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books_with_tutusandsons's Reviews (438)
I have to say, I expected a bit more of this one. I have read only Palahniuk's Invisible Monsters, but damn, that book was good! Freaky, twisted, weird, but so good! This one seemed confusing at moments - I just couldn't follow the story no matter how hard I tried. Ok, maybe it was the author's intention all the way, or maybe I am not the right one to understand his writing. Even the scenes that were supposed to be sickening or disturbed, didn't make me feel that way. All in all, an interesting story, but left me kinda meh.
Big thnx to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Big thnx to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
4.5/5
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First of all. I love Egyptology. A lot of people minded this book to be a bit "too scientific" and "talking about egyptian history too much too detailed". I loved that about it. I used to dream to be an Egyptologist when I was a kid. Pyramids, pharaohs and the whole egyptian civilization always felt special to me. And after two trips to Egypt I can say that seeing it in person left me speechless and even more in awe. Its magnificent, its impressing, and its beyond words how one culture can leave such an amazing legacy . ⠀
What I probably loved the most about this book was the authors courage to approach things that are still considered uncomfortable to so many people. How to deal with death is only one of them. How to say goodbye to your loved ones and accept death as part of life, as something normal. I also loved her questioning things most people dont want to admit they think about. Is being content good enough for a lifetime? What would you change if you could? And would you be brave enough to fight for your choices? I felt so many emotions reading this one. Recognized so many familiar fears and doubts. And I felt for the charactes, all of them. They werent always the most likeable, their choices werent always the smartest ones, but they were human. And you could understand. ⠀
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This book deals with a lot. Egyptology, quantnum physics, life, loss, body image, marriage, family, love, responsibilities, regret and courage. You have to be prepared, cause its not a easy read. But it is so worth it. Trust me.⠀
Big thnx to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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First of all. I love Egyptology. A lot of people minded this book to be a bit "too scientific" and "talking about egyptian history too much too detailed". I loved that about it. I used to dream to be an Egyptologist when I was a kid. Pyramids, pharaohs and the whole egyptian civilization always felt special to me. And after two trips to Egypt I can say that seeing it in person left me speechless and even more in awe. Its magnificent, its impressing, and its beyond words how one culture can leave such an amazing legacy . ⠀
What I probably loved the most about this book was the authors courage to approach things that are still considered uncomfortable to so many people. How to deal with death is only one of them. How to say goodbye to your loved ones and accept death as part of life, as something normal. I also loved her questioning things most people dont want to admit they think about. Is being content good enough for a lifetime? What would you change if you could? And would you be brave enough to fight for your choices? I felt so many emotions reading this one. Recognized so many familiar fears and doubts. And I felt for the charactes, all of them. They werent always the most likeable, their choices werent always the smartest ones, but they were human. And you could understand. ⠀
⠀
This book deals with a lot. Egyptology, quantnum physics, life, loss, body image, marriage, family, love, responsibilities, regret and courage. You have to be prepared, cause its not a easy read. But it is so worth it. Trust me.⠀
Big thnx to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
"We need to be allowed to convince ourselves that we're more than the mistakes we made yesterday."⠀
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Well, here's the thing. I have a crush on Backman. A small one, but hell, he could write me a note on a napkin and I would carry it around as my biggest treasure. I love his writing, his brilliance with words. I love his realism, his simplicity and his views on life. His books Beartown and Us against you have a special place in my heart. Ove too. ⠀
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If Anxious People is your first encounter with Backman, you're going to love it. I honestly believe so. If you're already a fan, I have to say, it will leave you slightly dissapointed. Only slightly, cause after all, it's still a Backman book. As always, you will get interesting characters with emotional stories that talk about relationships, love, parenthood, life and death....dealing with it in so many ways. You will get to see how we all can influence on people lives, sometimes without even knowing it. And how the change we might need sometimes just lies in a form of a stranger. All of this wrapped up in a hostage story that is not really a hostage story.⠀
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Yes, at times it got a bit confusing. Yes, at times it felt a bit rushed. And a bit too perfect for a Backman if I have to say - Im kinda used to him being a little on a dark side. So yeah, it's not a perfect book, but its still a good one. ⠀
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And if you want a perfect book, please read Beartown. Just can't go better than that. ⠀
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Well, here's the thing. I have a crush on Backman. A small one, but hell, he could write me a note on a napkin and I would carry it around as my biggest treasure. I love his writing, his brilliance with words. I love his realism, his simplicity and his views on life. His books Beartown and Us against you have a special place in my heart. Ove too. ⠀
⠀
If Anxious People is your first encounter with Backman, you're going to love it. I honestly believe so. If you're already a fan, I have to say, it will leave you slightly dissapointed. Only slightly, cause after all, it's still a Backman book. As always, you will get interesting characters with emotional stories that talk about relationships, love, parenthood, life and death....dealing with it in so many ways. You will get to see how we all can influence on people lives, sometimes without even knowing it. And how the change we might need sometimes just lies in a form of a stranger. All of this wrapped up in a hostage story that is not really a hostage story.⠀
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Yes, at times it got a bit confusing. Yes, at times it felt a bit rushed. And a bit too perfect for a Backman if I have to say - Im kinda used to him being a little on a dark side. So yeah, it's not a perfect book, but its still a good one. ⠀
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And if you want a perfect book, please read Beartown. Just can't go better than that. ⠀
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I know, I know. By now I should have already learned my lession: dont believe in over hyped books. But I guess I will always fall flat on my ass cause I get super excited with all the dazzling reviews and the beautiful covers. And then, nothing. I feel nothing. And that, for me personally, is the main issue with this book. ⠀
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It adresses so much. From domestic violence, race issues, gender stereotypes and human relations in general. It shows the need to escape as well as the need to belong. It talks about different kinds of love. The siblings love. The mother daughter love. The love that is broken by violence. The love that is free. The love that is outside all of the boxes. The love that keeps you grounded and the love that makes you a different person. ⠀
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Even though the great topics and story, I felt like I needed more from the characters themselves. More heart, more action, more depth in their stories. From all of them, I loved and cared for Reeses character the most, and he is not even one of the main ones. I felt Desiree's character was pushed back, just as it happened with her in the story, and I really wanted to know more about her life. ⠀
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It adresses so much. From domestic violence, race issues, gender stereotypes and human relations in general. It shows the need to escape as well as the need to belong. It talks about different kinds of love. The siblings love. The mother daughter love. The love that is broken by violence. The love that is free. The love that is outside all of the boxes. The love that keeps you grounded and the love that makes you a different person. ⠀
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Even though the great topics and story, I felt like I needed more from the characters themselves. More heart, more action, more depth in their stories. From all of them, I loved and cared for Reeses character the most, and he is not even one of the main ones. I felt Desiree's character was pushed back, just as it happened with her in the story, and I really wanted to know more about her life. ⠀
So, you have a story. Within the story. Within the story. Within the story. You have some people having no clue what are they doing or where are they going. Some have pink hair. Some have fake eyes. Some are gay. They die. But then they dont. There are books. A lot of them. The underground libraries. A hidden sea of honey. A lot of bees. Keys. Painted doors. Some owls. And cats. Plenty of cats. I dont know what cats are for. Maybe the author is a cat lover. ⠀
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At moments you feel you're starting to connect the dots and the story is getting clearer. But then you see you're not. People get lost. People get found. They travel through time. At around half of it you start feeling delusional. You have no idea what the hell youre reading, but you kinda dont want to stop. Maybe it all is meant to become a big beehive that will make your mind feel like a mush. ⠀
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I dont know what I've read. I cannot even comprehend. The writing is beautiful, that I can tell. Maybe the point is we all have stories and paths of our own. Maybe there is no point. Maybe we all should like bees. I dont know. ⠀
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Do you like cats or bees? Maybe even owls? If thats the case, this is a book for you. If youre a fan of mice, skip it. They dont end very well in this one.
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At moments you feel you're starting to connect the dots and the story is getting clearer. But then you see you're not. People get lost. People get found. They travel through time. At around half of it you start feeling delusional. You have no idea what the hell youre reading, but you kinda dont want to stop. Maybe it all is meant to become a big beehive that will make your mind feel like a mush. ⠀
⠀
I dont know what I've read. I cannot even comprehend. The writing is beautiful, that I can tell. Maybe the point is we all have stories and paths of our own. Maybe there is no point. Maybe we all should like bees. I dont know. ⠀
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Do you like cats or bees? Maybe even owls? If thats the case, this is a book for you. If youre a fan of mice, skip it. They dont end very well in this one.
4.5/5
I have to say I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I certainly got something completely different. The topic is a sure a heavy one - it follows a life of Cyril Avery, a boy born in Ireland in 1945, in a time when girls getting pregnant out of marriage would get them banished from society, and being gay was illegal and could get you killed or locked for life. The story jumps through every seven years of his life following unusual path of a gay man struggling to find the way to live and accept the world. We get to experience all the terrors of bigotry and prejudices, the rejections and humiliations and the fear of that time. We get to relive 70s, 80s and 90s with him, we see people leaving, people dying and people making stupid decisions. ⠀
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What struck me the most is how funny and entertaining this book is, with a ton of quirky characters that really add up to the richness of the story. There is a ton of smart and witty conversations and good humor, and I often found myself giggling to some situations. So even though you're reading such brutal and insanely claustrophobic story, you will find that its possible to accept it as the way of the time and still enjoy the read. And it takes a masterful writer to do such thing. ⠀
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I will reccomend this book to everyone. The ones that want to learn more about the history of Ireland, the ones that want to read lgbtq+ stories and the ones that enjoy books with smart humour. The only reason I gave it a 4.5 stars is because I was missing that tiny spark that lights in me when I read the book I will get to love for forever. But that is just personal. ⠀
I have to say I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I certainly got something completely different. The topic is a sure a heavy one - it follows a life of Cyril Avery, a boy born in Ireland in 1945, in a time when girls getting pregnant out of marriage would get them banished from society, and being gay was illegal and could get you killed or locked for life. The story jumps through every seven years of his life following unusual path of a gay man struggling to find the way to live and accept the world. We get to experience all the terrors of bigotry and prejudices, the rejections and humiliations and the fear of that time. We get to relive 70s, 80s and 90s with him, we see people leaving, people dying and people making stupid decisions. ⠀
⠀
What struck me the most is how funny and entertaining this book is, with a ton of quirky characters that really add up to the richness of the story. There is a ton of smart and witty conversations and good humor, and I often found myself giggling to some situations. So even though you're reading such brutal and insanely claustrophobic story, you will find that its possible to accept it as the way of the time and still enjoy the read. And it takes a masterful writer to do such thing. ⠀
⠀
I will reccomend this book to everyone. The ones that want to learn more about the history of Ireland, the ones that want to read lgbtq+ stories and the ones that enjoy books with smart humour. The only reason I gave it a 4.5 stars is because I was missing that tiny spark that lights in me when I read the book I will get to love for forever. But that is just personal. ⠀
My last holiday read for this year was Kevin Kwan's Sex & Vanity. And I have to say, no better book to say goodbye to the beach. I loved Crazy Rich Asians trilogy and I wasn't sure what can I expect from this one. ⠀
But I shouldn't not be afraid cause Kwan is an excellent writer, and the best in describing luxurious and frivolous lives of rich and famous. Yes the writing is over the top. Yes, at moments it feels like you're reading the Vouge. But I just love the way he makes little sarcastic side notes and the way he makes his characters so hideous and exaggerated. Also, there are hints of family microaggressions and racism subtly put in the story, so while at first it feels like a light and superficial read, it is actually much more than that. ⠀⠀
This is a love story. Kinda. It's actually a posh retelling of the story "A room with a view", which I sadly didn't read. Yet, at least. I enjoyed the settings in New York and the island of Capri. I cherished all the different characters and the chemistry between Lucy and George was amazing. The only thing I minded is that Lucy wasn't actually really a likable character (though it comes to no surprise considering the society she grew up being part of), and that we actually get to know so little about George who does seem like an amazing character to read more about! ⠀
I heard this one is also planned as a trilogy so I am really looking forward to see where will the story continue.
But I shouldn't not be afraid cause Kwan is an excellent writer, and the best in describing luxurious and frivolous lives of rich and famous. Yes the writing is over the top. Yes, at moments it feels like you're reading the Vouge. But I just love the way he makes little sarcastic side notes and the way he makes his characters so hideous and exaggerated. Also, there are hints of family microaggressions and racism subtly put in the story, so while at first it feels like a light and superficial read, it is actually much more than that. ⠀⠀
This is a love story. Kinda. It's actually a posh retelling of the story "A room with a view", which I sadly didn't read. Yet, at least. I enjoyed the settings in New York and the island of Capri. I cherished all the different characters and the chemistry between Lucy and George was amazing. The only thing I minded is that Lucy wasn't actually really a likable character (though it comes to no surprise considering the society she grew up being part of), and that we actually get to know so little about George who does seem like an amazing character to read more about! ⠀
I heard this one is also planned as a trilogy so I am really looking forward to see where will the story continue.
3.5/4
Homegoing is actually a collection of stories that follows the descendants of two estranged sisters Effia and Esi, and it stretches in timeframe of about 300 years. We meet a lot of characters in different places in life, starting in Africa in 1700s and ending in America in present time. From small huts in rural Africa to crowded streets of Harlem, we follow their ups and downs, their relationships and loves, their struggiling to find a way of life that suits them and a place they fit in. It is an extremly sad book, cause it shows the way that men in power always have designed the destiny of the weaker ones, and it discusses slavery, rape, drug abuse, child molesting...These people fall down and try to get up only to be pushed down again. Some of them do manage to find the 'right' way, so it kinda gives us some hope for things to be good in the end. ⠀
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What I didnt like is that the stories were short and you didnt really get to care about the characters. As Im an extremely emotional reader, this was the thing that bugged me the most. I did love how the ending wrapped thigns up in a kind of a closed circle and that it showed how every step and decision in our ancestors lives has brought us right up to the place we are now. ⠀
Homegoing is actually a collection of stories that follows the descendants of two estranged sisters Effia and Esi, and it stretches in timeframe of about 300 years. We meet a lot of characters in different places in life, starting in Africa in 1700s and ending in America in present time. From small huts in rural Africa to crowded streets of Harlem, we follow their ups and downs, their relationships and loves, their struggiling to find a way of life that suits them and a place they fit in. It is an extremly sad book, cause it shows the way that men in power always have designed the destiny of the weaker ones, and it discusses slavery, rape, drug abuse, child molesting...These people fall down and try to get up only to be pushed down again. Some of them do manage to find the 'right' way, so it kinda gives us some hope for things to be good in the end. ⠀
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What I didnt like is that the stories were short and you didnt really get to care about the characters. As Im an extremely emotional reader, this was the thing that bugged me the most. I did love how the ending wrapped thigns up in a kind of a closed circle and that it showed how every step and decision in our ancestors lives has brought us right up to the place we are now. ⠀
I would have never read this book if I hadn't promised to a friend I am going to read it. During the first two chapters I was thinking, why am I doing this to myself?! Though, as the story started to reveal I got addicted to it. It is an extremely weird book, the characters are insanely twisted and the plot, well....all I have to say that the author's imagination is something special. It is wild, it is unexpected in all the ways, it is hectic and delirious. But then again, in it you will find a deep insight on the perspective of beauty and fashion industry, humanity in general and the superficial nature of all of us. ⠀
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It is so much more than it seems in the begining, and the storyline presented is just a top of an iceberg. Hidden underneath are deeper topics that can be thought about and widely discussed, and I think its actually a perfect book for book clubs and readalongs. And from the first to the last page of it, trust me, nothing at all is what it seems to be. ⠀
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It is so much more than it seems in the begining, and the storyline presented is just a top of an iceberg. Hidden underneath are deeper topics that can be thought about and widely discussed, and I think its actually a perfect book for book clubs and readalongs. And from the first to the last page of it, trust me, nothing at all is what it seems to be. ⠀