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manikahemmerixh's Reviews (220)
For a book that contains so many plot points I've historically known myself to avoid, this one just works. The story is enrapturing and all of the things that Clair and Jamie go through just feel so human. The length doesn't bother me, as I feel that this was perhaps one of the best written books of the series so far. The anxious anticipation I felt in the first 300 pages of this novel may be unmatched. I also loved to see old characters reemerge in new ways.
That being said, while definitely better than the second book in the series I can't quite give it the same 5 star rating as I afforded the first one just because there are, in fact, things that I would probably change about this book if I could.
That being said, while definitely better than the second book in the series I can't quite give it the same 5 star rating as I afforded the first one just because there are, in fact, things that I would probably change about this book if I could.
Finishing this book, I found out that Carmen narrates the audiobook herself, and do wonder if listening to it would make my rating higher.
It's a beautifully written book and a unique memoir where Carmen not only inserts the readers into instances of her life but also encourages us to ask questions and reminds us that we're all just human. Had I not borrowed this from the library, I would have been highlighting in it enthusiastically.
I didn't care a whole lot for the footnotes though. I understand why they were there and am sure that they add to the story for many other people, but as a reader I've never liked frequent footnotes and this didn't change that.
It's a beautifully written book and a unique memoir where Carmen not only inserts the readers into instances of her life but also encourages us to ask questions and reminds us that we're all just human. Had I not borrowed this from the library, I would have been highlighting in it enthusiastically.
I didn't care a whole lot for the footnotes though. I understand why they were there and am sure that they add to the story for many other people, but as a reader I've never liked frequent footnotes and this didn't change that.
The first half of this book really held me and spoke to me. My enrapture lessened in the second half. I think that's because as Esther enters the asylum there seems to be a lot less detail. It feels like we don't know as much about what's happening in Esther's head and she's more just describing the things happening to her and around her more objectively. Maybe that's part of being cut off in the bell jar, and then her therapy treatments subsequently make her more one note as she gets "better", but I don't know. There are parts about this book that resonated so much and parts that I could have taken or left, making it hard to rate as a whole.
I still liked this book, but in comparison to Outlander I found that there were sections that were much much harder for me to get through. For a book to be 700+ pages, you really have to keep your reader with you and I was close to losing it here. That being said, the last 100 or so pages were probably my favorite part of the book, and there were standout scenes sprinkled throughout. I still plan to continue with the series, but knowing that each book only gets longer does make me curious to see how I'll like them.
Reading this book felt like I was plopped into 18th century Scotland. It’s long and features many scenes that under some circumstances I would consider filler or unnecessary, but somehow each scene that may not have directly spurred the plot along, felt like an enrichment to the story and an opportunity to get to know the characters better. I’m deeply rooting for Jamie and Clair, and hope their story keeps me through the rest of this (quite intimidating) series.
Read like one of the worst horror stories I've ever heard, but never lost sight of the fact that this was the telling of the lives of real people.
A Head Full of Ghosts starts by painting the picture of a story all too easy to recognize as an American. "Normal" family suddenly falls on hard times. Dad gets laid off from the job he's had forever and invested all his time into, leaving him having a hard time finding another one, and mom the only one with an income. Then suddenly, the oldest daughter starts acting strange and doctor's visits and medical expenses leave things getting tighter and tighter, but the daughter isn't getting any better.
Add in a dash of fervent religion, and a media crew ready to capitalize on this family's struggle (but it's okay because at least they're paying them to air all their dirty laundry), and everything seems to be spinning out of control. Merry, the youngest daughter, who is only 8 when her family's suffering starts navigates us through the minefield, but who's to say what's real or what's not when you're only 8? Maybe sisters can be possessed by demons? Who knows best? Mom and Dad or the sister you've always cherished and looked up to (even if she isn't herself lately)? Only 15 years later, as we hear from 23 year old Merry can she try and make sense of it.
Add in a dash of fervent religion, and a media crew ready to capitalize on this family's struggle (but it's okay because at least they're paying them to air all their dirty laundry), and everything seems to be spinning out of control. Merry, the youngest daughter, who is only 8 when her family's suffering starts navigates us through the minefield, but who's to say what's real or what's not when you're only 8? Maybe sisters can be possessed by demons? Who knows best? Mom and Dad or the sister you've always cherished and looked up to (even if she isn't herself lately)? Only 15 years later, as we hear from 23 year old Merry can she try and make sense of it.
I'll probably never give a Stephen King book 5 stars out of principle because of his gratuitous use of slurs (I don't care if it was written in the 70s), which takes away from my enjoyment of the story. Outside of that, I like just about everything else about this book. When I first watched the movie, I was surprised that King hates it so much because I could easily see why it's been long standing in the horror genre. Having read the book, I get it.
The book changed my perspective of Jack especially. Is he suddenly a likeable character? Maybe not quite still, but he is easier to sympathize with and much more dynamic. The book also paints a much clearer picture of a man driven insane by an evil hotel that is more of an entity in itself than just a haunted building with bad energy.
The book changed my perspective of Jack especially. Is he suddenly a likeable character? Maybe not quite still, but he is easier to sympathize with and much more dynamic. The book also paints a much clearer picture of a man driven insane by an evil hotel that is more of an entity in itself than just a haunted building with bad energy.
This is a book I can see myself reading over and over again when I want something familiar and comforting to come back to. It has a twist on all my favorite supernatural things, and having read countless books about those things, I never could have seen this one coming. It's touching, sweet, very well-written, and with characters full of personality.