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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
This was a really easy book to read but once I'd reached the end I realised that I actually didn't really like it that much. The main character, Tamara, was really self-centered and whiny and I didn't warm to her at all even at the end.
The 'mystery' aspect of the fire in the castle etc was left right to the end, and even the hints throughout were a bit too heavy-handed and rushed. There were casual references throughout but it only became obvious that it was a main plot point at the very end.
Roseleen's weird behaviour was more of an annoyance than an indicator of her involvement and I felt it was too repetative.
The mystical diary was supposed to be an important aspect of the novel but I felt that the few diary entries that were written down for us to read were really insignificant and seemed to lack any real purpose. Take out the diary and the majority of the book made sense.
Overall it was an easy read but nothing really happened and the characters were really flat.
The 'mystery' aspect of the fire in the castle etc was left right to the end, and even the hints throughout were a bit too heavy-handed and rushed. There were casual references throughout but it only became obvious that it was a main plot point at the very end.
Roseleen's weird behaviour was more of an annoyance than an indicator of her involvement and I felt it was too repetative.
The mystical diary was supposed to be an important aspect of the novel but I felt that the few diary entries that were written down for us to read were really insignificant and seemed to lack any real purpose. Take out the diary and the majority of the book made sense.
Overall it was an easy read but nothing really happened and the characters were really flat.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Listened to the audio book, 8.5 hrs.
This is a young adult book set in Ireland, about a family and the secrets they keep and how far people are willing to go to keep those secrets. In the mix of this, there is a bit of fantasy regarding a diary that writes itself and tells our heroine how tomorrow will go - unless she can make changes to alter the course of events.
All the characters are believable. Everyone is neither all good or all bad, just like in real life.
This is a young adult book set in Ireland, about a family and the secrets they keep and how far people are willing to go to keep those secrets. In the mix of this, there is a bit of fantasy regarding a diary that writes itself and tells our heroine how tomorrow will go - unless she can make changes to alter the course of events.
All the characters are believable. Everyone is neither all good or all bad, just like in real life.
It wasn't devoid of charm, nor was it badly-written, but Cecelia Ahern' s (P.S, I Love You) billionth chick-lit had a promising start but eventually delved into typical and familiar territory and it just seemed so boringly uneventful, and even the remotely interesting plot became monotonous and humdrum.
This book was somewhat predictable. Interesting story but I knew what was going to happen about a third of the way through. It was however a nice, distracting read that didn't require a whole lot of brain work.
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The story was cute. I loved the idea of having a book to let you know what the day is going to bring you. It was a very slow read though. I almost DNFed but I wanted to know what the book revealed to her. I was actually pretty surprised with the ending not what I thought it was going be. But glad I decided to keep going. It was a cute read.
84%
"The word 'grief' comes from the old French word greve which means heavy burden. The idea is that grief weighs you down with sorrow and a lot of other emotions. I feel that way: heavier, like I have to drag myself around, like everything is effort, is dark and crap. It's as though my head is continually filled with thoughts I'd never had before, which gives me a headache."
A slow (but necessarily so) start, but once she found the book things really revved up into a great, tense family mystery that unwound at a great pace without leaving things feeling rushed or unfinished; make sure you make time to read the last 1/3 in one sitting, because you're not going to want to put it down.
"I occasionally tripped on a raised root, and was caught each time by a helpfully placed tree trunk. The trees did that, tripped me and caught me, tickled me with their leaves and webs, and smacked me in the face with their branches."
"I've heard people say that when they dream about a loved one that has died, they feel that it's real, that the person is really there, sending them a message, giving them a hug. That somehow dreams are a blurred line between here and there, like a meeting room in a prison. You're both in the same room, yet on different sides and in different worlds."
"The word 'grief' comes from the old French word greve which means heavy burden. The idea is that grief weighs you down with sorrow and a lot of other emotions. I feel that way: heavier, like I have to drag myself around, like everything is effort, is dark and crap. It's as though my head is continually filled with thoughts I'd never had before, which gives me a headache."
A slow (but necessarily so) start, but once she found the book things really revved up into a great, tense family mystery that unwound at a great pace without leaving things feeling rushed or unfinished; make sure you make time to read the last 1/3 in one sitting, because you're not going to want to put it down.
"I occasionally tripped on a raised root, and was caught each time by a helpfully placed tree trunk. The trees did that, tripped me and caught me, tickled me with their leaves and webs, and smacked me in the face with their branches."
"I've heard people say that when they dream about a loved one that has died, they feel that it's real, that the person is really there, sending them a message, giving them a hug. That somehow dreams are a blurred line between here and there, like a meeting room in a prison. You're both in the same room, yet on different sides and in different worlds."
I really enjoyed the book. I liked the premise and felt a connection to the main character and the journey she undertook. it could have gone down such a cliche path but I thought the plot was refreshing. the reason I give it only 3 stars is that it felt sort of rushed. especially towards the end, and some things were barely mentioned and only glossed over.