aileron's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5


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cadybooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-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

5.0


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kris_tea516's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Book 25 of 52 for 2024

I saw the movie a few years ago for this book. I had no idea until a couple of months ago that it was a book. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it after watching the movie but it had been a few years & I wasn’t sure how much I really remembered. Well, I have to say I’m so happy I reread it. It’s such a wonderful story & it is done so well. I highly recommend the audiobook because each wonderful character’s letter is read by a different actor. This book is the definition of “cozy” read but it also deals with very difficult things from history (Holocaust, WWII) & how complicated the relationships between the Germans & British had been. It also shows how reading can change your life in ways you might never expect. It left me wanting to read even more books & appreciate genres I might never think about. 

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seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


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rieviolet's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I went into this book not expecting much, I thought it would be just a pleasant and easy read to end the year and start a new one, but oh boy it was much more! I'm not the biggest fan of WW2 fiction but this book was a very pleasant surprise.

I really liked how the authors didn't shy away from and handled the heavy topics related to war, occupation and concentration camps. But, at the same time, the book was also very hopeful and filled with such lovely humour and funny situations.
I really loved the big cast of characters, with all their idiosyncrasies, they felt really well depicted and vivid on the page. 

I appreciated the narrative choice of telling the story through letters/telegrams and the theme of  "reading/loving books" that was an undercurrent throughout the story.

I'm not giving full marks because some plot points and situations felt a little bit too predictable or far-fetched/bizarre, although it made for a very heartwarming and feel-good story. 

All in all, a lovely way to begin a new reading year!

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vivienneisreading's review against another edition

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