Im giving this book 5 stars, and I don’t take that lightly. Absolutely adored it, I was ugly crying on a beach and was heartbroken by the end of it.
OIm giving this book 5 stars, and I don’t take that lightly. Absolutely adored it, I was ugly crying on a beach and was heartbroken by the end of it.
One Man’s Terrorist Is Another Man’s Freedom Fighter....more
I feel almost bad for rating it only two stars. I’ve been wanting to read Hosseini’s work for quite some time but I never got around to it. Until a coI feel almost bad for rating it only two stars. I’ve been wanting to read Hosseini’s work for quite some time but I never got around to it. Until a couple of weeks ago I saw the kite runner on TV and I loved it. So when I stumbled upon this novel in the thrift store I bought it and started reading.
I have the same problem with this one as so many seem to have, to many side characters taking up to much space. I tried to care, I really did, and I kept telling myself that it would probably be important in the end and I needed to read it. All I cared about was Pari and Abe, and I kept waiting for them. And waiting. And waiting. In the end I think only 40% of the book was about them, maybe even less. The worst part? Most of the side characters weren’t important at all in the end. It was frustrating.
I liked his writing style, there is no denying that the guy knows how to tell a beautiful story but I just wish more of the novel could have been focused on the two people this was about....more
I really loved this book, I could have done without the chapters of Johnny 3 and Diane but besides that I really liked all the others characters. EionI really loved this book, I could have done without the chapters of Johnny 3 and Diane but besides that I really liked all the others characters. Eion was lovely, I adored him, same goes for micheal himself. & the parts about the squad were awesome. Although I knew how it would end I was hooked until the last page. Such an interesting part of history! 4.5 stars....more
I really appreciated this book, from what I can tell she stayed true to the source material and the story she told was really interesting. The problemI really appreciated this book, from what I can tell she stayed true to the source material and the story she told was really interesting. The problem for me was that it felt a bit too clinical if that makes sense... I never really got attached to the characters. I liked them but they didnt pull you in. I should have been in shambles by the end, but I wasn’t. Not a tear was shed while reading this book and it really is the sort of story that should provoke such a reaction. At times it also dragged on quite a bit. The ending on the other hand had a nice flow. I’m quite torn to be honest, a lot of things could have been done better but it still kept my interest and I finished it in a couple of days; 3,5 stars. ...more
I loved this book! I’ve had trouble the last couple of years with finding books that kept me interested, but this one broke the Great Depression of meI loved this book! I’ve had trouble the last couple of years with finding books that kept me interested, but this one broke the Great Depression of me just not reading that much anymore and pulled me in right from the very beginning. Let’s hope I can keep the momentum going!
I really appreciated how the writer made the characters suffer in the beginning, it always annoyed me that in previous time travel novels I’ve read, the main character would arrive back in time and within 5 minutes had a comfortable place to stay. She made it realistic and real, the characters were lovely and I think the only thing that could have been improved were the huge time jumps, but all in all I really enjoyed this and will check out the next one in the series! ...more
**spoiler alert** I loved the story of Gwenllian and Gryffud, the hardship they endured to fight for something they believed was just and to die so cl**spoiler alert** I loved the story of Gwenllian and Gryffud, the hardship they endured to fight for something they believed was just and to die so close to achieving it is heartbreaking. Novels about the Welsh struggle seem hard to come by, which I truly dont understand, since the stories left untold are so grand and speak to the imagination, so for that I appreciate this book for introducing me to this little part of Welsh history. I do however think it had its flaws.
I believe that when you write about people who lived you owe it to them to stay truthful to the historical records. I searched high and low for Gwenllians supposed infidelity, but there is no evidence supporting this whatsoever. I also thought that storyline was excuted poorly to begin with. She was besothed with her husband in one chapter and all is happy and dandy, yet in the next she is talking about the passion and pleasure she had found in the bed of another which she couldnt find with her husband? Weird. I felt like it was added for the extra drama, which the story didnt need at all.
Furthermore the writing never made me feel connected to the characters, I should have been bawling my eyes out when Gwenllian died, but I didn’t. Same with Gryffud’s dead, it was almost glossed over. The book held my interest but that had more to do with the story then with the way it was told. It lacked emotion. All in all it was a decent read, but not great....more
Not sure what to think of this book, I liked it well enough, it kept me going but it didnt move or touch me in a way that it should have done. I didntNot sure what to think of this book, I liked it well enough, it kept me going but it didnt move or touch me in a way that it should have done. I didnt shed a tear with the deaths or the hardships of the family, some other review said it just moved from event to event and thats exactly what it did. I do really appreciate the (true!) story of two sisters escaping with their children and building a life for themself and their family, without husbands helping them. This book could have been awesome, it had the story for it but in the end it fell a bit flat. A 2.5 star book for me....more
I really liked this book, the story was gripping, infuriating and emotional and right up my alley. I read it within a day, and it gave me a new undersI really liked this book, the story was gripping, infuriating and emotional and right up my alley. I read it within a day, and it gave me a new understanding on a part of history that I had heard about but didn't really know a lot about.
I do have to say that the change in Kate was too sudden, it only took maybe a chapter for the young naive and egocentrical girl that only cared about herself to change in what she became. Yes 6 months pass, but you don't see the change, just all of the sudden it's there. I also found it strange that the well bred english girl was allowed to wander the countryside. All in all I think the book would have benefitted from a couple more pages, especially in the end as well. I would have liked to read a bit more about them settling in America and maybe reuniting with Una and her guy (forgot his name), and finishing the story on the findings of the doctor that the sickness was caused by lice and not what was previously thought.
All in all, I still really liked the book and I would recommened it to anyone interested in learning a bit more about Ireland and the hardships they went through. 3.5 stars. ...more
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