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karenluvstoread's reviews
165 reviews
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
4.5
This book is an historical fiction novel based on true events/people. Some of the content was hard for me to read and I had to only read so much of the book at a time. Yet the writing kept me reading, as did the way the author told the story. It was moving and gut-wrenching, beautiful yet tragic. (Make sure to check trigger warnings for this one.) It also had amazing descriptive writing providing the story with so much atmosphere. Here's an example of the descriptive writing:
“A morning mist lingered in the valley, obscuring Toti’s view of the mountains as he rode through the ghostly wreaths that hovered over the grass.” (p. 88)
I thought the book was brilliantly structured. The author revealed the events leading up to the murders little by little. Different perspectives of the situation are shown through various characters, from source documents shared throughout the book, and through the main character herself.
I also really liked how the slow reveal of the story was paired with a slow evolution of the relationship between the main character and the family that housed her.
Somber, heavy, haunting, and at times intense, this is a tragic story beautifully written. I would definitely read more from this author!
“A morning mist lingered in the valley, obscuring Toti’s view of the mountains as he rode through the ghostly wreaths that hovered over the grass.” (p. 88)
I thought the book was brilliantly structured. The author revealed the events leading up to the murders little by little. Different perspectives of the situation are shown through various characters, from source documents shared throughout the book, and through the main character herself.
I also really liked how the slow reveal of the story was paired with a slow evolution of the relationship between the main character and the family that housed her.
Somber, heavy, haunting, and at times intense, this is a tragic story beautifully written. I would definitely read more from this author!
The Original Bambi: The Story of a Life in the Forest by Felix Salten
5.0
This review is focused primarily on the Audrey audiobook for Bambi. The narration of the story was very well done. I found the Audrey guide very thought-provoking and there were some questions Shauna raised in the guide that I thought were really good, ones that I feel all people need to ask themselves. In addition, all the insight about Salten himself as well as the deeper meaning behind the story all made the book even more thought-provoking.
I highly recommend the Audrey audiobook for this as the narration is great and the guide just adds so much more to the reading experience of the book.
If you'd like to read more of my thoughts on the book itself, you'll find my review for it on my page.
I highly recommend the Audrey audiobook for this as the narration is great and the guide just adds so much more to the reading experience of the book.
If you'd like to read more of my thoughts on the book itself, you'll find my review for it on my page.
The Original Bambi: The Story of a Life in the Forest by Felix Salten
5.0
Bambi is a coming of age story, told in anthropomorphic-like style. We often think of the Disney movie version, but the book is far different. In the introduction, it tells us that Salten's focus in the book was simply to portray forest life as it was. So we see both the beauty and the brutal aspects of nature in this story.
With the anthropomorphic-like style, Salten manages to help readers grasp an understanding of what it might feel like to be the various animals; and he gives us all a look at the devastation and intense fear they experienced whenever “He” (which represents the hunter) came around. The various animals in their own ways exhibit characteristics such as friendship, courage, loyalty, determination, and kindness.
Bambi is poignant, powerful, and moving - even though it was hard at times to read. It has amazing descriptive writing which transports the reader to not only the surroundings of the forest, but also the lives of the animals themselves. This book will make you think not just about very controversial topics such as hunting, but also domestication of wild animals. I think this book has the ability to challenge readers in a positive way to think about how they view certain topics. In a world that has become increasingly detached from nature, it’s stories like this and Watership Down by Adams that can challenge people to think about how their actions can affect nature and wildlife.
*I listened to the Audrey audiobook for Bambi while following along in this print edition. You can see my review of the Audrey audiobook in my reviews.*
With the anthropomorphic-like style, Salten manages to help readers grasp an understanding of what it might feel like to be the various animals; and he gives us all a look at the devastation and intense fear they experienced whenever “He” (which represents the hunter) came around. The various animals in their own ways exhibit characteristics such as friendship, courage, loyalty, determination, and kindness.
Bambi is poignant, powerful, and moving - even though it was hard at times to read. It has amazing descriptive writing which transports the reader to not only the surroundings of the forest, but also the lives of the animals themselves. This book will make you think not just about very controversial topics such as hunting, but also domestication of wild animals. I think this book has the ability to challenge readers in a positive way to think about how they view certain topics. In a world that has become increasingly detached from nature, it’s stories like this and Watership Down by Adams that can challenge people to think about how their actions can affect nature and wildlife.
*I listened to the Audrey audiobook for Bambi while following along in this print edition. You can see my review of the Audrey audiobook in my reviews.*
Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman
4.0
I thought this novel was well written and you are rooting for the main character, Kabir, all the way through. The author did a great job of giving readers a look at life in India. It really highlights the inequity and the injustice of the caste system; but it also shows how there were those who didn’t agree and they valued people no matter if they were low caste or not. The book also zooms in on the prison life and what it was like for a child to be born in a prison.
This book is a great book to read and discuss not only the issues that exist within India itself as portrayed in the book, but also how some of the same issues exist worldwide and what can be done to help that change.
This book is poignant, dealing with themes of survival, acceptance, love, and hope.
Also, be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end. The author states: "I hope Kabir's story will engender compassion and empathy, raise important questions about how we might choose to act peacefully to change ourselves and our society, and help to shape a better future for our world, no matter where we live." (p. 261-262)
This book is a great book to read and discuss not only the issues that exist within India itself as portrayed in the book, but also how some of the same issues exist worldwide and what can be done to help that change.
This book is poignant, dealing with themes of survival, acceptance, love, and hope.
Also, be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end. The author states: "I hope Kabir's story will engender compassion and empathy, raise important questions about how we might choose to act peacefully to change ourselves and our society, and help to shape a better future for our world, no matter where we live." (p. 261-262)
Ulysses by James Joyce
2.5
For a part of this book, I found myself enjoying it while still being confused a lot with what was going on. As I continued reading, it slowly became a book I didn’t enjoy anymore. It was a mixed bag - often feeling like a roller coaster of enjoying it and not liking it. I had times of marveling at Joyce’s writing and times when I thought "What the heck?".
Still, I think Joyce was skilled at writing. He managed to do all sorts of different styles and structures; and he employed various techniques to tell the story of this one day in the lives of multiple characters.
As for the story itself, for what I could understand (which wasn’t much 😂), I didn’t care for it. To be honest, it’s not a book I have any desire to read again. However, some episodes were better than others and there were moments of beautiful writing along with some quotes I tabbed. I'll leave you with just a few notes from my reading of this book:
📝The first couple of episodes and episode 10 were probably my favorites of the whole book with episode 10 likely being my favorite of all. Episode 1 is right up there with it though.
📝Episode 9 showed me that I seemed to track Stephen's thoughts better than Bloom's and found more beautiful language in those sections vs. Bloom’s.
📝I think I liked the format of episodes 1, 10, 13, and 17 the best.
📝My least favorite episodes were 7, 15, and 18 with episode 15 being my absolute least favorite.
📝Some Favorite Quotes:
Still, I think Joyce was skilled at writing. He managed to do all sorts of different styles and structures; and he employed various techniques to tell the story of this one day in the lives of multiple characters.
As for the story itself, for what I could understand (which wasn’t much 😂), I didn’t care for it. To be honest, it’s not a book I have any desire to read again. However, some episodes were better than others and there were moments of beautiful writing along with some quotes I tabbed. I'll leave you with just a few notes from my reading of this book:
📝The first couple of episodes and episode 10 were probably my favorites of the whole book with episode 10 likely being my favorite of all. Episode 1 is right up there with it though.
📝Episode 9 showed me that I seemed to track Stephen's thoughts better than Bloom's and found more beautiful language in those sections vs. Bloom’s.
📝I think I liked the format of episodes 1, 10, 13, and 17 the best.
📝My least favorite episodes were 7, 15, and 18 with episode 15 being my absolute least favorite.
📝Some Favorite Quotes:
“How can you own water really? It’s always flowing in a stream, never the same, which in the stream of life we trace. Because life is a stream.”
"Art has to reveal to us ideas, formless spiritual essences. The supreme question about a work of art is out of how deep a life does it spring..." (p. 165)
Ulysses by James Joyce
5.0
Overall, Ulysses by James Joyce is not a favorite of mine as far as the book goes. However, the Audrey audiobook and guide was excellent! I can't imagine trying to read this book without it! The narration really brought the book to life and the guide was invaluable. If you want to tackle this book, I highly recommend doing so with this Audrey audiobook. It is an immersive reading experience and will help you hang in there with the book when you might otherwise want to just give it up. ;) My star rating for this one is only for the Audrey audiobook, not the actual book/story itself. For more of my thoughts on the actual book itself, see my review of the Wordsworth print edition.
The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills
I loved the book To Kill a Mockingbird as well as the classic movie adaptation of it starring Gregory Peck. So I knew I wanted to read this memoir. The Mockingbird Next Door gives a rare look into the life and world of Harper Lee and her sister, Alice. Beautifully written, this book takes you on a journey of discovery, giving you a candid snapshot of the person who wrote the acclaimed classic To Kill a Mockingbird. I really enjoyed this memoir and recommend it if you want to get to know Harper Lee and her sister more.
I'll share one of my favorite passages in the book, showcasing a great love of books:
“I followed Alice Lee into the living room. Books were everywhere. They filled one bookshelf after another, stood in piles by her reading chair, and were stacked on the coffee table and most available surfaces for that matter.” ❤️
I'll share one of my favorite passages in the book, showcasing a great love of books:
“I followed Alice Lee into the living room. Books were everywhere. They filled one bookshelf after another, stood in piles by her reading chair, and were stacked on the coffee table and most available surfaces for that matter.” ❤️