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karenluvstoread's reviews
166 reviews
Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
5.0
This series whisked me away to magic, cold winters, Russian folklore and a horse and mushroom that both talk (which happened to be some of my favorite characters). Each book was beautifully done with amazing writing, well developed characters, and a brilliant mixture of fantasy, Russian folklore, and history.
So many themes run throughout this series from self-discovery and belonging to sacrifice, loyalty, family relationships, love, and more. This sweeping story, spread over three books, is atmospheric, evocative, and spectacular.
This series will be amongst my favorite reads of this year. If you are looking for a fantastical read that will whisk you away to another world and keep you turning the pages, give this series a try!
So many themes run throughout this series from self-discovery and belonging to sacrifice, loyalty, family relationships, love, and more. This sweeping story, spread over three books, is atmospheric, evocative, and spectacular.
This series will be amongst my favorite reads of this year. If you are looking for a fantastical read that will whisk you away to another world and keep you turning the pages, give this series a try!
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
3.5
I find this book a bit hard to review. The publisher’s description calls it earthy and magical; and I think that’s a really good description of it. There were things I liked about it, and things that were not my cup of tea. Here's a brief summary of my thoughts:
*The writing is very engaging. I love a good story with magical realism and I think the author did that well. She wove in the magical elements seamlessly.
*I thought the unique structure was fantastic, starting with a recipe and intertwining the story in with the making of the recipes.
*The story had a sensuality to it which is fine but just wasn’t really my cup of tea. Still, I thought it was very well written.
*I really had a problem with Pedro, Tita’s love interest. I can’t explain why without giving spoilers. Suffice it to say, I felt he was selfish; and in some ways, I thought he was trying to have his cake and eat it too so to speak. I didn’t like how he treated Tita a number of times.
*I was very disappointed with the ending. I think this could have turned out with an ending for Tita so much better than what the writer gave her.
In the end, this book was a read that did keep me engaged. And as I already mentioned, it had such a unique structure with the recipes that I really loved.
I read this as part of my reading around the world challenge for the country of Mexico.
*The writing is very engaging. I love a good story with magical realism and I think the author did that well. She wove in the magical elements seamlessly.
*I thought the unique structure was fantastic, starting with a recipe and intertwining the story in with the making of the recipes.
*The story had a sensuality to it which is fine but just wasn’t really my cup of tea. Still, I thought it was very well written.
*I really had a problem with Pedro, Tita’s love interest. I can’t explain why without giving spoilers. Suffice it to say, I felt he was selfish; and in some ways, I thought he was trying to have his cake and eat it too so to speak. I didn’t like how he treated Tita a number of times.
*I was very disappointed with the ending. I think this could have turned out with an ending for Tita so much better than what the writer gave her.
In the end, this book was a read that did keep me engaged. And as I already mentioned, it had such a unique structure with the recipes that I really loved.
I read this as part of my reading around the world challenge for the country of Mexico.
A Bookshop in Algiers by Kaouther Adimi
4.5
This is a beautiful and moving book centering on the life of Edmond Charlot with the backdrop of French colonized Algeria as well as the Algerian War.
This story has different timelines, and that is something I often like in books. The timelines alternate from present to past in relating the story of Charlot and his bookshop as well as narrative chapters interspersed with diary entries by Charlot.
The story flows seamlessly although it was admittedly slow at times, mainly with some of the diary entries.
This one sent me off on rabbit trails to learn more about colonial Algeria and their fight for independence, as well as learning more about Edmond Charlot himself.
Here's a quote from the book:
“The morning of the last day. The night has withdrawn, uneasily. The air is thicker, the sunlight grayer, the city uglier. The sky is crowded with heavy clouds. The stray cats are on the lookout, ears pricked.” (p. 3)
This story has different timelines, and that is something I often like in books. The timelines alternate from present to past in relating the story of Charlot and his bookshop as well as narrative chapters interspersed with diary entries by Charlot.
The story flows seamlessly although it was admittedly slow at times, mainly with some of the diary entries.
This one sent me off on rabbit trails to learn more about colonial Algeria and their fight for independence, as well as learning more about Edmond Charlot himself.
Here's a quote from the book:
“The morning of the last day. The night has withdrawn, uneasily. The air is thicker, the sunlight grayer, the city uglier. The sky is crowded with heavy clouds. The stray cats are on the lookout, ears pricked.” (p. 3)
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
5.0
*Book Review*
A Raisin in the Sun
By Lorraine Hansberry
A Raisin in the Sun is powerful and emotional. It tells the story of a struggling, working class family with hopes and dreams for a better future. In this play, Hansberry created very memorable characters. The story really brings to light the struggles this family experienced.
A Raisin in the Sun was nominated for multiple Tony Awards and has been considered one of the best plays ever written. It is certainly one of the best plays I've ever read!
This one was absolutely a 5 star read. I listened to this play in audiobook format while following along in the print book. The audiobook had a full cast and was absolutely phenomenal! I then followed the listening and reading of this play with watching the 1961 film adaptation starring Sidney Poitier which was also very well done. Definitely consider listening to the full cast audiobook when reading this and then watch the 1961 film adaptation afterwards.
A Raisin in the Sun is moving and compelling; and it's a book that I feel should not be missed.
A Raisin in the Sun
By Lorraine Hansberry
A Raisin in the Sun is powerful and emotional. It tells the story of a struggling, working class family with hopes and dreams for a better future. In this play, Hansberry created very memorable characters. The story really brings to light the struggles this family experienced.
A Raisin in the Sun was nominated for multiple Tony Awards and has been considered one of the best plays ever written. It is certainly one of the best plays I've ever read!
This one was absolutely a 5 star read. I listened to this play in audiobook format while following along in the print book. The audiobook had a full cast and was absolutely phenomenal! I then followed the listening and reading of this play with watching the 1961 film adaptation starring Sidney Poitier which was also very well done. Definitely consider listening to the full cast audiobook when reading this and then watch the 1961 film adaptation afterwards.
A Raisin in the Sun is moving and compelling; and it's a book that I feel should not be missed.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
4.5
There is so much that could be said about this book; but I will just mention a few in this review.
Things Fall Apart is very deep and layered; and there's quite a bit of things that could be discussed with this story. It is a very powerful read!
One of the things I appreciated about this book was how it gives the power of representation. Achebe said:
"The popularity of Things Fall Apart in my own society can be explained simply ... this was the first time we were seeing ourselves, as autonomous individuals, rather than half-people, or as Conrad would say, 'rudimentary souls'."
And the Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka described the novel as "the first novel in English which spoke from the interior of the African character, rather than portraying the African as an exotic, as the white man would see him."
In addition, the way Achebe structured this novel is so effective. The first part of the book is meant to immerse the reader in the village life of the tribe - its customs, government, community, etc. This part shows the holistic life of the village. That then gets contrasted against the Western culture that comes up later on in the book.
As far as the writing itself, sometimes it did feel a bit stilted or stiff so to speak. But this doesn't detract from the story as a whole. In fact, while there may be parts that feel a bit stilted, it also has a poetic aspect to it as well. In addition, some of the native language is included which allows readers to encounter the culture even more.
Here's an example of what I felt was more of the poetic writing:
"Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.” (p. 7)
Overall, this is a very powerful and moving story and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
Things Fall Apart is very deep and layered; and there's quite a bit of things that could be discussed with this story. It is a very powerful read!
One of the things I appreciated about this book was how it gives the power of representation. Achebe said:
"The popularity of Things Fall Apart in my own society can be explained simply ... this was the first time we were seeing ourselves, as autonomous individuals, rather than half-people, or as Conrad would say, 'rudimentary souls'."
And the Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka described the novel as "the first novel in English which spoke from the interior of the African character, rather than portraying the African as an exotic, as the white man would see him."
In addition, the way Achebe structured this novel is so effective. The first part of the book is meant to immerse the reader in the village life of the tribe - its customs, government, community, etc. This part shows the holistic life of the village. That then gets contrasted against the Western culture that comes up later on in the book.
As far as the writing itself, sometimes it did feel a bit stilted or stiff so to speak. But this doesn't detract from the story as a whole. In fact, while there may be parts that feel a bit stilted, it also has a poetic aspect to it as well. In addition, some of the native language is included which allows readers to encounter the culture even more.
Here's an example of what I felt was more of the poetic writing:
"Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.” (p. 7)
Overall, this is a very powerful and moving story and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
3.5
I actually listened to the audiobook for this one and it was done with a full cast. This audiobook was phenomenally done and the way it was narrated at times made it feel very creepy in certain parts…the ominous tones of voices and chantings and such in the audiobook all made the read very atmospheric.
There were some things I really didn't like in this book; but to share about those would give spoilers. Suffice it to say, I felt very sorry for John Proctor's wife.
Yet, despite the things I didn't like in the story, it's important to note that one of the points of this story is reminding readers of a true scenario that really happened in history involving the hysteria of witchcraft that swept Salem at that time, albeit in a fictionalized play where things may not have been 100% accurate. In that, I think it succeeded, especially in showing how accusations of witchcraft were used to get back at people.
I did find it interesting that Judge Hathorne was in this play. That’s a connection to my reading of The Scarlet Letter and learning more about Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Again, the audiobook was excellent and had me not wanting to put it down at times. Still, this wasn’t a favorite for mine honestly. I gave it 3.50 stars largely for the audiobook performance.
There were some things I really didn't like in this book; but to share about those would give spoilers. Suffice it to say, I felt very sorry for John Proctor's wife.
Yet, despite the things I didn't like in the story, it's important to note that one of the points of this story is reminding readers of a true scenario that really happened in history involving the hysteria of witchcraft that swept Salem at that time, albeit in a fictionalized play where things may not have been 100% accurate. In that, I think it succeeded, especially in showing how accusations of witchcraft were used to get back at people.
I did find it interesting that Judge Hathorne was in this play. That’s a connection to my reading of The Scarlet Letter and learning more about Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Again, the audiobook was excellent and had me not wanting to put it down at times. Still, this wasn’t a favorite for mine honestly. I gave it 3.50 stars largely for the audiobook performance.
Snow by Orhan Pamuk
4.0
This novel feels quite hard to review. It had so many different elements to it - from mystery to a cultural clash to interpersonal relationships to religious factions. There was also quite a bit of philosophy in this book, but in such a way that it didn’t feel confusing but instead, understandable. I really appreciated that because sometimes highly philosophical discussions can get a bit abstract for me. 🙃
The story very much had the feel and tone of some of the Russian classic literature novels I’ve read…that melancholy tone that seems to pervade the pages of a Dostoevsky novel for example.
The writing itself was beautiful. Very poetic. The writing sometimes had a cadence to it, especially when talking about the snow. Here’s a sample:
"Much later, when he thought about how he'd written this poem, he had a vision of a snowflake; this snowflake, he decided, was his life writ small; the poem that had unlocked the meaning of his life, he now saw sitting at its center." (p. 94)
This book pulled me in but then I admit, I was very glad to finish it. The last few chapters felt like it took forever to read. In spite of that though, I really liked the storytelling, the writing, and the depth of the novel. Deeply written, probing, and very thought-provoking, this book was a solid 4 star read.
The story very much had the feel and tone of some of the Russian classic literature novels I’ve read…that melancholy tone that seems to pervade the pages of a Dostoevsky novel for example.
The writing itself was beautiful. Very poetic. The writing sometimes had a cadence to it, especially when talking about the snow. Here’s a sample:
"Much later, when he thought about how he'd written this poem, he had a vision of a snowflake; this snowflake, he decided, was his life writ small; the poem that had unlocked the meaning of his life, he now saw sitting at its center." (p. 94)
This book pulled me in but then I admit, I was very glad to finish it. The last few chapters felt like it took forever to read. In spite of that though, I really liked the storytelling, the writing, and the depth of the novel. Deeply written, probing, and very thought-provoking, this book was a solid 4 star read.
Night by Elie Wiesel
Wow! What a powerful read! Wiesel shares a lot about what life was like in the concentration camp. He also shares the deep struggle he had with God from seeing and enduring such horrific things. When I listened to his sharing of his thoughts on this, it was deeply moving and very powerful. I had to try hard not to just break down and cry off and on throughout the listening of this book. I wasn't successful....I was in tears multiple times. I don't think one could read/listen to this book and not be moved to tears.
Powerful and deeply moving, I think this one should be required reading right up there with The Diary of Anne Frank.
Also, I do highly recommend the audiobook for this one.
From Elie Wiesel:
Powerful and deeply moving, I think this one should be required reading right up there with The Diary of Anne Frank.
Also, I do highly recommend the audiobook for this one.
From Elie Wiesel:
“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.”