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jem_ko's reviews
57 reviews
Becoming by Michelle Obama
5.0
Lengthy but worth every second!
A must read if you enjoy autobiographies.
Reading this feels as though you are reading a testament to optimism and education amongst some extremely dark times - becoming is extraordinary and deserves every morsel of praise. It remains humble and still feels as though you are listening to a friend tell their own stories for over 30 hours and is easily a must read.
A must read if you enjoy autobiographies.
Reading this feels as though you are reading a testament to optimism and education amongst some extremely dark times - becoming is extraordinary and deserves every morsel of praise. It remains humble and still feels as though you are listening to a friend tell their own stories for over 30 hours and is easily a must read.
The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie
3.0
Quick and atmospheric
A quick read, very interesting though somewhat predictable but maybe that is because I read the book whole in an afternoon and so followed leads to the conclusion quite quickly. Still I shall be reading several more of Christie’s Poirot novels over the following weeks as they are perfectly atmospheric for late autumn with their sense of mystery, touch of crime and ever present cups of tea & coffee
A quick read, very interesting though somewhat predictable but maybe that is because I read the book whole in an afternoon and so followed leads to the conclusion quite quickly. Still I shall be reading several more of Christie’s Poirot novels over the following weeks as they are perfectly atmospheric for late autumn with their sense of mystery, touch of crime and ever present cups of tea & coffee
After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
3.0
Many more twists and turns than ‘the ABC murders’ so I enjoyed not being able to quickly predict the conclusion. Poirot is portrayed as slightly more pretentious here though but I feel as though it is because he is dealing with a group of suspects who are more comfortable with lying.
In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey Hilsum
4.0
This story is a testament to the essence of humanity and a nod to the joie de vivre some rare people can bring to any room and any moment. This book is full of hope and inspiration because Marie Colvin is an inspiration.
Now, Hilsum on the other hand, wrote a wonderful in-depth description of every story she could - laying out the many many details she surely researched endlessly - to give us as readers the most deep connection we could with Colvin. It was truly a hefty task and I think the issue is that she tried to let us know truly everything. Pages full of context, pages full of poems written about that one story, pages full of diary notes written around the time, pages full of just descriptions of the surroundings- they all add and simultaneously detract from the enjoyment of this book as it takes a woman’s fairly fast paced life and slows it down to provide us with the full backstory. Apart from two chapters (the one on Chechenya and the final chapter on Baba Amr) I never felt as though I was on the ground with Marie because I was busy being bombarded by Hilsum with context and other information that, for the sake of pacing or intrigue could have been left out.
I would recommend reading this book because of Colvin and I commend Hilsum for doing as well as she could to encapsulate such a full life in just about 400 pages but just be aware of the style in which Hilsum writes before you dive in.
Now, Hilsum on the other hand, wrote a wonderful in-depth description of every story she could - laying out the many many details she surely researched endlessly - to give us as readers the most deep connection we could with Colvin. It was truly a hefty task and I think the issue is that she tried to let us know truly everything. Pages full of context, pages full of poems written about that one story, pages full of diary notes written around the time, pages full of just descriptions of the surroundings- they all add and simultaneously detract from the enjoyment of this book as it takes a woman’s fairly fast paced life and slows it down to provide us with the full backstory. Apart from two chapters (the one on Chechenya and the final chapter on Baba Amr) I never felt as though I was on the ground with Marie because I was busy being bombarded by Hilsum with context and other information that, for the sake of pacing or intrigue could have been left out.
I would recommend reading this book because of Colvin and I commend Hilsum for doing as well as she could to encapsulate such a full life in just about 400 pages but just be aware of the style in which Hilsum writes before you dive in.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
4.0
The first where I couldn’t predict the outcome- i had been betting on the butler all along until the final pages.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
5.0
I was saving the end for christmas (doesn’t a murder mystery engulfed in snow, set in a warm train cabin stuck in the alps, sound festive to you?) and I couldn’t be happier. As with all of the Poirot novels, the answer became increasingly apparent as we neared the end but the suspense, beautiful descriptions and generally wonderfully curated atmosphere kept me hooked. Merry murder and a happy new fear.
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
3.0
Interesting theories on maternity, lineage, collective consciousness, education and all sorts of topics that are not as often focussed on in male-written utopian novels - the pacing is a bit odd at times and never picks up despite the constant impression that it may however this might be a clever trick to evoke the same feelings of desire for climax that the men in this novel feel. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy atypical utopian fiction and/or feminist theory.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
4.0
A true gem. I found it a tad slowly paced for the earlier half but, once i submitted to accepting the book for what it was (mildly predictable, certainly cheesy and using some strange tangents to get from A to B), since accepting that I have almost no complaints. The writing was beautiful and well-researched, Haigg touches on everything I adore from climate change research in the archipelago of Svalbard to the pains of love and loss experienced in the depths of Sao Paolo - all whilst discussing relevant philosophical thought and utilising direct quotes from thinkers such as Sartre and Thoreau. I will admit the latter half of the plot was predictable but the writing that brought us to the cheesy, inevitable and hopeful conclusion was still refreshing and included many unexpected concepts. I’ll let you in on a secret beforehand too- the final lines are beautiful.
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith
3.0
Objectively this is not a bad book… Also objectively, that is not a great sign at the start of a review. The atmosphere created by always having a kettle brimming with bush tea on, sparse yet helpful shady acacia trees and a comforting found family dynamic that intermingles coworkers, acquaintances and couples is one that I appreciated deeply. That atmosphere is also the only reason this got more than two stars. The A plot of detective work is not essential to this book at all, it is barely noticeable for the large majority of the book and instead we spend chunks of the novella deliberating on useless information about how roads meander into bushland. As you near the end you then have a rushed conclusion to all points that (for the sake of no spoilers) simply is dissatisfying. Nevertheless, if you want a quick read that makes you feel like you’ve just spent a mildly rambling lunch talking to a cousin who lives in Botswana & tangents endlessly whilst story telling but sets a good scene (and has a really sweet anxious husband) - sure, read it. Did help me out of a reading slump tho! The book ‘Good Omens’ can get screwed for shoving me into that slump head first.