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438 reviews
The Blighted Stars by Megan E. O'Keefe
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
3.75
Oh, how I love me some proper SFF with a romance subplot.
The plot and the worldbuilding were interesting and just the right amount of complex, and I was invested in the characters and the romance. Me like!
However, I had a somewhat rocky reading journey, that I will now expand upon (and l ended up expanding A LOT, let's just say, so if you're not interested in detailed knowledge about my reading experience, I urge you to stop reading nowđđ)
I spent the first third of the book in confusion. I literally struggled to take in the words, and it felt like reading in a foreign language. I guess this can happen with SFF (Weirdly enough, this did not happen when I read The Fifth Season). However, I knew the book would eventually start to make more sense, and it did!
While I was struggling to make sense of it all, there was something kind of important that I misunderstood. I missed that Naira and Lockhart was the same person (it's not a spoiler, it' useful info!!), which made for some funny thoughts: "Why is Tarquin suddenly having this very intimate conversation with a random guard? He needs to get to know the love interest instead!!".
So, yeah, the "random guard" was the same person as the love interestđ
As I was getting close to the end of the book â I had about 3 hours of the audiobook left â I realized that the plot/conflict had become way too big and complex for the book to be able to resolve everything within those 3 remaining hours. Silly me had assumed that the book would be a standalone (even though I knew it was a trilogyđ), because the sci-fi with romance plots/subplots that I had read earlier, had all been standalones. Woops, haha.
So when I realized there was no way I would get a proper conclusion to the plot (or to the relationship â if there's such a thing as a conclusion to a relationship), I basically lost my motivation to finish the bookđ
I think I spent four days on those 3 remaining hoursđ€
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but whether I'll continue with the series or not, only time will tellđ
I'm not exactly in a hurry to continue it at the moment (but I might change my mind in about a weekđ)
Btw, why does this book have an LGBTQIA+ tag? There's like one sentence about how the male MC had a crush on a boy as a teenager. I kid you not, ONE SENTENCE. And it's never brought up again. Or did I miss something while in my confusion?đ
The plot and the worldbuilding were interesting and just the right amount of complex, and I was invested in the characters and the romance. Me like!
However, I had a somewhat rocky reading journey, that I will now expand upon (and l ended up expanding A LOT, let's just say, so if you're not interested in detailed knowledge about my reading experience, I urge you to stop reading nowđđ)
I spent the first third of the book in confusion. I literally struggled to take in the words, and it felt like reading in a foreign language. I guess this can happen with SFF (Weirdly enough, this did not happen when I read The Fifth Season). However, I knew the book would eventually start to make more sense, and it did!
While I was struggling to make sense of it all, there was something kind of important that I misunderstood. I missed that Naira and Lockhart was the same person (it's not a spoiler, it' useful info!!), which made for some funny thoughts: "Why is Tarquin suddenly having this very intimate conversation with a random guard? He needs to get to know the love interest instead!!".
So, yeah, the "random guard" was the same person as the love interestđ
As I was getting close to the end of the book â I had about 3 hours of the audiobook left â I realized that the plot/conflict had become way too big and complex for the book to be able to resolve everything within those 3 remaining hours. Silly me had assumed that the book would be a standalone (even though I knew it was a trilogyđ), because the sci-fi with romance plots/subplots that I had read earlier, had all been standalones. Woops, haha.
So when I realized there was no way I would get a proper conclusion to the plot (or to the relationship â if there's such a thing as a conclusion to a relationship), I basically lost my motivation to finish the bookđ
I think I spent four days on those 3 remaining hoursđ€
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but whether I'll continue with the series or not, only time will tellđ
I'm not exactly in a hurry to continue it at the moment (but I might change my mind in about a weekđ)
Btw, why does this book have an LGBTQIA+ tag? There's like one sentence about how the male MC had a crush on a boy as a teenager. I kid you not, ONE SENTENCE. And it's never brought up again. Or did I miss something while in my confusion?đ
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
3.0
I devoured the first half of this book, and thought it was very sweet and quite funny.
However, I was a little let down by the second half of the book, and I was particularly let down by the ending.
I thought the second half was unneccesarily drawn out,
but my main issue is how unresolved and unsatisfying the ending felt, especially when it came to the romance. I was waiting for a declaration of love and/or proper kiss, BUT IT NEVER CAMEđ and then the book was over, and I felt betrayedđĄđ
I liked the writing, the world, the magic, and the beginning of the story, but I was just so let down by the ending that it affected my feelings about the book as a wholeđ„Čđł
I would also say that this book is more YA than adult, since it's about teenagers in a magic school.
However, I was a little let down by the second half of the book, and I was particularly let down by the ending.
I thought the second half was unneccesarily drawn out,
I liked the writing, the world, the magic, and the beginning of the story, but I was just so let down by the ending that it affected my feelings about the book as a wholeđ„Čđł
I would also say that this book is more YA than adult, since it's about teenagers in a magic school.
Odelsskam: Ä gje slepp pÄ ein gard etter femten generasjonar by Maria Lavik
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
3.75
Hva gjÞr man nÄr ingen i sÞskenflokken viser tegn til Ä ville ta over familiegÄrden? Da skriver man selvfÞlgelig en bok! :)
Maria Laviks familiehistorie bestÄr av en lang rekke stolte gÄrdbrukere som har jobbet hardt for gÄrden pÄ Lavik, men nÄ er driften lagt ned, og odelsjenta Maria stortrives i Oslo. Hun drar kun til bygda nÄr behovet for vestlandsk familie, natur og tilknytning melder seg.
Maria Lavik skriver om bygdas blikk pÄ byen, og om byens blikk pÄ bygda. Om hvorfor vi vil bo i byen, eller bo pÄ bygda; om tilhÞrighet, fellesskap og ensomhet, og om familiehistorien sin.
Jeg kommer nok aldri til Ä bli en gÄrdbruker (eller bygdeboer), men jeg kommer nok aldri til Ä slutte Ä la meg fascinere heller. Matproduksjon og naturbruk er jo tross alt helt grunnleggende deler av samfunnet.
Men ja, fin bok!
Maria Laviks familiehistorie bestÄr av en lang rekke stolte gÄrdbrukere som har jobbet hardt for gÄrden pÄ Lavik, men nÄ er driften lagt ned, og odelsjenta Maria stortrives i Oslo. Hun drar kun til bygda nÄr behovet for vestlandsk familie, natur og tilknytning melder seg.
Maria Lavik skriver om bygdas blikk pÄ byen, og om byens blikk pÄ bygda. Om hvorfor vi vil bo i byen, eller bo pÄ bygda; om tilhÞrighet, fellesskap og ensomhet, og om familiehistorien sin.
Jeg kommer nok aldri til Ä bli en gÄrdbruker (eller bygdeboer), men jeg kommer nok aldri til Ä slutte Ä la meg fascinere heller. Matproduksjon og naturbruk er jo tross alt helt grunnleggende deler av samfunnet.
Men ja, fin bok!
Grim by Sara Bergmark Elfgren
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
En oppslukende bok om dödsmetall och hĂ„rdrockare pĂ„ 80-tallet og 2010-tallet, spĂžkelseshuset pĂ„ Gröna lund, ungdommelig kraft og overmot, vennskap, utenforskap, ensomhet, psykisk uhelse, og en dĂŠsj av det okkulteđđ
Boka var trist og mĂžrk og varm, og utrolig stemningsfull.
Syns den ble bittelitt for langsom i blant, og dermed ogsÄ bittelitt for lang, men jeg ble sÄ absolutt revet med! Og den avslutningen... den satt lenge i, altsÄ.
En hĂžyst leseverdig bok!
Boka var trist og mĂžrk og varm, og utrolig stemningsfull.
Syns den ble bittelitt for langsom i blant, og dermed ogsÄ bittelitt for lang, men jeg ble sÄ absolutt revet med! Og den avslutningen... den satt lenge i, altsÄ.
En hĂžyst leseverdig bok!
Mitt liv, mitt fag: tung psykiatri by Randi Rosenqvist
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
3.75
Randi Rosenqvist er en bauta innenfor norsk rettspsykiatri, og har lang erfaring innenfor psykisk helsevern og i Kriminalomsorgen.
Hun er opptatt av de sykeste pasientene, spesielt de som i tillegg har begĂ„tt alvorlige lovbrudd eller er utagerende pĂ„ andre mĂ„ter â mennesker som de fleste av oss har lite kontakt med (og heller ikke vil ha kontakt med).
Hun har vĂŠrt direkte eller indirekte involvert i flere kjente rettssaker som involverer mennesker med en syk psyke, i en eller annen form. Feks Rustam Louis Foss ("Mannen i Thereses gate"), og Anders Behring Breivik.
(Dette er to menn som er/var syke pÄ veldig forskjellige mÄter, bare sÄ det er sagt!!)
Dette er fÞrst og fremst en bok om de byrÄkratiske systemene som omgir de alvorlig psykisk syke og kriminelle, og hvordan utviklingen har vÊrt de siste tiÄrene. Det handler om voldsrisiko, samtykke, tvungent psykisk helsevern, forvaring og om nedlegginga av dÞgnplasser i psykiatrien.
Jeg syns boka var interessant, og jeg lÊrte masse, men jeg tenker at dette er en bok som kanskje ikke har sÄ veldig bred appell. Jeg tror du mÄ vÊre interessert i rettspsykiatri, norsk byrÄkrati og psykisk helsevern for Ä like den.
Det er ogsÄ en memoarbok, med historier fra Rosenqvists liv og mÞter med ulike pasienter og innsatte, men vil du ha inngÄende, sensasjonelle eller veldig personlige historier om kriminalitet og psykisk sykdom, bÞr du nok finne en annen bok.
Boka er en fin forlengelse av serien "Leo og de farlige" pÄ NRK, eller NRKs podcastserie "Historier fra virkeligheten" (som feks episodene om nevnte "Mannen i Thereses gate" eller "Pianisten").
Hun er opptatt av de sykeste pasientene, spesielt de som i tillegg har begĂ„tt alvorlige lovbrudd eller er utagerende pĂ„ andre mĂ„ter â mennesker som de fleste av oss har lite kontakt med (og heller ikke vil ha kontakt med).
Hun har vĂŠrt direkte eller indirekte involvert i flere kjente rettssaker som involverer mennesker med en syk psyke, i en eller annen form. Feks Rustam Louis Foss ("Mannen i Thereses gate"), og Anders Behring Breivik.
(Dette er to menn som er/var syke pÄ veldig forskjellige mÄter, bare sÄ det er sagt!!)
Dette er fÞrst og fremst en bok om de byrÄkratiske systemene som omgir de alvorlig psykisk syke og kriminelle, og hvordan utviklingen har vÊrt de siste tiÄrene. Det handler om voldsrisiko, samtykke, tvungent psykisk helsevern, forvaring og om nedlegginga av dÞgnplasser i psykiatrien.
Jeg syns boka var interessant, og jeg lÊrte masse, men jeg tenker at dette er en bok som kanskje ikke har sÄ veldig bred appell. Jeg tror du mÄ vÊre interessert i rettspsykiatri, norsk byrÄkrati og psykisk helsevern for Ä like den.
Det er ogsÄ en memoarbok, med historier fra Rosenqvists liv og mÞter med ulike pasienter og innsatte, men vil du ha inngÄende, sensasjonelle eller veldig personlige historier om kriminalitet og psykisk sykdom, bÞr du nok finne en annen bok.
Boka er en fin forlengelse av serien "Leo og de farlige" pÄ NRK, eller NRKs podcastserie "Historier fra virkeligheten" (som feks episodene om nevnte "Mannen i Thereses gate" eller "Pianisten").
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
3.5
I was a little underwhelmed by the reading experience itself, but in hindsight, I appreciate the book more than while reading.
Even though I knew the book would be slightly literary in style, I still expected more twists and turns than it had.
It was certainly creepy, but not scary.
I was quite confused while reading, and was hoping that the ending would clear all confusion. It didn't:)
Maybe I'm being a bit unfair, because some of the things that confused me are also what made the book good, in many ways. The ambiguity made it more interesting, more unsettling, and more open to interpretation.
I honestly can't wait to watch the TV series adaptation though.
Which features in the book have they chosen to emphasise in the show, and in what way? (Hoping for some fruity elements, ofc)
Even though I knew the book would be slightly literary in style, I still expected more twists and turns than it had.
It was certainly creepy, but not scary.
I was quite confused while reading, and was hoping that the ending would clear all confusion. It didn't:)
Maybe I'm being a bit unfair, because some of the things that confused me are also what made the book good, in many ways. The ambiguity made it more interesting, more unsettling, and more open to interpretation.
I honestly can't wait to watch the TV series adaptation though.
Which features in the book have they chosen to emphasise in the show, and in what way? (Hoping for some fruity elements, ofc)
Norsk kvinnehistorie pÄ 200 sider by Hege Duckert
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
4.0
LĂŠrerikt og spennende om kvinnekamp og kvinneliv i Norge de siste 150 Ă„rene. Stemmerett, andre verdenskrig, husmortiden, 70-tallets feminismebĂžlge og rosabloggere â her fĂ„r man smake pĂ„ bĂ„de velkjente og ukjente godsaker.
Likte Katti Anker MĂžller-boka hakket bedre, fordi den gikk mer i dybden.
Men jeg koste meg med denne ogsÄ, altsÄ.
Likte Katti Anker MĂžller-boka hakket bedre, fordi den gikk mer i dybden.
Men jeg koste meg med denne ogsÄ, altsÄ.
Katti Anker MĂžller by Hege Duckert
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0
En bok som pÄ mesterlig vis forteller et stykke Norgeshistorie gjennom Ä dykke ned i livet til én kvinne: Katti Anker MÞller. En kvinne som var et produkt av sin tid og samtidig langt forut for sin tid.
En dame med et enormt mot, et stort engasjement og masse klokskap, og samtidig tilkortkommenheter og motsigelser som hos ethvert menneske.
Og gjennom Katti har jeg ogsÄ blitt meget godt kjent med det norske samfunnet fra 1880 til 1940! Jeg har lÊrt masse om kvinner og kjÞnn, naturligvis: om ekteskapets sentrale funksjon i samfunnet, rettigheter for mÞdre og barn, syn pÄ prevensjon og abort osv.
Men jeg har ogsÄ fÄtt i fleisen hvor ekstremt klassedelt det norske samfunnet var for 100-150 Är siden. Avhengig av hvilken klasse du var fÞdt inn i, var det helt ulike forventninger til deg, og helt forskjellige muligheter i livet.
Av denne grunn var ogsĂ„ kvinnekampen klassedelt. Mens borgerskapets kvinner kjempet for retten til Ă„ arbeide, var dette mindre relevant for arbeiderkvinnene â de hadde jo gjerne allerede arbeid!
I tillegg til klasse, satte ogsĂ„ kristendommen sitt (bakstreverske) preg pĂ„ datidens samfunn, med alt sitt mas om sedelighetđ€đ„± men jeg tror ikke jeg skal gĂ„ noe mer inn pĂ„ det nĂ„, hehe.
En veldig interessant bok, som jeg vil anbefale alle Ă„ leseđâ€ïž
En dame med et enormt mot, et stort engasjement og masse klokskap, og samtidig tilkortkommenheter og motsigelser som hos ethvert menneske.
Og gjennom Katti har jeg ogsÄ blitt meget godt kjent med det norske samfunnet fra 1880 til 1940! Jeg har lÊrt masse om kvinner og kjÞnn, naturligvis: om ekteskapets sentrale funksjon i samfunnet, rettigheter for mÞdre og barn, syn pÄ prevensjon og abort osv.
Men jeg har ogsÄ fÄtt i fleisen hvor ekstremt klassedelt det norske samfunnet var for 100-150 Är siden. Avhengig av hvilken klasse du var fÞdt inn i, var det helt ulike forventninger til deg, og helt forskjellige muligheter i livet.
Av denne grunn var ogsĂ„ kvinnekampen klassedelt. Mens borgerskapets kvinner kjempet for retten til Ă„ arbeide, var dette mindre relevant for arbeiderkvinnene â de hadde jo gjerne allerede arbeid!
I tillegg til klasse, satte ogsĂ„ kristendommen sitt (bakstreverske) preg pĂ„ datidens samfunn, med alt sitt mas om sedelighetđ€đ„± men jeg tror ikke jeg skal gĂ„ noe mer inn pĂ„ det nĂ„, hehe.
En veldig interessant bok, som jeg vil anbefale alle Ă„ leseđâ€ïž
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
A beautifully layered novel about love, grief and family (broadly speaking), written in Sally Rooney's usual introspective, intimate, and slightly somber style â at least that's how I perceive her books.
Ivan and Margaret's story gripped me from the very beginning. It was like reading the most exquisite romance novel, and I was smiling, kicking my feet, and anxiously hoping that these very human (aka flawed) humans wouldn't screw things up.
When it comes to Ivan's brother Peter, on the other hand, I wasn't immediately invested. Peter's inner monologue had a bit of a stream-of-consciousness style, and because of this, everything and everyone in his life was just a blur to me at first, and it took me a while to understand what was going on.
But when I eventually settled into Peter's narrative, I became totally immersed in the story of Peter and Ivan, and I was reading the book at every oppurtunity.
I felt quite lukewarm about Normal People â the only other book by Sally Rooney that I've read. I think this was partly because I was too young when I read it, and I'm glad I gave her another chance, because at the ripe old age of 25, I really enjoyed Intermezzođ
Ivan and Margaret's story gripped me from the very beginning. It was like reading the most exquisite romance novel, and I was smiling, kicking my feet, and anxiously hoping that these very human (aka flawed) humans wouldn't screw things up.
When it comes to Ivan's brother Peter, on the other hand, I wasn't immediately invested. Peter's inner monologue had a bit of a stream-of-consciousness style, and because of this, everything and everyone in his life was just a blur to me at first, and it took me a while to understand what was going on.
But when I eventually settled into Peter's narrative, I became totally immersed in the story of Peter and Ivan, and I was reading the book at every oppurtunity.
I felt quite lukewarm about Normal People â the only other book by Sally Rooney that I've read. I think this was partly because I was too young when I read it, and I'm glad I gave her another chance, because at the ripe old age of 25, I really enjoyed Intermezzođ
Oktoberbarn by Linda Boström KnausgÄrd
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
4.0
En veldig vakker, sÄr og trist bok. Forfatteren skriver nÊrt og poetisk om Ä vÊre innlagt, om oppvekst og om familieliv.
Anbefaler Ä hÞre pÄ den svenske lydboka, den er nemlig nydelig lest inn av forfatteren selv!
Anbefaler Ä hÞre pÄ den svenske lydboka, den er nemlig nydelig lest inn av forfatteren selv!