This is a deliciously gothic story from the beginning. When Evander's billionaire guardian is poisoned, suddenly Evander is free to learn the secrets This is a deliciously gothic story from the beginning. When Evander's billionaire guardian is poisoned, suddenly Evander is free to learn the secrets of the mansion and its gardens. He's been locked up in his room for as long as he can remember, and now he's able to explore. With his dying breath, his guardian told him to stay out of the garden, which is full of poison plants. But it seems that the garden holds some other secrets as well, and Evander is determined to discover them. Unfortunately, greedy relatives are now after his inheritance, and he doesn't know whether or not to trust Laurie, his guardian's true grandson, to whom he's obsessively attracted to and repulsed by.
I'd give this more stars except that I found all the relationships abusive and the romance bit cringey because it romanticized abuse. Although, I did enjoy the gothic and forbidden garden bits. ...more
Esme grows up in the scriptorium, where her father is working on the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. From an early age, she starts colEsme grows up in the scriptorium, where her father is working on the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. From an early age, she starts collecting discarded words that aren't polite enough to be included in the dictionary. Then, she goes on a quest to find other words that the dictionary rejects that exist in common speech but aren't verifiable in written format. Thus, she meets all sorts of people who influence the course of her life and her personal philosophies, including becoming part of the women's suffrage movement.
It's a thought-provoking and important book. Plus, it's full of all sorts of lovely word nerdiness, including common usage of "vulgar" words. Because I needed to read every word and couldn't just skim along, it was a slow read, but I wouldn't trade a moment of it. ...more
Maybe I've read too many Billy Collins now to continue to be impressed? There were a few that hit just right, but I was out of the mood by the last haMaybe I've read too many Billy Collins now to continue to be impressed? There were a few that hit just right, but I was out of the mood by the last half. That doesn't mean they were bad. It's just me....more
A man wrecks down an embankment and onto a highway traffic island with no rescue in sight. This is his story of survival, which takes on some unexpectA man wrecks down an embankment and onto a highway traffic island with no rescue in sight. This is his story of survival, which takes on some unexpected twists. And some of the plot points are only really likely in its setting when it was written in the 1970s.
Enjoyable, but wow is this guy despicable. By the end, you barely feel sorry for him anymore....more
I'm not really sure how to convey how lovely this book is. If I tell what it's about, it doesn't sound nearly as interesting and atmospheric as it is.I'm not really sure how to convey how lovely this book is. If I tell what it's about, it doesn't sound nearly as interesting and atmospheric as it is.
When he fails his exams, Kyo moves out of Tokyo to live with his grandmother and study in a small Japanese town. Being the mother of his late father, he barely knows her, and she's tough on him because she doesn't want to repeat the same mistakes she made with her son, but she seems to be making the same mistakes again. And there are all these family secrets that Kyo doesn't know how to ask about, but he desperately wants to know.
Through reading, you enjoy life in small town Japan, climbing mountains, going to public baths, eating in cafes, taking trains, drawing, and meeting the one-eyed cat Coltrane.
The way the book is written is unique. It's framed as a story about an English speaker translating a book (Kyo's story) from Japanese to English. The author himself has been a translator in Japan. It's such a pleasant read that I'll certainly be reading anything else this author writes. ...more
Wow. This one was dark and depressing. So, Kino goes to 2 new countries, and in both places, the laws are absolutely barbaric. They're laws take everyWow. This one was dark and depressing. So, Kino goes to 2 new countries, and in both places, the laws are absolutely barbaric. They're laws take everything to the extreme to try to solve problems. It just kind of makes you think humanity is doomed. I'm hoping Kino meets some better people in the next country they visit. ...more
loved the anime years ago and couldn't find it to watch again. So, I thought I'd try the Manga series. It's as lovely as I remember the series being. loved the anime years ago and couldn't find it to watch again. So, I thought I'd try the Manga series. It's as lovely as I remember the series being. Kino escapes her country with her sentient motorbike, fearing for her life. She meets interesting people as she goes from country to country. Lots of interesting and unique stories. Sparse, interesting, and thought-provoking....more
I'm on my 3rd time around watching Gilmore Girls with my teen daughter, and I'm not usually a serial re-watcher. So, when I saw that this book existedI'm on my 3rd time around watching Gilmore Girls with my teen daughter, and I'm not usually a serial re-watcher. So, when I saw that this book existed, I had to read it. It's interesting seeing all the different points of view from people who have come to love it. Many identify with a character or just enjoy the fiction of the quirky storybook small town of Stars Hollow. Sure, things don't always turn up roses in Stars Hollow, and you hate and love characters equally, but the fiction of its existence makes us hopeful.
Like several of the essayists, I have my own characters to identify with. Lane was high school me -- lying and hiding things from my strict religious mother. Rory was university me -- the bookish, intelligent, and driven girl who became disillusioned and lost drive after deciding maybe my major wasn't for me but it was too late ... and the girl who made poor decisions because she was book smart but not smart in love.
I'd eagerly read 15 more essays about Gilmore Girls, but these were a perfect mix of perspectives. ...more
Little did we know when we chose this book for book club, that the tomb of the Thutmose II would be discovered while we were reading it. He's the husbLittle did we know when we chose this book for book club, that the tomb of the Thutmose II would be discovered while we were reading it. He's the husband of the main pharaoh used as inspiration for this book (Hatshepsut, who is named Hathorkare in the book). How fortuitous for the author with the timing of this book coming out the previous month!
The story follows an archeologist, Charlotte, who found what might have been Hatherkore's (Hatshepsut's) mummy in 1930s Egypt. However, her time there was cut short by a tragic accident on the Nile, where Hatherkore's necklace was lost. When it resurfaces at the Met where she works in the 1970s and a famous Egyptian art piece is stolen, Charlotte has very personal reasons for wanting to go back to Egypt in search of answers.
There's so much to love about this book, with the excitement of the Met Gala, archeological discoveries in Egypt, art thievery, and just the right mix of adventure and emotional personal interest themes. I had difficulty putting the book down once I got started, and will certainly seek out more Fiona Davis books in the future.
And here's a link for the recent tomb discovery, which is the first since King Tut's in the 1920s: ...more
It was interesting discovering the world of absinthe, pre-ban absinthe, collectors, & forgeries. I previously researched it for an article, learning yIt was interesting discovering the world of absinthe, pre-ban absinthe, collectors, & forgeries. I previously researched it for an article, learning you'd have alcohol poisoning before ingesting enough thujone from wormwood for the side effects ascribed to it. I can't believe he turned this into a whole book, but with as many cities as he visited and time he spent, I guess he had to. It got more interesting toward the end and revealed an expensive world of absinthe collectors I never knew existed. I certainly learned a few things....more
![キノの旅 the Beautiful World 2 [Kino no Tabi - the Beautiful World 2] (Kino's Journey - the Beautiful World [Shiomiya], #2)](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507420171l/36371447._SX50_.jpg)
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