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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This was a fascinating read. I picked it up because I loved The Book Thief, and I thought that the blurb sounded pretty interesting.
It was really well written and very original! I really enjoyed it!
I am a sucker for stories about people helping other people so this was right up my alley. Although parts of it felt... at odds with the rest of the book.
Overall it was good but I took off a star rating because it left me still a little confused when I would’ve liked to feel completely satisfied with the ending.
SPOILERS BELOW
I didn’t like when Ed beat up the Rose kid. Violence is never the answer, so that ‘message’ seemed really unnecessary to me. It was so at odds with all the other nice things he was doing for people?? I mean I get that the point was to bring the brothers together but there are so many other ways he could have done that.
And when Daryl and Keith beat up Ed? Why did that have to happen?? It felt like the author thought his story was too ‘nice’ so he threw in some fists to keep it exciting.
But I absolutely loved Ed as Jimmy with Milla. That was so beautiful ❤️
I truly love stories of people helping people, so most of this book was just fantastic for me. I especially loved how in the end Ed had to help his friends as well.
And Marv!!! Oh my goodness!!! Saving money for a kid he’d never met
It was really well written and very original! I really enjoyed it!
I am a sucker for stories about people helping other people so this was right up my alley. Although parts of it felt... at odds with the rest of the book.
Overall it was good but I took off a star rating because it left me still a little confused when I would’ve liked to feel completely satisfied with the ending.
SPOILERS BELOW
Spoiler
I didn’t like when Ed beat up the Rose kid. Violence is never the answer, so that ‘message’ seemed really unnecessary to me. It was so at odds with all the other nice things he was doing for people?? I mean I get that the point was to bring the brothers together but there are so many other ways he could have done that.
And when Daryl and Keith beat up Ed? Why did that have to happen?? It felt like the author thought his story was too ‘nice’ so he threw in some fists to keep it exciting.
But I absolutely loved Ed as Jimmy with Milla. That was so beautiful ❤️
I truly love stories of people helping people, so most of this book was just fantastic for me. I especially loved how in the end Ed had to help his friends as well.
And Marv!!! Oh my goodness!!! Saving money for a kid he’d never met
I LOVED this book. Zusak is an amazing author. He creates very compelling, lively, rich, and real characters who are engaged in fascinating struggles. This book was a page-turner that I didn't want to put down - but I didn't want it to end either. One of the things I love most about his writing is his ability to write about very real circumstances - good and bad - with depth and honesty. Yet, at its core, his books show such hopefulness, beauty, and love.
This books message is quite nice, "Faith in humanity restored" kinda thing.
If you are an introvert or are plagued by an incessant inner dialague I would give it a pass, because this book sounds like a never ending speech with self, thankfully the only thing you have to do to make it stop is putting the book down for a while, I wish it were that easy all the time.
The book is good, sometimes wordy, but good, not that it's long, don't get me wrong, it's not. But wordy in a repetitive sort of way, eg. "Tomorrow I am going there. The day has come, I am thinking of my decision of going there and don't feel to sure, but I push myself to do it. I am finally there (or here) I am summing up the courage to do it. I am doing it. I have done it. I tell someone what I did".
But this is coming out as if I hadn't enjoyed it, which I did.
The story is good, it will leave some imprint in your mind or maybe your soul.
I think anyone could identify with at least something that is happening to someone in the book.
The characters evolve nicely, they are well defined in a limited sort of way.
Not really a "must read" but maybe a "would be nice if you read" kind of book.
If you are an introvert or are plagued by an incessant inner dialague I would give it a pass, because this book sounds like a never ending speech with self, thankfully the only thing you have to do to make it stop is putting the book down for a while, I wish it were that easy all the time.
The book is good, sometimes wordy, but good, not that it's long, don't get me wrong, it's not. But wordy in a repetitive sort of way, eg. "Tomorrow I am going there. The day has come, I am thinking of my decision of going there and don't feel to sure, but I push myself to do it. I am finally there (or here) I am summing up the courage to do it. I am doing it. I have done it. I tell someone what I did".
But this is coming out as if I hadn't enjoyed it, which I did.
The story is good, it will leave some imprint in your mind or maybe your soul.
I think anyone could identify with at least something that is happening to someone in the book.
The characters evolve nicely, they are well defined in a limited sort of way.
Not really a "must read" but maybe a "would be nice if you read" kind of book.
Now I understand why this book came so highly recommended. As I read, the story kept shifting and changing, never easy to predict. And when I finally reached the end, I was crying with Ed as he realized that he is the message, not the messenger. A powerful message for everyone to look around at their community and learn to step in and help however possible.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not for me.
This one was very heavy handed on the social messaging to the point that I actually eye rolled a couple of times on how excessive it was getting. Don’t get me wrong I am a firm believer that we need more compassion in this world. I think a lot of problems we face as a society could be helped if we collectively tried to incorporate compassion into our day to day lives. But this was border line preaching that belief. It just did not work for me
This one was very heavy handed on the social messaging to the point that I actually eye rolled a couple of times on how excessive it was getting. Don’t get me wrong I am a firm believer that we need more compassion in this world. I think a lot of problems we face as a society could be helped if we collectively tried to incorporate compassion into our day to day lives. But this was border line preaching that belief. It just did not work for me
Listened on audiobook. It never really grabbed me, and I might not have finished if I were reading instead of listening.
This novel was quite funny! Even when there were some more serious scenes, Zusak laced in some humour to ease the tension and it was well done. The plot was enticing and the message (lol) was excellent and clever! The ending was somewhat confusing with all of the revelations, but I could see why these would be a mixture of slow and fast-paced because that's how they are in real life haha! A lot more mentions of sex and objectifying women than I normally tolerate, but Ed Kennedy truly is an ordinary man and I liked him as a character.
I listened to the audiobook! It was pretty great!
Reading Challenge Prompt: A humourous novel.
I listened to the audiobook! It was pretty great!
Reading Challenge Prompt: A humourous novel.
4/5 Maybe 3.75
The audiobook took a few points down from my rating
The story is great, the final message too but I did forget about the book from time to time.
The audiobook took a few points down from my rating
The story is great, the final message too but I did forget about the book from time to time.
