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i_love_big_books's reviews
63 reviews
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
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? No
5.0
I was totally immersed in this almost 900 page book that I listened to over 32 hours and enjoyed every single minute of it!
Science fiction isn't a genre I read all the time but this one was fantastic from start to end.
Be it the setting.. a future in which there is life on other planets of the solar system, the protagonist...Kira,a xenobiologist who discovers a new life form on a distant moon she is studying and finds herself propelled into the role of saviour of all of humanity or the rest of the characters...alien forms, humans with genetic hacks and implants, ship minds, marines... everything just gels together so well.
Kira finds herself on a civilian spaceship captained by the no nonsense Falconi and his eclectic crew members. Her relationship with each of these people is such a core part of what happens next. Even as they encounter aliens, fight them off and learn to work together, this bond is something that remains at the centre of the narrative.
I was amazed at how much effort has gone into making the book sound realistic with the use of known concepts to create the world it is set in. And also, while it has a lot of the technical writing necessary for the genre, it also has so many other elements.
The characters all have their own story arcs which are well integrated into the larger premise. There is emotion, humour, friendship and camaraderie that develops with the plot.
There is artificial intelligence, space weaponry, aliens of different forms and lots of fast moving action. What holds it all together is the story at the centre of it all, which has elements of heroism, proper villains and everything in between! Nothing happens without reason and it's all explained in a way that's really satisfying. There are even ethical dilemmas woven in that are fascinating.
In all, this is an entire world in itself, one that pulls you in and keeps you wrapped in a cocoon while you navigate all it has to offer. And then you come to the last page and are stunned and maybe even a little disappointed to find yourself back on Earth!
Science fiction isn't a genre I read all the time but this one was fantastic from start to end.
Be it the setting.. a future in which there is life on other planets of the solar system, the protagonist...Kira,a xenobiologist who discovers a new life form on a distant moon she is studying and finds herself propelled into the role of saviour of all of humanity or the rest of the characters...alien forms, humans with genetic hacks and implants, ship minds, marines... everything just gels together so well.
Kira finds herself on a civilian spaceship captained by the no nonsense Falconi and his eclectic crew members. Her relationship with each of these people is such a core part of what happens next. Even as they encounter aliens, fight them off and learn to work together, this bond is something that remains at the centre of the narrative.
I was amazed at how much effort has gone into making the book sound realistic with the use of known concepts to create the world it is set in. And also, while it has a lot of the technical writing necessary for the genre, it also has so many other elements.
The characters all have their own story arcs which are well integrated into the larger premise. There is emotion, humour, friendship and camaraderie that develops with the plot.
There is artificial intelligence, space weaponry, aliens of different forms and lots of fast moving action. What holds it all together is the story at the centre of it all, which has elements of heroism, proper villains and everything in between! Nothing happens without reason and it's all explained in a way that's really satisfying. There are even ethical dilemmas woven in that are fascinating.
In all, this is an entire world in itself, one that pulls you in and keeps you wrapped in a cocoon while you navigate all it has to offer. And then you come to the last page and are stunned and maybe even a little disappointed to find yourself back on Earth!
Jade City by Fonda Lee
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I never thought I would enjoy a fantasy that revolves around gang wars but this book captured my attention and held it firmly.
The world it is set in is urban, Asia inspired and very similar to the one we live in sans the technology, except it is one that is predominated by jade; the power conferred by the precious stone as well as the effect it can have on those who cannot bear it.
It is as much a book about family as it is about the two main clans fighting over jade. Siblings trying to reconcile to each other's ways while remaining united, strategy planning, honour, love.. all of it plays a part.
The best part is the characters who are so interestingly written that I wanted to follow their stories and see where they ended up.
This is the first of a series and I definitely want to read the others.
The world it is set in is urban, Asia inspired and very similar to the one we live in sans the technology, except it is one that is predominated by jade; the power conferred by the precious stone as well as the effect it can have on those who cannot bear it.
It is as much a book about family as it is about the two main clans fighting over jade. Siblings trying to reconcile to each other's ways while remaining united, strategy planning, honour, love.. all of it plays a part.
The best part is the characters who are so interestingly written that I wanted to follow their stories and see where they ended up.
This is the first of a series and I definitely want to read the others.
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I enjoyed both the books in the One of us is lying duology by the same author. When I saw the premise of this one, it reminded me of the plot of some old movie.. Family fortune, disinherited children, years of no contact and then the next generation tries to bring about a reconciliation.
Except here, Milly,Jonah and Aubrey Story do not want to have anything to do with the grandmother they have never met; the grandmother who cut off her children from herself with s single cryptic sentence and never looked back. They certainly don't want to go and work on her swanky island resort all summer but they give in to their parents assertion that this is a golden opportunity.
With enough problems in their own young lives, they don't go looking for more but it finds them just the same when it appears that this was anything but a simple request from a grandmother wanting to spend time with her grandchildren. The writing is clever, shielding the twists so that they come as more of a surprise. The three teen-agers are interesting characters who help the narrative along well. With the oft repeated adage 'Family comes first', you know that there are long held secrets to be revealed but the journey to get there is quite engrossing.
Except here, Milly,Jonah and Aubrey Story do not want to have anything to do with the grandmother they have never met; the grandmother who cut off her children from herself with s single cryptic sentence and never looked back. They certainly don't want to go and work on her swanky island resort all summer but they give in to their parents assertion that this is a golden opportunity.
With enough problems in their own young lives, they don't go looking for more but it finds them just the same when it appears that this was anything but a simple request from a grandmother wanting to spend time with her grandchildren. The writing is clever, shielding the twists so that they come as more of a surprise. The three teen-agers are interesting characters who help the narrative along well. With the oft repeated adage 'Family comes first', you know that there are long held secrets to be revealed but the journey to get there is quite engrossing.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Such a fantastic read and so meaningful for the present times of uncertainty, fear and loneliness!
I know that Matt Haig wrote his first book telling his own journey of finding reasons to continue living after he experienced mental health issues. I haven't read that book but this one is a beautifully imagined foray into what makes life liveable and every human being's quest for that mostly elusive 'perfect' life.
We have all thought back to those moments in our lives when we could have made different choices and wondered how our lives would have turned out if we had. Nora Seed, struggling to survive, alone, jobless, having lost her cat and estranged from her best friend and brother, gets to explore this possibility for real.
At her lowest point, she ends up in the midnight library which has every life she could have ever lived with every choice she could have ever made. What's more, it has a list of all the regrets she has ever had - of not continuing with her brother's band, not studying philosophy, giving up swimming, never fulfilling her dream of being a glaciologist, messing up personal relationships and many many more.
Now she has the chance to choose any of those lives and see which one she would be happiest living. And she does, going through a plethora of choices, being transported into the middle of various existences that are both similar and different from each other, depending on decisions she made.
The question is what constitutes perfection. Would any choice we make guarantee no regrets and permanent happiness? Any path of life has good and bad in it and only we can make the most of it, no matter which one we choose. While it's always tempting to believe that in a parallel universe, having done different things, we would have been successful, achieved all our dreams and led wonderful lives, there is a reason why we are in the present. Our current journey has relevance for us and everyone who accompanies us on it.
Nora's thoughts during this unexpected opportunity she is afforded resonated very much. I couldn't help relating to her confusion and fear of committing to any of the alternatives she glimpses! What if there was a better option? And besides, can there be an existence that most closely resembles the utopia we hope for?
For me, the most important message of this story is that there are tradeoffs for every choice made and many times, it is the small things that matter much more than we give them credit for. Also, the desire to change things not dependent on our own decisions is at the root of many regrets. Once we embrace this idea,our best life may be closer than we think!
I know that Matt Haig wrote his first book telling his own journey of finding reasons to continue living after he experienced mental health issues. I haven't read that book but this one is a beautifully imagined foray into what makes life liveable and every human being's quest for that mostly elusive 'perfect' life.
We have all thought back to those moments in our lives when we could have made different choices and wondered how our lives would have turned out if we had. Nora Seed, struggling to survive, alone, jobless, having lost her cat and estranged from her best friend and brother, gets to explore this possibility for real.
At her lowest point, she ends up in the midnight library which has every life she could have ever lived with every choice she could have ever made. What's more, it has a list of all the regrets she has ever had - of not continuing with her brother's band, not studying philosophy, giving up swimming, never fulfilling her dream of being a glaciologist, messing up personal relationships and many many more.
Now she has the chance to choose any of those lives and see which one she would be happiest living. And she does, going through a plethora of choices, being transported into the middle of various existences that are both similar and different from each other, depending on decisions she made.
The question is what constitutes perfection. Would any choice we make guarantee no regrets and permanent happiness? Any path of life has good and bad in it and only we can make the most of it, no matter which one we choose. While it's always tempting to believe that in a parallel universe, having done different things, we would have been successful, achieved all our dreams and led wonderful lives, there is a reason why we are in the present. Our current journey has relevance for us and everyone who accompanies us on it.
Nora's thoughts during this unexpected opportunity she is afforded resonated very much. I couldn't help relating to her confusion and fear of committing to any of the alternatives she glimpses! What if there was a better option? And besides, can there be an existence that most closely resembles the utopia we hope for?
For me, the most important message of this story is that there are tradeoffs for every choice made and many times, it is the small things that matter much more than we give them credit for. Also, the desire to change things not dependent on our own decisions is at the root of many regrets. Once we embrace this idea,our best life may be closer than we think!
The Golden Cage by Camilla Läckberg
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book has such a realistic portrayal of a toxic relationship! It is a domestic thriller about a woman who discovers one too many truths about her husband and finally snaps and wants revenge.
Faye came to Stockholm after a terrible childhood hoping to make a new life, one that seems to be in her grasp when she marries Jack, who has grand business ideas and dreams of success. His success comes at the cost of Faye's independence, something she gives willingly, truly believing that whatever he is creating is for their family. Even years later, when he puts her down, refuses to acknowledge her contribution and behaves condescendingly, she clings on to the hope that things will get better, blaming herself for not being a better wife. She continues to live in the gilded cage that's the fate of trophy wives of rich businessmen and wait for him to remember what their life together is supposed to be like.Until he goes too far and the darkness of her previous life takes over and her self confidence and strength return. She decides that she has to avenge herself and her way of doing it is methodic and diabolically clever.
As the reader, you can't help egging Faye on and thinking Jack totally deserves everything he is getting. It's
maybe a little too convenient in places as she executes her plan but it's so much fun to see her take down a man who is totally misogynistic and a real chauvinist who so easily forgets the woman who stood by him and helped him get where he is.
Faye came to Stockholm after a terrible childhood hoping to make a new life, one that seems to be in her grasp when she marries Jack, who has grand business ideas and dreams of success. His success comes at the cost of Faye's independence, something she gives willingly, truly believing that whatever he is creating is for their family. Even years later, when he puts her down, refuses to acknowledge her contribution and behaves condescendingly, she clings on to the hope that things will get better, blaming herself for not being a better wife. She continues to live in the gilded cage that's the fate of trophy wives of rich businessmen and wait for him to remember what their life together is supposed to be like.Until he goes too far and the darkness of her previous life takes over and her self confidence and strength return. She decides that she has to avenge herself and her way of doing it is methodic and diabolically clever.
As the reader, you can't help egging Faye on and thinking Jack totally deserves everything he is getting. It's
maybe a little too convenient in places as she executes her plan but it's so much fun to see her take down a man who is totally misogynistic and a real chauvinist who so easily forgets the woman who stood by him and helped him get where he is.
I'm Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones, Gilly Segal
challenging
funny
hopeful
tense
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
4.25
This book has two authors collaborating, one African American and the other white American, exactly like the two girls in the book, Lena and Campbell who have to navigate together the dangerous situation they find themselves in.
Lena is cool, stylish, popular and has a boyfriend she is mad about; Campbell on the other hand is the new girl, white in a nearly all black school, miserable with no friends and very little in the way of parental concern. By a twist of fate, the two girls who barely know each other are thrown together when a fight breaks out at a school football game and escalates into a full blown riot. With no choice but to rely on each other, Lena and Campbell set out walking, trying to get to safety as the situation around them gets worse, trapping them in the middle.
Alternating between Lena and Campbell's voices, this story explores the stereotypes that we unconsciously imbibe and come to expect. While Campbell says things prompted by thoughts she is surprised to find she has,that she regrets immediately as Lena calls her out on them, Lena makes multiple assumptions about Campbell being a poor little rich girl who cannot possibly have any serious problems!
Forced to be each other's anchor through the violence, they forge a kind of uneasy friendship, helping each other and just trying to get to a safe place.
The voices seem authentic, highlighting generalisations made and how these may not even be something either side realizes. It's a very nicely written book that is quite fast paced, given the premise. I found it quite different in the way it tries to present both sides of the coin in as unbiased a way as possible and really enjoyed it for this reason.
Lena is cool, stylish, popular and has a boyfriend she is mad about; Campbell on the other hand is the new girl, white in a nearly all black school, miserable with no friends and very little in the way of parental concern. By a twist of fate, the two girls who barely know each other are thrown together when a fight breaks out at a school football game and escalates into a full blown riot. With no choice but to rely on each other, Lena and Campbell set out walking, trying to get to safety as the situation around them gets worse, trapping them in the middle.
Alternating between Lena and Campbell's voices, this story explores the stereotypes that we unconsciously imbibe and come to expect. While Campbell says things prompted by thoughts she is surprised to find she has,that she regrets immediately as Lena calls her out on them, Lena makes multiple assumptions about Campbell being a poor little rich girl who cannot possibly have any serious problems!
Forced to be each other's anchor through the violence, they forge a kind of uneasy friendship, helping each other and just trying to get to a safe place.
The voices seem authentic, highlighting generalisations made and how these may not even be something either side realizes. It's a very nicely written book that is quite fast paced, given the premise. I found it quite different in the way it tries to present both sides of the coin in as unbiased a way as possible and really enjoyed it for this reason.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My copy of this book is 1087 pages!
When a book with that many pages manages to not just hold the interest of the reader but remains compelling from start to finish, it's an incredible feat of storytelling!
England in the twelfth century comes alive as the author weaves a tale around the building of a (fictional) cathedral in Kingsbridge which starts off as a priory of monks at the beginning, led by the man who breathes life into this tale, Prior Philip. Philip is a man who inspires feelings of frustration at his naivete,awe at his intelligence and respect at his determination to keep going after every failure.
This is a wide canvas that depicts the lives of the men and women who live in and around the priory and are affected by what goes on in there. Given the time period, the prevailing misogyny, violence and abuse of common people, in particular, women is portrayed honestly but in a way that evokes disgust for the perpetrators.
In perfect contrast to Philip, this story has one of the vilest, most brutal villains in William Hamleigh, who is so convinced of his self importance and rights that he will stoop to any level to get what he wants. Aided by power mongers among the clergymen and royal courtiers for whom their own gain is the only guiding principle, William is the bad penny that keeps rolling back no matter how many times he is laid low.
There is romance too in this story, of a most poignant kind, between two people who you want to be united. The nexus between politics and the church in England, with the King switching favour depending on who is most useful to him and the holy men in high positions striving for their own profit drives the plot.
Several wonderful characters people this story..Tom Builder, his wife Ellen, their children, Jack, Aliena, all of whom are sketched wonderfully. Aliena in particular, is one of the strongest female characters I have come across, admirable for her strength in the face of adversity, especially given that the world was not a kind place for a woman in the time the story is set in.
Beautiful descriptions of churches and the way building techniques evolved as ingenious solutions to problems were found are very interesting.
To tell a tale of this magnitude, covering decades, with so many different story arcs is amazing. The balance is maintained so perfectly between good and bad, victory and despair for those we root for as readers that the cycle remains gripping. There is no one who is portrayed as flawless or superior, they all do what they must to achieve their ends and survive.
This one can be termed a Magnum opus among books that educates, entertains and is totally worth the time and effort it commands.
When a book with that many pages manages to not just hold the interest of the reader but remains compelling from start to finish, it's an incredible feat of storytelling!
England in the twelfth century comes alive as the author weaves a tale around the building of a (fictional) cathedral in Kingsbridge which starts off as a priory of monks at the beginning, led by the man who breathes life into this tale, Prior Philip. Philip is a man who inspires feelings of frustration at his naivete,awe at his intelligence and respect at his determination to keep going after every failure.
This is a wide canvas that depicts the lives of the men and women who live in and around the priory and are affected by what goes on in there. Given the time period, the prevailing misogyny, violence and abuse of common people, in particular, women is portrayed honestly but in a way that evokes disgust for the perpetrators.
In perfect contrast to Philip, this story has one of the vilest, most brutal villains in William Hamleigh, who is so convinced of his self importance and rights that he will stoop to any level to get what he wants. Aided by power mongers among the clergymen and royal courtiers for whom their own gain is the only guiding principle, William is the bad penny that keeps rolling back no matter how many times he is laid low.
There is romance too in this story, of a most poignant kind, between two people who you want to be united. The nexus between politics and the church in England, with the King switching favour depending on who is most useful to him and the holy men in high positions striving for their own profit drives the plot.
Several wonderful characters people this story..Tom Builder, his wife Ellen, their children, Jack, Aliena, all of whom are sketched wonderfully. Aliena in particular, is one of the strongest female characters I have come across, admirable for her strength in the face of adversity, especially given that the world was not a kind place for a woman in the time the story is set in.
Beautiful descriptions of churches and the way building techniques evolved as ingenious solutions to problems were found are very interesting.
To tell a tale of this magnitude, covering decades, with so many different story arcs is amazing. The balance is maintained so perfectly between good and bad, victory and despair for those we root for as readers that the cycle remains gripping. There is no one who is portrayed as flawless or superior, they all do what they must to achieve their ends and survive.
This one can be termed a Magnum opus among books that educates, entertains and is totally worth the time and effort it commands.
Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur by Damien Lewis, Halima Bashir
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Got a bit long winded
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? No
5.0
The best way to describe how this book made me feel is to say it filled me with warmth; it really did. Definitely one of the most heartwarming stories I have ever read. Totally magical and enchanting!
Just like the cover and the images evoked by cerulean blue.
Linus Baker who will definitely be on my list of favourite fictional people forever, is the kind of person who is so much more than he knows himself to be. Sent to check on the orphanage on Marsyas Island by the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) whom he works for, he is unprepared for the feelings the 6 children on the island arouse in him. They may be magical beings;a garden gnome, a forest sprite,a wyvern,a shifter, one of as yet unknown magic and even an Antichrist child,but he sees past that to the innocence and the simple everyday dreams beneath the surface. He sees how fiercely Arthur Parnassus, the master of the orphanage, loves and protects them. As he gets pulled further into their orbit, the rules and regulations he lives by seem unimportant and the children and Arthur, even with the mysterious something about him that Linus does not yet know fully, become his world.
For as Arthur Parnassus says, 'The world is a wierd and wonderful place. Why must we try and explain it all away?' The perceptions that are drummed into us need not define how we think. We can and should look beyond the defined boundaries and accept the marvels that we find.
Filled with fun, lightness and colour, the story touches upon how humans fear what we don't understand and seek to isolate ourselves from it. It is an ode to those who may look different and have abilities the rest of us don't but nevertheless deserve to be loved just like us. It is about believing in something and standing up for it; making a home with the people we surround ourselves with and choose to love.
This is a world that totally charmed me and I didn't want to get out of it. A book that left a smile on my face after i read the last page. A must read.
One of the many beautiful quote worthy lines in the book, profound because it is so elegantly simple..
"We should always make time for the things we like. If we don’t, we might forget how to be happy."
Just like the cover and the images evoked by cerulean blue.
Linus Baker who will definitely be on my list of favourite fictional people forever, is the kind of person who is so much more than he knows himself to be. Sent to check on the orphanage on Marsyas Island by the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) whom he works for, he is unprepared for the feelings the 6 children on the island arouse in him. They may be magical beings;a garden gnome, a forest sprite,a wyvern,a shifter, one of as yet unknown magic and even an Antichrist child,but he sees past that to the innocence and the simple everyday dreams beneath the surface. He sees how fiercely Arthur Parnassus, the master of the orphanage, loves and protects them. As he gets pulled further into their orbit, the rules and regulations he lives by seem unimportant and the children and Arthur, even with the mysterious something about him that Linus does not yet know fully, become his world.
For as Arthur Parnassus says, 'The world is a wierd and wonderful place. Why must we try and explain it all away?' The perceptions that are drummed into us need not define how we think. We can and should look beyond the defined boundaries and accept the marvels that we find.
Filled with fun, lightness and colour, the story touches upon how humans fear what we don't understand and seek to isolate ourselves from it. It is an ode to those who may look different and have abilities the rest of us don't but nevertheless deserve to be loved just like us. It is about believing in something and standing up for it; making a home with the people we surround ourselves with and choose to love.
This is a world that totally charmed me and I didn't want to get out of it. A book that left a smile on my face after i read the last page. A must read.
One of the many beautiful quote worthy lines in the book, profound because it is so elegantly simple..
"We should always make time for the things we like. If we don’t, we might forget how to be happy."
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Phew! This is simultaneously one of the most beautiful books I have read in terms of the writing and the saddest, most devastating one as well!
I have read about books inducing 'ugly crying' and this was one for me..
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was so fabulous with the emotional dialogues that it was even more heartbreaking. It was a very good book to listen to though for that reason I felt.
I kept wondering what exactly the author was actually meaning this to be..a survival story, a story of beautiful friendship, one that showed that a human being could be so damaged that he or she could never be completely healed, or ultimately just a hard hitting very real tale where suffering is more relentless than we let ourselves believe so that we can have some semblance of a happy life!
It is definitely an ode to a wonderful friendship between four individuals that lasts throughout their lives though they don't seem to have anything in common except that they all seem to be misfits..Willem, the brilliant actor, JB the petulant one who is an excellent artist, Malcolm, the earnest but eternally unsure architect and Jude, the excellent lawyer who can never bring himself to tell even those he is closest to about the trauma he was subjected to in childhood.
As they build careers, get in and out of relationships, fight and patch up they are the only constants in each other's lives. And the relationship between two of them in particular is really poignant, one that most would probably aspire to even with all the doubt and sacrifices it seems to take from both.
There is so much sadness in this tale, lots of it. It is almost as if it was decided that no one would be allowed to get away with being happy all the time just like in real life! One thing that made it bearable to read these very emotional and depressing parts was that every time it got really sad, the POV would change and we get to see the story from another perspective. What actually happened is told with some distance and time away from the situation so that you don't have to read pages and pages of it and feel even more wrecked!
Even so, it is really intense and hard hitting and sometimes i almost wished that there would be a break from reality, more of the happy moments that are peppered throughout the book, especially towards the end after which I simply didn't know what I was feeling.
It is a story with darkness and light alternating but intruding on each other all the time so that after a while you know not to hope for something to last or go in a way you think it will! The best part of it is the way in which both of these are so exquisitely done. What Jude in particular goes through, the way he thinks, his constant misgivings and battles and hope in the midst of them all, his vulnerability coupled with his determination to be strong brings a lump to the throat. He made me want to reach in and hug him all the time. That's what kept me listening through all the tears and discomfort and extreme sadness. I wanted to know more about him and his life.
Definitely not an easy book to read at all. One that has left me feeling something I can't articulate right now. If that was the objective of the author, to generate such strong feelings for the characters and the story, then she has succeeded.
I have read about books inducing 'ugly crying' and this was one for me..
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was so fabulous with the emotional dialogues that it was even more heartbreaking. It was a very good book to listen to though for that reason I felt.
I kept wondering what exactly the author was actually meaning this to be..a survival story, a story of beautiful friendship, one that showed that a human being could be so damaged that he or she could never be completely healed, or ultimately just a hard hitting very real tale where suffering is more relentless than we let ourselves believe so that we can have some semblance of a happy life!
It is definitely an ode to a wonderful friendship between four individuals that lasts throughout their lives though they don't seem to have anything in common except that they all seem to be misfits..Willem, the brilliant actor, JB the petulant one who is an excellent artist, Malcolm, the earnest but eternally unsure architect and Jude, the excellent lawyer who can never bring himself to tell even those he is closest to about the trauma he was subjected to in childhood.
As they build careers, get in and out of relationships, fight and patch up they are the only constants in each other's lives. And the relationship between two of them in particular is really poignant, one that most would probably aspire to even with all the doubt and sacrifices it seems to take from both.
There is so much sadness in this tale, lots of it. It is almost as if it was decided that no one would be allowed to get away with being happy all the time just like in real life! One thing that made it bearable to read these very emotional and depressing parts was that every time it got really sad, the POV would change and we get to see the story from another perspective. What actually happened is told with some distance and time away from the situation so that you don't have to read pages and pages of it and feel even more wrecked!
Even so, it is really intense and hard hitting and sometimes i almost wished that there would be a break from reality, more of the happy moments that are peppered throughout the book, especially towards the end after which I simply didn't know what I was feeling.
It is a story with darkness and light alternating but intruding on each other all the time so that after a while you know not to hope for something to last or go in a way you think it will! The best part of it is the way in which both of these are so exquisitely done. What Jude in particular goes through, the way he thinks, his constant misgivings and battles and hope in the midst of them all, his vulnerability coupled with his determination to be strong brings a lump to the throat. He made me want to reach in and hug him all the time. That's what kept me listening through all the tears and discomfort and extreme sadness. I wanted to know more about him and his life.
Definitely not an easy book to read at all. One that has left me feeling something I can't articulate right now. If that was the objective of the author, to generate such strong feelings for the characters and the story, then she has succeeded.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm