm glad that as the bounce we have giant-keeper of our dreams.
The book leads to a variety of ideas, after which we can feel something hard inside. I'm sure that this story is for adults, who have forgotten about humanity or lost in a cruel world, so that's why we should highly appreciate this book.