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woahshereads's reviews
128 reviews
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
5.0
The Tattooist of Auschwitz narrated by Richard Armitage.
WOW! I could not put this book down and by that I mean I listened to the audio version in one sitting. What a captivating and harrowing telling of Lale Sokolov’s experience during the Holocaust. It was an unforgettable moment in history and although it is quite an unimaginable thing to have happened to so many, there was a beautiful connection unfolding nonetheless between Lale and Gita. It’s hard to criticize a book that has so much compassion behind the true events that took place. I would simply recommend this book to everyone!
I have seen reviews of readers who are not particularly thrilled with the lack of depth of the events that took place in Auschwitz-Birkenau & the character development of this book and although I agree with some of the points they make, you have to understand the type of the book this is & the development of this story alone. It was first a screenplay then adapted to a novel. I also don’t think the main point of this book was what was happening in the camps. This was one man’s experience in his own words along with how him & Gita ended up together after everything they’ve been through. I would like to believe we all know and understand the extent of what went on in these camps but if you wanted to learn more you probably should turn to a historical textbook - not a 270 page novel with undertones of endurance, love and humanity.
WOW! I could not put this book down and by that I mean I listened to the audio version in one sitting. What a captivating and harrowing telling of Lale Sokolov’s experience during the Holocaust. It was an unforgettable moment in history and although it is quite an unimaginable thing to have happened to so many, there was a beautiful connection unfolding nonetheless between Lale and Gita. It’s hard to criticize a book that has so much compassion behind the true events that took place. I would simply recommend this book to everyone!
I have seen reviews of readers who are not particularly thrilled with the lack of depth of the events that took place in Auschwitz-Birkenau & the character development of this book and although I agree with some of the points they make, you have to understand the type of the book this is & the development of this story alone. It was first a screenplay then adapted to a novel. I also don’t think the main point of this book was what was happening in the camps. This was one man’s experience in his own words along with how him & Gita ended up together after everything they’ve been through. I would like to believe we all know and understand the extent of what went on in these camps but if you wanted to learn more you probably should turn to a historical textbook - not a 270 page novel with undertones of endurance, love and humanity.
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
4.0
I am surprised I liked this book. Freida has let me down in the past but I actually enjoyed listening to this one. I knew there was going to be a twist somewhere at the end, per her writing style and reputation BUT I can say that I was surprised and I felt like it was actually well thought out. Like she actually had planned for the twist and it was more complex and had some depth behind it rather than just being thrown in there almost like an afterthought. Reading this book made me feel like I was reading The Housemaid all over again - in the best way possible. The Housemaid was the first book by Freida I read and it set high expectations for me going forward so I am glad this book made me feel like we’re getting back on track!
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
3.5
This was cute & really easy to follow. Belly is definitely a whiny teenager but weren’t we all let’s be honest. I am not going to lie, I wasn’t expecting to like this book at all but I did enjoy the depth behind each character. I loved the complexity and realness of Conrad and wish we got a little bit more focus on him specifically. The rest of Belly’s story felt repetitive and I don’t feel like she really developed at all as she ages throughout the book whereas the other characters do. Definitely picking up the next book when I get the chance & am also looking forward to watching the show!
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
4.0
I don’t think I would have given this book 4 stars if I DIDN’T listen to it but the audiobook was pretty entertaining & made the different POV’s easy to follow.
Thrillers/Mysteries are a pretty hard genre for me to read because I so easily see through the cracks and gaps in the story. However, I really enjoyed this one. Most of the adult characters were pretty unlikeable & the forensic/investigation team did seem simple for this big of an event but nonetheless I enjoyed every other aspect. The felt more for the kids in this story than the adults & I will say I didn’t see coming. This writing style had me on the edge of my seat the entire time - it was hard not to keep listening to this book!
Of the trendy booktok mystery books - I would definitely recommend listening to this one!
Thrillers/Mysteries are a pretty hard genre for me to read because I so easily see through the cracks and gaps in the story. However, I really enjoyed this one. Most of the adult characters were pretty unlikeable & the forensic/investigation team did seem simple for this big of an event but nonetheless I enjoyed every other aspect. The felt more for the kids in this story than the adults & I will say I didn’t see coming. This writing style had me on the edge of my seat the entire time - it was hard not to keep listening to this book!
Of the trendy booktok mystery books - I would definitely recommend listening to this one!
The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
4.0
ok WAIT this was actually so good???
Listen, I was skeptical because this is a hyped up book on the socials BUT I actually sooo enjoyed this one?? I did listen to the audio version so maybe that’s why I wasn’t bored but OMG the end?! I literally was folding laundry when my jaw DROPPPED. Did not see that coming at all!!! I thought I felt one way about Sarah the entire book & then that bombshell is dropped & now I don’t know how to feel.
Was honestly so good, I’d love to go back and re-read or re-listen to see if you can catch any clues throughout that would hint to that ending. Definitely would recommend this one!!
Listen, I was skeptical because this is a hyped up book on the socials BUT I actually sooo enjoyed this one?? I did listen to the audio version so maybe that’s why I wasn’t bored but OMG the end?! I literally was folding laundry when my jaw DROPPPED. Did not see that coming at all!!! I thought I felt one way about Sarah the entire book & then that bombshell is dropped & now I don’t know how to feel.
Was honestly so good, I’d love to go back and re-read or re-listen to see if you can catch any clues throughout that would hint to that ending. Definitely would recommend this one!!
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
& this is why we finish series despite the reputations of previous books ladies and gentlemen! I LOVED Ruin & Rising - definitely my favorite book in the trilogy. I also was extremely pleased with the outcome of the story. I felt that this book progressed so much more than the first two books. I sincerely think Leigh could have completely fleshed out book three & phased some of the events in book 2 (because lets be real NOTHING happened in Siege & Storm).
Overall, I think Alina was too whiny and lacked some serious self-confidence for someone who was portrayed & seen as a Saint. So happy Mal made it out & so upset we didn’t get more Nikolai content. He was probably my favorite character in the series. Baghra didn’t deserve her outcome and I am actually quite annoyed she didn’t fight the Darkling. I don’t care if that was her son she should have given him a taste of his own medicine and she was probably the only who could have done so and instead she just tells Alina to run and then throws herself off the balcony..? Yeah, okay. Also, Mal being the Morozova descendent?! Didn’t expect that & didn’t hate that at all!! We knew there was something special about him all along but being the third amplifier was not one of them. Did I wish we could have learned more about that specific history there with his family? Sure, but I guess that drives the point that neither Mal nor we will ever really know about his family.
Disclaimer ** I did try to watch the series on Netflix and I am not going to lie I was SO CONFUSED!! I feel like I am missing something?! I am going to try to push through it even though it was cancelled because I think it’s interesting but so far…not a fan of the show.
Overall, I think Alina was too whiny and lacked some serious self-confidence for someone who was portrayed & seen as a Saint. So happy Mal made it out & so upset we didn’t get more Nikolai content. He was probably my favorite character in the series. Baghra didn’t deserve her outcome and I am actually quite annoyed she didn’t fight the Darkling. I don’t care if that was her son she should have given him a taste of his own medicine and she was probably the only who could have done so and instead she just tells Alina to run and then throws herself off the balcony..? Yeah, okay. Also, Mal being the Morozova descendent?! Didn’t expect that & didn’t hate that at all!! We knew there was something special about him all along but being the third amplifier was not one of them. Did I wish we could have learned more about that specific history there with his family? Sure, but I guess that drives the point that neither Mal nor we will ever really know about his family.
Disclaimer ** I did try to watch the series on Netflix and I am not going to lie I was SO CONFUSED!! I feel like I am missing something?! I am going to try to push through it even though it was cancelled because I think it’s interesting but so far…not a fan of the show.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
3.5
I truly didn’t mind this book at all & was surprised that I have seen people not continue the series after book 1. Yes, it wasn’t as deep as other fantasy novels but there is enough there to understand the world and events that are occurring. I also kept in mind this is a YA/Teen fantasy book so expectations were not up there with other adult / high fantasy novels.
One of the best things about this book was the characters. I absolutely loved the backstory of how Mal and Alina grew up together and how we also go to see small glimpses of their life when they lived in the orphanage. I think the plot is so original and interesting & I see why this was picked up for a TV series, although it’s unfortunate it was cancelled. I was completely engaged throughout the book & truly enjoyed the small plot twists that were thrown in there.
A few downfalls…this story did feel so slow yet so fast at the same time. In some parts of the book it felt like nothing was happening for chapters (which are way too long IMO) & then all of sudden 3 days would go by and an entire battle in one chapter. So the balance there was a bit off for me. I think the description of the world building could have benefitted from literally like and extra sentence or two. I truly was imagining the Mines of Moria in LOTR as the Fold so I am thankful to the show for being able to visualize that for me..definitely makes a lot more sense than what I was picking up but that’s the example of a bit more describing and a little less whining from Alina.
Overall, I enjoyed book 1 & am looking forward to book 2!
One of the best things about this book was the characters. I absolutely loved the backstory of how Mal and Alina grew up together and how we also go to see small glimpses of their life when they lived in the orphanage. I think the plot is so original and interesting & I see why this was picked up for a TV series, although it’s unfortunate it was cancelled. I was completely engaged throughout the book & truly enjoyed the small plot twists that were thrown in there.
A few downfalls…this story did feel so slow yet so fast at the same time. In some parts of the book it felt like nothing was happening for chapters (which are way too long IMO) & then all of sudden 3 days would go by and an entire battle in one chapter. So the balance there was a bit off for me. I think the description of the world building could have benefitted from literally like and extra sentence or two. I truly was imagining the Mines of Moria in LOTR as the Fold so I am thankful to the show for being able to visualize that for me..definitely makes a lot more sense than what I was picking up but that’s the example of a bit more describing and a little less whining from Alina.
Overall, I enjoyed book 1 & am looking forward to book 2!
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
3.0
This book was definitely slower than the first. I don’t feel that anything major had happened in this book other than finding out she needs a third thingymabob. The story didn’t really progress that much here. Nonetheless, I need to preserver through the third to set this series behind me! 😅
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
3.5
To be honest, I was expecting more from this book & that probably has something to do with having it blow up all over social media. I didn’t HATE the book but I also wasn’t blown away with the story either.
Overall, this was very SLOW in terms of plot development and in some parts the overarching theme felt repetitive like the author was really trying to drive the nail in the coffin. It is evident that R.F. Kuang does her research and is more than capable of writing a good story with so much potential. It was a page turner, you hate the MC but then at times you hate yourself for seeing strong points made on her case, multiple discussions can be shared after reading this book about it’s relationship to the publishing world in real life and so on. But for me, it just felt so stagnant. It didn’t develop any further than the first page.
So although it is a topic I think important to continue to discuss and write about, I just think it could have been better. I understand the hype behind Yellowface & I believe I would continue to recommend it to others but I would preface the introduction that there may be better novels out there that bridge this topic we just haven’t discovered yet.
I have heard nothing but good things about Babel & it has been on my TBR for much longer than this one but, after reading Yellowface, I can’t say I am all that eager to jump back into R.F. Kuang’s writing.
Overall, this was very SLOW in terms of plot development and in some parts the overarching theme felt repetitive like the author was really trying to drive the nail in the coffin. It is evident that R.F. Kuang does her research and is more than capable of writing a good story with so much potential. It was a page turner, you hate the MC but then at times you hate yourself for seeing strong points made on her case, multiple discussions can be shared after reading this book about it’s relationship to the publishing world in real life and so on. But for me, it just felt so stagnant. It didn’t develop any further than the first page.
So although it is a topic I think important to continue to discuss and write about, I just think it could have been better. I understand the hype behind Yellowface & I believe I would continue to recommend it to others but I would preface the introduction that there may be better novels out there that bridge this topic we just haven’t discovered yet.
I have heard nothing but good things about Babel & it has been on my TBR for much longer than this one but, after reading Yellowface, I can’t say I am all that eager to jump back into R.F. Kuang’s writing.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
4.0
This was one of the better written Memoir’s I have read but in terms of depth, it was very surface level. I didn’t hate that fact but I wish we could have went deeper into certain feelings and situations she wrote about. I did appreciate how for the most part this was told in a chronological approach. There were a few flashbacks but it didn’t read like it was jumping all over the place and I was able to follow her upbringing thoroughly.
I also quite enjoyed the writing style Britney told her story in. I will agree that in some instances it read like a diary but I also felt like that was very authentic of her to do it in that way & it also felt like a genuine telling on her behalf. Overall, I enjoyed this book & I adore Britney. I am glad she has persevered through everything & has come out on the other side able and willing to tell her story in her own narrative.
I also quite enjoyed the writing style Britney told her story in. I will agree that in some instances it read like a diary but I also felt like that was very authentic of her to do it in that way & it also felt like a genuine telling on her behalf. Overall, I enjoyed this book & I adore Britney. I am glad she has persevered through everything & has come out on the other side able and willing to tell her story in her own narrative.