Natasha

Beautiful sorrow....
..... with hope

3.5 stars. I liked it. Nesbo did well with the characters and the plot, and mostly stayed true to the story about the Scot we love to hate. I feel that he could have delved deeper into Lady Macbeth's character - she is so fascinating. But a good job all round.

Because this book has received so much publicity and attention these last few months, I was very skeptical going into it. However it turned out to be the promised page turner it purported to be. I'm satisfied.

I wanted to really love this, but I found it quite contrived and disjointed. Instead of the symbolism throughout Alice's life flowing organically and naturally through the prose, I felt as though the author was banging me over the head with it. “Look here! This flower means this! And this is happening to Alice! Gasp!” It's not bad at all, and I'm sure many readers will love it, but the over flowery (pun!!) writing and plot is not really my thing.

This was not a book for me. Historical romance / train wrecks are not my thing. What detestable characters. As much as I admire some of the writers of that generation (Fitzgerald etc) I am so glad I didn't actually meet them. Hemingway especially, not so much the ‘tortured artist' as a raging alcoholic, adulterer and obvious male chauvinist. Hadley was a simpering doormat. Ugh!

DNF @ 33% I think I was too ambitious to dive into this lofty, and dare I say, pretentious novel with 3 small children demanding every minute of my time. I'll have to stick to thrillers and YA for the next few years. Your time will come Mr. Rushdie.

No, No, Nope. This book does not exist as it taints my beloved To Kill a Mockingbird.

4.5 stars! I was not a fan of Eat, Pray, Love - so entered into this with much trepidation. My foray into the unknown was rewarded however, it was gorgeous, sumptuous and rich satisfied sigh

Raw and uncensored. A fine writer. I can't give this a rating because it is a personal account of someone's life and emotions, but I feel as though I have discovered an important and interesting new voice.

2.5 stars. I really need to give YA thrillers a break for a little while. The story saved itself after the half way mark. I found the change between first person and third person narration quite jarring.

It really bothers me how ineffectual and ignorant all the adults in these novels are. I know teenagers think they know everything, but really, must we encourage and perpetuate this idea? #overthehill

Yuck! I feel dirty after that. I'm tempted to give it 1 star, but I did finish it to know what happened to Bella. Horrible characters, predictable plot, horrific subject.

2.5 stars.

Oh my! What fun that was. I haven't enjoyed myself so much since Harry Potter. It's Quantum Leap meets Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day, and you would think that would be too much (too confusing and contrived) but you would be wrong. It is WONDERFUL. Do yourself a favour and READ THIS BOOK. There is a WTF?? on just about every page. Definitely my favourite of 2018 so far (and probably for the last few years). Can't wait for the inevitable TV adaptation.

I struggled to get going with this, it was only during the second half that the pace picked up.

2.5 stars. It was long. Loooooonnnngggg. Long. I loved the premise, one protagonist living 4 different possible lives. Yes please! The writing was decent, but it was just too damn long. I stopped caring about the characters and just wanted to get it over with.

DNF at 25%

I just finished the audiobook, and loved it so much that I promptly went online and ordered a hardback copy too.

Beautifully written with an intriguing cast of characters. Reminiscent of “The Secret History” with an obsessive group of university students living together in an old mansion when one of them is murdered. Though the initial premise is unlikely (a doppelgänger detective!!) once you accept the possibility, Tana French invites you into a house of obsession, secrets and red herrings. The mystery aspect will hook you, but the remarkable prose will keep you there.

DNF at 20% - I just didn't care. Most disappointing of the Hogarth Shakespeare series so far.

Well, that left a decidedly bitter taste in my mouth. And I kind of liked it. I'm pretty sure I will be thinking about this book for weeks to come. My only quarrel with it (and it is minor) is that the book is slightly too long. It could have wrapped up quicker. But all in all a great read.

4.5 stars. A heartfelt, humorous memoir. A beautiful love letter to his remarkable mother. Well done, Mrs Noah, well done.

Although it dragged a bit in the middle, I loved the ending :)

I enjoyed the majority of it, although at times I found it disjointed - as though the author was trying to tell too many stories at the same time. It could have been a lot shorter. But still good. I'll continue the series.

3.5 stars