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ezzydesu's reviews
253 reviews
Zomerhuis met zwembad by Herman Koch
This was another one of those books I had trouble getting into (I usually read fantasy), but once the story started to roll, I was barely able to stop reading! The best word I can tag to this book is ‘interesting’. I don’t want to spoil anything, but some ‘things’ happened which made the doctor do what he did. It was awful to read about, but it was so well written. To quote the review of La Tribuna, ‘A story about love, betrayel, taboos and revenge, which will make you feel the shivers on your spine,’
Rating: ★★★★
Note: I read the original, the Dutch version, of the book. There are translations of it. The English title is ”Summerhouse with Swimming Pool”.
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4.0
“There are times when you run back through your life, to see whether you can locate the point at which it could still have taken a different turn.”
― Herman Koch, Summer House with Swimming Pool
This was another one of those books I had trouble getting into (I usually read fantasy), but once the story started to roll, I was barely able to stop reading! The best word I can tag to this book is ‘interesting’. I don’t want to spoil anything, but some ‘things’ happened which made the doctor do what he did. It was awful to read about, but it was so well written. To quote the review of La Tribuna, ‘A story about love, betrayel, taboos and revenge, which will make you feel the shivers on your spine,’
Rating: ★★★★
Note: I read the original, the Dutch version, of the book. There are translations of it. The English title is ”Summerhouse with Swimming Pool”.
Read other reviews on my blog:
https://ezziesbookshelf.wordpress.com
Hersenschimmen by J. Bernlef
This book was a tough read for me. Not because the writing was tough, but the subject was.
The book is about Maarten Klein, a senior man who is slowly getting swallowed by dementia.
I have never encountered someone with dementia, so never had a good impression of how it damages people their life. However, the way his dementia is written is so clear. Not only do you see how he is forgetting things and having gaps in his memory, you see his confusion, panic, anger and fear of whatever is happening to him. His wife's reactions were so heart breaking and he seriously had no clue what was wrong. It hit me deep in my heart.
I would recommend this book to everyone. This is a subject that gets far too little attention.
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4.0
“Je moet niet teruggaan naar plaatsen van vroeger. Dan vernietig je die gloed, de kern van je herinneringen.”
― J. Bernlef, Out of Mind
This book was a tough read for me. Not because the writing was tough, but the subject was.
The book is about Maarten Klein, a senior man who is slowly getting swallowed by dementia.
I have never encountered someone with dementia, so never had a good impression of how it damages people their life. However, the way his dementia is written is so clear. Not only do you see how he is forgetting things and having gaps in his memory, you see his confusion, panic, anger and fear of whatever is happening to him. His wife's reactions were so heart breaking and he seriously had no clue what was wrong. It hit me deep in my heart.
I would recommend this book to everyone. This is a subject that gets far too little attention.
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Dagen van gras by Philip Huff
To start off, I love this quote. This book is about Ben. He is in a clinic due various reasons and he is looking a on moments in his life. This quote is one of them, but I won't tell much about the quote to leave it in it's magic. You can read the pure essence of it in Dutch, but I'll translate it for the English readers:
The book is a relative short story, easy to finish in a day. The protagonist, telling from a first person perpective, is Ben van Deventer. At the 'present day' point, Ben just left a clinic where he lived for several months after a psychosis. He looks back on memorable moments in his life and his love for music.
The story plays off in several places in the Netherlands for most of the book and somewhere in England for a couple of chapters. The story is set as flashbacks of the protagonist, so you jump from different parts of his life in a non - chronological way.
There are a few characters in the book that return in the whole story and are more presented as how Ben sees them instead of how they really are (which isn't that different, . You really look through Ben's eyes and that was really beautiful.
This book was a fine read, I don't really recommend it to anyone, but I don't regret reading it. I gave it 3 stars as it is not a bad read.
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3.0
‘Je voelt de behoefte je ervaring over te brengen. Dus begin je te praten. Je zegt: “Abrikoos”, en je houdt een kleine schelp omhoog. Je spreekt over de kleur van die schelp; een schelp die eerst dof was maar nu is opgelicht tot een glimmende, gloeiende abrikoos. Ook de textuur is veranderd: de kalk is een wollige stof vol pluisjes geworden. Woldraden die gloeien.’
- Philip Huff
To start off, I love this quote. This book is about Ben. He is in a clinic due various reasons and he is looking a on moments in his life. This quote is one of them, but I won't tell much about the quote to leave it in it's magic. You can read the pure essence of it in Dutch, but I'll translate it for the English readers:
‘You feel the urge to pass overyour experience. So you start to talk. You say: “Abricot”, and you hold up a little seashell. You speak of the colour of that seashell; a shell that was dull at first but now lightened to a shining, glowing abricot. Even the textur has changed: The chalk has become a woolly matter filled with fluffy. Woolthreads that glow.’
- Philip Huff
The book is a relative short story, easy to finish in a day. The protagonist, telling from a first person perpective, is Ben van Deventer. At the 'present day' point, Ben just left a clinic where he lived for several months after a psychosis. He looks back on memorable moments in his life and his love for music.
The story plays off in several places in the Netherlands for most of the book and somewhere in England for a couple of chapters. The story is set as flashbacks of the protagonist, so you jump from different parts of his life in a non - chronological way.
There are a few characters in the book that return in the whole story and are more presented as how Ben sees them instead of how they really are (which isn't that different, . You really look through Ben's eyes and that was really beautiful.
This book was a fine read, I don't really recommend it to anyone, but I don't regret reading it. I gave it 3 stars as it is not a bad read.
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A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
The last book of this triology & I can't decide which book I liked more! All three books have a different kind of story, but in the end, those were parts of one story. I really can't wait for the novella being released next year!
As I expected when I finished ACOMAF, this book was another emotional rollercoaster. So many things happened that even I, as the reader, had trouble coping with it. Again, I credit SJM for writing through it all without dreading or rushing any of it.
I really liked how the course of the story wasn't predictable and again full of little and major twists. I gave up worrying about the plot early on and it gave a relatively relaxed read (even though the content was everything but relaxed 😂).
The character development was again amazing! I loved seeing more 'page-time' for the other High Lords, but most for Nesta and Elain. So many details of the characters and their actions from events in previous books got explained, things got so much clearer!
I really loved this book, I'm looking forward to the time I'll be rereading this series. I recommend it to everyone! I give this book the same, high rating as the other two book!
Rating: ★★★★★
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Content below may be considered as spoilers, don't blame me for your own curiosity!
During the book, I felt really bad for Lucien. How he tried getting closer to Elain, but Elain was for most of the time some sort of zombie. He tried so hard, poor guy..
On the other hand, something I really enjoyed was watching Cassian and Nesta circling around eachother. I REALLY ship them and I forecast that we will see their mating bond snapping in place (MARK MY WORDS!).
Oh and guys: MORRIGAN IS BI?! SJM, you are amazing for including all the subtle gay couples!
5.0
"Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged."
-Sarah J. Maas
The last book of this triology & I can't decide which book I liked more! All three books have a different kind of story, but in the end, those were parts of one story. I really can't wait for the novella being released next year!
As I expected when I finished ACOMAF, this book was another emotional rollercoaster. So many things happened that even I, as the reader, had trouble coping with it. Again, I credit SJM for writing through it all without dreading or rushing any of it.
I really liked how the course of the story wasn't predictable and again full of little and major twists. I gave up worrying about the plot early on and it gave a relatively relaxed read (even though the content was everything but relaxed 😂).
The character development was again amazing! I loved seeing more 'page-time' for the other High Lords, but most for Nesta and Elain. So many details of the characters and their actions from events in previous books got explained, things got so much clearer!
I really loved this book, I'm looking forward to the time I'll be rereading this series. I recommend it to everyone! I give this book the same, high rating as the other two book!
Rating: ★★★★★
Read other reviews on my blog:
https://ezziesbookshelf.wordpress.com
Content below may be considered as spoilers, don't blame me for your own curiosity!
On the other hand, something I really enjoyed was watching Cassian and Nesta circling around eachother. I REALLY ship them and I forecast that we will see their mating bond snapping in place (MARK MY WORDS!).
Oh and guys: MORRIGAN IS BI?! SJM, you are amazing for including all the subtle gay couples!
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
★★★★★
I love this book. I really do. No darker plots or heartbreaking nonsense. It is just a fairly light book about a group of friends and a court healing from the war and celebrating a holiday months later. It indeed shows the shadows looming around Velaris, about the losses in the war like the blurb on the back suggested, but in a soft and tender way.
I really recommend this book, or story rather due to the length, to lovers of the ACOTAR series that want more Feyre and Rhysand and aren’t ready for more heartbreaks. It also fits really well as a bridge between ACOWAR and the next book.
The preview of the next book at the end of this one has a whole different vibe and I think this vibe will connect something that happened towards the end of the book, something Mor thought to see somewhere towards the end of the book. Maybe it’s nothing, but the preview is looking really good and a strong start of next book. I can’t wait!
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5.0
”To the blessed darkness from which we are born, and to which we return.”
– Feyre Archeron
★★★★★
I love this book. I really do. No darker plots or heartbreaking nonsense. It is just a fairly light book about a group of friends and a court healing from the war and celebrating a holiday months later. It indeed shows the shadows looming around Velaris, about the losses in the war like the blurb on the back suggested, but in a soft and tender way.
I really recommend this book, or story rather due to the length, to lovers of the ACOTAR series that want more Feyre and Rhysand and aren’t ready for more heartbreaks. It also fits really well as a bridge between ACOWAR and the next book.
The preview of the next book at the end of this one has a whole different vibe and I think this vibe will connect something that happened towards the end of the book, something Mor thought to see somewhere towards the end of the book. Maybe it’s nothing, but the preview is looking really good and a strong start of next book. I can’t wait!
Read other reviews on my blog:
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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
★★★★✩
I enjoyed reading this book, it was one of the first series I started to read (I used to do stand-alones mostly). The story felt like a really new thing, no influences from other stories or tales and I think that is the power behind this series. The reason that I gave 4 stars is because after reading the A Court of Thorns and Roses series this book doesn't feel as strong, but as this Sarah J. Maas her early work it is understandable.
I do really recommend this book. Not only to lovers of fantasy, as this is just a wonderful series with a nice arc and a strong protagonist and characters just as strong beside her. Another valueble point is that during reading this story I had the feeling I had read something similar before, the story feels completely unique.
I am currently reading part 5 of this series and I can tell with pure honesty this is a lovely series and this books does a very good job starting it. I do have to say that the story arc can become a bit slow in some chapters, because from book 3 and on the books are thick (500-600 pages). It is nothing bad, especially if you are an avid reader, just worth the note.
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4.0
“My name is Celaena Sardothien. But it makes no difference if my name's Celaena or Lillian or Bitch, because I'd still beat you, no matter what you call me.”
- Celaena Sardothien
★★★★✩
I enjoyed reading this book, it was one of the first series I started to read (I used to do stand-alones mostly). The story felt like a really new thing, no influences from other stories or tales and I think that is the power behind this series. The reason that I gave 4 stars is because after reading the A Court of Thorns and Roses series this book doesn't feel as strong, but as this Sarah J. Maas her early work it is understandable.
I do really recommend this book. Not only to lovers of fantasy, as this is just a wonderful series with a nice arc and a strong protagonist and characters just as strong beside her. Another valueble point is that during reading this story I had the feeling I had read something similar before, the story feels completely unique.
I am currently reading part 5 of this series and I can tell with pure honesty this is a lovely series and this books does a very good job starting it. I do have to say that the story arc can become a bit slow in some chapters, because from book 3 and on the books are thick (500-600 pages). It is nothing bad, especially if you are an avid reader, just worth the note.
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Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
★★★★★
This is one damn of a sequel! I loved Throne of Glass, I truly did, but this book is atleast twice as good! The story got alot stronger, alot of interesting things happened and the character development is absolutely excellent. The way of writing also hinted that these characters will recieve a rather long arc and it is amazing.
I shall say, read it. Even if you read Throne of Glass and found it a little weak compared to other fantasy stories, Queen of Shadows really creates the right statement for the rest of the series! You are getting to know more aspects of this story that will get you really hooked, especially the ending. The grip this book has to keep reading was less present in Throne of Glass and truly is here.
I am almost done with the fifth book in this series, Empire of Storms, while writing this review and I tried digging back to the moment I closed this book and evaluated my thought and tried to write this review with the least influence from the books after this one. Saying this, I can also share a little thought WITH influence: The arc of the story is really special. Alot of things get clear in this book, but so many things happen you wouldn't have thought would happen or in ways you didn't expect. This really keeps the series interesting and makes it a real page turner. How the story evolved from the end of Queen of Shadows towards the ending of Empire of Storms, is truly unique. I know everyone glorifies Sarah J. Maas these last years, but she really wrote a piece of art.
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5.0
“If they wanted Adarlan's Assassin, they'd get her.
And Wyrd help them when she arrived.”
(Crown of Midnight; Sarah J. Maas)
★★★★★
This is one damn of a sequel! I loved Throne of Glass, I truly did, but this book is atleast twice as good! The story got alot stronger, alot of interesting things happened and the character development is absolutely excellent. The way of writing also hinted that these characters will recieve a rather long arc and it is amazing.
I shall say, read it. Even if you read Throne of Glass and found it a little weak compared to other fantasy stories, Queen of Shadows really creates the right statement for the rest of the series! You are getting to know more aspects of this story that will get you really hooked, especially the ending. The grip this book has to keep reading was less present in Throne of Glass and truly is here.
I am almost done with the fifth book in this series, Empire of Storms, while writing this review and I tried digging back to the moment I closed this book and evaluated my thought and tried to write this review with the least influence from the books after this one. Saying this, I can also share a little thought WITH influence: The arc of the story is really special. Alot of things get clear in this book, but so many things happen you wouldn't have thought would happen or in ways you didn't expect. This really keeps the series interesting and makes it a real page turner. How the story evolved from the end of Queen of Shadows towards the ending of Empire of Storms, is truly unique. I know everyone glorifies Sarah J. Maas these last years, but she really wrote a piece of art.
Read other reviews on my blog:
https://ezziesbookshelf.wordpress.com
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
★★★★★
I can't say it differently, but this is a really good third book in a series. After a major reveal and cliffhanger at the end of book two, the story continues and does a great job at the worldbuilding of the new continent. What I like most about this book is that it opens a whole new 'chapter' to the story. It introduces more key characters and alot of key aspects to the story. You learn alot about the races, places, some major characters from now and the past. It is an action packed book with a different feel than the others, there is so much new and yet familiar. It is absolutely wonderful.
I would recommend every fantasy lover to read this series, the first book is good and the quality goes up in a fast rising line. The characters really grow on you and to shake this world off is quite a task! Even when I read multiple books from different series in between two of Throne of Glass, I can never forget Aelin and her friends and I have never been so scared and excited for the ending of a series as I am right now for the one we get in October.
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5.0
“You collect scars because you want proof that you are paying for whatever sins you've committed. And I know this because I've been doing the same damn thing for two hundred years. Tell me, do you think you will go to some blessed Afterworld, or do you expect a burning hell? You're hoping for hell--because how could you face them in the Afterworld? Better to suffer, to be damned for eternity.”
(Sarah J. Maas; Heir of Fire)
★★★★★
I can't say it differently, but this is a really good third book in a series. After a major reveal and cliffhanger at the end of book two, the story continues and does a great job at the worldbuilding of the new continent. What I like most about this book is that it opens a whole new 'chapter' to the story. It introduces more key characters and alot of key aspects to the story. You learn alot about the races, places, some major characters from now and the past. It is an action packed book with a different feel than the others, there is so much new and yet familiar. It is absolutely wonderful.
I would recommend every fantasy lover to read this series, the first book is good and the quality goes up in a fast rising line. The characters really grow on you and to shake this world off is quite a task! Even when I read multiple books from different series in between two of Throne of Glass, I can never forget Aelin and her friends and I have never been so scared and excited for the ending of a series as I am right now for the one we get in October.
Read other reviews on my blog:
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Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
★★★★★
Wow, just wow! This book combined so many elements we learned and loved in the previous books and still went in unexpected turns. I gave it a 5 star rating as the story was once again marvelous and oh, that ending! I closed the book and it took me some deep breaths and thinking to realise what had happened and how it affected me.
Allthough some characters aren't that present in this book, some others get some great character development. The side-POV's, as I like to call them, have gotten alot more pages and happen more often throughout the book. Most of them are still seperate stories with only slim ties to the main story, but they are developing and working towards eachother, slowly. You can feel the tension building up to whatever big this series is working towards and it is tugging on my heart so badly! So many things are still in the shadows, which makes this an even bigger pageturner.
This series keeps wrecking my soul, especially towards the end (last 100-150 pages) and the endings just make me hunger for the next part even more. I hope Sarah keeps up the good work, with the ending of this series, the new books in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series and the Crescent City series that were announced.
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5.0
''She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph.''
-Sarah J. Maas, Queen of Shadows
★★★★★
Wow, just wow! This book combined so many elements we learned and loved in the previous books and still went in unexpected turns. I gave it a 5 star rating as the story was once again marvelous and oh, that ending! I closed the book and it took me some deep breaths and thinking to realise what had happened and how it affected me.
Allthough some characters aren't that present in this book, some others get some great character development. The side-POV's, as I like to call them, have gotten alot more pages and happen more often throughout the book. Most of them are still seperate stories with only slim ties to the main story, but they are developing and working towards eachother, slowly. You can feel the tension building up to whatever big this series is working towards and it is tugging on my heart so badly! So many things are still in the shadows, which makes this an even bigger pageturner.
This series keeps wrecking my soul, especially towards the end (last 100-150 pages) and the endings just make me hunger for the next part even more. I hope Sarah keeps up the good work, with the ending of this series, the new books in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series and the Crescent City series that were announced.
Read other reviews on my blog:
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Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
★★★★★
It took me a whole damn month to finish this book due to lack of focus and now I did finish it, I am not sure I am okay.
As peaceful as Queen of Shadows ended, how quickly the action returned at the start of this book. More and more storylines crossed, a whole damn lot happened and everything that happened is working its way towards the confrontation the story was leading to. It is incredibly well written and I think this is my favourite part of the series.
I will just keep saying people should read this series. It is long, yes, but the story is wonderful. It gives you time to really invest in a world and in characters with great arcs and story developments, something I sometimes miss in duologies/trilogies.
I am taking a small break from this series, read a few other books and save Tower of Dawn to read a bit closer to the release of Kingdom of Ash to preserve the joy the longest. Can't believe there is only two books left..
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5.0
"Aelin Galathynius had raised an army not just to challenge Morath . . . but to rattle the stars."
(Empire of Storms; Sarah J. Maas)
★★★★★
It took me a whole damn month to finish this book due to lack of focus and now I did finish it, I am not sure I am okay.
As peaceful as Queen of Shadows ended, how quickly the action returned at the start of this book. More and more storylines crossed, a whole damn lot happened and everything that happened is working its way towards the confrontation the story was leading to. It is incredibly well written and I think this is my favourite part of the series.
I will just keep saying people should read this series. It is long, yes, but the story is wonderful. It gives you time to really invest in a world and in characters with great arcs and story developments, something I sometimes miss in duologies/trilogies.
I am taking a small break from this series, read a few other books and save Tower of Dawn to read a bit closer to the release of Kingdom of Ash to preserve the joy the longest. Can't believe there is only two books left..
Read other reviews on my blog:
https://ezziesbookshelf.wordpress.com