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karenluvstoread's reviews
152 reviews
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
The KristIn Lavransdatter trilogy had been on my TBR list for quite some time. Then finally, at the end of last year I decided to tackle it. It is made up of three books: The Wreath, The Wife, and The Cross. I read the first two at the end of last year and then read the third book in January of this year.
I think this trilogy was beautifully written as far as writing style goes. Great descriptive writing, no major plot holes, a memorable main character, immersive in the landscape and era, easy to follow.
But by the third book, I admit I was ready to move on. I found myself wanting to just get the book finished. I feel like it began to drag on and I just wasn’t as enthused about that third book.
Might this indicate that it could have been shorter? I don’t know. But I think that maybe the oomph of the story that kept me reading through the first two books might have remained had the trilogy been just a tad bit shorter. Maybe that’s being picky, maybe it’s not. But either way, I’m glad I read the series.
I did a combination of reading in print and listening to the audiobook. And I will say, the audiobook was really good! If you like audiobooks, I definitely highly recommend the audiobook for this one.
MY RATING:
Book 1 The Wreath - 4 stars
Book 2 The Wife - 4 stars
Book 3 The Cross - 3.5 stars
I think this trilogy was beautifully written as far as writing style goes. Great descriptive writing, no major plot holes, a memorable main character, immersive in the landscape and era, easy to follow.
But by the third book, I admit I was ready to move on. I found myself wanting to just get the book finished. I feel like it began to drag on and I just wasn’t as enthused about that third book.
Might this indicate that it could have been shorter? I don’t know. But I think that maybe the oomph of the story that kept me reading through the first two books might have remained had the trilogy been just a tad bit shorter. Maybe that’s being picky, maybe it’s not. But either way, I’m glad I read the series.
I did a combination of reading in print and listening to the audiobook. And I will say, the audiobook was really good! If you like audiobooks, I definitely highly recommend the audiobook for this one.
MY RATING:
Book 1 The Wreath - 4 stars
Book 2 The Wife - 4 stars
Book 3 The Cross - 3.5 stars
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Selznick goes on to talk about all that in more detail. He also did quite a bit of research in different areas as well in order to tell these stories. As I was reading the book, I didn’t realize that the Ahnighito was a real thing or that Gunflint Lake was an actual place. So I looked them up and read more about them. Definitely make sure to read the Author’s Note so you can see all the research that went into this book!
There is a magical quality to this book, as there is to The Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Marvels. And I love that quality about them! Wonderstruck is beautifully and compassionately written. It is magical and mesmerizing and full of wonder. Also, be sure to read this in print because the illustrations are integral to the story. In fact, they tell parts of the story just as the illustrations do in The Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Marvels.
5.0
I am a huge fan of Selznick’s work. I absolutely loved The Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Marvels. So I was tickled to be able to finally buy a copy of Wonderstruck and read it. In Wonderstruck, the two main characters are Ben and Rose. Their stories start out in two different times: 1977 for Ben’s story and 1927 for Rose’s story. Ben’s story is told in words and Rose’s story is told in pictures for most of the book.
Ben’s mom has passed away and he’s staying with relatives. He never knew his father. One night Ben finds a locket with a picture of who he thinks must be his father and that sets him on a journey to find his father.
Rose has great interest in an actress whom she keeps a scrapbook of. Eventually, she runs away on a quest to find this actress and that sets her off on a journey as well.
I can’t say much about either of these journeys, especially Rose’s, because it would give away points of the story. And I don’t want to give any spoilers. What I can tell you is that these two separate stories weave in and out and eventually merge. And at the point that they merge, the pictures and words merge as well. It was so brilliantly done!
Selznick tells these stories in Wonderstruck in a heartfelt way and with much depth. One of the key elements the book explores is the deaf community and culture. In the Author’s note, Selznick says:
“While I was working on The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I saw a documentary called Through Deaf Eyes, about the history of Deaf culture in America…I was especially fascinated by a section about cinema and the new technology of sound, which was introduced into the movies in 1927. Prior to this, both deaf and hearing populations could enjoy the cinema together. Sound movies, for the first time, excluded the deaf. That insight was the beginning of Rose’s story. The documentary also featured an interview with a young deaf man who was raised by hearing parents, as many deaf people are. It wasn’t until he went to college and met other deaf people that he felt he had really found his community. That fascinated me, and I became intrigued by the idea of looking for one’s culture outside of one’s biological family…Since I knew early on that both of my main characters would be deaf, I wanted to learn as much as possible about Deaf culture. I read books, conducted interviews, and had conversations with people who are deaf or who are experts on aspects of Deaf culture…” (p. 630, 632)
Selznick goes on to talk about all that in more detail. He also did quite a bit of research in different areas as well in order to tell these stories. As I was reading the book, I didn’t realize that the Ahnighito was a real thing or that Gunflint Lake was an actual place. So I looked them up and read more about them. Definitely make sure to read the Author’s Note so you can see all the research that went into this book!
There is a magical quality to this book, as there is to The Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Marvels. And I love that quality about them! Wonderstruck is beautifully and compassionately written. It is magical and mesmerizing and full of wonder. Also, be sure to read this in print because the illustrations are integral to the story. In fact, they tell parts of the story just as the illustrations do in The Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Marvels.
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
3.5
This is a well-written historical fiction novel about a Japanese-American family who gets evacuated to an internment camp in Utah during World War II. The novel chronicles the events from before the family is evacuated all the way through when they return home.
While we get a glimpse into what happened in this time in history, Otsuka mainly focuses on how the evacuation, internment, and finally the return home affect the particular family in the story. It’s not dramatized or overly emotional. It’s more like the author has laid out events of what happened with this family, letting the reader experience the story from a distance. As the narrative is built and told to the reader in a short amount of pages, the writing is succinct and precise.
While we get a glimpse into what happened in this time in history, Otsuka mainly focuses on how the evacuation, internment, and finally the return home affect the particular family in the story. It’s not dramatized or overly emotional. It’s more like the author has laid out events of what happened with this family, letting the reader experience the story from a distance. As the narrative is built and told to the reader in a short amount of pages, the writing is succinct and precise.
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
This book was one of my Amazon First Reads choices this year and I’m glad I picked it. This novel is set during the 1930s in the time known as the Dust Bowl. The story is inspired by a true event of two giraffes who were on a ship during a hurricane, survived, and we’re transported across the country to a zoo.
I loved reading this story! The writing is descriptive and engaging. I thought the author did a great job capturing some of what it must have been like living through that time in history. In addition, you can picture in your minds eye the giraffes and their antics as well as their grace and love. The giraffes have a particular impact on Woody, one of the main characters of the novel; but they also bring a spark of joy to various towns from New York to San Diego. The story is adventurous and hopeful, and captures the sense of belonging. It is also a beautiful tribute to animals.
4.0
“It is a foolish man who thinks stories do not matter – when in the end, they may be all that matter and all the forever we’ll ever know.” ~ West With Giraffes, pg. 338
This book was one of my Amazon First Reads choices this year and I’m glad I picked it. This novel is set during the 1930s in the time known as the Dust Bowl. The story is inspired by a true event of two giraffes who were on a ship during a hurricane, survived, and we’re transported across the country to a zoo.
I loved reading this story! The writing is descriptive and engaging. I thought the author did a great job capturing some of what it must have been like living through that time in history. In addition, you can picture in your minds eye the giraffes and their antics as well as their grace and love. The giraffes have a particular impact on Woody, one of the main characters of the novel; but they also bring a spark of joy to various towns from New York to San Diego. The story is adventurous and hopeful, and captures the sense of belonging. It is also a beautiful tribute to animals.
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
4.0
This is a World War II historical fiction novel that centers on and around a Polish Jewish family. The novel follows the Kurc family starting in 1939 when they are together, trying to live normal lives, through the events of World War II when their family is ripped apart. It is a story of family love and devotion, survival, and how the human spirit endures in these characters.
Watership Down by Richard Adams
5.0
This book. Wow! I never would have thought a book about rabbits could be so engrossing! It put me in mind so much of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. How? First, the tone and feel of it. Second, it’s the story of a journey which is an epic adventure. And third, it is world-building.
*Tone and feel to the story and the epic journey*
These two kind of go hand in hand. This is a story about a group of rabbits that leave their warren because of the potential threat of danger. They feel danger is imminent and they must leave and find somewhere else to live; even though the thought of it terrifies them. So they embark on this daunting journey. It takes great courage and much resourcefulness. They face threats, danger, and sometimes what seems like insurmountable odds. And the ending very much made me feel like I felt when reading the part in The Hobbit when Bilbo comes back to the Shire after his big adventure.
*World-building*
Yes…worldbuilding…but in a different sense. It is a real world of rabbits and nature but to a different level. It is somewhat anthropomorphic. The animals can talk and share feelings and thoughts. They have a history. Their warren has a history. They have stories they pass down. It is a whole distinctive world.
In this novel, Richard Adams managed to represent the nature of life in this story of rabbits. There are themes of friendship, respect, honor, duty, loyalty, perseverance, fear, and courage. There are wars, fighting, and a great deal of drama. It is a story of survival, triumphs, and growth. The characters have depth and the story is full of beauty and richness. I can’t recommend this book enough!
*Tone and feel to the story and the epic journey*
These two kind of go hand in hand. This is a story about a group of rabbits that leave their warren because of the potential threat of danger. They feel danger is imminent and they must leave and find somewhere else to live; even though the thought of it terrifies them. So they embark on this daunting journey. It takes great courage and much resourcefulness. They face threats, danger, and sometimes what seems like insurmountable odds. And the ending very much made me feel like I felt when reading the part in The Hobbit when Bilbo comes back to the Shire after his big adventure.
*World-building*
Yes…worldbuilding…but in a different sense. It is a real world of rabbits and nature but to a different level. It is somewhat anthropomorphic. The animals can talk and share feelings and thoughts. They have a history. Their warren has a history. They have stories they pass down. It is a whole distinctive world.
In this novel, Richard Adams managed to represent the nature of life in this story of rabbits. There are themes of friendship, respect, honor, duty, loyalty, perseverance, fear, and courage. There are wars, fighting, and a great deal of drama. It is a story of survival, triumphs, and growth. The characters have depth and the story is full of beauty and richness. I can’t recommend this book enough!
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
4.0
I find it hard to write a review of these longer epic works of classic literature. They involve so much and it’s hard to narrow it down and summarize it. The first time I read War and Peace I was, let’s just say, not that impressed. I found it to be simply okay. But I also knew that at some point I needed to read it again. And so I did. This second time around I loved it so much more! This book is truly phenomenal. I do feel it has its own flaws; but in my opinion those flaws don’t detract from the book overall.
Tolstoy includes a lot of details in the war sections but also in the other parts of the story, including a lengthy philosophical digression in the second part of the epilogue. As far as the war and battlefield portions go, while I think we may not necessarily need all the details he gives, I can see how this attention to detail really does contribute to the epic scope of this novel; because this book truly is a masterpiece of epic proportions.
Regarding the philosophical detours, when you understand that Tolstoy wrote this novel with the intent to include reflections of his beliefs on a number of issues, then you can see why he included so much of the various sections with all the details of war and the parts that were treatises on different topics such as history, free will, and such. Understanding that, it makes sense that he would devote a portion of the epilogue to delve into his beliefs more and in turn, bring them to a close. But I didn’t feel like he brought them to a close. It felt like he just went on and on talking about the issues and left off in the middle of the conversation. So the last part of the epilogue left a bit to be desired unfortunately. In my opinion, I think that the whole second part of the epilogue (as well as some of the details in the various war sections) could have been left out. And that really is what ultimately led me to give this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars. If I had not been bent on finishing every single word, I would have been tempted to simply skip that last philosophical part of the epilogue. Had it left off at the end of part I of the epilogue, I really think I would have walked away from the book feeling like I would want to keep reading about the lives of the characters that we have gotten to know so well throughout the book. Instead, I found myself just plowing my way through that second and last part of the epilogue to get it finished. Sadly, by the last sentence of the book, I was glad it was done. So for me, I think the story would have had a better finish if it had ended after part one of the epilogue. But that’s just my humble opinion. 😉
I also think it’s these philosophical detours coupled with its immense length that makes it feel intimidating. I was certainly intimidated by the thought of reading it for the first time! But truly, despite the length and philosophy parts, this book is so incredibly readable and highly entertaining. Tolstoy’s writing truly is magnificent in this work.
And speaking of Tolstoy’s amazing writing, let’s take just a brief minute to look at how he wrote his characters. Tolstoy managed to write very complex, layered characters. So much so that I really can not pick a favorite character. He managed to capture human nature so well. The characters portray their own struggles with life, how to live life best, and what is important in life. Because of the length of this novel, we get to watch the characters grow and develop and change over many years. We see their good sides and their not so good sides. Even the ones that overall seem like not so good characters, Tolstoy succeeds in leading the reader to feel pity and sadness for them at some point.
Despite the the flaws in this novel that I mentioned, multiple times throughout the book I found myself remarking that Tolstoy’s writing in this novel was genius. It truly is a phenomenal work. Even though it is a long book, it really is extremely readable. It’s immersive, absorbing, and gripping.
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
4.0
I have read several of C. S. Lewis' books, including the famous Narnia series; but I hadn't read Till We Have Faces Yet. In this classic book, Lewis retells the myth of Cupid and Psyche. It is the story of two princesses – one who is considered ugly and therefore considered to not be of much worth, and one who is considered beautiful and therefore praised and valued highly. The story is narrated by one of these sisters, Orual, who is the one considered to be ugly. The events and characters depicted are from her perspective. Psyche, the beautiful one, is loved by Cupid (the god of love).
Honestly, because it said it is a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, I was afraid it might be hard to understand or be dry and not very engaging. I am happy to say this book is neither! Lewis’ writing style shines in this novel. It is well-written and certainly engaging! Lewis himself considered it to be his best work.
It is said that this work deserves multiple readings. And I believe this is probably pretty accurate. I viewed my first reading of this novel as an introduction to the work. As such, I tried to just follow and enjoy the storyline without trying to dig deep into all the themes and layers that may be present. Even doing so, themes still popped out at me. 🙂
I don’t think I would consider this work to be my favorite Lewis book. (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe holds that claim!) However, the more I thought about it and the more I realized how much depth is present in this novel, as well as the wonderful style of Lewis’ writing, I bumped it up to from 3.5 to 4 stars.
Honestly, because it said it is a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, I was afraid it might be hard to understand or be dry and not very engaging. I am happy to say this book is neither! Lewis’ writing style shines in this novel. It is well-written and certainly engaging! Lewis himself considered it to be his best work.
It is said that this work deserves multiple readings. And I believe this is probably pretty accurate. I viewed my first reading of this novel as an introduction to the work. As such, I tried to just follow and enjoy the storyline without trying to dig deep into all the themes and layers that may be present. Even doing so, themes still popped out at me. 🙂
I don’t think I would consider this work to be my favorite Lewis book. (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe holds that claim!) However, the more I thought about it and the more I realized how much depth is present in this novel, as well as the wonderful style of Lewis’ writing, I bumped it up to from 3.5 to 4 stars.
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
3.0
This Side of Paradise was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first published novel, written when he was just 23 years old. The story is a character sketch. At one point, Fitzgerald actually called it a “quest novel”. The main character, Amory Blaine, is on a quest to discover who he is.
Amory is not a very likeable character. He is presented as self-absorbed, lazy, and egotistical. He is quite fickle, doesn’t know what he wants, and squanders time and money. He was raised in wealth; and both he and his mother lived quite unconventional lives at the time.
As Amory went off to school, he struggled to fit in. As the story unfolds, we see glimpses here and there of him potentially slowly beginning to grow and mature. Ultimately, he is in a struggle to understand who he is and where he fits in the world.
I honestly felt like a good portion of this book was a chore to read. Still, there were moments where I was able to engage more in the story, especially later on when I saw him growing more. But even with these glimpses of what looked like growth and maturity, the ending felt lacking. As far as the description of it being a quest novel, I can see how the ending was fitting; but it really wasn’t a satisfying ending in my opinion. I wanted to see more growth in the character.
Also, this book does feel a bit like it meanders. However, we have to keep in mind that it is meant to be a character sketch; not a plot-driven story. I actually usually enjoy a good character-driven book; but this one missed the mark for me. I just couldn’t get invested in it as much as I tried. However, I will say one of the highlights were all the mentions of books and authors. That was certainly a fun aspect of the book.
In the end, I’m glad to have read this book to see how Fitzgerald’s writing was in his first book; but I was very glad to be finished with it. 😁
Amory is not a very likeable character. He is presented as self-absorbed, lazy, and egotistical. He is quite fickle, doesn’t know what he wants, and squanders time and money. He was raised in wealth; and both he and his mother lived quite unconventional lives at the time.
As Amory went off to school, he struggled to fit in. As the story unfolds, we see glimpses here and there of him potentially slowly beginning to grow and mature. Ultimately, he is in a struggle to understand who he is and where he fits in the world.
I honestly felt like a good portion of this book was a chore to read. Still, there were moments where I was able to engage more in the story, especially later on when I saw him growing more. But even with these glimpses of what looked like growth and maturity, the ending felt lacking. As far as the description of it being a quest novel, I can see how the ending was fitting; but it really wasn’t a satisfying ending in my opinion. I wanted to see more growth in the character.
Also, this book does feel a bit like it meanders. However, we have to keep in mind that it is meant to be a character sketch; not a plot-driven story. I actually usually enjoy a good character-driven book; but this one missed the mark for me. I just couldn’t get invested in it as much as I tried. However, I will say one of the highlights were all the mentions of books and authors. That was certainly a fun aspect of the book.
In the end, I’m glad to have read this book to see how Fitzgerald’s writing was in his first book; but I was very glad to be finished with it. 😁
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
4.0
Growing up, we had a TV with an antenna. Cable TV was available at the time, but we didn’t have it until later on in my teenage years. I can remember we could only pick up just a handful of stations on our TV with the antenna. And at some point when I was in elementary school, I remember my parents buying a VCR. A VCR! How exciting! We were actually able to watch movies that we could pick out at the local movie rental store. It was amazing!
But you know what I have always remembered from those years of having a TV with an antenna? Waiting anxiously each year for three movies to air on one of the stations we could pick up with the antenna…The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and The Wizard of Oz. It was always an exciting time for me when these movies came on; I looked forward to it each year. From the amazing Mary Poppins, to Maria singing Do-Re-Mi, to Dorothy, Toto and her three friends making their way to the Emerald City…great adventures awaited on the TV screen.
Of those three movies, my mom especially loved The Wizard of Oz. She would crack us up with her imitation of the wicked witch of the west talking to Dorothy or proclaiming “I’m melting! I’m melting!”
You can imagine that with such fond memories of anxiously awaiting to watch The Wizard of Oz each year when I was growing up, along with having a mother who loved the movie as well, it would’ve been a natural conclusion for me to read the book. But I didn’t. Not until a few years ago.
Even though the movie is called The Wizard of Oz, that title is actually the title of a whole series of books L. Frank Baum wrote. In fact, I understand that Baum wrote fourteen Oz books. The first in this series is the one I read, entitled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This first book is a timeless classic…well written and engaging. And I'm so glad I finally read it!