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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
The way the book started made me think I would love it, but that first part with Alejandro as a child remained the strongest part of the book for me, along with a few notable moments from Jav's arc. I wanted to love it, I really did, but I ended up loving only parts of it.
And it's not that it became bad, but it felt... scattered? Perhaps part of it was that there are 5 POVs (if I'm not forgetting someone). And since there are so many characters, when the story reaches a point where something is supposed to be impactful, there's a fair chance it won't be - there's just not enough time or actual reasons for the reader to care every time one of the characters falls in love, gets hurt, so on.
And it's sad since some of these characters had amazing stories, but I think the balance between what should be included and what should be cut was lost, so they got watered down.
Oh and what's with the cousins thing? Why? Why?
Edit: Forgot to rant about how annoying the "slavic" accent thing was. I cringed without fail each time.
And it's not that it became bad, but it felt... scattered? Perhaps part of it was that there are 5 POVs (if I'm not forgetting someone). And since there are so many characters, when the story reaches a point where something is supposed to be impactful, there's a fair chance it won't be - there's just not enough time or actual reasons for the reader to care every time one of the characters falls in love, gets hurt, so on.
And it's sad since some of these characters had amazing stories, but I think the balance between what should be included and what should be cut was lost, so they got watered down.
Oh and what's with the cousins thing? Why? Why?
Edit: Forgot to rant about how annoying the "slavic" accent thing was. I cringed without fail each time.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
This book was interesting enough that I'll definitely pick up the sequel, as I'm very invested in what happens to Jav. I just wish I could have loved it the way almost everyone else seems to. Suanne Laqueur is a great writer, but her purple prose, unfortunately, tended to get on my nerves, and the only romantic relationship that wasn't based on insta- love was the one between Javier and Alex, which- you'd have to read this to figure out what happens with them.
I'm being really negative here, but this novel truly has a lot going for it. It's such an ambitious story, going back and forth in history and covering the backstories of multiple characters, all of them very interesting and complex. The scenes with Alex and his parents and the scenes detailing Jav's tortured childhood were the most well-written, gut-wrenching parts of An Exaltation of Larks, along with the ending of the story centered around both of them and Alex's wife, Val, another main character.
Hopefully, I'll love a Charm of Finches, but I am taking a bit of a break from this series right now as it is extremely emotionally exhausting. I read what the subject matter for the next book is going to be and it seems like it is going to be just as heavy and difficult to get through as this one.
TW: Homophobia, domestic violence
I'm being really negative here, but this novel truly has a lot going for it. It's such an ambitious story, going back and forth in history and covering the backstories of multiple characters, all of them very interesting and complex. The scenes with Alex and his parents and the scenes detailing Jav's tortured childhood were the most well-written, gut-wrenching parts of An Exaltation of Larks, along with the ending of the story centered around both of them and Alex's wife, Val, another main character.
Hopefully, I'll love a Charm of Finches, but I am taking a bit of a break from this series right now as it is extremely emotionally exhausting. I read what the subject matter for the next book is going to be and it seems like it is going to be just as heavy and difficult to get through as this one.
TW: Homophobia, domestic violence
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was my first (of many to come I’m sure) listen via audio. The narration was excellent and definitely adds to the emotion of the story. It’s still one of my favorites books (even if o live book 2 slightly more)
My original review:
I’m left fairly speechless by this one but I will say it’s my favorite of the year so far and in my top 5 of all time. As I’m sure you’ve seen in other reviews I can’t say much plot wise without spoilers but wow this book crushed me so many times.
I never felt so much heartache for one character before. For a lot of these characters actually.
I usually pick out my favorite quotes but I I have so many highlights I can’t pick favorites.
I’m off to read Finches and most likely get crushed again.
My original review:
I’m left fairly speechless by this one but I will say it’s my favorite of the year so far and in my top 5 of all time. As I’m sure you’ve seen in other reviews I can’t say much plot wise without spoilers but wow this book crushed me so many times.
I never felt so much heartache for one character before. For a lot of these characters actually.
I usually pick out my favorite quotes but I I have so many highlights I can’t pick favorites.
I’m off to read Finches and most likely get crushed again.
I am going to absolutely fail to come up with adequate words to describe how much I enjoyed reading “An Exaltation of Larks.” This is gorgeous storytelling at its finest, a tapestry of intricately woven moments over decades and across two continents that the author weaves together with delicate precision and at times painful truth. It is fitting that everything starts with Alejandro in Chile, as the world begins to crumble around him, and follows him, Valerie, and Javier from childhood through adulthood in a heartwarming and thoughtful look at how our experiences shape the self we’re sometimes forced to become to survive, and how healing can come in moments you least expect it.
The author’s exploration of sexuality was especially well-done. Nothing felt overdone or gratuitous, but rather, each scene played a part somewhere in the overall story of who these three characters were, and what story the author was trying to tell. There were moments of teenage exploration and wonderment, the perfectly drawn notes of curiosity and anxiety as a boy’s first kiss with another boy takes form and comes on so gradually it would be easy to miss, and most heartbreakingly, the experience of a man almost admitting his feelings after suppressing them for so long. But really it's about so much more than just sexuality. It's about growth and personal journey, and it's so compelling you just can't put it down. Suanne Laqueur hits exactly the right note every single time and this is a must read.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
The author’s exploration of sexuality was especially well-done. Nothing felt overdone or gratuitous, but rather, each scene played a part somewhere in the overall story of who these three characters were, and what story the author was trying to tell. There were moments of teenage exploration and wonderment, the perfectly drawn notes of curiosity and anxiety as a boy’s first kiss with another boy takes form and comes on so gradually it would be easy to miss, and most heartbreakingly, the experience of a man almost admitting his feelings after suppressing them for so long. But really it's about so much more than just sexuality. It's about growth and personal journey, and it's so compelling you just can't put it down. Suanne Laqueur hits exactly the right note every single time and this is a must read.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mixed feelings about this book. Really likes it at the beginning but after about two thirds of the book it was mainly a lot of sex. I get it, you like each other, it’s complicated and confusing, but this was just too much. The last bit was okay again, but it was hard work to get through it for a while.