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sarahpreno's review against another edition
4.0
It’s hard to review this book without giving away any spoilers! I loved the intricate way the story pieces of the different stories were woven together. When I got to the second part of the book I wanted to go back and reread the first part to examine all the little details. The ending, though shocking, was really well done.
thorspoptarts's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
5.0
This book was awesome!!! I checked it out from the library to read it, but now I think I'll buy it!
sarkamatty's review against another edition
5.0
Jsem asi jediná, ale Madiina část mě bavila mnohem, mnohem víc než Juliina. Abych byla upřímná, ze začátku jsem vůbec nechápala, co na téhle knize všichni vidí a připadala si provinile, že mi to vůbec nepřijde tak úžasné. Prvních cca 120 stran jsem se ke čtení z velké části nutila, občas mi unikaly souvislosti, nedařilo se mi vyznat se v Juliiných zápiscích a vzhledem k tomu, že létání nikdy nebyla moje vášeň, postrádala jsem nějaký záchytný bod. Nicméně, bavila mě Juliina "současná linka" a jakmile se blížil konec jejího vyprávění, bylo jasné, že se z minulosti pomalu přesouváme do přítomnosti (samozřejmě relativní, protože všechno je stále vyprávěné formou zápisků, a to i v případě Maddie, takže zcela v přítomném okamžiku nejsme prakticky nikdy). A spolu s tím do sebe všechno pomalu začalo zapadat. Linky se protínaly, postavy získávaly třetí rozměr, došlo na několik drobných milých překvapení a samozřejmě na grandiózní finále.
Teď mám pocit, že mi ze začátku chyběl ten celkový rámec toho, co se děje a proč se to děje. Verity sice vše vypráví, ale způsobem, kdy jsou její zápisky určené někomu, kdo už je aktivní součástí děje, ne novému diváku, kterým je čtenář, když knihu otevře. Navíc musí být snad každému jasné, že vzhledem k povaze jejího textu a motivaci jej psát se nemůžeme nikdy dovědět vše, co bychom chtěli. Ovšem celá tato kompozice je opravdu dobře vymyšlená a hlavně teď po dočtení, když si to znovu procházím, ji dokážu patřičně ocenit. Krycí jméno Verity také působí dostatečně věrohodně, aby vás z toho mrazilo, ale zároveň také dostatečně dobrodružně, abyste chtěli vědět, co bude s postavami dál (hlavně někde od těch 120 stran). Mou zvědavost také nesmírně podnítilo autorčino poděkování a poznámky na konci, které jsem si přečetla, když jsem byla někde v půlce, ale nevím, jestli je to vhodné pro všechny, protože jsou tam zmíněny drobnosti, které by případně mohly být považovány za menší spoilery. Ovšem pokud taky jako já preferujete, když znáte předem konec, asi bych doporučila si ho někde najít. Já byla moc ráda, že vím do čeho jdu (ale samozřejmě jenom co se týče základních událostí, většina konkrétností a vysvětlení mi zůstala utajených a byla by to škoda, kdyby ne).
Každopádně, Krycí jméno Verity je kniha tématem, kompozicí a zpracováním tak zajímavá, že si podle mě zaslouží pět hvězdiček a to i přes případnou neatraktivnost prvních kapitol.
Teď mám pocit, že mi ze začátku chyběl ten celkový rámec toho, co se děje a proč se to děje. Verity sice vše vypráví, ale způsobem, kdy jsou její zápisky určené někomu, kdo už je aktivní součástí děje, ne novému diváku, kterým je čtenář, když knihu otevře. Navíc musí být snad každému jasné, že vzhledem k povaze jejího textu a motivaci jej psát se nemůžeme nikdy dovědět vše, co bychom chtěli. Ovšem celá tato kompozice je opravdu dobře vymyšlená a hlavně teď po dočtení, když si to znovu procházím, ji dokážu patřičně ocenit. Krycí jméno Verity také působí dostatečně věrohodně, aby vás z toho mrazilo, ale zároveň také dostatečně dobrodružně, abyste chtěli vědět, co bude s postavami dál (hlavně někde od těch 120 stran). Mou zvědavost také nesmírně podnítilo autorčino poděkování a poznámky na konci, které jsem si přečetla, když jsem byla někde v půlce, ale nevím, jestli je to vhodné pro všechny, protože jsou tam zmíněny drobnosti, které by případně mohly být považovány za menší spoilery. Ovšem pokud taky jako já preferujete, když znáte předem konec, asi bych doporučila si ho někde najít. Já byla moc ráda, že vím do čeho jdu (ale samozřejmě jenom co se týče základních událostí, většina konkrétností a vysvětlení mi zůstala utajených a byla by to škoda, kdyby ne).
Každopádně, Krycí jméno Verity je kniha tématem, kompozicí a zpracováním tak zajímavá, že si podle mě zaslouží pět hvězdiček a to i přes případnou neatraktivnost prvních kapitol.
threegoodrats's review
4.0
thenovelbook's review against another edition
4.0
Supremely well written but terribly painful... but what else did one expect of a book with Gestapo in it?
PG-13 instances of language... and this may technically be a YA book, but I certainly wouldn't classify it that way. I was reminded a little of Devil's Arithmetic.... anybody else read that in middle school? Well, think of something related to that but cranked up several degrees higher in intensity. It doesn't take place in a concentration camp, but in a Gestapo headquarters in France, though there is narrative in England as well. The story is about two young women, one a pilot, one a "special operative" in Britain during World War II. They are the best of friends. Heartbreaking, horrendous things happen.
The book is tightly plotted and the two main characters are well realized... they would have to be, to give the climax its emotional wallop.
Anyway, I don't make it my business to recommend such books, unless you occasionally go in for this sort of thing, something powerful, something that holds up both the bright and the darkest dark of humanity.
PG-13 instances of language... and this may technically be a YA book, but I certainly wouldn't classify it that way. I was reminded a little of Devil's Arithmetic.... anybody else read that in middle school? Well, think of something related to that but cranked up several degrees higher in intensity. It doesn't take place in a concentration camp, but in a Gestapo headquarters in France, though there is narrative in England as well. The story is about two young women, one a pilot, one a "special operative" in Britain during World War II. They are the best of friends. Heartbreaking, horrendous things happen.
The book is tightly plotted and the two main characters are well realized... they would have to be, to give the climax its emotional wallop.
Anyway, I don't make it my business to recommend such books, unless you occasionally go in for this sort of thing, something powerful, something that holds up both the bright and the darkest dark of humanity.
abeattie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lizzycooley's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
trin's review
2.0
Minority opinion alert: I didn't like this. I remember finding it obvious and dull and more manipulative of emotions than actually emotional. But I read it nine years ago and any specifics beyond that have escaped me. It didn't feel, at the time, like it was going to stick with me, and it didn't.
carlisajc's review
4.0
4.5 STARS
This story was a beautiful novel of love and friendship amidst the turmoil and tragedy of war. It will twist your heart and break it into pieces and perhaps make you cry (don’t worry, I surprisingly held it together and didn’t cry).
This is the story of two girls during WWII, Queenie and Maddie. It starts in the perspective of Queenie, a British wireless operator who got caught and was writing a log for the Nazis. She tells the story of her best friend Maddie, a pilot for the British army. She tells the story of their friendship and how they got to this point: two best friends who may never see each other again.
My Review:
This book wasn’t easy for me to get into. It took me awhile and I think that’s it’s because how it’s set up. It’s not the traditional narrator, plot, dialogue story. The entire story is written in logs meant for her enemy. So she’s not an entirely reliable narrator and I think I had a hard time with that. Mostly Queenie is telling the story of Maddie, but it was written as if Queenie was an omniscient narrator…which she’s not. So that threw me off. They do address this later, though, and my mind has changed a lot about this. I think it works. It works well. And if I had time I would read it again so I can have a different perspective in this beginning.
I started getting attached to the characters when Queenie’s emotions started breaking through the narrative of the logs. The first quote I wrote down from her is: “God what a mess. I have to stop here until I stop crying or it will all be illegibly smeared. . . sorry sorry sorry”
No punctuation at the end, just raw emotion. I felt for her so strongly here even though I didn’t know what had happened to make her so sad.
Also the FORESHADOWING. The TENSION. So much and so well done. I was getting so nervous to continue because I thought I knew what was coming (I didn’t) but I needed to keep reading anyway (I did). Look at this beautiful quote: “It’s awful, telling it like this, isn’t it? As though we didn’t know the ending. As though it could have another ending. It’s like watching Romeo drink poison. Every time you see it you get fooled into thinking his girlfriend might wake up and stop him. Every single time you see it you want to shout, ‘You stupid ass, just wait a minute,’ and she’ll open her eyes! ‘Oi, you, you twat, open your eyes, wake up! Don’t die this time!’ But they always do.” Ahhhhhh.
This book questions the meaning of an identity. What does a name mean? Does it even matter? Not really since we don’t even learn the real name of Queenie until about halfway through the book. There are so many code names and created versions of memories that you wonder what’s true and what’s important…but you can definitely come to a conclusion: friendship and love. That‘s what’s important. Even more than truth.
My recommendation: Read the book. Cry over the book. Love the book.
KISS ME HARDY.
Originally posted here
This story was a beautiful novel of love and friendship amidst the turmoil and tragedy of war. It will twist your heart and break it into pieces and perhaps make you cry (don’t worry, I surprisingly held it together and didn’t cry).
This is the story of two girls during WWII, Queenie and Maddie. It starts in the perspective of Queenie, a British wireless operator who got caught and was writing a log for the Nazis. She tells the story of her best friend Maddie, a pilot for the British army. She tells the story of their friendship and how they got to this point: two best friends who may never see each other again.
My Review:
This book wasn’t easy for me to get into. It took me awhile and I think that’s it’s because how it’s set up. It’s not the traditional narrator, plot, dialogue story. The entire story is written in logs meant for her enemy. So she’s not an entirely reliable narrator and I think I had a hard time with that. Mostly Queenie is telling the story of Maddie, but it was written as if Queenie was an omniscient narrator…which she’s not. So that threw me off. They do address this later, though, and my mind has changed a lot about this. I think it works. It works well. And if I had time I would read it again so I can have a different perspective in this beginning.
I started getting attached to the characters when Queenie’s emotions started breaking through the narrative of the logs. The first quote I wrote down from her is: “God what a mess. I have to stop here until I stop crying or it will all be illegibly smeared. . . sorry sorry sorry”
No punctuation at the end, just raw emotion. I felt for her so strongly here even though I didn’t know what had happened to make her so sad.
Also the FORESHADOWING. The TENSION. So much and so well done. I was getting so nervous to continue because I thought I knew what was coming (I didn’t) but I needed to keep reading anyway (I did). Look at this beautiful quote: “It’s awful, telling it like this, isn’t it? As though we didn’t know the ending. As though it could have another ending. It’s like watching Romeo drink poison. Every time you see it you get fooled into thinking his girlfriend might wake up and stop him. Every single time you see it you want to shout, ‘You stupid ass, just wait a minute,’ and she’ll open her eyes! ‘Oi, you, you twat, open your eyes, wake up! Don’t die this time!’ But they always do.” Ahhhhhh.
This book questions the meaning of an identity. What does a name mean? Does it even matter? Not really since we don’t even learn the real name of Queenie until about halfway through the book. There are so many code names and created versions of memories that you wonder what’s true and what’s important…but you can definitely come to a conclusion: friendship and love. That‘s what’s important. Even more than truth.
My recommendation: Read the book. Cry over the book. Love the book.
KISS ME HARDY.
Originally posted here
mhbloom's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0