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bmyurs's reviews
289 reviews
The Earl and the Pharaoh: From the Real Downton Abbey to the Discovery of Tutankhamun by Fiona Carnarvon
informative
slow-paced
2.75
Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy by Sally Bedell Smith
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Sally Bedell Smith is no stranger to royal biography, and this one does not disappoint. After reading so many biographies about Elizabeth II and the younger royals, it's refreshing to jump back a generation or two. She thoroughly covers Bertie and Elizabeth's childhoods before jumping into their successful marriage and rule. She spends a considerable amount of time on the abdication crisis and World War II.
Overall this book is very detailed into not only the lives of Bertie and Elizabeth, but the supporting cast around them- Queen Mary, their children, David and Wallace, and the courtier at Buckingham. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because of its quick finish- we got from George being sick to the end of the book. While I understand this book is focused on their partnership, I think another chapter about the Queen Mother as a solo parent and dowager queen would have made it more well rounded.
Would recommend this book for anyone who has interest in Elizabeth II, the Crown, or even the more current events with the younger royals; there are some uncanny parallels between David's abdication and the family's handling of events, and how a similar pattern has emerged between Harry and his family.
Sally Bedell Smith is no stranger to royal biography, and this one does not disappoint. After reading so many biographies about Elizabeth II and the younger royals, it's refreshing to jump back a generation or two. She thoroughly covers Bertie and Elizabeth's childhoods before jumping into their successful marriage and rule. She spends a considerable amount of time on the abdication crisis and World War II.
Overall this book is very detailed into not only the lives of Bertie and Elizabeth, but the supporting cast around them- Queen Mary, their children, David and Wallace, and the courtier at Buckingham. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because of its quick finish- we got from George being sick to the end of the book. While I understand this book is focused on their partnership, I think another chapter about the Queen Mother as a solo parent and dowager queen would have made it more well rounded.
Would recommend this book for anyone who has interest in Elizabeth II, the Crown, or even the more current events with the younger royals; there are some uncanny parallels between David's abdication and the family's handling of events, and how a similar pattern has emerged between Harry and his family.
You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Don't Think, Dear: On Loving and Leaving Ballet by Alice Robb
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Heavy, but very approachable book. The premise centers on Alice growing up in the semi-professional and eventually professional ballet world in New York. It hits on heavy themes of feminism and sexuality, eating disorders, mental and emotional stress, aging, and the toll that ballet can take on the mind and body. While it was a heavy book that I was only able to read one chapter at a time, the writing is awesome and the topics are worth the time. She spends a lot of time discussing famous ballerinas as well as her perspective on growing up in that world. Great book for anyone for a passion for dance, or to see an insider perspective on a very competitive industry.
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book!
Oh where do I start- this book was great! It hooked me in from the beginning, and kept twisting as the plot lines grows. This book feels like a mix of Daisy Jones & the Six and Verity, two books with their own set of drama. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a domestic thriller with a historical twist thrown in.
Set in Italy, the book follows two friends/authors who spend the summer in a villa that was once the scene of a murder in the 70s. The book bounces back between present day and the summer of 1974 when a group of up and coming rockers take over the place for the summer. There were a variety of plot twists, some that I predicted as I read the book, and others that I did not see coming. The rock n' roll backstory seemed quite similar to DJ & the S, and the "which book/journal version is the accurate one?" + the main character being an author had Verity undertones in it.
My only flaw with the book was one of the plot twists with the modern day story- it just sort of happened without much detail given to how it happened.
Overall a book that I would recommend- Rachel Hawkins has become one of my go to authors, and in my opinion this is her best novel yet!
Oh where do I start- this book was great! It hooked me in from the beginning, and kept twisting as the plot lines grows. This book feels like a mix of Daisy Jones & the Six and Verity, two books with their own set of drama. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a domestic thriller with a historical twist thrown in.
Set in Italy, the book follows two friends/authors who spend the summer in a villa that was once the scene of a murder in the 70s. The book bounces back between present day and the summer of 1974 when a group of up and coming rockers take over the place for the summer. There were a variety of plot twists, some that I predicted as I read the book, and others that I did not see coming. The rock n' roll backstory seemed quite similar to DJ & the S, and the "which book/journal version is the accurate one?" + the main character being an author had Verity undertones in it.
My only flaw with the book was one of the plot twists with the modern day story- it just sort of happened without much detail given to how it happened.
Overall a book that I would recommend- Rachel Hawkins has become one of my go to authors, and in my opinion this is her best novel yet!
The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
3.25
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book!
This is such a adorable story. Talia Hibbert is known for some steamy romances on the adult market, but she kept it sweet and PG for her first YA novel. The book follows two friends turned enemies as the go through a competitive scholarship process their final year of school. The book is told from multiple dimensions which is great for this age group, as you get a chance to get into both characters heads. I appreciated that Hibbert used phrasing and situations that matched the age of the characters. I was worried that she would "age" the characters too far, but she didn't. There's a decent amount of humor mixed into the book, which keeps the characters feeling real, and not too polished. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Hibbert continues her trend of mixing in real life issues (OCD, parental separation) into her main characters. I love this, especially for this age group, as it grounds the characters into something that the audience can understand and relate to.
This is such a adorable story. Talia Hibbert is known for some steamy romances on the adult market, but she kept it sweet and PG for her first YA novel. The book follows two friends turned enemies as the go through a competitive scholarship process their final year of school. The book is told from multiple dimensions which is great for this age group, as you get a chance to get into both characters heads. I appreciated that Hibbert used phrasing and situations that matched the age of the characters. I was worried that she would "age" the characters too far, but she didn't. There's a decent amount of humor mixed into the book, which keeps the characters feeling real, and not too polished. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Hibbert continues her trend of mixing in real life issues (OCD, parental separation) into her main characters. I love this, especially for this age group, as it grounds the characters into something that the audience can understand and relate to.