I was surprised how much I enjoyed this considering I already know the story, but I thought it was really interesting to see it translated into a playI was surprised how much I enjoyed this considering I already know the story, but I thought it was really interesting to see it translated into a play. The characters' dynamics and their struggle with their guilt seemed somewhat better portrayed here than the book � full of tension and more palpable. (view spoiler)[I didn't mind the new and happy ending, but the original ending is still a masterpiece! (hide spoiler)]...more
I have heard a lot of good things about this series from lots of people and I kinda understand the fuss although not quite... Yet.
It took so3.5 stars
I have heard a lot of good things about this series from lots of people and I kinda understand the fuss although not quite... Yet.
It took some time to get the premise and recognise the different characters in this short book, but during the end I started to see how fleshed out the characters were as well as rhe representation of trauma.
I am starting to understand the series potential. I have a feeling I will appreciate the series the more I read, and I definitely want to continue with at least one more book....more
Rachel Hawkins' thrillers are always fun. I have read so many now that the plot twists are not so shocking or thrilling an3.5 stars, but upgraded to 4
Rachel Hawkins' thrillers are always fun. I have read so many now that the plot twists are not so shocking or thrilling anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the ride.
The Heiress is perhaps not the most original story and didn't have much of a fresh take. I was a little disappointed that this didn't feel as gothic as I thought it would. I think it tried to, but it is hard when this is at the same time perhaps one of Hawkins' works with the most charm. I listened to this and there is something grotesquely charming about it; (view spoiler)[I am here refering to listening to the murder confessions from an old Southern Belle. Everything they say can sound like harmless fun (hide spoiler)] Ruby is definitely an interesting character and I liked how big of a paradox she seemed.
Read this if you like mind games, family drama, entitled, rich people being cheated off their fortune (not a spoiler) and of course some murder....more
I already knew I was going to love it before I read it. I bought it shortly after watching the movie. If you are not going to read the play (which youI already knew I was going to love it before I read it. I bought it shortly after watching the movie. If you are not going to read the play (which you should) at least watch the movie (from the 50s with Henry Fonda). This is a spectacular character study.
Such damn good writing! Twelve men on jury duty who have to decide whether a young sixteen-year-old boy is guilty of first degree murder. Eleven are sure of his guilt and one is not. No one can leave the room before everyone agrees. It is almost a reverse 'whodunit' where every argument on the boy's guilt gets teared apart. The build up in the arguments are worth Plato and my jaw dropped (figuratively) several times, when I understood where it was leading.
And the dynamic in this group?! So freaking good! We have the gentle souls, the ones who relies solely on logic and a couple of angry buffoons. It showed excellently the paradox of a jury, who are there as an unbiased entity, and yet can never be completely unbiased.
This is probably on my top three of favourite plays. I have no criticism and am looking forward to reread this again sometime!...more
I think I chose wisely with my first Stephen King-book. I understand why so many love him. Annie Wilkes is a terrifying being, but what makes her mostI think I chose wisely with my first Stephen King-book. I understand why so many love him. Annie Wilkes is a terrifying being, but what makes her most terrifying is that she feels too real. The psychological depiction seemed top-notch! ...more
I was more invested in the plot than in the previous book, but less invested in the romance. But I didn't really minded that actually. It seems the neI was more invested in the plot than in the previous book, but less invested in the romance. But I didn't really minded that actually. It seems the next book will swift main character, which I usually hate, but I am looking forward to it this time. I am looking forward to the conclusion....more
3.5 but upgraded to four It was interesting to read. Capote is candid about the horror or the crime and yet tells the murderers story with so much empa3.5 but upgraded to four It was interesting to read. Capote is candid about the horror or the crime and yet tells the murderers story with so much empathy without making excuses for them, except when it came to the death penalty and the lack of considerations of mental illnesses during trials. ...more
I hate the English title! I know tattoos weren't as common with girls in the early 2000s, but come on! That is such a boring title and doesn't say mucI hate the English title! I know tattoos weren't as common with girls in the early 2000s, but come on! That is such a boring title and doesn't say much about the book. Men Who Hate Women, however, is a strong and ensnaring title, that tells you this book has a message!
... Just needed that off my chest. Good book!...more
Started out really strong. Enjoyed the gothic vibes, but wished it had been even more gothic. Won't say that it lacked in the end, but throughout the Started out really strong. Enjoyed the gothic vibes, but wished it had been even more gothic. Won't say that it lacked in the end, but throughout the story I had some few, minor issues like Signa's inner voice being rather repetitive, and I felt that the author could yave done so much more with the Sylas-character. But Death was great and mysterious and I also enjoyed the Hawthornes. Overall an entertaining read....more
I was sure for a long time, this would be four stars, but I'm afraid the ending was a huge left down. The Villa does a great job of building up the teI was sure for a long time, this would be four stars, but I'm afraid the ending was a huge left down. The Villa does a great job of building up the tension and I thought for sure I knew where this was going and waited for the reveal with excitement. But it turned flat and the logic behind it was in my opinion ridiculous. (view spoiler)[Oh, you, my best friend, screwed my husband and has slowly encouraged him to leave me and break my heart while I was at my lowest for my sake? In order to show me rather than tell me what he truly was? What a sweet you are. I immediately forgive you! (Excuse me but wtf is wrong with the both of you?) (hide spoiler)]
I'm still glad I read it, because everything other than the ending was really good. I loved what it had to say about female creativity and go from men's muses to the artists instead. I'll just pretend it was way more sinister....more
Okay, first things first, let me recommend you to read this book while you listen to the audiobook simultaneously. You get the whole experience. ThereOkay, first things first, let me recommend you to read this book while you listen to the audiobook simultaneously. You get the whole experience. There are visuel effects that can't be presented in the audiobook and you will miss the awesome sound effects if you only read it plain and simple. It was absolutely awesome.
I said last year I didn't think I would continue, because I didn't need a follow-up. Apparently, I lied.
Now comes the question; did I like Gemina more than Illuminae?
It is tricky. Last year I would have rated Illuminae five stars if I had been basing it solely on the plot, but didn't because I had issues with feeling anything towards the characters and only considering them as chess pieces. I didn't have the same issue with Gemina, thankfully. I liked the characters and I was actually rooting for them and almost literary biting my nails when things bleaked. The plot however is not five stars. It was still very thrilling and I very much enjoyed it, but it was not nearly as gripping as Illuminae's. One of the things I really loved about the first book was that it presented many moral conundrums and we were dealing with a lot of gray areas. This time it was a straight-forward good vs evil-kind of plot. It did have some very nice twist and turns and I did have one moment where I felt mindblown, but I missed my gray areas and have something to reflect on.
So even though I perhaps enjoyed Illuminae a bit more than Gemina, I would still rate this a bit higher, because unlike the first book, there wasn't any major issues in this one.
2022: I've seen the TV adaptation before, so I already knew the story beforehand. I can really recommend people to 2024: I stand by my previous words.
2022: I've seen the TV adaptation before, so I already knew the story beforehand. I can really recommend people to read Agatha Christie's books even if they have seen them before or to reread them, because you see it all in a very different light. I feel almost foolish now, that I didn't figure it out the last time, because now it seems so obvious. It's all right there! It is a great way to really appreciate Christie's simplistic and suttle hints. It is however more of a thriller than a classic murder mystery. My only criticism is that I wished the book was longer and dragged the tension and paranoia on for at bit longer. Perhaps also show the reader a little bit more insights to the characters backstory with perhaps some flashback scenes or something. It would have made it a five star book. I listened to the audiobook with Dan Stevens from Downton Abbey as the narrator and he did excellent....more
A perfect summer read � and probably an even better beach read.
I like the atmosphere Rachel Hawkins creates in her thrillers. I feel like something siA perfect summer read � and probably an even better beach read.
I like the atmosphere Rachel Hawkins creates in her thrillers. I feel like something sinister is about to happen at every corner. It overflows with paranoia. I will admit that sometimes I have been let down and in this case I wish the action happened a lot sooner and was more dragged out. It did feel a bit rushed. (view spoiler)[I knew this would be inspired by And Then There Were None, but until 90 % into the book I was second-guessing and wondering if I had misunderstood, because the whole point of the classic mystery thriller was to have people die one by one and let the panic escalate rather than just killing off everyone within the last 10 % � Lux is although a brilliant offspring from Vera Claythorne! (hide spoiler)]
Hawkins' thrillers seems always to be about privilege and this did definitely fit the bill. Rich people partying and enjoying their isolated paradise. It did feel like something from a reality show (just like they said themselves) and I have always enjoyed these dynamics where everyone is being charming at one point and backstabbing at next. If you don't like to read about unlikable characters this is not for you.
All in all is that while I am starting to see some flaw-patterns in Hawkins writings (at least in my opinion) I don't necessarily mind them, because I am always having a good time and keep going for more....more
I understand now why Philip Pullman has been compared to Dickens, because this was very much Dickensian. The setting, the characters even the plot. VeI understand now why Philip Pullman has been compared to Dickens, because this was very much Dickensian. The setting, the characters even the plot. Very different from His Dark Materials, but I quite liked it....more
2.5 stars, but upgraded to 3 stars. I entirely get why people loved this book. It has a really good writing style both the actual narrative and the 'po2.5 stars, but upgraded to 3 stars. I entirely get why people loved this book. It has a really good writing style both the actual narrative and the 'podcast'-part. That is why I am upgrading my rating. The reason why I want to give it 2.5 star is that I was in fact kinda bored. It felt repetitive of Sadie going from one place to another in order to find her sister's killer with the task of revenging her. Even though Sadie's story is sad and tragic I had a hard time feeling anything for her. I don't know exactly why and I so wish I had. All in all I just felt disconnected for some reason....more
Still loved the characters and I appreciated finally getting Wylan's POV, but I found this plot more chaotic than the first book. Of course, there shoStill loved the characters and I appreciated finally getting Wylan's POV, but I found this plot more chaotic than the first book. Of course, there should be a bit a chaos in this type of book, but I felt there were things that were put in just for the sake of creating action and yet wasn't well incorporated into the actual storyline. I am uncertain if it should have four or three stars. Since it still was pretty good entertainment, and it is the first time in I think seven years I've gone straight to a second installment in a series, I think it deserves the fourth star....more
3.5 stars Some really good stories, some mediocre, none bad. So overall a pleasant summer read. And on that note I have one major critique; when you ch3.5 stars Some really good stories, some mediocre, none bad. So overall a pleasant summer read. And on that note I have one major critique; when you choose a selection of short stories with a summer theme I expect them all to have said theme. There were two or three stories that doesn't give any clue to the season. ...more
I don't know why, but I'd gotten this impression that this would be something like Ocean's Eleven set in Harlem � boy was I wrong! There is a heist, buI don't know why, but I'd gotten this impression that this would be something like Ocean's Eleven set in Harlem � boy was I wrong! There is a heist, but our MC, Ray Carson, is not part of it, but must still deal with its aftermath. In the beginning I was very interested in Carson, who's father and cousin are crooks, but he wishes to live straight and narrow, and yet he has a hard time giving his family the life he wishes for them. We see Carson trying to balance crime and lawfulness, and I do wish we'd seen him spiral further down than we got to see. Honestly, I was engaged about halfway through, but I lost interest in the second half. I felt that it perhaps lacked progress and needed more internal stakes and more corruption than we got....more
Well when you base your thriller/mystery on a classic like Jane Eyre, there is not really going to be that much to be surprised about. If you want thaWell when you base your thriller/mystery on a classic like Jane Eyre, there is not really going to be that much to be surprised about. If you want that then this is not the book for you. I was not sitting at the edge of my seat. I however wanted to read a Jane Eyre fanfiction, and I was not disappointed. I think it balanced well with the familiarity from the original and making it feel fresh. It also had a bit Rebecca about it. I loved that Jane was not a likeable character, but basically just a social climber (not a spoiler!). It gave her and Rochester's relationship a fresher take than the naïve younger girl with the older manipulative man. Now both are manipulators and thereby their equals. I also thought it was fitted well with the modern, rich suburban Alabama-setting. It felt very natural and not forced to fit in, reminding me that the original is somewhat still actual and relevant in our days. I like being reminded of such things. This is the best Jane Eyre fanfiction I've read, including Wide Sargasso Sea and I want a physical copy....more
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