mrtvavrana's reviews
766 reviews

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

The Foundling is the third and probably also the last book by Stacey Halls that I have read. After I was slightly disappointed with The Familiars and Mrs. England turned out to be a lovely read, The Foundling has really, really, disappointed me.

The book starts with a great mystery, but a couple of chapters later you solve it, even without paying much attention. And then the issues begin.

Halfway through the book, I was so fed up and annoyed I nearly DNF´d it. Some of the characters introduced did not really have any significant roles (even if the author hinted towards it), or their role was misleading. We never learned much about Bess´ brother or the doctor, who I assumed would be a crucial part of the story and Bess´ biggest ally.

Look, I really liked the concept, but the execution was lacking. Characters were one-dimensional and dull, their relationships quite underdeveloped, and the pace dragged until the last few chapters, when the speed of the book went from 0 to 100 immediately. And then it ended abruptly, in a very unrealistic and not at all fulfilling way.

Many things at the end did not make that much sense to me.

Like, how was Bess able to walk free after being a wanted criminal for so long? What made her brother be such an ass? What was the point of the random sexual assault scenes? Why did Alexandra so easily give up her child after all the trouble and pain she went through after Bess kidnapped her? How the hell did Bess build such a strong mother-daughter relationship with Charlotte in only a few weeks? What happened to Abe, Bess´ father? Why did the doctor initially support Bess but then end up siding with Alexandra? Is it because Bess is a poor, lower-class trash? What was the whole story between Bess and Lyle, and how did the relationship even happen?

So many questions and no answers. I definitely do not recommend this book. That is, unless you want to be disappointed and annoyed.

Siedmy deň by Yu Hua

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Hello Beautiful is my first book by Ann Napolitano, but definitely not my last. It is a book that makes you think about life, about love, about death. It makes you see the world a bit differently—perhaps more vividly. It also completely shatters your heart.

Hello Beautiful is a well-written and realistic life story. I might be biased with my rating as this book was recommended to me by a dear friend, who loved it at least as much as I did.

When I started reading, I always felt a sense of impending doom. That feeling stayed with me until the very end, and while at first it scared me, in the end it made so much sense. I think it is supposed to be a part of the reading experience.

Let me warn you: this book is a roller-coaster. I felt so many powerful emotions, from joy to fear, sadness, and ultimately, pain. It's been a while since I read a book this incredibly written, and I have to say that it is probably my absolute favourite read of 2024.

I loved the characters, their depth and their individual stories. The way Hello Beautiful is written makes you feel like they are real people, and you´re simply just observing their lives from afar. I have to say there are three things I was not fully satisfied with, though.

1. not seeing all of the sisters together again for the last time

2. Alice never properly meeting Sylvie

3. the book ending before William and Alice properly spoke.

I am not saying that I did not like how the book ended, no. I really liked it. It´s just that I hoped it would be more positive.

Thinner by Stephen King

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Go to review page

adventurous challenging reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

“I don't know what's wrong with me, says Marianne. I don't know why I can't be like normal people.”

Normal People is a book I have heard a lot about from friends and from strangers. While at first it did not seem quite entertaining, the book quickly sucked me in. Unfortunately, the title is quite misleading. This book was not about normal people; it was about two very toxic and mentally ill individuals and a bunch of uninteresting people around them.

I could not find a single character I would like. On top of that, Marianne is a manic pixie/tumblrina and a victim who needs a good therapist, and Connel is so bland and manipulative and deserves to be kicked in the balls. Repeatedly. The other characters were so underdeveloped and one-dimensional that I can hardly remember them. And I have so many unanswered questions, like, Why is Marianne´s brother such a cunt? What the hell is wrong with her mother? Why does nobody step in and help Marianne or Connel during the entire book?

While I absolutely adore Sally Rooney as a person, Normal People is making me reconsider ever picking up another book by her. The whole story felt like going in circles to me. The same things kept happening over and over again, and I still don’t understand what was supposed to be the point or goal of it all. It was just two toxic people being pulled together at random times.

It took me more than a month to think of what to write in this review. I kept trying to find positives, but all I could think of was the style it was written in and the pacing. And, well, Sally Rooney herself.

Hřbitovní hlína by Jan Augusta, Radvan Markus, Máirtín Ó Cadhain

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny slow-paced