Natasha
Did Not Finish. While the premise and moral dilemma is intriguing, and I usually don't mind hating all the characters in a book - I just couldn't stomach this anymore. If people really think like these vile characters then we, as humans, are in big trouble. Maybe I will finish it when I am in the right head space.
Firstly, this is not a thriller. There is no mystery or underlying shock or twist. It was however, psychological- and explores the importance and complexity of identity.
This was a mostly uncomfortable read for me. Being a mother of twins I was acutely aware of the preference of the one twin over the other and I obviously didn't like it. But in the end it was a satisfying read.
I shamefully admit that I knew hardly anything about Chechnya. I knew it was a country close to Russia, and I knew there had been a war there. I didn't know about the persecution and absolute atrocities the people had to endure.
This book is a marvel. It made me laugh out loud and sob like a baby. It is both harrowing and hopeful. It is a beautiful story that is bound to stay with me for a long time. There are books you read for entertainment and to escape. Then there are books that matter. This book matters.
Occasionally I caught glimpses of the genius and magic of the author of Midnight's Children - and it gave me chills. I sometimes felt, however, that there was a lot of unnecessary philosophy for the sake of sounding profound - a kind of ‘academic wanking' of sorts. Rushdie is most profound when he doesn't try to be.
2.5 stars. I watched the first episode of The Magicians on SyFy - and was really intrigued. A story about adult magicians fighting a terrifying evil. So I immediately stopped watching the series and picked up the book. Well, I was disappointed to say the least. While there were brief instances of adventure and intrigue, the majority of the novel focused on a group of spoiled, ungrateful, morbid group of twenty somethings and how nothing ever made them happy. This is one of those very rare cases where the show is better than the book. I'll stick with that then.
There are only two reasons why I give a book 5 stars - the first is that is it so beautifully written and so powerful that it leaves me changed, or moved, or stunned. The second is when its just a bloody good page turner and I can't put it down. In a Dark Dark Wood falls into the second category: not earth shattering, but compulsive, thrilling reading. Enjoyed it immensely.
Very disappointed. I expected a fresh take on the Austen original, but instead all I got was a poorly written replica of the original with iPods, Twitter and Facebook thrown in to make it seem more current.
If it was set in the current day, surely not everyone would be getting married in their late teens. And be relying on mommy for their money? Surely the women would get real, professional jobs and not simply wish to marry well?
