You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
books_with_tutusandsons's Reviews (438)
You know, books like these are difficult to talk about. Difficult to explain. Difficult to write about. The emotions they evoke are deep, especially if they have something to hold on to within a person, such as a distant memory, a feeling lost or a piece of family history.
This is a love story. A beautiful and epic love story. But not only between a boy and a girl. Its a love letter to the nature. To one island. To neighbours. To family. To life. I am amazed how Shafak managed to blend it all so neatly, to connect all the lines together so well, that in the end all that is left is to be in awe of her virtue.
Its a story about falling in love in times of a civil war in the island of Cyprus. I also grew up in a time of a civil war. Not a Greek/Turkish one, but a Croatian/Serbian one. Ive witnessed friends becoming enemies. Neighbours turning their back on each other only for being born the wrong ethnicity. I was too young to understand a lot of stuff back then. Too young to experience romantic love. But I remember the fear my mom had of receiving a letter that would say my dad had to go to war. I remember the stories our friends told about stuff that was happening somewhere out there. I remember the news. The times spent in the shelter. The sound of bombs. The people staying without everything. Starting from a scratch somewhere else if they were lucky enough. So yeah, this book evoke something. Something deep and painful.
But also, it gave out the feeling of hope. That even with all the difficulties in life things can turn out good. Some scars will change the people we become, but we will always try to grow, to evolve, to change. For the future generations. And it sends the message that, even broken, love will always survive everything. Cause its a force that will never die. A force of nature.
This is a love story. A beautiful and epic love story. But not only between a boy and a girl. Its a love letter to the nature. To one island. To neighbours. To family. To life. I am amazed how Shafak managed to blend it all so neatly, to connect all the lines together so well, that in the end all that is left is to be in awe of her virtue.
Its a story about falling in love in times of a civil war in the island of Cyprus. I also grew up in a time of a civil war. Not a Greek/Turkish one, but a Croatian/Serbian one. Ive witnessed friends becoming enemies. Neighbours turning their back on each other only for being born the wrong ethnicity. I was too young to understand a lot of stuff back then. Too young to experience romantic love. But I remember the fear my mom had of receiving a letter that would say my dad had to go to war. I remember the stories our friends told about stuff that was happening somewhere out there. I remember the news. The times spent in the shelter. The sound of bombs. The people staying without everything. Starting from a scratch somewhere else if they were lucky enough. So yeah, this book evoke something. Something deep and painful.
But also, it gave out the feeling of hope. That even with all the difficulties in life things can turn out good. Some scars will change the people we become, but we will always try to grow, to evolve, to change. For the future generations. And it sends the message that, even broken, love will always survive everything. Cause its a force that will never die. A force of nature.
2.5*
This should've been appropriate end-of-October read. Scary, real, unsettling. And it was just pointless.
I dont know what Ive read or why did I even finish it. I kinda thought the end would justify it, I guess. It didnt. I even found an epilogue. They said it would help for the closure. Nope. Still as bland as the rest of it. Damn, my high school diary was more tense than this book. And more dramatic. And I was a nerdy girl with boy crushes. With a real backstory of a murder this could've made a good story. It ended up being a book in which nothing happens and all characters are just an undestinctive gray mass.
This should've been appropriate end-of-October read. Scary, real, unsettling. And it was just pointless.
I dont know what Ive read or why did I even finish it. I kinda thought the end would justify it, I guess. It didnt. I even found an epilogue. They said it would help for the closure. Nope. Still as bland as the rest of it. Damn, my high school diary was more tense than this book. And more dramatic. And I was a nerdy girl with boy crushes. With a real backstory of a murder this could've made a good story. It ended up being a book in which nothing happens and all characters are just an undestinctive gray mass.
This was my 5th book from Julie Caplin's Romantic Escapes series, and it did not dissapoint. After Copenhagen, Tokyo, Iceland and Croatia this book took me to the beautiful Ireland's countryside. Idylic and sweet, it couldnt be a better choice after all the heavy reads I have been into lately.
The main character Hannah need a rest from her organized and busy life and on a whim books herself a 10 days culinary course in Ireland. Ofc she meets a guy and well....I wont spoil it. But its cosy, its warm and its sexy. And now I cant wait to read the three books from the series I have left - Swiss chalet, Paris patisserie and Brooklyn bakery
The main character Hannah need a rest from her organized and busy life and on a whim books herself a 10 days culinary course in Ireland. Ofc she meets a guy and well....I wont spoil it. But its cosy, its warm and its sexy. And now I cant wait to read the three books from the series I have left - Swiss chalet, Paris patisserie and Brooklyn bakery
2.5*
I really wanted to love this one for numerous reasons. But there were just too many characters, the story was all over the place, but I even didnt mind that but the fact I didnt get to connect or care about any one the characters in the book.
Somehow, all the books that win numerous prizes dont sit well with me.
I really wanted to love this one for numerous reasons. But there were just too many characters, the story was all over the place, but I even didnt mind that but the fact I didnt get to connect or care about any one the characters in the book.
Somehow, all the books that win numerous prizes dont sit well with me.
Ghosts. I really love the title of this one. Ghosts of the present. Ghosts of the past. Ghosts of the future. Ghosts of the relationships and ghosts of people. This book is so clever and so insightful, so honest and vulnerable. It is like Bridget Jones but a real one. The one that has its two feet on the ground and doesnt chase a happily ever after.
I expected this one to be a kind of a rom com. But even it has the elements, its actually a portait of a society today. Of young moms feeling they have to be perfect. Of single 30yrs old feeling they should be settling down but all they've been left with are the dating apps and men incapable to commit. Of people growing old and dealing with life passing by. Of friends that stick with you. And the ones that dont.
At many points I felt the main character was talking too much. It took a while to get used to it. But the story kept me invested all the time. I loved how she was attached to her old memories, it reminded me a lot of myself. When I come to my hometown I often get overwhelmed with nostalgia. Of memories of my childhood and teenage years. Of a person I was then. Dont know if it is cause I dont live there anymore or just the fact that Im getting older. I cannot say those were the happier times, but they were definitely much simpler ones.
I expected this one to be a kind of a rom com. But even it has the elements, its actually a portait of a society today. Of young moms feeling they have to be perfect. Of single 30yrs old feeling they should be settling down but all they've been left with are the dating apps and men incapable to commit. Of people growing old and dealing with life passing by. Of friends that stick with you. And the ones that dont.
At many points I felt the main character was talking too much. It took a while to get used to it. But the story kept me invested all the time. I loved how she was attached to her old memories, it reminded me a lot of myself. When I come to my hometown I often get overwhelmed with nostalgia. Of memories of my childhood and teenage years. Of a person I was then. Dont know if it is cause I dont live there anymore or just the fact that Im getting older. I cannot say those were the happier times, but they were definitely much simpler ones.
4.5*
Well well, what are the odds. Me taking a romance and devouring it. Im not a romance kind of girl. I usually find it cringey, predictable, and the sex scenes are usually higly unrealistic. I prefer books to make me cry. Make me angry. I love being miserable after finishing a book. Walking around all whiney praising the author for giving me a chance to vent emotionally is something I thoroughly enjoy.
But damn, this book was all sunshine. It made me laugh so many times. It made me smile while reading. It made me giggle and blush and it definitely raised some tensions
Well well, what are the odds. Me taking a romance and devouring it. Im not a romance kind of girl. I usually find it cringey, predictable, and the sex scenes are usually higly unrealistic. I prefer books to make me cry. Make me angry. I love being miserable after finishing a book. Walking around all whiney praising the author for giving me a chance to vent emotionally is something I thoroughly enjoy.
But damn, this book was all sunshine. It made me laugh so many times. It made me smile while reading. It made me giggle and blush and it definitely raised some tensions
3.5*
I think this was the wrong book to read after the Wallbanger. Serious, documentative and long, it took me forever to get into it. I did start enjoying it about half way in, especially the Colonel's notes on his expedition into exploring yet unknown parts of Alaska.
I have to say I did enjoy Ivey's approach to make this as truthful and real as a piece of historical fiction can be. Combining the form of diary entries, letters and newspaper articles, with real photographs from the time attached, it gave it a non-fiction touch. I love reading stories about Indigenous people, their connection to the nature and way of living that was completely different from what the western world.
Raised and living in Alaska, Ivey is definitely one of my fav authors writing about this magical part of the world. Its also one of my fav settings in books, and if you love it like I do, be sure to look up her books, esp The Snow Child. It is really a special book that needs to be read more.
I think this was the wrong book to read after the Wallbanger. Serious, documentative and long, it took me forever to get into it. I did start enjoying it about half way in, especially the Colonel's notes on his expedition into exploring yet unknown parts of Alaska.
I have to say I did enjoy Ivey's approach to make this as truthful and real as a piece of historical fiction can be. Combining the form of diary entries, letters and newspaper articles, with real photographs from the time attached, it gave it a non-fiction touch. I love reading stories about Indigenous people, their connection to the nature and way of living that was completely different from what the western world.
Raised and living in Alaska, Ivey is definitely one of my fav authors writing about this magical part of the world. Its also one of my fav settings in books, and if you love it like I do, be sure to look up her books, esp The Snow Child. It is really a special book that needs to be read more.
I really wish I loved it more....The start was great with the moving to Iceland and staring to find a way to function in the new environment..but then somehow too many people got involved,too many different topics started to get in the way of the story and about 40% in I was sure I knew how it will end. And I was right. It did take a bit of the charm away, I have to admit. .
Anyways I did love some parts and I will look for future books from the author.
Anyways I did love some parts and I will look for future books from the author.