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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was good in the beginning with the set up but it felt very rushed and it included parts that didn’t seem necessary where I wish they had gone in and focused more on the side characters as well. Was almost a DNF but I decided to finish it anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Pedophilia, Self harm, Death of parent
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
funny
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
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hotel 21 is a unique novel that combines friendship, childhood abuse and a lonely main character who enjoys the rush of stealing in the setting of hotel cleaning. It was a bit patchy for me, with some great moments and others that dragged.
Hotel 21 refers to the Magnolia Hotel, a five star hotel in London and also Noelle’s twenty-first hotel that she’s worked at. She’s moved around a lot of hotels despite being in her twenties. You see, Noelle likes the adrenaline rush of stealing small things from hotel guests, such as tweezers, travel size creams and lip balms. She creates a particular persona to ensure that it will be unbelievable that she could even be suspected of stealing and then departs soon after with a family emergency she’s being called out. As the story goes on, the reader finds out that Noelle’s family consisted of an abusive, alcoholic mother who would physically assault her. Noelle leaves her home after she makes some money and then travels around, working and putting her trophies (i.e. stolen items) in a trunk to look back on. But the Magnolia is different. The cleaners are a fun team of women who actively engage Noelle and include her in nights out. She even falls in love. And strangely enough, Noelle starts losing the desire to steal. But then her past catches up with her, and sends her into a spin. Will she let her new friends help her out?
The book starts with Noelle’s first day at the Magnolia, and then goes back in time to discuss some of the problems Noelle had at other hotels with co-workers, managers and slipping up when stealing. It did get repetitive for me. As Noelle is making friends with her colleagues, the reader gains insight into her childhood and why she acts in this way (and why she is so incredibly naïve). When Noelle strikes difficulties with her past, it’s more about her friends coming to help her and Noelle realising she doesn’t have to be alone. It all felt quite separate to me, as if some things could only be discussed in certain parts of the book and detracted away from the storyline. Noelle is fascinating in her uniqueness as a character, but her lack of knowledge of friends, going out etc did grate after a while. She’s been on her own for years, but she seemed barely able to function outside of work at times. Her friends were fun and engaging, but had only a quirk or relationship to make them distinguishable from the others. The big finale, while predictable, was heartwarming.
Overall, it’s an odd book with strong writing that works at times for its differences but also felt rushed or formulaic at times.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Hotel 21 refers to the Magnolia Hotel, a five star hotel in London and also Noelle’s twenty-first hotel that she’s worked at. She’s moved around a lot of hotels despite being in her twenties. You see, Noelle likes the adrenaline rush of stealing small things from hotel guests, such as tweezers, travel size creams and lip balms. She creates a particular persona to ensure that it will be unbelievable that she could even be suspected of stealing and then departs soon after with a family emergency she’s being called out. As the story goes on, the reader finds out that Noelle’s family consisted of an abusive, alcoholic mother who would physically assault her. Noelle leaves her home after she makes some money and then travels around, working and putting her trophies (i.e. stolen items) in a trunk to look back on. But the Magnolia is different. The cleaners are a fun team of women who actively engage Noelle and include her in nights out. She even falls in love. And strangely enough, Noelle starts losing the desire to steal. But then her past catches up with her, and sends her into a spin. Will she let her new friends help her out?
The book starts with Noelle’s first day at the Magnolia, and then goes back in time to discuss some of the problems Noelle had at other hotels with co-workers, managers and slipping up when stealing. It did get repetitive for me. As Noelle is making friends with her colleagues, the reader gains insight into her childhood and why she acts in this way (and why she is so incredibly naïve). When Noelle strikes difficulties with her past, it’s more about her friends coming to help her and Noelle realising she doesn’t have to be alone. It all felt quite separate to me, as if some things could only be discussed in certain parts of the book and detracted away from the storyline. Noelle is fascinating in her uniqueness as a character, but her lack of knowledge of friends, going out etc did grate after a while. She’s been on her own for years, but she seemed barely able to function outside of work at times. Her friends were fun and engaging, but had only a quirk or relationship to make them distinguishable from the others. The big finale, while predictable, was heartwarming.
Overall, it’s an odd book with strong writing that works at times for its differences but also felt rushed or formulaic at times.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4*
Eigen TBR.
Zo een vlot en leuk verhaal. Leest lekker weg.
Eigen TBR.
Zo een vlot en leuk verhaal. Leest lekker weg.
dark
emotional
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