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books_with_tutusandsons's Reviews (438)
This is the book you wont really see being read often. And it should be. Because it is dark, it is gut-wrenching, it is brilliant. It has vibes of Where the Crawdads Sing meets Educated with a touch of a Gillian Flynn. ⠀
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The writing is simple yet you will find yourself touched by every sentence. Guess that is the way of the Scandinavian authors, which I get to love and appreciate more each day (thank you Mr.Backman for that). It's a story told through multiple characters, a story about the lengths we would go to keep the ones we love close, and what a deep sadness can do to a person. Because, through all of it, there is just an amazing amount of sadness. But be careful, this is not an easy book. Not at all. You will get suspense, you will get weirdness, you will get family issues and borderline behaviour, and you will get some scenes that will shock you in a bad way, some that might even make you want to gag. But in all of that you will care so much for all of the characters, and even though the things they do are not justified by any means, you will understand their reasons and still feel for them. And I believe, that is a sign of an exceptional writer. That in all the disturbance, in all of the dark and twisted things, in all of her horrendousness, she manages to show us humanity.⠀
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Needless to say I recommend this one to everyone. Ok, not everyone, maybe only the ones with a hard stomach. But I dont have one and I still enjoyed the hell out of it. ⠀
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The writing is simple yet you will find yourself touched by every sentence. Guess that is the way of the Scandinavian authors, which I get to love and appreciate more each day (thank you Mr.Backman for that). It's a story told through multiple characters, a story about the lengths we would go to keep the ones we love close, and what a deep sadness can do to a person. Because, through all of it, there is just an amazing amount of sadness. But be careful, this is not an easy book. Not at all. You will get suspense, you will get weirdness, you will get family issues and borderline behaviour, and you will get some scenes that will shock you in a bad way, some that might even make you want to gag. But in all of that you will care so much for all of the characters, and even though the things they do are not justified by any means, you will understand their reasons and still feel for them. And I believe, that is a sign of an exceptional writer. That in all the disturbance, in all of the dark and twisted things, in all of her horrendousness, she manages to show us humanity.⠀
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Needless to say I recommend this one to everyone. Ok, not everyone, maybe only the ones with a hard stomach. But I dont have one and I still enjoyed the hell out of it. ⠀
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3.5/5
I know this might come as an unpopular opinion, but I cant say that I fell head over heels with this book. I loved the cover, I loved the premise, I loved the writing. I loved even the Spotify playlist. But the book....meh.⠀
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First half of the book is slow. So slow. It has all the premises of a gothic novel: the lady in distress, the mansion, weird inhabitants, mysterious events, dramatic history....but I just felt nothing was happening. The mansion, the dreams, the girl wandering around....it could have been much shorter. And when shit starts happening, its just so weird and so gross. One scene specifically left me a bit repulsed, I have to admit. Anyways, by the end it does get better, weirder and action hits the roof in all of the unexpected ways. Still, it contains much more mold, mushrooms and gloom than I can digest. Talking of mushrooms, the feeling after finishing this book was pretty similar to the one after finishing The Starless Sea - that maybe I was supposed to be on some hallucinogenic stuff to understand what have I just read
I know this might come as an unpopular opinion, but I cant say that I fell head over heels with this book. I loved the cover, I loved the premise, I loved the writing. I loved even the Spotify playlist. But the book....meh.⠀
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First half of the book is slow. So slow. It has all the premises of a gothic novel: the lady in distress, the mansion, weird inhabitants, mysterious events, dramatic history....but I just felt nothing was happening. The mansion, the dreams, the girl wandering around....it could have been much shorter. And when shit starts happening, its just so weird and so gross. One scene specifically left me a bit repulsed, I have to admit. Anyways, by the end it does get better, weirder and action hits the roof in all of the unexpected ways. Still, it contains much more mold, mushrooms and gloom than I can digest. Talking of mushrooms, the feeling after finishing this book was pretty similar to the one after finishing The Starless Sea - that maybe I was supposed to be on some hallucinogenic stuff to understand what have I just read
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. ⠀
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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.
"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. ⠀
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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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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. ⠀
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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.
This certainly wasn't something I expected from the title. Funny, a bit weird, but clever, this book is really a unique read. Most of the characters were pretty annoying, but it somehow managed to make the experience of reading it even better. It's a quick read and I can recommend it to everyone that wants to read a charming but somehow different love story.
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. ⠀
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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. ⠀