josefinceh's reviews
79 reviews

A Study in Scarlet & the Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 A Study in Scarlet
A study in scarlet comes in two part, which could just as well be two compleatly different books. Never the less a very entertaining read, this is the second time I read this story. 
The first part introduces watson and the famous Sherlock Holems. Whil’st Sherlock is described as cold and calculated there is no lack in the amount of charm Conan Doyle has added to the character. There is a lot of rude quips comming from all the characters adding an element of humor. 
As the second part rolls around, revealing the backstory of why the crime came to be. This part offers an adventure, drama and even a little lovestory. 

The Sign of the Four
This story is a lot more concise compared to A study in scarlet and also not quite as good. 
The sign of the four works well with further introducing John and Sherlock and their relationship as they have settled in at 221B bakerstreet. However, if you were reading these books for the detective this might be a disepointment as it focuses a lot more on the thoughts of it’s narrator and the characters he meet, mainly Mary. 
The mystery was a little rushed and the villains were not my cup of tea. It felt like whilst the mystery in itself was quite simple there were several elements tossed in to make it feel more complex than it was. 
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The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

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adventurous emotional inspiring sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 A retelling of the Iliad, from Patroclus perspective. Focusing on the relationship between him and Achilles. 
The song of Achilles is a wonderful love story that will leave its mark on your mind, If I am one to speak. Every page is just so beautifully written, and the way Achilles is described from the loving eyes of Patroclus made my soul warm. Their relationship is really well-developed and had a really satisfying growth. 
I would have likes to see more about Patroclus relationships to other characters, at times they felt a little glossed over to give space to Achilles. Either way, I adored the book. 
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Flickan med sju namn by Hyeonseo Lee, David John

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emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

3.5

Read the Swedish translation.
The girl with seven names is about the authors life in North korea, how she escaped and, how she came back to get her mother and brother out as well. 
The story gets you hooked quickly as Lee describes her childhood in North Korea. She goes into great detail both about the happy times as well as the fear and paranoia that is so deeply ingrained in their culture. Throughout the book she gives you just enough of a hint for you to see where things might be going but still keeps you at the edge of your seat to see what will happen.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although I did find the writing to be a little bit stocky (possibly due to the translation). 
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Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Domestic thriller with unlikeable characters and unreliable narrators. Nick's wife Amy disappears the day of their five-year wedding anniversary. The police suspects that Nick is responsible, while he stands firm in his claim to innocence looking at any potential suspect who could have taken his wife. 
My guess is that it, like with many thrillers, is best to have as little information as possible before the fact. The hype surrounding the film (and the book) meant that I had been spoiled on a few of the bigger twists. Luckily, the spoilers had been vague enough that it felt like it elevated the story for the most part. I knew what was going to happen, just not how or when. 
The book really sucks you in, skilfully revealing just enough information to keep you curious, but not enough so that you see what will happen next. If you have an interest in psychology, this would be quite a treat. While the characters are unlikeable they feel infinitely complex, no action is unmotivated. 
Some parts felt like they dragged on. Nicks character going on and on about childhood memories is one example. These lulls had a tenancy to feel repetitive. Really dancing in circles around the point we need to grasp to move on. There was also a theme between a lot of the characters of a general hate for all women. It does not feel as intrusive towards the end. In the beginning, however, the point that they all have a resentment for women became a little too hammered in. 
Overall, thoroughly enjoyed the book. 
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Vinterträdgården by Christine Falkenland

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Not much for Poetry in a fiction trench coat. Also, overall, having a very hard time grasping what is happening and when time shifts and so on.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Little women tell the story of the March family, mainly Jo and her four sisters (Meg, Beth and Amy) as well as the Laurence family next door, over the course of 15 years from the girls being teenagers to way into adulthood. The story discusses themes such as family, love, ambition/dreams and class/poverty. Most of all, the book is about being grateful for the things you do have in life. 
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and exploring the character and relationships between the four sisters. The entire story has this romantic feel to it, treasuring every moment like it would be the last. You get a great connection to all the characters and the ups and downs of their lives. Even the part that I've heard a lot of complaints about (
When Jo declines Laurie's proposal and Laurie ends up with Amy in stead
) felt very natural to me. This might be because I already knew what would happen from seeing the film. It is beautifully written, and the dialogue has a lovely rhythm like a classic Hollywood film. 
I did find that towards the end the pacing slowed down significantly, frustrating given that the book already has a very slow pace to begin with. The second con with this book comes from its habit of becoming overly preachy at times, especially when dealing with themes like loss, sickness and poverty. This bothered me mainly because I'm not a religious sort of person, but if you have a connection to the Christian faith you might feel different. 
I recommend the book to anyone who wants a relaxing, though somewhat emotional at times, read. Or If you have watched any of the film/TV adaptations and want to explore the characters further. 
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Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is the book that made me realise that gothic stories might not be my thing...

Jane Eyre follows the titular character through a large portion of her young life as she travels from one abusive household to the next. An orphan and left in an abusive home, Jane grows a strong will and sense of independence, rarely buckling from her own thoughts and will. What makes her stand out from other women in this era is that Jane travels like a man of her time. Majority of the time when she moves it is on her own accord and by her own means. 
Like what you might expect from a book by one of the Brontë sisters, this one is packed with abuse and dark themes. However, this one is definitely one of the lighter stories. So if you've been curious about Brontë and this literary era, this iconic book might be a good place to start. 
My main dislike and discomfort of the story comes from the relationship between Mr. Rochester and Jane. The dynamic of the relationship made me incredibly uncomfortable due to its abusive nature.
Jane is blinded by her affection for Mr. Rochester in a way that I could never completely comprehend. As he harms and lies to her, ending each action with a declaration that his affection for Jane should be obvious, still not denying that he might hurt her again. Perhaps there is a comparison to real life abusive relationships that can be seen here.
 
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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

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adventurous informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I like to preface this with noting that I did listen to this as an audiobook, which usually results in me not paying as much attention to the story as I would if I read a physical copy. 
I feel like this is a lighter option to Moby Dick as far as how in depth Verne goes with the science fact. The story wasn't held up by the factual notes, and Veren's picturesque description of the world he draws is just as intriguing in this book as with his others. This story had a lot of ups and downs, at some parts it was extremely intriguing, and the rest was incredibly slow and just seemed to drag on. 
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The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was my first time reading any Tolkien, so without any reliance on nostalgia I can confidently tell that I enjoyed every page. 
From what I've heard of the Lord of the Rings books, the hobbit definitely seem like the lighter option. I had been warned that Tolkien has a habit of getting to into the details, no matter how insignificant. However, I did not find that to be an issue at all. Any insignificant detail was only briefly mentioned and helps make the world feel more well-rounded and interesting. I got incredibly invested in the characters and their motivations for this journey. 
It has most likely been said many times, but the one wish I have for this book is for just a few female characters in the mix. 
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Cheese in the Trap, Season 4 by Soonkki

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challenging sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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