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thebookishmel's reviews
405 reviews
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
5.0
4.5-5.0
It feels so good to finish yet another book in the Shadowhunter world! I loved being able to take a step back from Clary in modern times, and going back into the history of the London Institute some more. I also loved seeing the parallels between the two eras and it was just super refreshing!
It feels so good to finish yet another book in the Shadowhunter world! I loved being able to take a step back from Clary in modern times, and going back into the history of the London Institute some more. I also loved seeing the parallels between the two eras and it was just super refreshing!
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
5.0
And to think the only reason I read this book was because its offered on Amazon Prime...
This book broke my heart in so many ways. Corrie ten Boom's life story is something so difficult, yet so necessary to read and understand. It was so incredibly difficult for me to read because of the nature of the book. A first hand experience of Nazi occupation in Holland, going into a concentration camp, finding out that the only reason she got out was because of a clerical error, then serving her purpose to God in spreading His word, and spreading the story of her experience throughout WWII. Truly, I'm taken aback by this and my heart hurts, but its also so incredible to read and see the change in lifestyle once she is freed.
This book broke my heart in so many ways. Corrie ten Boom's life story is something so difficult, yet so necessary to read and understand. It was so incredibly difficult for me to read because of the nature of the book. A first hand experience of Nazi occupation in Holland, going into a concentration camp, finding out that the only reason she got out was because of a clerical error, then serving her purpose to God in spreading His word, and spreading the story of her experience throughout WWII. Truly, I'm taken aback by this and my heart hurts, but its also so incredible to read and see the change in lifestyle once she is freed.
Love Poems by Bertolt Brecht
3.0
this wasn't bad, but it wasn't the best thing i've ever read either.. definitely did not enjoy the beginning and how rough every word sounded, but it got better towards the end
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
3.0
Okayayaya. This rating isn't because ACOFAS was bad, but it was more so the fact that this is a novella and there wasn't much plot involved. It was a whole lot of back and forth between buying solstice gifts and random traditions that weren't explained, and a lot of grumpy Archeron family. That was part of my issue with it. The amount of sexual scenes was definitely a little much, and I wish it wasn't so in-your-face about it. Lucien was in the story for a total of like 5 minutes, so thats cool? Tamlin is a mess, thats cool? Feyre is losing her power as a woman and it makes me want to slap some sense into her :)
The good: I loved having this be something that throws me back into the world and the perspectives!!! I loved being able to read all of the perspectives and be able to go into everyones heads! I think my favorites was Mor's because it leaves me thinking as to what happened and it was almost like a cliffhanger for her portion of the story.
I don't know, I'm torn. It hurts that I don't love this, but I don't hate it either. Like I definitely wouldn't reread it, I'd just skip over this little thing to read book 3, then book 4.
The good: I loved having this be something that throws me back into the world and the perspectives!!! I loved being able to read all of the perspectives and be able to go into everyones heads! I think my favorites was Mor's because it leaves me thinking as to what happened and it was almost like a cliffhanger for her portion of the story.
I don't know, I'm torn. It hurts that I don't love this, but I don't hate it either. Like I definitely wouldn't reread it, I'd just skip over this little thing to read book 3, then book 4.
Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
4.0
4.5
My heart is so happy after reading this. I didn't think I'd love it as much as I did, but everything was so descriptive and the emotions were so real and so full. The story of Lina and Ren kills me in the best way possible because they just met so quickly and literally the story takes place over a week or something (that was my only issue/the reason for not giving it 5/5). I get that this is just the beginning of their journey together and the beginning of Lina and Howard's relationship. I just really, truly needed something to transport me to Italy and make my heart all sorts of mush. Thank you Jenna Evans Welch, and I'm so excited to read "Love & Luck" soon!
My heart is so happy after reading this. I didn't think I'd love it as much as I did, but everything was so descriptive and the emotions were so real and so full. The story of Lina and Ren kills me in the best way possible because they just met so quickly and literally the story takes place over a week or something (that was my only issue/the reason for not giving it 5/5). I get that this is just the beginning of their journey together and the beginning of Lina and Howard's relationship. I just really, truly needed something to transport me to Italy and make my heart all sorts of mush. Thank you Jenna Evans Welch, and I'm so excited to read "Love & Luck" soon!
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
4.0
4.5
A very interesting read for sure! It's felt like forever since I was back in the Shadowhunter world, so this wasn't different than most of the writing in the series, but it was an interesting installment. There were a few bits and bobs that had me a little eh, one of them being how long it took for Alec and Magnus to become part of the story, but when they were finally in it, it felt like balance was restored in my heart. Blah blah, Clary and Jace love each other, blah blah. THE INTERESTING PART was definitely towards the end and Jace's new connections, if you will.
The amount of love interests/weird lovey coupley moments were, I think, unnecessary to the MAIN plot, but it made sense for certain characters to care more about one another than they previously would. Also LOVED the fact that the parents/the Clave was less involved, but the older generation of Shadowhunters definitely allowed for more balance at times.
Overall, interesting read. Onto Clockwork Prince!
A very interesting read for sure! It's felt like forever since I was back in the Shadowhunter world, so this wasn't different than most of the writing in the series, but it was an interesting installment. There were a few bits and bobs that had me a little eh, one of them being how long it took for Alec and Magnus to become part of the story, but when they were finally in it, it felt like balance was restored in my heart. Blah blah, Clary and Jace love each other, blah blah. THE INTERESTING PART was definitely towards the end and Jace's new connections, if you will.
The amount of love interests/weird lovey coupley moments were, I think, unnecessary to the MAIN plot, but it made sense for certain characters to care more about one another than they previously would. Also LOVED the fact that the parents/the Clave was less involved, but the older generation of Shadowhunters definitely allowed for more balance at times.
Overall, interesting read. Onto Clockwork Prince!
I Wrote This For You by pleasefindthis
4.0
I definitely marked this badboy up and saved my favorite poems because it was so interesting and well done. I loved the concept of the photographer sending the pictures and the poet writing each one as a result of the photo.
The idea of writing this for “you” was lost on me in the middle, but hit me right back in the end.
Definitely worth it.
The idea of writing this for “you” was lost on me in the middle, but hit me right back in the end.
Definitely worth it.
11/22/63 by Stephen King
5.0
Oh my lord did this book take me for a ride. Its over 800 pages and I started listening to it as an audiobook without really estimating how long its gonna take me, but this last month with this book was incredible.
King does such a fantastic job of emulating the 1960s American history of civil rights, misogyny, political agendas and more. The entire atmosphere blows my mind away because, like Jake/George, we entered this new world and it was absolutely beautiful, but also so intense to notice just HOW different then and now are.
As for the actual plot of the book, George looses part of his initial mission, but its interesting to see his motivation, then how he continues his life. From saving a family, to falling in love, to President JFK, George changes the future without realizing and he’s met with the consequences! He’s taken from his form of reality, which isn’t real at all, and you can tell his hesitation to change hurts, but he knows its whats right.
Seriously, AN INCREDIBLE novel.
King does such a fantastic job of emulating the 1960s American history of civil rights, misogyny, political agendas and more. The entire atmosphere blows my mind away because, like Jake/George, we entered this new world and it was absolutely beautiful, but also so intense to notice just HOW different then and now are.
As for the actual plot of the book, George looses part of his initial mission, but its interesting to see his motivation, then how he continues his life. From saving a family, to falling in love, to President JFK, George changes the future without realizing and he’s met with the consequences! He’s taken from his form of reality, which isn’t real at all, and you can tell his hesitation to change hurts, but he knows its whats right.
Seriously, AN INCREDIBLE novel.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
5.0
I’m so mad at myself for not reading this sooner.
I LOVED this. There’s so much youth depicted in Rowling’s writing. So many YA novels are confusing in terms of their ages but you can tell that this group really is a bunch of curious kids who were really meant to be part of something greater than themselves. Definitely flying through these this month :)
Side note- I am Ron, Ron is me, we are one. He’s so witty and so sassy, but also so relatable. I love him.
I LOVED this. There’s so much youth depicted in Rowling’s writing. So many YA novels are confusing in terms of their ages but you can tell that this group really is a bunch of curious kids who were really meant to be part of something greater than themselves. Definitely flying through these this month :)
Side note- I am Ron, Ron is me, we are one. He’s so witty and so sassy, but also so relatable. I love him.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
5.0
HONESTLY WHAT A WORK OF ART.
This book had me thinking I knew something, when in reality, I had no clue what was coming for me. It’s so funny how every minor character plays such a HUGE role in the end, but I was still so interested in their stories regardless of what point they were at. Rowling has such an incredible writing style and I’m just so wowed.
Also WOW at the ending because I wasn’t expecting that. Dumbledore truly is so wise and I wish I had a Dumbledore in my life. And I love that any art like the cover or chapter headers really spells out huge parts of the novel and it actually makes sense once you read about it.
I’m speechless. I love this.
This book had me thinking I knew something, when in reality, I had no clue what was coming for me. It’s so funny how every minor character plays such a HUGE role in the end, but I was still so interested in their stories regardless of what point they were at. Rowling has such an incredible writing style and I’m just so wowed.
Also WOW at the ending because I wasn’t expecting that. Dumbledore truly is so wise and I wish I had a Dumbledore in my life. And I love that any art like the cover or chapter headers really spells out huge parts of the novel and it actually makes sense once you read about it.
I’m speechless. I love this.