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nikkicthebookworm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book. The time jumps between the past and the future really kept me engaged. The only thing I have to complain about it I feel like it was a little longer than it needed to be. There were a few filler chapters I thought could have either been combined or done away with completely. So I gave it 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War, and Classism
fseely's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Antisemitism, and Car accident
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
book_reader_lover's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have not read a book so beautifully written in a long time. Davis wrote a heartfelt book. Her writing is engrossing, effective and heartfelt in The Echo of Old Books.
Ashlyn can feel the Echo of Old Books when she holds them. It's a gift she discovered at age 12. She owns the bookstore An Unlikely Story. One day she gets a call from her friend, Kevin, who has just gotten a box of books in. Ashlyn picks one of the books up and gets nothing, until she opens the book. There's no author, copyright, or publisher in the book. She's never heard of the book, but something draws her to it. Soon, another book appears with the same thing just a different title. Ashlyn is soon on the hunt to figure out who wrote them and what happened in their lives.
Part mystery, part love story, but a whole lot of descriptive beautiful writing. There are flawed characters with great character development. I have never read Barbara Davis before, but know I want to read all her books, especially if they are all beautiful and well written, as The Echo of Old Books is. I highly recommend this book!
đ Happy Reading đ
#carlislepubliclibrary #lonokecountylibrarysystem #barbaradavis #theechoofoldbooks #readaway2024
Ashlyn can feel the Echo of Old Books when she holds them. It's a gift she discovered at age 12. She owns the bookstore An Unlikely Story. One day she gets a call from her friend, Kevin, who has just gotten a box of books in. Ashlyn picks one of the books up and gets nothing, until she opens the book. There's no author, copyright, or publisher in the book. She's never heard of the book, but something draws her to it. Soon, another book appears with the same thing just a different title. Ashlyn is soon on the hunt to figure out who wrote them and what happened in their lives.
Part mystery, part love story, but a whole lot of descriptive beautiful writing. There are flawed characters with great character development. I have never read Barbara Davis before, but know I want to read all her books, especially if they are all beautiful and well written, as The Echo of Old Books is. I highly recommend this book!
đ Happy Reading đ
#carlislepubliclibrary #lonokecountylibrarysystem #barbaradavis #theechoofoldbooks #readaway2024
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War
ams5x9's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Antisemitism
Minor: Forced institutionalization
readtomea97's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Beautiful story.. I felt so many emotions reading this book, and got really invested in their story. I normally donât like love stories initiated by affairs, but this one made sense in terms of an arranged marriage that you never wanted to begin with. I loved Ashlynâs journey, seeing Belle come to terms with the truth, and just how everything wrapped up in the end. Barbara has a new fan out me! âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
tiiiger35's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book had so much more depth to it than I expected. The dual timelines were interwoven so beautifully giving the story a consistent fluidity. As a highly sensitive person, I was drawn to Ashlynnâs gift as a book empath. What she considered a curse, became the very thing to change her life for the better.
This story is about more than romance, it deals with grief, heartbreak, remorse & survival. It also has some darker undertones surrounding; suicide, anti-semitism & the factions of Nazi supporters building in America during WW2.
Itâs been a long time since Iâve felt the need to highlight so many quotes. I felt as if the words had been plucked from my own mind at times.
This is definitely a new favourite of mines that Iâll be recommending to my friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abandonment, and War
dany_casimiro's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Long Story Short: lots of echoes, very little books.
Finally, a fiction book that breaches the topic of antisemitism in the 1940s USA â a great way to foster its discussion.
I really liked the idea behind book empathy â some people are sensitive enough to touch an object and feel emotions from its past. Granted, the book part earned most of my interest in this case. Sadly, it was more of an initial plot device to be used only as the plot demands than an actual integral part of the story. By the end of the 430 pages, it makes a feeble reappearance to remind readers that it has been there all along when the protagonist is sharing her ability with her love interest.
It has âbooksâ in the title, the main character recovers and sells old books, and the only physical plot device is indeed a book. But on the topic of books, thatâs pretty much it. The focus shifts completely to the story behind the book that Ashlyn, the protagonist, is reading and where her quest to find out more leads her. Romance, mystery, social critique â everything feels but halfway done. An exception is due when it comes down to Ashlynâs traumatic experiences, as the author clearly couldnât decide between an abusive marriage, a traumatic divorce, or witnessing the death of a soon-to-be ex-husband. So, she chose all the above. It would have been more passable if these instances had been better explored, rather than merely used as â again â a plot device for an extra layer in romance building. It became increasingly frustrating and boring, especially because every issue got solved so easily. Their point besides plot reasons is beyond my comprehension. The literary quotes at the beginning of each chapter did not help at all; they quickly became an insistent reminder that this was supposed to be a book about books, and it became a doomed romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death and Antisemitism
Minor: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, and Gaslighting
drnaynay's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Death of parent, War, and Classism
amodernhobbitslibrary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Any book that can leave me in tears deserves 5 stars.
While slow to start, I was quickly drawn into the mystery of Regretting Belle, & her tumultuous love story. An argument penned between 2 books was an exciting storytelling twist that I hadnât come across before. The emotion was so real I felt as if I was sitting in the room listening to Belle & Hemi.
Ashlynâs inclusion in the story was perfectly placed, offering respite & light when Belleâs story grew dark. I was thoroughly pleased by the ending and know that this book will linger in my mind for days to come.
While slow to start, I was quickly drawn into the mystery of Regretting Belle, & her tumultuous love story. An argument penned between 2 books was an exciting storytelling twist that I hadnât come across before. The emotion was so real I felt as if I was sitting in the room listening to Belle & Hemi.
Ashlynâs inclusion in the story was perfectly placed, offering respite & light when Belleâs story grew dark. I was thoroughly pleased by the ending and know that this book will linger in my mind for days to come.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicide
librarian_barbie's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Loved the structure- hopping between points of view and time periods added rich layers to the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War