en-US Thu, 01 May 2025 02:58:47 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 28800259 0099578514 / 9780099578512

Born at the stroke of midnight, at the precise moment of India's independence, Saleem Sinai is destined from birth to be special. For he is one of 1,001 children born in the midnight hour, children who all have special gifts, children with whom Saleem is telepathically linked.

But there has been a terrible mix up at birth, and Saleem’s life takes some unexpected twists and turns. As he grows up amidst a whirlwind of triumphs and disasters, Saleem must learn the ominous consequences of his gift, for the course of his life is inseparably linked to that of his motherland, and his every act is mirrored and magnified in the events that shape the newborn nation of India. It is a great gift, and a terrible burden.]]> 647 Salman Rushdie Johara 0 currently-reading 4.01 1981
author: Salman Rushdie
name: Johara
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1981
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 55877562
One year later, a writer moves into a cottage on the edge of the woods that border the same estate. Known locally as the Dark Place, the dense forest is the writer’s favorite area for long walks and it’s on one such walk that she stumbles upon a mysterious note that simply reads, “DIG HERE.��

Could this be a clue towards what has happened to the missing young couple? And what exactly is buried in this haunted ground?]]> 465 Jewell Lisa 1529125782 Johara 4 audiobook
The pacing was spot-on... slow, satisfying build that kept me intrigued without dragging. The plot unfolded gradually but intentionally, and the character development was solid throughout. Jewell has a talent for creating suspense that feels grounded in emotion, not just drama for its own sake.

I loved the ending. It wasn’t just for the sake of shock... it made sense and landed well, which isn’t always easy to achieve.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Joanne Froggatt. She did an amazing job personalising each character, using subtle changes in tone and cadence to bring them to life. It never felt overdone... just natural, engaging, and immersive.

I can never get enough of Jewell’s writing. Even when I think I know her rhythm, she finds new ways to keep it fresh.

Well-paced mystery.]]> 4.17 2021
author: Jewell Lisa
name: Johara
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/26
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.8] As a big fan of Lisa Jewell, this is my fourth book from her, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Her storytelling is just effortless... once I start, I can’t stop.

The pacing was spot-on... slow, satisfying build that kept me intrigued without dragging. The plot unfolded gradually but intentionally, and the character development was solid throughout. Jewell has a talent for creating suspense that feels grounded in emotion, not just drama for its own sake.

I loved the ending. It wasn’t just for the sake of shock... it made sense and landed well, which isn’t always easy to achieve.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Joanne Froggatt. She did an amazing job personalising each character, using subtle changes in tone and cadence to bring them to life. It never felt overdone... just natural, engaging, and immersive.

I can never get enough of Jewell’s writing. Even when I think I know her rhythm, she finds new ways to keep it fresh.

Well-paced mystery.
]]> 867638
The Moonstone, a yellow diamond looted from an Indian temple and believed to bring bad luck to its owner, is bequeathed to Rachel Verinder on her eighteenth birthday. That very night the priceless stone is stolen again and when Sergeant Cuff is brought in to investigate the crime, he soon realizes that no one in Rachel’s household is above suspicion. Hailed by T. S. Eliot as ‘the first, the longest, and the best of modern English detective novels��, The Moonstone is a marvellously taut and intricate tale of mystery, in which facts and memory can prove treacherous and not everyone is as they first appear.

Sandra Kemp’s introduction examines The Moonstone as a work of Victorian sensation fiction and an early example of the detective genre, and discusses the technique of multiple narrators, the role of opium, and Collins’s sources and autobiographical references.

Introduction by Catherine Peters]]> 478 Wilkie Collins 0140434089 Johara 4 classics, audiobook The Woman in White, and I have to say, Collins knows how to craft a mystery.

The writing is top-notch. Collins has a way with words that draws you into the story and keeps you hooked until the very end. The best thing about this book is how you get to know the story from multiple perspectives, giving you different angles on the same events. It adds an extra layer of depth to the mystery and kept you guessing on who did it!

Although the title is The Moonstone: A Romance, as yes, there is a love story, it doesn't take away from the mystery vibe of the whole story. The romance elements are blended so well into the plot in a masterful way, adding another dimension to the characters and their motivations.

I did the audiobook, narrated by a full cast, which brought the story to life, making me feel like I was right there with the characters, trying to piece together the clues.

This is a solid mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged. I have really enjoyed it! ]]> 3.91 1868
author: Wilkie Collins
name: Johara
average rating: 3.91
book published: 1868
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/12
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: classics, audiobook
review:
[3.6] This is such a page-turner! It's my second Collins book after enjoying The Woman in White, and I have to say, Collins knows how to craft a mystery.

The writing is top-notch. Collins has a way with words that draws you into the story and keeps you hooked until the very end. The best thing about this book is how you get to know the story from multiple perspectives, giving you different angles on the same events. It adds an extra layer of depth to the mystery and kept you guessing on who did it!

Although the title is The Moonstone: A Romance, as yes, there is a love story, it doesn't take away from the mystery vibe of the whole story. The romance elements are blended so well into the plot in a masterful way, adding another dimension to the characters and their motivations.

I did the audiobook, narrated by a full cast, which brought the story to life, making me feel like I was right there with the characters, trying to piece together the clues.

This is a solid mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged. I have really enjoyed it!
]]> 215366091 An exquisitely moving story about grief, love, and family, from the global phenomenon Sally Rooney.

Aside from the fact that they are brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek seem to have little in common.

Peter is a Dublin lawyer in his thirties—successful, competent, and apparently unassailable. But in the wake of their father’s death, he’s medicating himself to sleep and struggling to manage his relationships with two very different women—his enduring first love, Sylvia, and Naomi, a college student for whom life is one long joke.

Ivan is a twenty-two-year-old competitive chess player. He has always seen himself as socially awkward, a loner, the antithesis of his glib elder brother. Now, in the early weeks of his bereavement, Ivan meets Margaret, an older woman emerging from her own turbulent past, and their lives become rapidly and intensely intertwined.

For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude—a period of desire, despair, and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.]]> 448 Sally Rooney 0571365477 Johara 0 to-read 4.03 2024
author: Sally Rooney
name: Johara
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 122767904 From the author of international bestseller Convenience Store Woman comes a collection of short fiction: weird, out of this world and like nothing you’ve read before.

An engaged couple falls out over the husband’s dislike of clothes and objects made from human materials; a young girl finds herself deeply enamoured with the curtain in her childhood bedroom; people honour their dead by eating them and then procreating. Published in English for the first time, this exclusive edition also includes the story that first brought Sayaka Murata international acclaim: ‘A Clean Marriage��, which tells the story of a happily asexual couple who must submit to some radical medical procedures if they are to conceive a longed-for child.

Mixing taboo-breaking body horror with feminist revenge fables, old ladies who love each other and young women finding empathy and transformation in unlikely places, Life Ceremony is a wild ride to the outer edges of one of the most original minds in contemporary fiction.]]> 272 Sayaka Murata 1783787384 Johara 3 audiobook Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings. I'm a huge fan, and I wasn't surprised by how weird this book will be �� and I am here for it!

This book has 12 short stories, a mixed bag of intriguing and head-scratching tales. Each story in this collection is like a unique flavor of ice cream; some you savor, and others are an acquired taste, taking you on a rollercoaster ride through different lives and situations.

Murata's writing remains sharp and vivid, even in the bite-sized format of short stories. The characters are as quirky as ever, and she manages to inject profound moments into seemingly ordinary scenarios.

Not every story had me doing the happy dance, though. Some left me scratching my head, wondering if I missed the memo. But hey, that's the beauty of a short story collection �� there's something for everyone, and not every flavor has to be your favorite. Following is how I rated each story:

1. A First-Rate Material (4 Stars) - Explores societal acceptance of fashion made from human materials, with a surprising conclusion that challenges expectations.

2. A Magnificent Spread (3.5 Stars) - Narrates the clash between futuristic food and traditional cuisine, highlighting cultural strangeness and customs.

3. A Summer's Night Kiss (3 Stars) - Follows a 75-year-old virgin mother of two conceived through artificial insemination, addressing societal alienation and food themes sweetly.

4. Two's Family (3 Stars) - Explores the unconventional family of two women committed to living together, delving into life, children, and family amidst one character's battle with cancer.

5. The Time of a Large Star (3 Stars) - Briefly describes a girl moving to a sleepless country, offering a glimpse into a world where people live at night.

6. Poochie (3 Stars) - Funny tale of two schoolgirls feeding an unusual pet, adding an element of cuteness to the collection.

7. Life Ceremony (4.5 Stars) - Tackles the concept of using dead human material in cannibalism, challenging societal values with the added twist of insemination leading to life.

8. Body Magic (3 Stars) - Similar to Earthlings, this story involves cousins meeting annually during Obon and navigating societal expectations about sex with a resolution considered lacking.

9. Lover On the Breeze (3 Stars) - Narrated from the perspective of curtains, the story details a romance between a girl and a boy, taking a childish fantasy to a unique level.

10. Puzzle (3.5 Stars) - Follows an unusual woman searching for real human fluids in a concrete building, perceiving offices as encasing organs, engaging with its peculiar premise.

11. Eating The City (3 Stars) - A Tokyo office worker's homesickness leads to foraging the city for fresh plants, initiating a campaign to involve co-workers, and presenting a unique perspective on urban life.

12. Hatchling (4 Stars) - Revolves around a girl with five personas, adapting to various communities and raising questions about identity, especially as marriage and social circles' unification approach. Resonates with readers on a relatable yet unsettling level.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by a stellar full-cast narrator. The voices brought each short story to life in a way that made it thoroughly enjoyable.

So, if you've been on the Murata train and loved the previous rides, this book is a stop worth making. It might not be a perfect score, but it's a delightful buffet of Murata's storytelling prowess. Explore the different flavors, and see which ones tickle your literary taste buds!]]> 3.64 2019
author: Sayaka Murata
name: Johara
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/01/09
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.5] This marks my third rendezvous with Murata, having read Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings. I'm a huge fan, and I wasn't surprised by how weird this book will be �� and I am here for it!

This book has 12 short stories, a mixed bag of intriguing and head-scratching tales. Each story in this collection is like a unique flavor of ice cream; some you savor, and others are an acquired taste, taking you on a rollercoaster ride through different lives and situations.

Murata's writing remains sharp and vivid, even in the bite-sized format of short stories. The characters are as quirky as ever, and she manages to inject profound moments into seemingly ordinary scenarios.

Not every story had me doing the happy dance, though. Some left me scratching my head, wondering if I missed the memo. But hey, that's the beauty of a short story collection �� there's something for everyone, and not every flavor has to be your favorite. Following is how I rated each story:

1. A First-Rate Material (4 Stars) - Explores societal acceptance of fashion made from human materials, with a surprising conclusion that challenges expectations.

2. A Magnificent Spread (3.5 Stars) - Narrates the clash between futuristic food and traditional cuisine, highlighting cultural strangeness and customs.

3. A Summer's Night Kiss (3 Stars) - Follows a 75-year-old virgin mother of two conceived through artificial insemination, addressing societal alienation and food themes sweetly.

4. Two's Family (3 Stars) - Explores the unconventional family of two women committed to living together, delving into life, children, and family amidst one character's battle with cancer.

5. The Time of a Large Star (3 Stars) - Briefly describes a girl moving to a sleepless country, offering a glimpse into a world where people live at night.

6. Poochie (3 Stars) - Funny tale of two schoolgirls feeding an unusual pet, adding an element of cuteness to the collection.

7. Life Ceremony (4.5 Stars) - Tackles the concept of using dead human material in cannibalism, challenging societal values with the added twist of insemination leading to life.

8. Body Magic (3 Stars) - Similar to Earthlings, this story involves cousins meeting annually during Obon and navigating societal expectations about sex with a resolution considered lacking.

9. Lover On the Breeze (3 Stars) - Narrated from the perspective of curtains, the story details a romance between a girl and a boy, taking a childish fantasy to a unique level.

10. Puzzle (3.5 Stars) - Follows an unusual woman searching for real human fluids in a concrete building, perceiving offices as encasing organs, engaging with its peculiar premise.

11. Eating The City (3 Stars) - A Tokyo office worker's homesickness leads to foraging the city for fresh plants, initiating a campaign to involve co-workers, and presenting a unique perspective on urban life.

12. Hatchling (4 Stars) - Revolves around a girl with five personas, adapting to various communities and raising questions about identity, especially as marriage and social circles' unification approach. Resonates with readers on a relatable yet unsettling level.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by a stellar full-cast narrator. The voices brought each short story to life in a way that made it thoroughly enjoyable.

So, if you've been on the Murata train and loved the previous rides, this book is a stop worth making. It might not be a perfect score, but it's a delightful buffet of Murata's storytelling prowess. Explore the different flavors, and see which ones tickle your literary taste buds!
]]> 193833300
Who is he really? And what could make someone change their mind about the human race. . . ?]]> 308 Matt Haig 0857868780 Johara 0 to-read 4.00 2013
author: Matt Haig
name: Johara
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 40875705
Looking at sleep, news, social media, addiction, work and play, Matt Haig invites us to feel calmer, happier and to question the habits of the digital age. This book might even change the way you spend your precious time on earth.]]> 310 Matt Haig 1786892693 Johara 0 to-read 3.99 2018
author: Matt Haig
name: Johara
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 61414717 The House of Fortune is the sequel to Jessie Burton’s million copy bestselling The Miniaturist. Set in the golden city of Amsterdam in 1705, it is a story of fate and ambition, secrets and dreams, and one young woman’s determination to rule her own destiny.

Thea Brandt is turning eighteen, and is ready to welcome adulthood with open arms. At the theatre, Walter, the love of her life, awaits her, but at home in the house on the Herengracht, winter has set in �� her father Otto and Aunt Nella argue endlessly, and the Brandt family are selling their furniture in order to eat. On Thea’s birthday, also the day that her mother Marin died, the secrets from the past begin to overwhelm the present.

Nella is desperate to save the family and maintain appearances, to find Thea a husband who will guarantee her future, and when they receive an invitation to Amsterdam’s most exclusive ball, she is overjoyed �� perhaps this will set their fortunes straight. And indeed, the ball does set things spinning: new figures enter their life, promising new futures. But their fates are still unclear, and when Nella feels a strange prickling sensation on the back of her neck, she wonders if the miniaturist has returned for her . . .]]> 402 Jessie Burton 1509886095 Johara 4 audiobook The Miniaturist, it returns to a world I was already deeply invested in... but this time with fresh eyes and new tensions. I find Burton’s writing always rich and evocative. Her ability to capture emotional undercurrents through setting, dialogue, and atmosphere is unmatched.

I loved the theme of womanhood and quiet rebellion... of how women have always found ways to push against the constraints of society, even in the smallest moments. Thea, Nella, and Cornelia represent different kinds of strength, and I loved how Burton never forced a message but let it rise naturally through the characters�� choices and inner lives.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Madeleine Mantock. She brought the story to life in such a gentle and grounded way. Her voice perfectly captured the emotional depth of the characters, making the experience feel intimate and immersive.

This is my fourth book by Burton, and I’m still completely in awe of how she writes. A story full of tenderness, hope, and the courage to break away from what’s expected.

I’m a fan for life.]]> 3.86 2022
author: Jessie Burton
name: Johara
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.7] This book is everything I hoped for and more. As the second part of The Miniaturist, it returns to a world I was already deeply invested in... but this time with fresh eyes and new tensions. I find Burton’s writing always rich and evocative. Her ability to capture emotional undercurrents through setting, dialogue, and atmosphere is unmatched.

I loved the theme of womanhood and quiet rebellion... of how women have always found ways to push against the constraints of society, even in the smallest moments. Thea, Nella, and Cornelia represent different kinds of strength, and I loved how Burton never forced a message but let it rise naturally through the characters�� choices and inner lives.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Madeleine Mantock. She brought the story to life in such a gentle and grounded way. Her voice perfectly captured the emotional depth of the characters, making the experience feel intimate and immersive.

This is my fourth book by Burton, and I’m still completely in awe of how she writes. A story full of tenderness, hope, and the courage to break away from what’s expected.

I’m a fan for life.
]]> 28251250
White Noise tells the story of Jack Gladney, his fourth wife, Babette, and four ultra­modern offspring as they navigate the rocky passages of family life to the background babble of brand-name consumerism. When an industrial accident unleashes an "airborne toxic event," a lethal black chemical cloud floats over their lives. The menacing cloud is a more urgent and visible version of the "white noise" engulfing the Gladneys—radio transmissions, sirens, microwaves, ultrasonic appliances, and TV murmurings—pulsing with life, yet suggesting something ominous.

Part of the Penguin Orange Collection, a limited-run series of twelve influential and beloved American classics in a bold series design offering a modern take on the iconic Penguin paperback

Winner of the 2016 AIGA + Design Observer 50 Books | 50 Covers competition]]> 320 Don DeLillo 0143129554 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.88 1985
author: Don DeLillo
name: Johara
average rating: 3.88
book published: 1985
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 83017 198 Dino Buzzati 1567923046 Johara 0 to-think-about 4.24 1940
author: Dino Buzzati
name: Johara
average rating: 4.24
book published: 1940
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 111591185 128 Adania Shibli 9953895309 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.58 2017
author: Adania Shibli
name: Johara
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 23737150
As he journeys across America with his Spanish companions, the Old World roles of slave and master fall away, and Estebanico remakes himself as an equal, a healer, and a remarkable storyteller. His tale illuminates the ways in which our narratives can transmigrate into history—and how storytelling can offer a chance at redemption and survival.

**PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST**
**NOMINATED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE**
**WINNER OF THE AMERICAN BOOK AWARD**

A New York Times Notable Book
A Wall Street Journal Top 10 Book of the Year
An NPR Great Read of 2014
A Kirkus Best Fiction Book of the Year

]]> 400 Laila Lalami 0804170622 Johara 0 to-think-about 4.02 2014
author: Laila Lalami
name: Johara
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 4654809
In the spirit of The Inheritance of Loss and The Reluctant Fundamentalist , Laila Lalami’s debut novel looks at the struggle for identity, the need for love and family, and the desperation that grips ordinary lives in a world divided by class, politics, and religion.]]> 291 Laila Lalami 1565124944 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.47 2009
author: Laila Lalami
name: Johara
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 58146174
Alice, Felix, Eileen and Simon are still young �� but life is catching up with them. They desire each other, they delude each other, they get together, they break apart. They worry about sex and friendship and the world they live in. Are they standing in the last lighted room before the darkness, bearing witness to something? Will they find a way to believe in a beautiful world?]]> 337 Sally Rooney 0571365434 Johara 4 audiobook Normal People and Conversations with Friends... and I have to say... it's my favorite so far. This is the book I needed, the one I felt the most deeply. Rooney's signature style is all here... raw, thoughtful, emotionally intelligent... but this one hit closer to the heart.

I cried, laughed, and found myself lost in the power of her writing. The conversations between the four main characters... Alice, Eileen, Simon, and Felix... were layered and intimate, weaving love, philosophy, class, and friendship into something human. Rooney captures the ache of connection and disconnection with striking clarity, and for the first time, I felt seen by her words.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Aoife McMahon, who once again did a fantastic job. Her voice brought such tenderness and authenticity to each character... it made the story feel even more real, almost like overhearing the private thoughts of close friends. And the Irish accent was the icing on the cake.

It resonated with me in a way that lingers. It is a quiet, contemplative masterpiece... and a reminder of the complicated beauty of being human.

I want more of Rooney, please. ]]> 3.65 2021
author: Sally Rooney
name: Johara
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: audiobook
review:
BWWAY is my third Sally Rooney book, after Normal People and Conversations with Friends... and I have to say... it's my favorite so far. This is the book I needed, the one I felt the most deeply. Rooney's signature style is all here... raw, thoughtful, emotionally intelligent... but this one hit closer to the heart.

I cried, laughed, and found myself lost in the power of her writing. The conversations between the four main characters... Alice, Eileen, Simon, and Felix... were layered and intimate, weaving love, philosophy, class, and friendship into something human. Rooney captures the ache of connection and disconnection with striking clarity, and for the first time, I felt seen by her words.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Aoife McMahon, who once again did a fantastic job. Her voice brought such tenderness and authenticity to each character... it made the story feel even more real, almost like overhearing the private thoughts of close friends. And the Irish accent was the icing on the cake.

It resonated with me in a way that lingers. It is a quiet, contemplative masterpiece... and a reminder of the complicated beauty of being human.

I want more of Rooney, please.
]]> 41086877 Librarian note: See an alternate cover edition here.

Connell and Marianne grow up in the same small town in the west of Ireland, but the similarities end there. In school, Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation �� awkward but electrifying �� something life-changing begins.

Normal People is a story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find they can’t.]]> 266 Sally Rooney Johara 4 audiobook
It is a simple story of girl-meets-boy... but the way it was written, with back & forth timelines that do not lose track despite the lack of quotations, I loved it! The character development, the intense feelings they share, and the complexity of their relationship were so relatable. We have all probably gone through it one way or the other.

There were moments when I just wanted either character to say what they really want to say, instead of just keeping it to themselves. I was frustrated with Marianne a lot, and was pissed with Connell as well�� But that is only because they had very raw emotions. There was a lot of pressure on them to be what they should be, and no matter what they do, they find themselves drawn into the other, and find what they need in each other.

And the ending, I won’t say it was predictable, but it made perfect sense & very fitting! And if I am being very honest, I might have rated the book less if the ending was different.

Recommended for a beautiful, and relatable story. A plus for being very easy to read, which means you can finish it in no time! I’d also recommend doing it as an audio, read by Aoife McMahon, as it’s narrated with a beautiful Irish accent, which adds more depth to the story. I couldn’t stop listening to the book, and although I didn’t want it to finish, I was happy I was part of this journey.

The book felt so much like One Day by David Nicholls�� which I have enjoyed, but not as much as I did with this one!

There are some trigger warnings that you may want to keep in mind if you plan on reading this book: emotional abuse, physically abusive family relationships, manipulation in relationships, and suicide.

Popsugar #29 - A book set in multiple countries.]]> 3.84 2018
author: Sally Rooney
name: Johara
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2021/06/03
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.5] This book was on my overhyped list, as I could see a lot of people raving about it, and the reviews were either hating it or loving it. So, I treaded this book lightly, and kept an open mind while reading it�� and when I was done with it, I understood why people have mixed feelings about it.

It is a simple story of girl-meets-boy... but the way it was written, with back & forth timelines that do not lose track despite the lack of quotations, I loved it! The character development, the intense feelings they share, and the complexity of their relationship were so relatable. We have all probably gone through it one way or the other.

There were moments when I just wanted either character to say what they really want to say, instead of just keeping it to themselves. I was frustrated with Marianne a lot, and was pissed with Connell as well�� But that is only because they had very raw emotions. There was a lot of pressure on them to be what they should be, and no matter what they do, they find themselves drawn into the other, and find what they need in each other.

And the ending, I won’t say it was predictable, but it made perfect sense & very fitting! And if I am being very honest, I might have rated the book less if the ending was different.

Recommended for a beautiful, and relatable story. A plus for being very easy to read, which means you can finish it in no time! I’d also recommend doing it as an audio, read by Aoife McMahon, as it’s narrated with a beautiful Irish accent, which adds more depth to the story. I couldn’t stop listening to the book, and although I didn’t want it to finish, I was happy I was part of this journey.

The book felt so much like One Day by David Nicholls�� which I have enjoyed, but not as much as I did with this one!

There are some trigger warnings that you may want to keep in mind if you plan on reading this book: emotional abuse, physically abusive family relationships, manipulation in relationships, and suicide.

Popsugar #29 - A book set in multiple countries.
]]> 60472579
A year on, Kim Gillespie’s absence casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather deep in the heart of South Australian wine country to welcome a new addition to the family.

Joining the celebrations is federal investigator Aaron Falk. But as he soaks up life in the lush valley, he begins to suspect this tight-knit group may be more fractured than it seems.

Between Falk’s closest friend, a missing mother, and a woman he’s drawn to, dark questions linger as long-ago truths begin to emerge.

An outstanding novel, a brilliant mystery and a heart-pounding read from the author of The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man and The Survivors.]]> 407 Jane Harper 1760783951 Johara 4 audiobook The Dry and then Force of Nature), hopefully the last, and I love it!

Jane Harper does it again with her signature slow-burn mystery, rich atmosphere, and deep character work. The small-town setting is beautifully done, and Falk's personal journey adds so much depth. I felt like we finally got to explore more of him in this book.

The mystery unfolds at just the right pace... layered, thoughtful, and satisfying.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Steve Shanahan, who once again added so much depth and originality to the story.

While it wasn't as intense as The Dry, it was still a great read.

I would recommend Harper any day for a mystery thriller from Downunder. ]]> 4.06 2022
author: Jane Harper
name: Johara
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/12
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.6] The third book in the Aaron Falk series (The Dry and then Force of Nature), hopefully the last, and I love it!

Jane Harper does it again with her signature slow-burn mystery, rich atmosphere, and deep character work. The small-town setting is beautifully done, and Falk's personal journey adds so much depth. I felt like we finally got to explore more of him in this book.

The mystery unfolds at just the right pace... layered, thoughtful, and satisfying.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Steve Shanahan, who once again added so much depth and originality to the story.

While it wasn't as intense as The Dry, it was still a great read.

I would recommend Harper any day for a mystery thriller from Downunder.
]]> 40102449 The man lay still in the centre of a dusty grave under a monstrous sky.

Two brothers meet at the border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelenting sun of outback Queensland.

They are at the stockman's grave, a landmark so old, no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last chance for their middle brother, Cameron.

The Bright family's quiet existence is thrown into grief and anguish. Something had been troubling Cameron. Did he lose hope and walk to his death? Because if he didn't, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects...

For readers who loved The Dry and Force of Nature , Jane Harper has once again created a powerful story of suspense, set against a dazzling landscape.

Praise for Jane Harper

'The most exciting emerging novelist of the last 12 months...places Harper in the elevated company of the authors she so admires...Gillian Flynn and Lee Child' Mail on Sunday

'A major voice in contemporary fiction...an astonishing writer' A.J. Finn author of The Woman in the Window

'A storytelling force to be reckoned with' US Publishers Weekly]]> 362 Jane Harper 1743549105 Johara 4 audiobook The Dry and Force of Nature. She has this knack for weaving mysteries in the Australian outback, featuring damaged men in intricate family dynamics, and this book is no exception.

What sets Harper apart for me is her ability to draw you into the rugged rural landscapes of Australia and the complex lives of her characters. From the very start, you get a hint of the crime, a breadcrumb to follow, but this time, the ending blindsided me. It took a much darker and sinister turn, which, looking back, makes perfect sense. The prologue hit differently after finishing the book, and I found myself appreciating the nuances of the story even more.

While there were moments when the pace felt a bit slow, I couldn't help but be engrossed in the narrative. Harper's writing has this magnetic quality; you get sucked into the story, peeling back layers one by one. It's like unwrapping a mystery gift, and each layer reveals something new and unexpected.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Steve Shanahan, who, if you're familiar with Harper's work, is the voice behind all her previous books. His Australian accent adds so much depth and personality to the characters. It's like being right there in the dusty, sunbaked Australian outback with them. Shanahan's narration truly enhances the overall experience. What I enjoyed the most about the audiobook this time was the unique addition of an interview with the author and the narrator at the end of the book. It provided insight into the creative process and added a personal touch that I found refreshing.

This book may not have been a perfect five stars for me, as there were moments of a slower pace, but it certainly solidifies Jane Harper as one of my favorite Mystery Thriller/Crime authors. The unexpected twists, the atmospheric setting, and the layers of the story keep me eagerly reaching for more of her work.

Count me in for whatever Jane Harper has in store next!]]> 4.25 2018
author: Jane Harper
name: Johara
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/09
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.6] Another great book by Jane Harper! I've become a fan of hers after devouring The Dry and Force of Nature. She has this knack for weaving mysteries in the Australian outback, featuring damaged men in intricate family dynamics, and this book is no exception.

What sets Harper apart for me is her ability to draw you into the rugged rural landscapes of Australia and the complex lives of her characters. From the very start, you get a hint of the crime, a breadcrumb to follow, but this time, the ending blindsided me. It took a much darker and sinister turn, which, looking back, makes perfect sense. The prologue hit differently after finishing the book, and I found myself appreciating the nuances of the story even more.

While there were moments when the pace felt a bit slow, I couldn't help but be engrossed in the narrative. Harper's writing has this magnetic quality; you get sucked into the story, peeling back layers one by one. It's like unwrapping a mystery gift, and each layer reveals something new and unexpected.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Steve Shanahan, who, if you're familiar with Harper's work, is the voice behind all her previous books. His Australian accent adds so much depth and personality to the characters. It's like being right there in the dusty, sunbaked Australian outback with them. Shanahan's narration truly enhances the overall experience. What I enjoyed the most about the audiobook this time was the unique addition of an interview with the author and the narrator at the end of the book. It provided insight into the creative process and added a personal touch that I found refreshing.

This book may not have been a perfect five stars for me, as there were moments of a slower pace, but it certainly solidifies Jane Harper as one of my favorite Mystery Thriller/Crime authors. The unexpected twists, the atmospheric setting, and the layers of the story keep me eagerly reaching for more of her work.

Count me in for whatever Jane Harper has in store next!
]]> 35271392
The hike through the rugged Giralang Ranges is meant to take the office colleagues out of their air-conditioned comfort zone and teach resilience and team building. At least that is what the corporate retreat website advertises.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a particularly keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing bushwalker. Alice Russell is the whistleblower in his latest case - in just a matter of days she was to provide the documents that will bring down the company she works for.

Falk discovers that far from the hike encouraging teamwork, the women tell a tale of suspicion, violence and disintegrating trust. But does it include murder?]]> 377 Jane Harper 1743549091 Johara 4 audiobook
We have Agent Aaron Falk back in action, and this time, it's all about a hiking trip that has gone wrong. The pacing of the story is just about right, moving from past to present, keeping you on your toes as you navigate the tangled web of mysteries while experiencing the Australian wilderness.

What struck me most was how Harper skillfully unravelled the dynamics between the women on the ill-fated hike. As the situation turned distressing and they were forced to rely on each other, you could feel the tension, the suspicion, and the shifting alliances.

However, one thing that puzzled me was that it felt like they were completely unprepared for the hike! There were no emergency plans or backups, only one map, and no radio. It only exacerbated their dire situation.

And the ending, as always, Harper delivers that signature gut punch. How she conveyed the characters' emotions made it even more impactful. You can't help but ache for them, especially after experiencing their trials and tribulations.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Steve Shanahan, who breathed life into the natural elements. I could almost smell the eucalyptus, feel the chill of the river, and sense the isolation. His narration added a layer of authenticity that enriched the story, making the wilderness a character in its own right.

While I found this book engaging and enjoyable, it didn't achieve the same level of amazement as the first part, The Dry. That's why I would still recommend reading it before reading this one, as it will help you better understand Agent Falk and enhance your overall experience.

This is an immersive experience that will take you on a gripping adventure, weaving together the mysteries of the wild and the intricacies of human relationships while keeping you guessing the whole time, "Who did it?".

So, if you're up for an equally thrilling and emotionally charged journey, this book is worth experiencing. Get ready to hike through the heart of the Australian bush and explore the depths of human nature.]]> 3.90 2017
author: Jane Harper
name: Johara
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/26
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.6] I finally got to read this book, as I thought the movie would be released this year, only to find out that it had been pushed to January 2024. But that didn't matter, as I felt like reading a mystery thriller, and this sure delivered as it took me on an adventure, both through the wild and within the complexities of human relationships.

We have Agent Aaron Falk back in action, and this time, it's all about a hiking trip that has gone wrong. The pacing of the story is just about right, moving from past to present, keeping you on your toes as you navigate the tangled web of mysteries while experiencing the Australian wilderness.

What struck me most was how Harper skillfully unravelled the dynamics between the women on the ill-fated hike. As the situation turned distressing and they were forced to rely on each other, you could feel the tension, the suspicion, and the shifting alliances.

However, one thing that puzzled me was that it felt like they were completely unprepared for the hike! There were no emergency plans or backups, only one map, and no radio. It only exacerbated their dire situation.

And the ending, as always, Harper delivers that signature gut punch. How she conveyed the characters' emotions made it even more impactful. You can't help but ache for them, especially after experiencing their trials and tribulations.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Steve Shanahan, who breathed life into the natural elements. I could almost smell the eucalyptus, feel the chill of the river, and sense the isolation. His narration added a layer of authenticity that enriched the story, making the wilderness a character in its own right.

While I found this book engaging and enjoyable, it didn't achieve the same level of amazement as the first part, The Dry. That's why I would still recommend reading it before reading this one, as it will help you better understand Agent Falk and enhance your overall experience.

This is an immersive experience that will take you on a gripping adventure, weaving together the mysteries of the wild and the intricacies of human relationships while keeping you guessing the whole time, "Who did it?".

So, if you're up for an equally thrilling and emotionally charged journey, this book is worth experiencing. Get ready to hike through the heart of the Australian bush and explore the depths of human nature.
]]> 219300660 From the author of the bestselling literary sensations Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings comes a surprising and highly imaginative story set in a version of Japan where sex between married couples has vanished and all children are born by artificial insemination.

Sayaka Murata has proven herself to be one of the most exciting chroniclers of the strangeness of society, x-raying our contemporary world to bizarre and troubling effect. Her depictions of a happily unmarried retail worker in Convenience Store Woman and a young woman convinced she is an alien in Earthlings have endeared her to millions of readers worldwide. Vanishing World takes Murata’s universe to a bold new level, imagining an alternative Japan where attitudes to sex and procreation are wildly different to our own.

As a girl, Amane realizes with horror that her parents “copulated�� in order to bring her into the world, rather than using artificial insemination, which became the norm in the mid-twentieth century. Amane strives to get away from what she considers an indoctrination in this strange “system�� by her mother, but her infatuations with both anime characters and real people have a sexual force that is undeniable. As an adult in an appropriately sexless marriage—sex between married couples is now considered as taboo as incest—Amane and her husband Saku decide to go and live in a mysterious new town called Experiment City or Paradise-Eden, where all children are raised communally, and every person is considered a Mother to all children. Men are beginning to become pregnant using artificial wombs that sit outside of their bodies like balloons, and children are nameless, called only “Kodomo-chan.�� Is this the new world that will purify Amane of her strangeness once and for all?]]> 240 Sayaka Murata 0802164668 Johara 0 to-buy-books 3.51 2015
author: Sayaka Murata
name: Johara
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 53176765 PRE-ORDER NOW: FROM THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS and THEN SHE WAS GONE, comes an engrossing twisty tale of betrayal when an outsider is accused of murder.
_______________________________________

LONDON: On a fine avenue of grand houses, big cars and electronic gates, lies a neglected urban wasteland

It is nearly midnight, and very cold. Yet in this dark place of long grass and tall trees where cats hunt and foxes shriek, a girl is waiting...

When Saffyre Maddox was ten something terrible happened and she's carried the pain of it around with her ever since. The man who she thought was going to heal her didn't, and now she hides from him, invisible in the shadows, learning his secrets; secrets she could use to blow his safe, cosy world apart.

Owen Pick is invisible too. He's thirty-three years old and he's never had a girlfriend, he's never even had a friend. Nobody sees him. Nobody cares about him.

But when Saffyre Maddox disappears from opposite his house on Valentine's night, suddenly the whole world is looking at him. Accusing him. Holding him responsible.

Because he's just the type, isn't he? A bit creepy?

INVISIBLE GIRL: A story of secrets and injustices, and of how we look in the wrong places for the bad people while the real predators walk among us in plain sight.]]> 403 Lisa Jewell 1787461505 Johara 0 to-read 3.88 2020
author: Lisa Jewell
name: Johara
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 63912772
A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.

But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?]]> 400 Lisa Jewell 1804940208 Johara 0 to-read 4.16 2023
author: Lisa Jewell
name: Johara
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 22557356
Aaliya Sohbi lives alone in her Beirut apartment, surrounded by stockpiles of books. Godless, fatherless, divorced, and childless, Aaliya is her family’s "unnecessary appendage.�� Every year, she translates a new favorite book into Arabic, then stows it away. The thirty-seven books that Aaliya has translated have never been read—by anyone. After overhearing her neighbors, "the three witches,�� discussing her too-white hair, Aaliya accidentally dyes her hair too blue.

In this breathtaking portrait of a reclusive woman’s late-life crisis, readers follow Aaliya’s digressive mind as it ricochets across visions of past and present Beirut. Insightful musings on literature, philosophy, and art are invaded by memories of the Lebanese Civil War and Aaliya’s volatile past. As she tries to overcome her aging body and spontaneous emotional upwellings, Aaliya is faced with an unthinkable disaster that threatens to shatter the little life she has left.

A love letter to literature and its power to define who we are, the gifted Rabih Alameddine has given us a nuanced rendering of a single woman's reclusive life in the Middle East.]]> 291 Rabih Alameddine 0802122949 Johara 4 The Storyteller (The Hakawati, and I've been meaning to pick up another of his books for the longest time. This book did not disappoint. It's quite different from The Hakawati... quieter, more introspective, and deeply personal.

Aaliya is one of the most unique characters I've encountered in a long time. An elderly woman living alone, she has spent her life translating books into Arabic for her own enjoyment. Her love for literature is contagious, drawing you into her world. Her reflections on loneliness, aging, and her place in a chaotic world feel so raw and honest that it's impossible not to be moved.

And then there is her friendship with Hannah adds depth to the story. Hannah mirrors Aaliya's isolation, showing how connections can form even in loneliness, making their dynamic both touching and unforgettable.

Alameddine's writing is quite simply exquisite. Every sentence feels carefully crafted. There is a rhythm to his prose that pulls you in, like sitting down with an old friend who has endless stories to tell. His references to books and authors throughout the book offer a glimpse into his immense depth of literature.

This story also feels incredibly relevant to current events. Aaliya's Beirut, battered by war and unrest, mirrors the ongoing crises in Lebanon and the Middle East. Her resilience, even in the face of overwhelming uncertainty, feels close to home.

I took my time reading this book because I didn't want it to finish. I wanted to savor every word, and it was well worth it.

If you're in the mood for a thoughtful, beautifully written exploration of solitude, identity, and the power of literature, this book is a gem. It's meditative and reflective, reminding me once again why I love Alameddine's work.

I can't wait to dive into more of his books.]]> 3.94 2013
author: Rabih Alameddine
name: Johara
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/04
date added: 2024/12/10
shelves:
review:
I fell in love with Alameddine's The Storyteller (The Hakawati, and I've been meaning to pick up another of his books for the longest time. This book did not disappoint. It's quite different from The Hakawati... quieter, more introspective, and deeply personal.

Aaliya is one of the most unique characters I've encountered in a long time. An elderly woman living alone, she has spent her life translating books into Arabic for her own enjoyment. Her love for literature is contagious, drawing you into her world. Her reflections on loneliness, aging, and her place in a chaotic world feel so raw and honest that it's impossible not to be moved.

And then there is her friendship with Hannah adds depth to the story. Hannah mirrors Aaliya's isolation, showing how connections can form even in loneliness, making their dynamic both touching and unforgettable.

Alameddine's writing is quite simply exquisite. Every sentence feels carefully crafted. There is a rhythm to his prose that pulls you in, like sitting down with an old friend who has endless stories to tell. His references to books and authors throughout the book offer a glimpse into his immense depth of literature.

This story also feels incredibly relevant to current events. Aaliya's Beirut, battered by war and unrest, mirrors the ongoing crises in Lebanon and the Middle East. Her resilience, even in the face of overwhelming uncertainty, feels close to home.

I took my time reading this book because I didn't want it to finish. I wanted to savor every word, and it was well worth it.

If you're in the mood for a thoughtful, beautifully written exploration of solitude, identity, and the power of literature, this book is a gem. It's meditative and reflective, reminding me once again why I love Alameddine's work.

I can't wait to dive into more of his books.
]]> 217163829 #1��New York Times��bestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a stranger’s life twenty-five years later.

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their difficult home lives by spending their days laughing and telling stories out on a pier. There’s Joar, who never backs down from a fight; quiet and bookish Ted who is mourning his father; Ali, the daughter of a man who never stays in one place for long; and finally, there’s the artist, a boy who hoards sleeping pills and shuns attention, but who possesses an extraordinary gift that might be his ticket to a better life. These four lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be put into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. As she struggles to decide what to do with this bequest, she embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn the story of how the painting came to be. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more she feels compelled to unleash her own artistic spirit, but happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this fresh testament to the transformative power of friendship and art.]]> 448 Fredrik Backman 1982121653 Johara 0 to-buy-books 4.45 2025
author: Fredrik Backman
name: Johara
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/27
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 61884776
Spine-chilling and sharp, Anne Heltzel's Just Like Mother is a modern gothic from a fresh new voice in horror, and “will disturb readers to their core.�� ( Library Journal ) A GoodReads Choice Award Finalist for Best Horror, and named one of the Best Books of 2022 by LitReactor!

The last time Maeve saw her cousin was the night she escaped the cult they were raised in. For the past two decades, Maeve has worked hard to build a normal life in New York City, where she keeps everything―and everyone―at a safe distance.

When Andrea suddenly reappears, Maeve regains the only true friend she’s ever had. Soon she’s spending more time at Andrea’s remote Catskills estate than in her own cramped apartment. Maeve doesn’t even mind that her cousin’s wealthy work friends clearly disapprove of her single lifestyle. After all, Andrea has made her fortune in the fertility industry―baby fever comes with the territory.

The more Maeve immerses herself in Andrea’s world, the more disconnected she feels from her life back in the city; and the cousins�� increasing attachment triggers memories Maeve has fought hard to bury. But confronting the terrors of her childhood may be the only way for Maeve to transcend the nightmare still to come��

"A fierce, frightening novel." ―Rachel Harrison, author of Cackle]]> 320 Anne Heltzel 1250787521 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.76 2022
author: Anne Heltzel
name: Johara
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/27
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 58942858 When everything is lost, it’s our stories that survive.

How do we weather the end of things? Cloud Cuckoo Land brings together an unforgettable cast of dreamers and outsiders from past, present and future to offer a vision of survival against all odds.

Constantinople, 1453:
An orphaned seamstress and a cursed boy with a love for animals risk everything on opposite sides of a city wall to protect the people they love.

Idaho, 2020:
An impoverished, idealistic kid seeks revenge on a world that’s crumbling around him. Can he go through with it when a gentle old man stands between him and his plans?

Unknown, Sometime in the Future:
With her tiny community in peril, Konstance is the last hope for the human race. To find a way forward, she must look to the oldest stories of all for guidance.

Bound together by a single ancient text, these tales interweave to form a tapestry of solace and resilience and a celebration of storytelling itself. Like its predecessor All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr’s new novel is a tale of hope and of profound human connection.]]> 626 Anthony Doerr 0008478651 Johara 2 dnf, audiobook
I did not care for this book, the characters, or what was going on.

I thought I'd enjoy it like I enjoyed All the Light We Cannot See, but it seems the author prefers to obscure the quality of their writing with excessive words. The book felt like a brick.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Marin Ireland and Simon Jones, but they couldn't save it.

I don't think I will be picking up another book by Doerr.]]> 4.27 2021
author: Anthony Doerr
name: Johara
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/22
date added: 2024/11/26
shelves: dnf, audiobook
review:
[DNF - 34%]

I did not care for this book, the characters, or what was going on.

I thought I'd enjoy it like I enjoyed All the Light We Cannot See, but it seems the author prefers to obscure the quality of their writing with excessive words. The book felt like a brick.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Marin Ireland and Simon Jones, but they couldn't save it.

I don't think I will be picking up another book by Doerr.
]]> 21888223 The Magpies.

When Andrew Sumner meets beautiful, edgy Charlie, he is certain his run of bad luck has finally come to an end.

But as the two of them embark on an intense affair, Andrew wonders if his grasp on reality is slipping. Items go missing in his apartment. Somebody appears to be following him. And as misfortune and tragedy strike his friends and loved ones, Andrew is forced to confront the frightening truth.��

Is Charlie really the girl of his dreams�or the woman of his nightmares?]]> 348 Mark Edwards 1477824863 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.84 2014
author: Mark Edwards
name: Johara
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/19
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 57423431 Der Weltbestseller �� die Nr. 1 aus den USA.
Zwei Schwestern im von den Deutschen besetzten Während Vianne ums Überleben ihrer Familie kämpft, schließt sich die jüngere Isabelle der Résistance an und sucht die Freiheit auf dem Pfad der Nachtigall, einem geheimen Fluchtweg über die Pyrenäen. Doch wie weit darf man gehen, um zu überleben? Und wie kann man die schützen, die man liebt?
In diesem epischen, kraftvollen und zutiefst berührenden Roman erzählt Kristin Hannah die Geschichte zweier Frauen, die ihr Schicksal auf ganz eigene Weise meistern.]]> 442 Kristin Hannah Johara 0 to-read 4.52 2015
author: Kristin Hannah
name: Johara
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 3300813 Bel-Ami (1885), is the story of a ruthlessly ambitious young man (Georges Duroy, christened 'Bel-Ami' by his female admirers) making it to the top in fin-de-siecle Paris. It is a novel about money, sex, and power, set against the background of the politics of the French colonization of North Africa. It explores the dynamics of an urban society uncomfortably close to our own and is a devastating satire of the sleaziness of contemporary journalism.]]> 368 Guy de Maupassant 0199553939 Johara 3 audiobook, classics
I did this as an audiobook narrated by Martin Geeson, and that didn’t help either. It was slow and equally boring, which made the story drag even more.

Maupassant does a good job portraying 19th-century Paris, and the writing was good, but I’ll definitely forget about this book. Actually, I don’t remember much already. It wasn’t terrible, just not for me.]]> 3.93 1885
author: Guy de Maupassant
name: Johara
average rating: 3.93
book published: 1885
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/24
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: audiobook, classics
review:
This was honestly a boring book about ambition, corruption, and the hypocrisy of the upper class. It wasn’t engaging for me, and I didn’t like the main character, Georges Duroy. He was way too manipulative and self-serving for me to root for, with zero consequences for his actions.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Martin Geeson, and that didn’t help either. It was slow and equally boring, which made the story drag even more.

Maupassant does a good job portraying 19th-century Paris, and the writing was good, but I’ll definitely forget about this book. Actually, I don’t remember much already. It wasn’t terrible, just not for me.
]]> 12187771 When Sophie Hayes met Bledi she knew he'd change her life �� but she had no idea how much. At first, it was a typical whirlwind romance. But one day Bledi told her that love always comes at a price ...

Bledi tricked Sophie into travelling to Italy, where he forced her to sell her body to help him pay off a debt. Terrified and ashamed, Sophie worked the dangerous Italian streets without rest, seeing as many as 30 clients in a night. She was completely at Bledi′s mercy for food, clothes and shelter. And without money, friends or family, she was trapped.

But Sophie found the strength to keep going, clinging to life by a single thread of hope: that somehow she′d find a way to escape.]]> 308 Sophie Hayes 0007438885 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.91 2012
author: Sophie Hayes
name: Johara
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 417379 416 Anne Wilson Schaef 0062548662 Johara 0 to-buy-books 4.06 1990
author: Anne Wilson Schaef
name: Johara
average rating: 4.06
book published: 1990
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 32526965
With eloquence and compassion, Jenny Offill weaves a luminous story of a wounded family and of a young girl yearning to understand the difference between fiction, fact, and hope. A novel of vibrant imagination and searing intelligence, Last Things is a stunning literary achievement.]]> 224 Jenny Offill 1408879719 Johara 0 to-read 3.56 1999
author: Jenny Offill
name: Johara
average rating: 3.56
book published: 1999
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 2198756 My Name Is Red is a transporting tale set amid the splendor and religious intrigue of sixteenth-century Istanbul, from one of the most prominent contemporary Turkish writers.
The Sultan has commissioned a cadre of the most acclaimed artists in the land to create a great book celebrating the glories of his realm. Their task: to illuminate the work in the European style. But because figurative art can be deemed an affront to Islam, this commission is a dangerous proposition indeed. The ruling elite therefore mustn’t know the full scope or nature of the project, and panic erupts when one of the chosen miniaturists disappears. The only clue to the mystery–or crime? –lies in the half-finished illuminations themselves. Part fantasy and part philosophical puzzle, My Name is Red is a kaleidoscopic journey to the intersection of art, religion, love, sex and power.
Translated from the Turkish by Erda M Göknar]]> 508 Orhan Pamuk 0571214193 Johara 0 to-read 3.68 1998
author: Orhan Pamuk
name: Johara
average rating: 3.68
book published: 1998
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 31463 This is an alternate cover edition for ISBN 9780141439655

Independent and spirited Bathsheba Everdene has come to Weatherbury to take up her position as a farmer on the largest estate in the area. Her bold presence draws three very different suitors: the gentleman-farmer Boldwood, soldier-seducer Sergeant Troy and the devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak. Each, in contrasting ways, unsettles her decisions and complicates her life, and tragedy ensues, threatening the stability of the whole community. The first of his works set in the fictional county of Wessex, Hardy's novel of swift passion and slow courtship is imbued with his evocative descriptions of rural life and landscapes, and with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships.]]> 433 Thomas Hardy Johara 0 to-read 3.96 1874
author: Thomas Hardy
name: Johara
average rating: 3.96
book published: 1874
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 123639782 🎧Run Time = 5 hours and 47 minutes

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER - The award-winning, best-selling author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel returns with a novel of art, time travel, love, and plague that takes the reader from Vancouver Island in 1912 to a dark colony on the moon five hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and space.

One of the Best Books of the Year: The New York Times, NPR, GoodReads

"One of [Mandel's] finest novels and one of her most satisfying forays into the arena of speculative fiction yet." --The New York Times

Edwin St. Andrew is eighteen years old when he crosses the Atlantic by steamship, exiled from polite society following an ill-conceived diatribe at a dinner party. He enters the forest, spellbound by the beauty of the Canadian wilderness, and suddenly hears the notes of a violin echoing in an airship terminal--an experience that shocks him to his core.

Two centuries later a famous writer named Olive Llewellyn is on a book tour. She's traveling all over Earth, but her home is the second moon colony, a place of white stone, spired towers, and artificial beauty. Within the text of Olive's best-selling pandemic novel lies a strange passage: a man plays his violin for change in the echoing corridor of an airship terminal as the trees of a forest rise around him.

When Gaspery-Jacques Roberts, a detective in the black-skied Night City, is hired to investigate an anomaly in the North American wilderness, he uncovers a series of lives upended: The exiled son of an earl driven to madness, a writer trapped far from home as a pandemic ravages Earth, and a childhood friend from the Night City who, like Gaspery himself, has glimpsed the chance to do something extraordinary that will disrupt the timeline of the universe.

A virtuoso performance that is as human and tender as it is intellectually playful, Sea of Tranquility is a novel of time travel and metaphysics that precisely captures the reality of our current moment.]]> 258 Emily St. John Mandel 1529083516 Johara 3 audiobook Station Eleven and
The Glass Hotel.

It is a short story that weaves a unique tapestry of different characters and tales, each unfolding in distinct times and places. I was intrigued from the beginning, and I must admit that I enjoyed the journey; how it all wrapped up at the end left me with an appreciative "Oh wow."

It all started with seemingly disparate characters in varied settings—Edwin in 1912 Canada, Mirella in 2020 NYC, Olive on a futuristic Earthly book tour in 2203, and scientists pondering the simulation theory in 2401. The connections are initially vague, but that's part of the charm. Similar motifs echo through each tale, hinting at an intricate web linking them together.

Mandel's prose, as always, is elegant and evocative. She has a way of painting vivid pictures with words, and even as the stories initially appear unrelated, there's an undercurrent of connection that keeps you intrigued. The beauty lies in the slow revelation of these connections, like a musical composition building to a crescendo.

I experienced this as an audiobook, narrated by a talented cast. Their performances breathed life into the characters, making it easier to follow the shifts in time and perspective. It added a layer of richness to the storytelling, enhancing the overall experience.

This thoughtful exploration of interconnected lives is beautifully written and expertly crafted. If you enjoyed Mandel's previous works and appreciate a narrative that unfolds like a carefully orchestrated symphony, this one is worth the read. Obviously, I still think that Station Eleven is her best work, but I do enjoy her writings and love to explore her books.

Bonus point for reading Mandel's books - her books are connected :)]]> 4.10 2022
author: Emily St. John Mandel
name: Johara
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2024/09/13
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.4] So, I finally picked up this book, marking my third voyage with Mandel after Station Eleven and
The Glass Hotel.

It is a short story that weaves a unique tapestry of different characters and tales, each unfolding in distinct times and places. I was intrigued from the beginning, and I must admit that I enjoyed the journey; how it all wrapped up at the end left me with an appreciative "Oh wow."

It all started with seemingly disparate characters in varied settings—Edwin in 1912 Canada, Mirella in 2020 NYC, Olive on a futuristic Earthly book tour in 2203, and scientists pondering the simulation theory in 2401. The connections are initially vague, but that's part of the charm. Similar motifs echo through each tale, hinting at an intricate web linking them together.

Mandel's prose, as always, is elegant and evocative. She has a way of painting vivid pictures with words, and even as the stories initially appear unrelated, there's an undercurrent of connection that keeps you intrigued. The beauty lies in the slow revelation of these connections, like a musical composition building to a crescendo.

I experienced this as an audiobook, narrated by a talented cast. Their performances breathed life into the characters, making it easier to follow the shifts in time and perspective. It added a layer of richness to the storytelling, enhancing the overall experience.

This thoughtful exploration of interconnected lives is beautifully written and expertly crafted. If you enjoyed Mandel's previous works and appreciate a narrative that unfolds like a carefully orchestrated symphony, this one is worth the read. Obviously, I still think that Station Eleven is her best work, but I do enjoy her writings and love to explore her books.

Bonus point for reading Mandel's books - her books are connected :)
]]> 31447904
Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park , first published in 1814, tells the story of young Fanny Price, who is sent to live with her wealthy relatives, the Bertrams, at the age of ten. As she grows up, she develops deep feelings for her cousin Edmund Bertram, the only person at Mansfield Park who shows her true kindness. When the Bertram family is thrown into scandal and disorder, Fanny and Edmund must overcome the chaos around them so they can come to terms with the affection that they have for one another. A classic story that deals with social structures, friendship, morality, and love, Mansfield Park is now available in a handsome Word Cloud Classics edition, making it a treasured addition to any reader's bookshelf.]]> 520 Jane Austen 1626869731 Johara 3 audiobook, classics Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility, and have to say that this is the bulkiest out of all her books.

The more I read for Jane Austen, the more I realize that not all her books are made equal. This was very lengthy, had a lot of chatty women, and the main character Fanny Price was not the usual JA female heroine. I found her very weak and uptight.

She was bullied by practically everyone in her family, but let's face it, they were very toxic. Yes, she had her head over her shoulder and made the best decision to reject HC, but I really didn't feel much for her.

And I don't understand why JA has this habit of twisting everything for a "happy ending" in the last couple of pages?

I don't want to say I am disappointed with this book. It's JA work after all, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite.

Two more books to read: Emma & Northanger Abbey.

]]> 3.96 1814
author: Jane Austen
name: Johara
average rating: 3.96
book published: 1814
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/13
date added: 2024/09/10
shelves: audiobook, classics
review:
This is my fourth read for Jane Austen, after reading Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility, and have to say that this is the bulkiest out of all her books.

The more I read for Jane Austen, the more I realize that not all her books are made equal. This was very lengthy, had a lot of chatty women, and the main character Fanny Price was not the usual JA female heroine. I found her very weak and uptight.

She was bullied by practically everyone in her family, but let's face it, they were very toxic. Yes, she had her head over her shoulder and made the best decision to reject HC, but I really didn't feel much for her.

And I don't understand why JA has this habit of twisting everything for a "happy ending" in the last couple of pages?

I don't want to say I am disappointed with this book. It's JA work after all, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite.

Two more books to read: Emma & Northanger Abbey.


]]> 199798006
As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.

As soon as the strangers enter their home, inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

This unputdownable and spine-tingling novel “is like quicksand: the further you delve into its pages, the more immobilized you become by a spiral of terror. We Used to Live Here will haunt you even after you have finished it�� (Agustina Bazterrica, author of Tender Is the Flesh).]]> 312 Marcus Kliewer 1982198788 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.66 2024
author: Marcus Kliewer
name: Johara
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 35286951 Leaving Las Vegas, the first novel by John O’Brien, is a disturbing and emotionally wrenching story of a woman who embraces life and a man who rejects it. Sera, a prostitute, and Ben, an alcoholic, stumble together and discover in each other a respite from their unforgiving lives. A testimony to the raw talent of its young author, Leaving Las Vegas is a compelling story of unconditional love between two disenfranchised and lost souls—an overlooked American classic.]]> 192 John O'Brien 1611855217 Johara 0 to-think-about 4.23 1990
author: John O'Brien
name: Johara
average rating: 4.23
book published: 1990
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 60494618 The Family Upstairs has gripped audiences around the world, becoming a smash hit with readers everywhere. In 2022 no. 1 bestselling author Lisa Jewell will publish a sequel.

**Pre-order now to be one of the first to read it.**

'Enthralling' RUTH WARE
'Gripping' OLIVIA COLMAN
'Engrossing' IAN RANKIN
'Twisty' CLARE MACKINTOSH
'Excellent' GUARDIAN
'Stupendous' RUTH JONES
'Brilliant' SARAH PINBOROUGH
'Unputdownable' C.L. TAYLOR]]> 448 Lisa Jewell 1529125804 Johara 4 audiobook The Family Upstairs a few months back, I couldn't resist diving into this one. And let me tell you, I'm officially on Team Jewell now!

This book is nothing short of amazing! It picks up right where the darkness and eeriness of the first one left off, with the whole saga of dark family secrets, the creepy abandoned mansion, the cult, and a tangled mess of lives that were forever changed, but with the kids all grown up now.

Henry, oh Henry! What a fascinating character. He constantly left me wondering what he was up to, adding a layer of mystery that kept me flipping the pages. And Rachel, with her backstory weaving seamlessly into the narrative, connecting the past and the present for all the characters. The way Jewell crafted this continuation is brilliant.

This was supposed to be a crime/mystery thriller, but can you believe it made me cry!? I don't want to spoil it, but Jewell played me like a fiddle multiple times throughout this book.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by a full cast. Perfection! Every voice brought the story to life, and I felt like I was right there in the middle of the drama. Kudos to everyone involved; they nailed it!

And if you're wondering whether to read the first book before this one - absolutely! While Jewell skillfully provides reminders of the events from the first book, you'd be missing out on many backstories if you decide to skip straight to this one.

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions, mystery, and dark family secrets. I can't wait to explore more of Jewell's works because, after this one, I'm hooked!

Trigger warnings: rape, sexual violence, murder, suicide.]]> 3.97 2022
author: Lisa Jewell
name: Johara
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/09
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: audiobook
review:
Where do I even start with this book? I'm usually not one for series, but after getting hooked by the first part The Family Upstairs a few months back, I couldn't resist diving into this one. And let me tell you, I'm officially on Team Jewell now!

This book is nothing short of amazing! It picks up right where the darkness and eeriness of the first one left off, with the whole saga of dark family secrets, the creepy abandoned mansion, the cult, and a tangled mess of lives that were forever changed, but with the kids all grown up now.

Henry, oh Henry! What a fascinating character. He constantly left me wondering what he was up to, adding a layer of mystery that kept me flipping the pages. And Rachel, with her backstory weaving seamlessly into the narrative, connecting the past and the present for all the characters. The way Jewell crafted this continuation is brilliant.

This was supposed to be a crime/mystery thriller, but can you believe it made me cry!? I don't want to spoil it, but Jewell played me like a fiddle multiple times throughout this book.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by a full cast. Perfection! Every voice brought the story to life, and I felt like I was right there in the middle of the drama. Kudos to everyone involved; they nailed it!

And if you're wondering whether to read the first book before this one - absolutely! While Jewell skillfully provides reminders of the events from the first book, you'd be missing out on many backstories if you decide to skip straight to this one.

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions, mystery, and dark family secrets. I can't wait to explore more of Jewell's works because, after this one, I'm hooked!

Trigger warnings: rape, sexual violence, murder, suicide.
]]> 55859146 London, 3am: a tragic accident, Then your life begins to fall apart...

You think you have the perfect life.

You're successful. Attractive. Well liked.

And you've just got married for the third time.

But that's OK because everyone's happy, including your new wife.

But she has a secret. And secrets have consequences.

Some of which can be devastating...]]> 416 Lisa Jewell Johara 0 to-read 3.32 2014
author: Lisa Jewell
name: Johara
average rating: 3.32
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 11348687 Tales from 1,001 Nights, drawn from the acclaimed landmark translation published in 3 volumes by Penguin Classics in 2008. It contains 'Aladdin', 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves', 'Sindbad the Sailor' and many others of the most enjoyable and beloved tales from the Arabian Nights.

This new translation was described as 'magnificent' and 'the most ambitious and thorough translation' in the Guardian and lauded in the Telegraph as 'outstanding'. The Sunday Times said 'The new Penguin edition is the one to have'.]]> 528 Anonymous 014119166X Johara 0 to-read 4.00 1989
author: Anonymous
name: Johara
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1989
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 152203650 150 James Baldwin Johara 0 to-read 4.39 1956
author: James Baldwin
name: Johara
average rating: 4.39
book published: 1956
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 29610266
A poignant tale of love and loneliness from Russia's foremost writer.

One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.]]> 128 Fyodor Dostoevsky 0241252083 Johara 0 to-read 4.02 1848
author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
name: Johara
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1848
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 61686012 “Now and then, language would thrust its way into her sleep like a skewer through meat, startling her awake several times a night.��

In a classroom in Seoul, a young woman watches her Greek language teacher at the blackboard. She tries to speak but has lost her voice. Her teacher finds himself drawn to the silent woman, for day by day he is losing his sight.

Soon the two discover a deeper pain binds them together. For her, in the space of just a few months, she has lost both her mother and the custody battle for her nine-year-old son. For him, it’s the pain of growing up between Korea and Germany, being torn between two cultures and languages, and the fear of losing his independence.

Greek Lessons tells the story of two ordinary people brought together at a moment of private anguish—the fading light of a man losing his vision meeting the silence of a woman who has lost her language. Yet these are the very things that draw them to each other. Slowly the two discover a profound sense of unity—their voices intersecting with startling beauty, as they move from darkness to light, from silence to breath and expression.

Greek Lessons is the story of the unlikely bond between this pair and a tender love letter to human intimacy and connection—a novel to awaken the senses, one that vividly conjures the essence of what it means to be alive.]]> 192 Han Kang 0593595270 Johara 0 to-buy-books 3.54 2011
author: Han Kang
name: Johara
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/02
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 49365217
Human Acts is a universal book, utterly modern and profoundly timeless. Already a controversial bestseller and award-winning book in Korea, it confirms Han Kang as a writer of immense importance.]]> 224 Han Kang Johara 3 The Vegetarian for its thought-provoking narrative. I was curious to explore more of her work, and as expected, this book was a hard read, especially knowing it's based on real events.

The story revolves around the Gwangju Uprising, and it's told through different perspectives in each chapter, which gives a broader view of the tragedy. The writing is beautiful, and the way Kang shifts between different voices and points of view is masterful. Each chapter takes you deeper into the trauma and aftermath of the uprising, with each character adding a new layer to the story.

However, despite the poignant storytelling, I found it difficult to connect with the characters on a deeper level. Even though I appreciated the craft and the story, the emotional distance kept me from fully immersing myself in the book.

It's still a powerful read, and Han Kang's writing skill shines through. I want to read more of her work.]]> 4.05 2014
author: Han Kang
name: Johara
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/02
date added: 2024/09/02
shelves:
review:
[3.5] This is my second book by Han Kang, after loving The Vegetarian for its thought-provoking narrative. I was curious to explore more of her work, and as expected, this book was a hard read, especially knowing it's based on real events.

The story revolves around the Gwangju Uprising, and it's told through different perspectives in each chapter, which gives a broader view of the tragedy. The writing is beautiful, and the way Kang shifts between different voices and points of view is masterful. Each chapter takes you deeper into the trauma and aftermath of the uprising, with each character adding a new layer to the story.

However, despite the poignant storytelling, I found it difficult to connect with the characters on a deeper level. Even though I appreciated the craft and the story, the emotional distance kept me from fully immersing myself in the book.

It's still a powerful read, and Han Kang's writing skill shines through. I want to read more of her work.
]]> 39783178 What's next for Allan Karlsson? Turns out this centenarian has a few more adventures in store . . .

It all begins with a hot air balloon trip and three bottles of champagne. Allan and Julius are ready for some spectacular views, but they’re not expecting to land in the sea and be rescued by a North Korean ship, and they could never have imagined that the captain of the ship would be harboring a suitcase full of contraband uranium, on a nuclear weapons mission for Kim Jong-un. Yikes!

Soon Allan and Julius are at the center of a complex diplomatic crisis involving world figures from the Swedish foreign minister to Angela Merkel and President Trump. Needless to say, things are about to get very, very complicated.

Another hilarious, witty, and entertaining novel from bestselling author Jonas Jonasson that will have readers howling out-loud at the escapades and misfortunes of its beloved hundred-year-old hero Allan Karlsson and his irresistible sidekick Julius.]]> 434 Jonas Jonasson 0008275572 Johara 3 audiobook The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, four years ago and loved Allan's wild adventures. I missed the old guy, so I thought, let's pick up the second book. I am glad these adventures continued because I needed a light read that I didn't have to think too much about, and this book delivered.

Allan and Julius are still getting into ridiculous situations, and I loved traveling with them across the globe, from Sweden to North Korea, the U.S., and even Tanzania. The humor is still there, and while it may not have captured the same magic as the first book, it was fun to follow along on Allan and Julius's new escapades. I enjoy Jonasson's quirky sense of humor and how he blends historical events with absurdity. It kept me entertained.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Peter Kenny. His narration added a nice touch to the story, making it even more enjoyable to listen to. His imitation of Trump was hilarious!

This was an easygoing and light read. I would definitely like to explore more books by Jonasson.]]> 3.67 2018
author: Jonas Jonasson
name: Johara
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/17
date added: 2024/08/17
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.5] I read the first part, The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, four years ago and loved Allan's wild adventures. I missed the old guy, so I thought, let's pick up the second book. I am glad these adventures continued because I needed a light read that I didn't have to think too much about, and this book delivered.

Allan and Julius are still getting into ridiculous situations, and I loved traveling with them across the globe, from Sweden to North Korea, the U.S., and even Tanzania. The humor is still there, and while it may not have captured the same magic as the first book, it was fun to follow along on Allan and Julius's new escapades. I enjoy Jonasson's quirky sense of humor and how he blends historical events with absurdity. It kept me entertained.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Peter Kenny. His narration added a nice touch to the story, making it even more enjoyable to listen to. His imitation of Trump was hilarious!

This was an easygoing and light read. I would definitely like to explore more books by Jonasson.
]]> 19107 The Diary of a Madman, The Government Inspector and Selected Stories, deeply influenced later Russian literature with powerful depictions of a society dominated by petty bureaucracy and base corruption. This Penguin Classics edition is translated with notes by Ronald Wilks, and an introduction by Robert A. Maguire.

This volume includes a selection of Gogol's most admired short fiction and his most famous drama. A hilarious and biting political satire, 'The Government Inspector' has been popular since its first performance and was regarded by Nabokov as the greatest Russian play ever written. The stories gathered here, meanwhile, range from comic to tragic and describe the isolated lives of low-ranking clerks, lunatics and swindlers. They include 'Diary of a Madman', an amusing but disturbing exploration of insanity; 'Nevsky Prospect', a depiction of an artist infatuated with a prostitute; and 'The Overcoat', a moving consideration of poverty.

Edited and translated by Ronald Wilks, this new collection of Gogol's shorter writings skilfully captures the savage wit of the original works. Robert Maguire's introduction considers recurrent themes and explores Gogol's influence on realism. This edition also includes detailed notes, a publishing history for each story and a chronology.

Nikolai Gogol (1809-52) was born in the Ukraine. His experience of St Petersburg life informed a savagely satirical play, The Government Inspector, and a series of brilliant short stories including Nevsky Prospekt and Diary of a Madman. For over a decade, Gogol laboured on his comic epic Dead Souls - before renouncing literature and burning parts of the manuscript shortly before he died.

If you enjoyed The Diary of a Madman, you might like Anton Chekhov's The Steppe and Other Stories, also available in Penguin Classics.

'Everything he started to imagine transformed itself and began to wriggle with life'
A.S. Byatt, author of Possession]]> 330 Nikolai Gogol 0140449078 Johara 3 classics The Namesake, I was more motivated to get into his work. So, she gave me this book - a compilation of eight of his stories set in 19th-century Russia. These stories unveil the absurdity of everyday life and the sharp wit of one of the greatest literary minds. As a fan of Russian literature, I expected a rollercoaster of emotions where laughter and bewilderment would intermingle seamlessly.

So, let's break down how I rated each story:

1. Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt �� 3.5/5
This short story follows the misadventures of Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and his eccentric aunt as they navigate through absurd situations and humorous misunderstandings. It was short & quirky.

2. How Ivan Ivanovich Quarrelled with Ivan Nikiforovich �� 4/5
Ivan Ivanovich and Ivan Nikiforovich, two neighbors and very good friends, find themselves embroiled in a ridiculous quarrel over a trivial matter. Their escalating feud leads to hilarious consequences for them and the whole village. It was entertaining.

3. Nevsky Prospekt �� 3/5
Set in bustling Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg, this story portrays the lives of various characters whose paths intersect. It offers a glimpse into the diversity and complexity of urban life. While I found the descriptions of the streets and the characters interesting, this story wasn't my favorite.

4. The Nose �� 4/5
Major Kovalyov wakes up one morning to find that his nose has suddenly disappeared. A surreal journey follows him as he tries to track down his missing nose, encountering bizarre obstacles. It's funny, imaginative, and original.

5. The Overcoat �� 3/5
Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin, a low-ranking government clerk, saves to purchase a new overcoat, which he believes will elevate his status, but unfortunately, tragedy strikes when the coat is stolen, and all goes downhill from there. The story explores the monotonous and depressing aspect of working in a bureaucratic setting. It was an "okay" read.

6. Diary Of a Madman �� 4.5/5
A story presented as the diary entries of a low-level civil servant and his descent into madness. He is convinced that dogs can talk and conspire and that Spain has a new king. It's a chilling exploration of insanity and societal alienation. It was gripping, haunting, and unforgettable. Definitely the highlight of the collection.

7. The Carriage �� 3/5
A government official becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman he sees in a carriage, leading him on a pursuit to track her down and win her love. It's a decent enough tale.

8. The Government Inspector �� 3/5
Written as a play, a small provincial town's officials mistake a lowly clerk for a government inspector, leading to misunderstandings and attempts to cover up corruption. It was amusing enough, but my least favorite of the stories.

Gogol's writing is characterized by unpredictability, which adds to its beauty. He is considered a trailblazer in Russian literature, influencing future generations of writers with his unique combination of humor, absurdity, and social commentary. That's why Gogol's fingerprints are found throughout the Russian literary landscape, from Dostoevsky to Bulgakov.

This collection may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's an adventure worth experiencing. If you're in the mood for something unusual and thought-provoking, then you should check out this collection of stories. But be prepared to enter Gogol's world, where nothing is ever as it seems.

So, grab a copy, relax, and get ready to be transported into a world where the absurd takes over and laughter is always present.

I am definitely going to pick up more books by Gogol. ]]> 4.15 1835
author: Nikolai Gogol
name: Johara
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1835
rating: 3
read at: 2024/02/24
date added: 2024/08/12
shelves: classics
review:
[3.5] My sister has been asking me to read Gogol's works for the longest time, and after finishing The Namesake, I was more motivated to get into his work. So, she gave me this book - a compilation of eight of his stories set in 19th-century Russia. These stories unveil the absurdity of everyday life and the sharp wit of one of the greatest literary minds. As a fan of Russian literature, I expected a rollercoaster of emotions where laughter and bewilderment would intermingle seamlessly.

So, let's break down how I rated each story:

1. Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt �� 3.5/5
This short story follows the misadventures of Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and his eccentric aunt as they navigate through absurd situations and humorous misunderstandings. It was short & quirky.

2. How Ivan Ivanovich Quarrelled with Ivan Nikiforovich �� 4/5
Ivan Ivanovich and Ivan Nikiforovich, two neighbors and very good friends, find themselves embroiled in a ridiculous quarrel over a trivial matter. Their escalating feud leads to hilarious consequences for them and the whole village. It was entertaining.

3. Nevsky Prospekt �� 3/5
Set in bustling Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg, this story portrays the lives of various characters whose paths intersect. It offers a glimpse into the diversity and complexity of urban life. While I found the descriptions of the streets and the characters interesting, this story wasn't my favorite.

4. The Nose �� 4/5
Major Kovalyov wakes up one morning to find that his nose has suddenly disappeared. A surreal journey follows him as he tries to track down his missing nose, encountering bizarre obstacles. It's funny, imaginative, and original.

5. The Overcoat �� 3/5
Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin, a low-ranking government clerk, saves to purchase a new overcoat, which he believes will elevate his status, but unfortunately, tragedy strikes when the coat is stolen, and all goes downhill from there. The story explores the monotonous and depressing aspect of working in a bureaucratic setting. It was an "okay" read.

6. Diary Of a Madman �� 4.5/5
A story presented as the diary entries of a low-level civil servant and his descent into madness. He is convinced that dogs can talk and conspire and that Spain has a new king. It's a chilling exploration of insanity and societal alienation. It was gripping, haunting, and unforgettable. Definitely the highlight of the collection.

7. The Carriage �� 3/5
A government official becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman he sees in a carriage, leading him on a pursuit to track her down and win her love. It's a decent enough tale.

8. The Government Inspector �� 3/5
Written as a play, a small provincial town's officials mistake a lowly clerk for a government inspector, leading to misunderstandings and attempts to cover up corruption. It was amusing enough, but my least favorite of the stories.

Gogol's writing is characterized by unpredictability, which adds to its beauty. He is considered a trailblazer in Russian literature, influencing future generations of writers with his unique combination of humor, absurdity, and social commentary. That's why Gogol's fingerprints are found throughout the Russian literary landscape, from Dostoevsky to Bulgakov.

This collection may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's an adventure worth experiencing. If you're in the mood for something unusual and thought-provoking, then you should check out this collection of stories. But be prepared to enter Gogol's world, where nothing is ever as it seems.

So, grab a copy, relax, and get ready to be transported into a world where the absurd takes over and laughter is always present.

I am definitely going to pick up more books by Gogol.
]]> 54563619 Oxford English Dictionary. This is the story of the girl who stole it.

Esme is born into a world of words. Motherless and irrepressibly curious, she spends her childhood in the ‘Scriptorium��, a garden shed in Oxford where her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Esme’s place is beneath the sorting table, unseen and unheard. One day a slip of paper containing the word ‘bondmaid�� flutters to the floor. Esme rescues the slip and stashes it in an old wooden case that belongs to her friend, Lizzie, a young servant in the big house. Esme begins to collect other words from the Scriptorium that are misplaced, discarded or have been neglected by the dictionary men. They help her make sense of the world.

Over time, Esme realises that some words are considered more important than others, and that words and meanings relating to women’s experiences often go unrecorded. While she dedicates her life to the Oxford English Dictionary, secretly, she begins to collect words for another dictionary: The Dictionary of Lost Words.

Set when the women’s suffrage movement was at its height and the Great War loomed, The Dictionary of Lost Words reveals a lost narrative, hidden between the lines of a history written by men. It’s a delightful, lyrical and deeply thought-provoking celebration of words, and the power of language to shape the world and our experience of it.]]> 423 Pip Williams 1922400270 Johara 3 audiobook
The story follows Esme, a young girl who grows up in the world of the Oxford English Dictionary. It was so interesting to see how words were chosen (or not chosen), and the feminist undertones really added depth to the narrative. The key women figures in the book, especially Esme's aunt and the women she encounters, highlight the struggles and contributions of women in a male-dominated society.

I loved how the book tackled the idea of "lost words" �� the ones that were considered unimportant or irrelevant, often because they were associated with women's experiences. It made me think about all the things left out of history.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Imogen Sage. Her narration brought the characters to life and made me feel like I was right there with them. Sage's voice added an extra layer of emotion and authenticity to the book, making the historical and feminist themes even more impactful.

The pacing could have been better, but it doesn't take away the fact that it's a beautifully written book with a lot of heart, and it's definitely worth a read if you're into historical fiction with a strong feminist perspective.]]> 4.14 2020
author: Pip Williams
name: Johara
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/07
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.5] I really enjoyed the book, especially since I had a thing for dictionaries when I was a kid. There's something fascinating about the way words are collected and defined, and this book brought that process to life in a unique way.

The story follows Esme, a young girl who grows up in the world of the Oxford English Dictionary. It was so interesting to see how words were chosen (or not chosen), and the feminist undertones really added depth to the narrative. The key women figures in the book, especially Esme's aunt and the women she encounters, highlight the struggles and contributions of women in a male-dominated society.

I loved how the book tackled the idea of "lost words" �� the ones that were considered unimportant or irrelevant, often because they were associated with women's experiences. It made me think about all the things left out of history.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Imogen Sage. Her narration brought the characters to life and made me feel like I was right there with them. Sage's voice added an extra layer of emotion and authenticity to the book, making the historical and feminist themes even more impactful.

The pacing could have been better, but it doesn't take away the fact that it's a beautifully written book with a lot of heart, and it's definitely worth a read if you're into historical fiction with a strong feminist perspective.
]]> 56969366 This is an alternative cover edition for ISBN 9780141439518

Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

With its 'light and bright and sparkling' dialogue, its romantic denouement and its lively heroine, Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen's most perennially popular novel. The love story of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, who misjudge, then challenge and change each other, is also a novel about the search for happiness and self-knowledge in a world of strict social rules, where a woman must marry well to survive.]]> 400 Jane Austen Johara 4 classics
I have seen most movies adaptations but have never read any of her books. I had this very platonic love affair with Jane Austen, and I was very nervous to read her books. It wasn't straightforward, and it took me years and a lot of investments to collect the finest 6 novels that I could afford, and I vowed to read them one day.

And what better way to start my love affair other than Pride & Prejudice - the most popular and beloved British novel of all time!

So the journey begins with the Bennet family, a loving father, a crazy mother, and their 5 daughters. Each one is unique in character and perspective about life, but the story mainly revolves around the eldest two, Jane & Elizabeth.

And of course, there are the "suitors," Mr Bingley & Mr Darcy! And oh my oh my. You can never judge a book by its cover! You will love to hate Mr Darcy, get annoyed with Elizabeth, and feel butterflies in your stomach whenever Bingley and Jane are mentioned.

Oh, my heart was torn into pieces with all the drama, so I won't get into so many details of the story as you must read it. Still, all I can say is that the language and the style of the writing by Jane Austen truly take you to places you've never been before and makes you experience feelings that are deeply hidden within you, and you will love it.

This is not a book that you can read quickly, it took me two weeks to finish it, but it's because I enjoyed every single word and description, every emotional surprise (and they are plenty), and the raw feelings of a man who truly loved a woman, despite the odds (and I am not a romantic person by nature btw!). I had a big smile when I finished the book, and that says it all.

Once I was done with the book, I had to rewatch the movie (2005 with Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfadyen). I have to tell you; I was very disappointed because I realized that they had omitted so many things (even the letter, which was far too brief in the movie!). You never experience how Mr Darcy developed his feelings for Elizabeth. How can you miss that!!!!!

I can't wait to read the rest of her books, and I know that no matter how others feel about them, Jane Austen will always be my number one female author crush, and her words will be engraved in my heart forever! (Okay, that was cheesy but fun, lol)]]> 4.26 1813
author: Jane Austen
name: Johara
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1813
rating: 4
read at: 2019/07/23
date added: 2024/08/03
shelves: classics
review:
I have always had a major crush on Jane Austen, the graceful and elegant author who wrote books about love, romance, traditions, and old-school "courting," with many wits and a sense of humor. Her books were adapted to so many movies and have established a solid ground for female authors for centuries.

I have seen most movies adaptations but have never read any of her books. I had this very platonic love affair with Jane Austen, and I was very nervous to read her books. It wasn't straightforward, and it took me years and a lot of investments to collect the finest 6 novels that I could afford, and I vowed to read them one day.

And what better way to start my love affair other than Pride & Prejudice - the most popular and beloved British novel of all time!

So the journey begins with the Bennet family, a loving father, a crazy mother, and their 5 daughters. Each one is unique in character and perspective about life, but the story mainly revolves around the eldest two, Jane & Elizabeth.

And of course, there are the "suitors," Mr Bingley & Mr Darcy! And oh my oh my. You can never judge a book by its cover! You will love to hate Mr Darcy, get annoyed with Elizabeth, and feel butterflies in your stomach whenever Bingley and Jane are mentioned.

Oh, my heart was torn into pieces with all the drama, so I won't get into so many details of the story as you must read it. Still, all I can say is that the language and the style of the writing by Jane Austen truly take you to places you've never been before and makes you experience feelings that are deeply hidden within you, and you will love it.

This is not a book that you can read quickly, it took me two weeks to finish it, but it's because I enjoyed every single word and description, every emotional surprise (and they are plenty), and the raw feelings of a man who truly loved a woman, despite the odds (and I am not a romantic person by nature btw!). I had a big smile when I finished the book, and that says it all.

Once I was done with the book, I had to rewatch the movie (2005 with Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfadyen). I have to tell you; I was very disappointed because I realized that they had omitted so many things (even the letter, which was far too brief in the movie!). You never experience how Mr Darcy developed his feelings for Elizabeth. How can you miss that!!!!!

I can't wait to read the rest of her books, and I know that no matter how others feel about them, Jane Austen will always be my number one female author crush, and her words will be engraved in my heart forever! (Okay, that was cheesy but fun, lol)
]]> 14935 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780141439662

'The more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!'

Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love—and its threatened loss—the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.

This edition includes explanatory notes, textual variants between the first and second editions, and Tony Tanner's introduction to the original Penguin Classic edition.]]> 409 Jane Austen 0141439661 Johara 4 audiobook, classics Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, and I realized that I'd made this into a yearly habit of finishing one JA book every year! It was not planned, but I like how this is going. 3 books down, 3 (or 4 as I am not sure if I want to read her incomplete work Sanditon) to go!

I've seen the 1995 movie adaptation with Emma Thompson as Elinor, Kate Winslet as Marianne, Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars, and Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon. It's one of my favorite movies, and I couldn't help but keep the images of the characters while reading the book, especially Alan Rickman.

When you read for JA, you know what to expect, as the themes of her books are similar, considering the period. It's always about women that have to go & find husbands, but they have to be rich; otherwise, they have no hope. Good old patriarchal system of inheritance and earning at its best!

Mrs. Dashwood just became a widow. She & her daughters Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret are left out with little income since the son John decided not to honor his promise to his father after being persuaded by his horrible wife and ends up cutting the money to the bare minimum.

So what happens to them? After a generous offer from Mrs. Dashwood's cousin, they move to a little cottage that belongs to him. And that's when the story starts.

Marianne falls in love with John Willoughby and has no issue expressing how she feels about it, while Elinor is hung up with a secret attraction to Edward Ferrars, who happens to be the brother of John's wife. How they are related is beyond me.

Anyways, Marianne & Willoughby don't last that long, as he turns out to be an asshole. Yah yah, he might have loved her but didn't hesitate to throw her bones to the dogs! And Elion meets this horrible Lucy, who turns out to be secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars for YEARS! Like, WTF! Lucy is probably the shittiest character in the book and just wanted to slap her every time she talked.

Things turned out to be for the best of both sisters at the end, and I did like the ending as it was different from the movie! And Mrs. Dashwood deserves a hug for what she had to put up with! Mrs. Jennings might have been an annoying older woman, but there were moments when she was just adorable and funny.

There are character developments, and if it wasn't for some cheesy lines and some very annoying characters, this could have been my favorite JA books, but I still think that Pride & Prejudice is way better.

And it took me a while to understand the meaning of the title - "Sense" was a reference to Elinor, as she had good judgment and wisdom, despite the lack of expressing her feelings all the time; and "Sensibility" is Marianne as she was more sensitive and emotional.

Another good book by JA. I hope I enjoy the rest of her books in the years to come!

PS. This will always be my Colonel Brandon. RIP Alan Rickman ��



I did this as an audiobook, read by Rosamund Pike, and just loved how she made this an easy and engaging reading.

Popsugar #25 - A book that was published anonymously.]]> 4.10 1811
author: Jane Austen
name: Johara
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1811
rating: 4
read at: 2021/05/06
date added: 2024/07/18
shelves: audiobook, classics
review:
This is the third book I read for Jane Austen, after reading Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, and I realized that I'd made this into a yearly habit of finishing one JA book every year! It was not planned, but I like how this is going. 3 books down, 3 (or 4 as I am not sure if I want to read her incomplete work Sanditon) to go!

I've seen the 1995 movie adaptation with Emma Thompson as Elinor, Kate Winslet as Marianne, Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars, and Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon. It's one of my favorite movies, and I couldn't help but keep the images of the characters while reading the book, especially Alan Rickman.

When you read for JA, you know what to expect, as the themes of her books are similar, considering the period. It's always about women that have to go & find husbands, but they have to be rich; otherwise, they have no hope. Good old patriarchal system of inheritance and earning at its best!

Mrs. Dashwood just became a widow. She & her daughters Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret are left out with little income since the son John decided not to honor his promise to his father after being persuaded by his horrible wife and ends up cutting the money to the bare minimum.

So what happens to them? After a generous offer from Mrs. Dashwood's cousin, they move to a little cottage that belongs to him. And that's when the story starts.

Marianne falls in love with John Willoughby and has no issue expressing how she feels about it, while Elinor is hung up with a secret attraction to Edward Ferrars, who happens to be the brother of John's wife. How they are related is beyond me.

Anyways, Marianne & Willoughby don't last that long, as he turns out to be an asshole. Yah yah, he might have loved her but didn't hesitate to throw her bones to the dogs! And Elion meets this horrible Lucy, who turns out to be secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars for YEARS! Like, WTF! Lucy is probably the shittiest character in the book and just wanted to slap her every time she talked.

Things turned out to be for the best of both sisters at the end, and I did like the ending as it was different from the movie! And Mrs. Dashwood deserves a hug for what she had to put up with! Mrs. Jennings might have been an annoying older woman, but there were moments when she was just adorable and funny.

There are character developments, and if it wasn't for some cheesy lines and some very annoying characters, this could have been my favorite JA books, but I still think that Pride & Prejudice is way better.

And it took me a while to understand the meaning of the title - "Sense" was a reference to Elinor, as she had good judgment and wisdom, despite the lack of expressing her feelings all the time; and "Sensibility" is Marianne as she was more sensitive and emotional.

Another good book by JA. I hope I enjoy the rest of her books in the years to come!

PS. This will always be my Colonel Brandon. RIP Alan Rickman ��



I did this as an audiobook, read by Rosamund Pike, and just loved how she made this an easy and engaging reading.

Popsugar #25 - A book that was published anonymously.
]]> 209576180
Every family has secrets—dark ones, twisted ones, ones they hide. The Ivory family is no different. From the outside of their gated estate, one would see a beautiful, wealthy family. But the more perfect they seem, it only shows how many imperfections they are trying to bury. When Demi Rao, a young woman is at her wits�� end and on the run from escaping her captor, she comes across an employment ad from the Ivory family, looking for someone to help maintain their elaborate estate. Although the ad is strange with meticulous directions to wear all-white, no makeup and speak quietly, Demi applies. With no choices, Demi gets and accepts the job and when she does, she quickly realizes she’s not there to clean, she’s there for a purpose. They picked her. They chose her. They’ve always known her. Behind the doors of the pristine estate lies secrets, a lethal human experiment and Demi’s entire life planned out for her.

The Ivory’s have picked a favorite girl.

And it might just be her.]]> 402 Monica Arya Johara 0 to-buy-books 3.80
author: Monica Arya
name: Johara
average rating: 3.80
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/18
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 11808649
Washington DC: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned at the last minute to deliver an evening lecture in the Capitol Building. Within moments of his arrival, however, a disturbing object - gruesomely encoded with five symbols - is discovered at the epicentre of the Rotunda. It is, he recognises, an ancient invitation, meant to beckon its recipient towards a long-lost world of hidden esoteric wisdom.

When Langdon's revered mentor, Peter Solomon - philanthropist and prominent mason - is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes that his only hope of saving his friend's life is to accept this mysterious summons and follow wherever it leads him.

Langdon finds himself quickly swept behind the facade of America's most historic city into the unseen chambers, temples and tunnels which exist there. All that was familiar is transformed into a shadowy, clandestine world of an artfully concealed past in which Masonic secrets and never-before-seen revelations seem to be leading him to a single impossible and inconceivable truth.

A brilliantly composed tapestry of veiled histories, arcane icons and enigmatic codes, The Lost Symbol is an intelligent, lightning-paced thriller that offers surprises at every turn. For, as Robert Langdon will discover, there is nothing more extraordinary or shocking than the secret which hides in plain sight...]]> 509 Dan Brown 1616647132 Johara 4
The Lost Symbol, the third installment of Robert Langdon series that takes place in the USA. You will go through hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples�� you will feel that you are running with them, and will go breathless because you can’t keep up with the chase!

It’s a lengthy book, but don’t let that intimidate you. I loved every part of it, and will safely say that this is my second favorite book after Inferno (which ironically is the 4th installment, but I didn’t stick to the order).

Dan Brown is a God when it comes to thrillers.]]> 3.81 2009
author: Dan Brown
name: Johara
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2019/02/06
date added: 2024/07/18
shelves:
review:
Dan Brown, one of my all-time favorite fiction author�� you can never go wrong with any of his books�� some might not be amazing, but you know that you will get history, codes, art, symbols, and all the nine yard. His books makes me google every single thing and want to read more about it, because it’s fascinating!

The Lost Symbol, the third installment of Robert Langdon series that takes place in the USA. You will go through hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples�� you will feel that you are running with them, and will go breathless because you can’t keep up with the chase!

It’s a lengthy book, but don’t let that intimidate you. I loved every part of it, and will safely say that this is my second favorite book after Inferno (which ironically is the 4th installment, but I didn’t stick to the order).

Dan Brown is a God when it comes to thrillers.
]]> 60628616
Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?]]> 288 Matt Haig Johara 3 richard-and-judy, audiobook
I was honestly put off reading it for a long time because of the low ratings, but then I decided to pick it up and see how I felt about it.

The concept is interesting - a library that lets you explore all the "what ifs" in your life! It definitely made me think about my own choices and regrets.

Nora is relatable in her struggles, and it was easy to root for her as she navigated through different versions of her life. The writing was engaging, and I loved the philosophical bits scattered throughout.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Carey Mulligan. Her performance added an extra layer of depth to the story, and her voice brought Nora's emotions to life, making the experience more immersive.

Haig did a great job of addressing mental health in this story, drawing from his own experiences with depression and anxiety. This gave the book an authentic and sensitive portrayal of Nora's internal battles and journey towards finding hope and meaning.

And that's why I loved the ending. It didn't blow my mind, but it was close enough.

I would like to explore more books by Haig.]]> 3.66 2020
author: Matt Haig
name: Johara
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/18
date added: 2024/07/18
shelves: richard-and-judy, audiobook
review:
[3.5] This is a book that you either love or hate.

I was honestly put off reading it for a long time because of the low ratings, but then I decided to pick it up and see how I felt about it.

The concept is interesting - a library that lets you explore all the "what ifs" in your life! It definitely made me think about my own choices and regrets.

Nora is relatable in her struggles, and it was easy to root for her as she navigated through different versions of her life. The writing was engaging, and I loved the philosophical bits scattered throughout.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Carey Mulligan. Her performance added an extra layer of depth to the story, and her voice brought Nora's emotions to life, making the experience more immersive.

Haig did a great job of addressing mental health in this story, drawing from his own experiences with depression and anxiety. This gave the book an authentic and sensitive portrayal of Nora's internal battles and journey towards finding hope and meaning.

And that's why I loved the ending. It didn't blow my mind, but it was close enough.

I would like to explore more books by Haig.
]]> 19161835 Her pupils killed her daughter.
Now, she will have her revenge.

After calling off her engagement in wake of a tragic revelation, Yuko Moriguchi had nothing to live for except her only child, four-year-old Manami. Now, following an accident on the grounds of the middle school where she teaches, Yuko has given up and tendered her resignation.

But first she has one last lecture to deliver. She tells a story that upends everything her students ever thought they knew about two of their peers, and sets in motion a maniacal plot for revenge.

Narrated in alternating voices, with twists you'll never see coming, Confessions explores the limits of punishment, despair, and tragic love, culminating in a harrowing confrontation between teacher and student that will place the occupants of an entire school in danger. You'll never look at a classroom the same way again.]]> 240 Kanae Minato 0316200921 Johara 0 to-buy-books 3.91 2008
author: Kanae Minato
name: Johara
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/13
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 61223186 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World - now a top ten Sunday Times bestseller

It is 1974 on the island of Cyprus. Two teenagers, from opposite sides of a divided land, meet at a tavern in the city they both call home. The tavern is the only place that Kostas, who is Greek and Christian, and Defne, who is Turkish and Muslim, can meet, in secret, hidden beneath the blackened beams from which hang garlands of garlic, chilli peppers and wild herbs. This is where one can find the best food in town, the best music, the best wine. But there is something else to the place: it makes one forget, even if for just a few hours, the world outside and its immoderate sorrows.

In the centre of the tavern, growing through a cavity in the roof, is a fig tree. This tree will witness their hushed, happy meetings, their silent, surreptitious departures; and the tree will be there when the war breaks out, when the capital is reduced to rubble, when the teenagers vanish and break apart.

Decades later in north London, sixteen-year-old Ada Kazantzakis has never visited the island where her parents were born. Desperate for answers, she seeks to untangle years of secrets, separation and silence. The only connection she has to the land of her ancestors is a Ficus Carica growing in the back garden of their home.

The Island of Missing Trees is a rich, magical tale of belonging and identity, love and trauma, nature, and, finally, renewal.

'This book moved me to tears . . . in the best way. Powerful and poignant' Reese Witherspoon

'A brilliant novel -- one that rings with Shafak's characteristic compassion' Robert Macfarlane

'This is an enchanting, compassionate and wise novel and storytelling at its most sublime' Polly Samson]]> 368 Elif Shafak 0241988721 Johara 3 audiobook
The writing was beautiful, almost poetic at times. Shafak has this incredible ability to paint vivid pictures with her words, and the way she describes the setting, the divided island of Cyprus, is just mesmerizing. You can almost feel the sun on your skin and the breeze through the fig trees.

Speaking of fig trees, the whole concept of having a fig tree narrate parts of the story was unique and added a layer of magical realism, which I enjoyed.

The historical reflection and the storyline were great. Shafak tackles important themes like identity, belonging, and the impact of history on personal lives.

But I honestly couldn't connect with the characters. Kostas and Defne's love story, set against the backdrop of political tension and cultural divide, felt like YA.

The pacing was a bit off. There were moments when the story dragged. Even with the "twist" toward the end, I didn't feel much.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Daphne Kouma and Amira Ghazalla. They both did a good job bringing the characters and the setting to life with their narration.

It's a good book with beautiful writing and an interesting premise. It just didn't fully captivate me the way I hoped it would. If you're a fan of Elif Shafak or enjoy stories with a mix of history and magical realism, you may want to give it a try.

I still think that The Bastard of Istanbul is her best work. And after finishing this book, I can truly say that even great authors can't always hit the mark.]]> 4.21 2021
author: Elif Shafak
name: Johara
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/08
date added: 2024/07/09
shelves: audiobook
review:
I am a fan of Elif Shafak, and after reading five of her works, I was really looking forward to this one.

The writing was beautiful, almost poetic at times. Shafak has this incredible ability to paint vivid pictures with her words, and the way she describes the setting, the divided island of Cyprus, is just mesmerizing. You can almost feel the sun on your skin and the breeze through the fig trees.

Speaking of fig trees, the whole concept of having a fig tree narrate parts of the story was unique and added a layer of magical realism, which I enjoyed.

The historical reflection and the storyline were great. Shafak tackles important themes like identity, belonging, and the impact of history on personal lives.

But I honestly couldn't connect with the characters. Kostas and Defne's love story, set against the backdrop of political tension and cultural divide, felt like YA.

The pacing was a bit off. There were moments when the story dragged. Even with the "twist" toward the end, I didn't feel much.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Daphne Kouma and Amira Ghazalla. They both did a good job bringing the characters and the setting to life with their narration.

It's a good book with beautiful writing and an interesting premise. It just didn't fully captivate me the way I hoped it would. If you're a fan of Elif Shafak or enjoy stories with a mix of history and magical realism, you may want to give it a try.

I still think that The Bastard of Istanbul is her best work. And after finishing this book, I can truly say that even great authors can't always hit the mark.
]]> 18622125 ‘Seek and ye shall find.��

With these words echoing in his head, eminent Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon awakes in a hospital bed with no recollection of where he is or how he got there. Nor can he explain the origin of the macabre object that is found hidden in his belongings.


A threat to his life will propel him and a young doctor, Sienna Brooks, into a breakneck chase across the city of Florence. Only Langdon’s knowledge of hidden passageways and ancient secrets that lie behind its historic facade can save them from the clutches of their unknown pursuers.

With only a few lines from Dante’s dark and epic masterpiece, The Inferno, to guide them, they must decipher a sequence of codes buried deep within some of the most celebrated artefacts of the Renaissance �� sculptures, paintings, buildings �� to find the answers to a puzzle which may, or may not, help them save the world from a terrifying threat��

Set against an extraordinary landscape inspired by one of history’s most ominous literary classics, Inferno is Dan Brown’s most compelling and thought-provoking novel yet, a breathless race-against-time thriller that will grab you from page one and not let you go until you close the book.]]> 620 Dan Brown 0552169595 Johara 4
His other works are amazing�� but this �� THIS BOOK was just mindblowing! The fact that it was taking place in various places including Turkey, the mystery of the country added so much flavor to the story!

And the ending��. OH MY GOD.

Piece of advice, don’t watch the movie�� just don’t��.

After reading all his work, this stands as my number one for Dan Brown, hands down his best work.]]> 3.94 2013
author: Dan Brown
name: Johara
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2015/06/07
date added: 2024/07/04
shelves:
review:
This is the work of GOD!!!!

His other works are amazing�� but this �� THIS BOOK was just mindblowing! The fact that it was taking place in various places including Turkey, the mystery of the country added so much flavor to the story!

And the ending��. OH MY GOD.

Piece of advice, don’t watch the movie�� just don’t��.

After reading all his work, this stands as my number one for Dan Brown, hands down his best work.
]]> 29408433 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER �� A stunning “portrait of the enduring grace of friendship�� (NPR) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century.

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST �� MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST �� WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZE ��

A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves.]]> 723 Hanya Yanagihara 1447294831 Johara 0 to-read 4.36 2015
author: Hanya Yanagihara
name: Johara
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 54337294
In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over three days, these women change each other's lives in unexpected ways. They lose patients to this baffling pandemic, but they also shepherd new life into a fearful world. With tireless tenderness and humanity, carers and mothers alike somehow do their impossible work.]]> 291 Emma Donoghue 1529046165 Johara 3 richard-and-judy, audiobook Room, I was really excited to pick up this book.

Set during the 1918 flu pandemic, the premise was intriguing, and Donoghue's writing is as beautiful as ever, but the pacing felt a bit slow, and the story didn't grip me, so it didn't hit the mark.

The characters were well-developed, and I appreciated the historical context but struggled to stay engaged.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Emma Lowe. I loved her accent, which added a nice touch to the experience.

Decent book, with hardly any impact.

I won't give up on Donoghue, though. I still want to explore more of her books.]]> 4.01 2020
author: Emma Donoghue
name: Johara
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/30
date added: 2024/06/30
shelves: richard-and-judy, audiobook
review:
After loving Room, I was really excited to pick up this book.

Set during the 1918 flu pandemic, the premise was intriguing, and Donoghue's writing is as beautiful as ever, but the pacing felt a bit slow, and the story didn't grip me, so it didn't hit the mark.

The characters were well-developed, and I appreciated the historical context but struggled to stay engaged.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Emma Lowe. I loved her accent, which added a nice touch to the experience.

Decent book, with hardly any impact.

I won't give up on Donoghue, though. I still want to explore more of her books.
]]> 864037
Now Margaret Lea is investigating Angelfield's past--and the mystery of the March family starts to unravel. What has Angelfield been hiding? What is its connection with the enigmatic author Vida Winter? And what is it in Margaret's own troubled past that causes her to fall so powerfully under Angelfilds spell?]]> 456 Diane Setterfield 0752881671 Johara 3
On one hand, the writing is undeniably beautiful and atmospheric. Setterfield really knows how to set a scene and draw you into the mysterious world of Vida Winter. The gothic elements and the eerie, suspenseful mood kept me intrigued.

But I found the pacing to be slow. Sometimes, I felt like the story dragged on with too many details that didn't seem to add much to the plot. Some of the twists were predictable, and I hoped for more surprises or excitement. It took me almost a month to finish it because I had to take breaks to get through it.

The characters were interesting, but I didn't feel as connected to any of them. It just felt flat to me.

I still enjoyed the book overall. It's a good read if you're into gothic mysteries and don't mind a slower pace. Just don't expect to be completely blown away.]]> 3.98 2006
author: Diane Setterfield
name: Johara
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/23
date added: 2024/06/25
shelves:
review:
I finally finished this never-ending book, and I have to say, I have mixed feelings about it.

On one hand, the writing is undeniably beautiful and atmospheric. Setterfield really knows how to set a scene and draw you into the mysterious world of Vida Winter. The gothic elements and the eerie, suspenseful mood kept me intrigued.

But I found the pacing to be slow. Sometimes, I felt like the story dragged on with too many details that didn't seem to add much to the plot. Some of the twists were predictable, and I hoped for more surprises or excitement. It took me almost a month to finish it because I had to take breaks to get through it.

The characters were interesting, but I didn't feel as connected to any of them. It just felt flat to me.

I still enjoyed the book overall. It's a good read if you're into gothic mysteries and don't mind a slower pace. Just don't expect to be completely blown away.
]]> 15015259 345 M.L. Stedman 1451681755 Johara 0 4.03 2012
author: M.L. Stedman
name: Johara
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: richard-and-judy, to-think-about
review:

]]> 11882305 Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story.

Welcome to Christine's life.]]> 372 S.J. Watson 0552164135 Johara 0 3.83 2011
author: S.J. Watson
name: Johara
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: richard-and-judy, to-think-about
review:

]]> 1278752 The House at Riverton is a gorgeous debut novel set in England between the wars. Perfect for fans of "Downton Abbey," it's the story of an aristocratic family, a house, a mysterious death, and a way of life that vanished forever, told in flashback by a woman who witnessed it all.

The novel is full of secrets - some revealed, others hidden forever, reminiscent of the romantic suspense of Daphne du Maurier. It's also a meditation on memory and the devastation of war and a beautifully rendered window into a fascinating time in history.]]> 599 Kate Morton 0330448447 Johara 0 3.95 2006
author: Kate Morton
name: Johara
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: richard-and-judy, to-think-about
review:

]]> 53915352 The��women in an Arctic village must survive a sinister threat after all the men are wiped out by a catastrophic storm in this "gripping novel inspired by a real-life witch hunt. . . . Beautiful and chilling" (Madeline Miller, bestselling author of Circe).

When the women take over, is it sorcery or power?
��
Finnmark, Norway, 1617. Twenty-year-old Maren Magnusdatter stands on the craggy coast, watching the skies break into a sudden and reckless storm. All forty of the village’s men were at sea, including Maren’s father and brother, and all forty are drowned in the otherworldly disaster. ��
��
For the women left behind, survival means defying the strict rules of the island. They fish, hunt, and butcher reindeer—which they never did while the men were alive. But the foundation of this new feminine frontier begins to crack with the arrival of Absalom Cornet, a man sent from Scotland to root out alleged witchcraft. Cornet brings with him the threat of danger—and a pretty, young Norwegian wife named Ursa.

As Maren and Ursa are drawn to one another in ways that surprise them both, the island begins to close in on them, with Absalom's iron rule threatening Vardø's very existence.�� ��

"The Mercies has a pull as sure as the tide. It totally swept me away to Vardø, where grief struck islanders stand tall in the shadow of religious persecution and witch burnings. It's a beautifully intimate story of friendship, love and hope. A haunting ode to self-reliant and quietly defiant women." (Douglas Stuart, Booker Prize winning author of Shuggie Bain)]]> 352 Kiran Millwood Hargrave Johara 0 3.97 2020
author: Kiran Millwood Hargrave
name: Johara
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: richard-and-judy, to-think-about
review:

]]> 1279900 **LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE**

A powerful, heart-breaking story about tempting fate and living with the consequences

Arthur and Jake are brothers yet worlds apart.

Arthur is older, shy, dutiful and set to inherit his father's farm. Jake is younger, handsome and reckless, a dangerous man to know.

When Laura arrives in their rural community, the fragile balance of the brothers' rivalry is pushed to the edge of catastrophe...]]> 416 Mary Lawson Johara 0 4.05 2006
author: Mary Lawson
name: Johara
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: richard-and-judy, to-think-about
review:

]]> 936613 629 Martina Cole 0747267642 Johara 0 4.22 2003
author: Martina Cole
name: Johara
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: richard-and-judy, to-think-about
review:

]]> 44767257
A short, darkly funny, hand grenade of a novel about a Nigerian woman whose younger sister has a very inconvenient habit of killing her boyfriends

"Femi makes three, you know. Three and they label you a serial killer."

Korede is bitter. How could she not be? Her sister, Ayoola, is many things: the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola's third boyfriend in a row is dead.

Korede's practicality is the sisters' saving grace. She knows the best solutions for cleaning blood, the trunk of her car is big enough for a body, and she keeps Ayoola from posting pictures of her dinner to Instagram when she should be mourning her "missing" boyfriend. Not that she gets any credit.

Korede has long been in love with a kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where she works. She dreams of the day when he will realize that she's exactly what he needs. But when he asks Korede for Ayoola's phone number, she must reckon with what her sister has become and how far she's willing to go to protect her.

Sharp as nails and full of deadpan wit, Oyinkan Braithwaite's deliciously deadly debut is as fun as it is frightening.]]> 226 Oyinkan Braithwaite Johara 0 3.66 2018
author: Oyinkan Braithwaite
name: Johara
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: richard-and-judy, to-think-about
review:

]]> 107301
Jean Paget, a young Englishwoman living in Malaya, is captured by the invading Japanese and forced on a brutal seven-month death march with dozens of other women and children. A few years after the war, Jean is back in England, the nightmare behind her. However, an unexpected inheritance inspires her to return to Malaya to give something back to the villagers who saved her life. Jean's travels leads her to a desolate Australian outpost called Willstown, where she finds a challenge that will draw on all the resourcefulness and spirit that carried her through her war-time ordeals.]]> 359 Nevil Shute 1842323008 Johara 0 to-buy-books 4.13 1950
author: Nevil Shute
name: Johara
average rating: 4.13
book published: 1950
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 51341638 Utopia Avenue might be the most curious British band you've never heard of.

Emerging from London's psychedelic scene in 1967, folksinger Elf Holloway, blues bassist Dean Moss, guitar virtuoso Jasper de Zoet and jazz drummer Griff Griffin together created a unique sound, with lyrics that captured their turbulent times. The band produced only two albums in two years, yet their musical legacy lives on.

This is the story of Utopia Avenue's brief, blazing journey from Soho clubs and draughty ballrooms to the promised land of America, just when the Summer of Love was receding into something much darker - a multi-faceted tale of dreams, drugs, love, sexuality, madness and grief; of stardom's wobbly ladder and fame's Faustian pact; and of the collision between youthful idealism and jaded reality as the Sixties drew to a close.

Above all, this bewitching novel celebrates the power of music to connect across divides, define an era and thrill the soul.]]> 592 David Mitchell Johara 0 to-buy-books 4.01 2020
author: David Mitchell
name: Johara
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 51457370 The beloved author returns to the small town at the heart of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Caf�� with a heartwarming novel about secrets of youth rediscovered, hometown memories, and everyday magic.

Bud Threadgoode grew up in the bustling little railroad town of Whistle Stop, Alabama, with his mother Ruth, church going and proper, and his Aunt Idgie, the fun-loving hell-raiser. Together they ran the town's popular Whistle Stop Cafe, known far and wide for its friendly, fun, and famous "Fried Green Tomatoes." And as Bud often said to his daughter Ruthie, of his childhood, "How lucky can you get?"

But sadly, as the railroad yards shut down and the town became a ghost town, nothing was left but boarded-up buildings and memories of a happier time.

Then one day, Bud decides to take one last trip, just to see where his beloved Whistle Stop used to be. In so doing, he discovers new friends, new surprises about Idgie's life, and about Ninny Threadgoode, Evelyn Couch, other beloved Flagg characters, and also about the town itself. He also sets off a series of events, both touching and inspiring, which change his life and the lives of his daughter and many others. Could these events all be just coincidences? Or something else? And can you go home again?]]> 368 Fannie Flagg 0593295196 Johara 0 to-buy-books 3.98 2020
author: Fannie Flagg
name: Johara
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 58696 882 Charles Dickens Johara 0 to-think-about 4.02 1850
author: Charles Dickens
name: Johara
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1850
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 41839901 Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.
For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.

Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents�� passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown

At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights�� lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska―a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.]]> 440 Kristin Hannah 1447286030 Johara 4 audiobook
The setting in Alaska was absolutely breathtaking. I felt transported to the wilderness of Alaska with the Allbright family, dealing with the harsh and endless days of winter. Hannah really knows how to paint a picture with her words.

The characters were well-developed, especially Leni. Watching her grow and navigate the challenges of her family's new life was engaging.

I felt for every character, grew mad and angry at the violence, and admired the love and sacrifice of the women. Hannah was able to navigate this skillfully, making you feel what it's like to be in a violent relationship, what it entails, and how hard it is to walk away. Despite some slow parts, the emotional depth and raw depiction of survival and resilience kept me hooked.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Julia Whelan, who did an excellent job of taking you through the journey of each character and making them feel alive.

I did however feel like the story dragged a bit in the middle. Sometimes it felt a bit too dramatic, and we could have done without certain parts. So, while it wasn't perfect and had its slow moments, it was definitely a memorable read that I'd recommend, especially if you love stories set against the backdrop of nature's extremes.

I would definitely love to explore more books by Hannah.]]> 4.31 2018
author: Kristin Hannah
name: Johara
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/08
date added: 2024/06/14
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.8] This was my first Hannah book, and what beautiful writing! It was just gorgeous!

The setting in Alaska was absolutely breathtaking. I felt transported to the wilderness of Alaska with the Allbright family, dealing with the harsh and endless days of winter. Hannah really knows how to paint a picture with her words.

The characters were well-developed, especially Leni. Watching her grow and navigate the challenges of her family's new life was engaging.

I felt for every character, grew mad and angry at the violence, and admired the love and sacrifice of the women. Hannah was able to navigate this skillfully, making you feel what it's like to be in a violent relationship, what it entails, and how hard it is to walk away. Despite some slow parts, the emotional depth and raw depiction of survival and resilience kept me hooked.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by Julia Whelan, who did an excellent job of taking you through the journey of each character and making them feel alive.

I did however feel like the story dragged a bit in the middle. Sometimes it felt a bit too dramatic, and we could have done without certain parts. So, while it wasn't perfect and had its slow moments, it was definitely a memorable read that I'd recommend, especially if you love stories set against the backdrop of nature's extremes.

I would definitely love to explore more books by Hannah.
]]> 9596977 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
First time in paperback

An innocent man is about to be executed.
Only a guilty man can save him.
��
In 1998, in the small East Texas city of Sloan, Travis Boyette abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row.
Now nine years have passed. Travis has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime; Donté is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time in his miserable life, he decides to do what’s right and confess. But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges, and politicians that they’re about to execute an innocent man?]]> 457 John Grisham 0099545799 Johara 4
Now this is a book that will bring you back to his top best-selling book A Time to Kill. Twisted, so much legal terms, horrendous details, and shocking ending!

Travis Boyette is a sick pervert who wakes up one day and decided to make amends for a murder case that he committed, but the wrong person is jailed for it, Donte Drumm. The only glitch is, there is only a few days left for Donte's execution, so the tension is all over, with everyone trying so hard to stop it from happening .... But do they succeed? Does justice prevail? You have to read this book to find out.

Total page turner, till the end.]]> 3.79 2010
author: John Grisham
name: Johara
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2013/09/27
date added: 2024/06/06
shelves:
review:
John Grisham's books, you either love them, or hate them!

Now this is a book that will bring you back to his top best-selling book A Time to Kill. Twisted, so much legal terms, horrendous details, and shocking ending!

Travis Boyette is a sick pervert who wakes up one day and decided to make amends for a murder case that he committed, but the wrong person is jailed for it, Donte Drumm. The only glitch is, there is only a few days left for Donte's execution, so the tension is all over, with everyone trying so hard to stop it from happening .... But do they succeed? Does justice prevail? You have to read this book to find out.

Total page turner, till the end.
]]> 200459012
'A place free of judgement. for a life free of pain'

The Elizabeth Codelle Therapeutic Institute is the world's most exclusive clinic: eye-wateringly expensive and located on a small island off the Welsh coast, it is run by controversial genius Dr Codelle. She takes only one patient at a time, she keeps them away from the outside world while they're in her care - and she gets results. Because Dr Codelle doesn't just promise an easing of the symptoms of addiction, she promises a total cure. And widower Arthur, whose grief at the loss of his wife has brought him to the point of destruction, can't be allowed to leave the island.

Not until he submits to Codelle's treatment, and is all better...]]> 368 Jack Anderson 1526667541 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.46
author: Jack Anderson
name: Johara
average rating: 3.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/04
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 31227809
But on the streets of the South Central neighbourhood of Lynwood, the story played out differently than on the national news. In All Involved, Ryan Gattis weaves a narrative from the perspectives of people whose stories of the riots were never told--members of the gang underworld. Inspired by unprecedented access to the inner workings of these organizations, Gattis channels their experiences into a gritty, cinematic tale that is both shocking and devastating. Though the events of this book are fiction, every word is infused with authenticity and intimacy. Evoking the anger, the uncertainty, and the turmoil of those six days, Gattis turns Los Angeles from merely a setting to a living, breathing entity.

With the velocity of a fast-paced thriller and the commanding talent of an incredibly adept writer, All Involved is an epic story of race, revenge, loyalty--at once fiercely identifiable as a novel of Los Angeles, yet also recognizable as a story of America--its history, its prejudices, and its complexities, laid bare.]]> 410 Ryan Gattis Johara 4 audiobook
Taking place in 1992 in Los Angeles, riots erupted after the acquittal of white police officers who severely beat Rodney King. These riots involved widespread looting, arson, assault, and murder.

You really get a front-row seat to how different gangs used this period to settle old scores, and it's intense. The story kicks off with someone who's not a gangster, not "involved", but is connected to one, and things go wild from there. It's raw and violent, and I seriously couldn't put it down.

Gattis takes you on a ride where you get to read different sides of the story. He shares the perspectives of gang members, creating a cinematic narrative that feels authentic and intimate. He captured the raw emotions and chaos of six days of violence.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by a full cast. It felt like I was right there with them in the middle of all the chaos, though thankfully from the safety of my own home. The experience was Captivating and really absorbing. I loved the experience!

If you're into hardcore, real-life-inspired stories, this one is definitely worth checking out.]]> 3.50 2015
author: Ryan Gattis
name: Johara
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/19
date added: 2024/05/21
shelves: audiobook
review:
What a book!

Taking place in 1992 in Los Angeles, riots erupted after the acquittal of white police officers who severely beat Rodney King. These riots involved widespread looting, arson, assault, and murder.

You really get a front-row seat to how different gangs used this period to settle old scores, and it's intense. The story kicks off with someone who's not a gangster, not "involved", but is connected to one, and things go wild from there. It's raw and violent, and I seriously couldn't put it down.

Gattis takes you on a ride where you get to read different sides of the story. He shares the perspectives of gang members, creating a cinematic narrative that feels authentic and intimate. He captured the raw emotions and chaos of six days of violence.

I did this as an audiobook, narrated by a full cast. It felt like I was right there with them in the middle of all the chaos, though thankfully from the safety of my own home. The experience was Captivating and really absorbing. I loved the experience!

If you're into hardcore, real-life-inspired stories, this one is definitely worth checking out.
]]> 45426521 Together with the well-known tales of 'Rapunzel', 'The Goose Girl', Sleeping Beauty', 'Hansel and Gretel' and 'Snow White', there are the darker tales such as 'Death's Messengers' which deserve to be better known, and which will appeal not only to all who are interested in the history of folklore, but also to all those who simply love good story-telling.]]> 1008 Jacob Grimm Johara 0 to-think-about 4.00 1812
author: Jacob Grimm
name: Johara
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1812
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/18
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 13509469
For 150 years his stories have been delighting both adults and children. Packed with a light-hearted whimsy combined with a mature wisdom they are as entrancing as ever. Here are all of Andersen's 154 tales, and among the favourites are The Red Shoes, The Mermaid, The Real Princess, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Tinder Box and of course The Ugly Duckling.]]> 1183 Hans Christian Andersen Johara 0 to-think-about 3.91 1850
author: Hans Christian Andersen
name: Johara
average rating: 3.91
book published: 1850
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/18
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 24179216
'Elizabeth is missing' reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting, and the one on the wall.

Maud's been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war.

A fast-paced mystery, an unforgettable voice: you will laugh and cry but you'll never forget Maud.]]> 275 Emma Healey 0241968186 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.70 2014
author: Emma Healey
name: Johara
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/11
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 156023123
She’s learning, too.

Doug says he loves that Annie’s artificial intelligence makes her seem more like a real woman, but the more human Annie becomes, the less perfectly she behaves. As Annie's relationship with Doug grows more intricate and difficult, she starts to wonder whether Doug truly desires what he says he does. In such an impossible paradox, what does Annie owe herself?]]> 231 Sierra Greer 0063312697 Johara 0 to-think-about-trendy 3.81 2024
author: Sierra Greer
name: Johara
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/11
shelves: to-think-about-trendy
review:

]]> 57345464
When she arrived in New York on her 18th birthday carrying nothing but $600 cash and a stolen camera, Alice Lee was looking for a fresh start. Now, just one month later, she is the city's latest Jane Doe, an unidentified murder victim.

Ruby Jones is also trying to start over; she travelled halfway around the world only to find herself lonelier than ever. Until she finds Alice's body by the Hudson River.

From this first, devastating encounter, the two women form an unbreakable bond. Alice is sure that Ruby is the key to solving the mystery of her life - and death. And Ruby - struggling to forget what she saw that morning - finds herself unable to let Alice go. Not until she is given the ending she deserves.

Before You Knew My Name doesn't ask whodunnit. Instead, this powerful, hopeful novel asks: Who was she? And what did she leave behind? The answers might surprise you.]]> 328 Jacqueline Bublitz 1760878855 Johara 0 to-read 3.91 2021
author: Jacqueline Bublitz
name: Johara
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 72403220
I'm Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I'd killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it's a little more complicated than that.

Have I killed someone? Yes. I have.

Who was it?

Let's get started.

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE

My brother

My stepsister

My wife

My father

My mother

My sister-in-law

My uncle

My stepfather

My aunt

Me]]> 366 Benjamin Stevenson 1761048848 Johara 0 to-read 3.95 2022
author: Benjamin Stevenson
name: Johara
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 58635730 We forgive murderers, not pedophiles.

Not since Lionel Shriver brought us We Need to Talk About Kevin has a writer delved into the complexities of a disturbed mother/son relationship. Until now.

Meet Noah—an A-honor roll student, award-winning swimmer, and small-town star destined for greatness. There weren’t any signs that something was wrong until the day he confesses to molesting little girls during swim team practice. He’s sentenced to eighteen months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center.

His mother, Adrianne, refuses to turn her back on him despite his horrific crimes, but her husband won’t allow Noah back into their home. In a series of shocking and shattering revelations, Adrianne is forced to make the hardest decision of her life. Just how far will she go to protect her son?

Saving Noah challenges everything you think you know about teenage sexual offenders. It will keep you up at night long after you've read the last page, questioning beliefs you once thought were true.]]> 258 Lucinda Berry 1976189934 Johara 4 audiobook
The subject matter is no walk in the park. It revolves around Adrianne, a mother grappling with the unthinkable: her son is a pedophile. Heavy stuff. Reminded me a bit of We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, not the same topic, but it also deals with a mother facing a challenging child.

Now, I'm not a mom, but this book made me question what I would do if I were in Adrianne's shoes. It tore me apart just thinking about it. Berry delves deep into the complexities of familial relationships and the lengths a mother would go to save her child. The emotional turmoil is palpable and resonates throughout the narrative.

The writing is powerful, hitting you right in the gut with its intensity. Berry masterfully handles the difficult topic, creating an engaging storyline that refuses to let you catch a breather. The pacing was relentless, and I found myself turning pages, desperate to know what would happen next.

There's a twist, and while I wasn't completely blindsided, it didn't diminish the sheer messed-up nature of it. If anything, it added another layer of complexity to the narrative. This book doesn't pull punches. It's raw, uncomfortable, and unflinching.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Carrington MacDuffie. She infused the narrative with raw emotion, adding an extra layer to an already intense story. The characters came to life through her nuanced delivery, making it an immersive experience. Her pacing and tone were spot-on, keeping me hooked throughout.

I'm aware this book sparked a lot of discussions. It's the kind that lingers in your thoughts long after finishing. I'm definitely curious to explore more of her work.

This book is a gut-wrenching journey that won't let you go easily, so only pick it up if you have the stomach for it.

Trigger warnings: Sexual abuse, pedophilia, suicide.]]> 3.96 2017
author: Lucinda Berry
name: Johara
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/26
date added: 2024/05/06
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.8] This was undeniably one rollercoaster ride of a read! I have to say, it's one of the most challenging books I've read this year, but it drew me in so deeply that I couldn't put it down. I finished it in just two sittings.

The subject matter is no walk in the park. It revolves around Adrianne, a mother grappling with the unthinkable: her son is a pedophile. Heavy stuff. Reminded me a bit of We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, not the same topic, but it also deals with a mother facing a challenging child.

Now, I'm not a mom, but this book made me question what I would do if I were in Adrianne's shoes. It tore me apart just thinking about it. Berry delves deep into the complexities of familial relationships and the lengths a mother would go to save her child. The emotional turmoil is palpable and resonates throughout the narrative.

The writing is powerful, hitting you right in the gut with its intensity. Berry masterfully handles the difficult topic, creating an engaging storyline that refuses to let you catch a breather. The pacing was relentless, and I found myself turning pages, desperate to know what would happen next.

There's a twist, and while I wasn't completely blindsided, it didn't diminish the sheer messed-up nature of it. If anything, it added another layer of complexity to the narrative. This book doesn't pull punches. It's raw, uncomfortable, and unflinching.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Carrington MacDuffie. She infused the narrative with raw emotion, adding an extra layer to an already intense story. The characters came to life through her nuanced delivery, making it an immersive experience. Her pacing and tone were spot-on, keeping me hooked throughout.

I'm aware this book sparked a lot of discussions. It's the kind that lingers in your thoughts long after finishing. I'm definitely curious to explore more of her work.

This book is a gut-wrenching journey that won't let you go easily, so only pick it up if you have the stomach for it.

Trigger warnings: Sexual abuse, pedophilia, suicide.
]]> 18001803
A devastating new weapon of destruction.
When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol -- seared into the chest of a murdered physicist -- he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati...the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth. The Illuminati has now surfaced to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy -- the Catholic Church.

Langdon's worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the Vatican's holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces they have hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.
Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair...a clandestine location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.

An explosive international thriller, Angels & Demons careens from enlightening epiphanies to dark truths as the battle between science and religion turns to war.]]> 620 Dan Brown Johara 4
Taking place in Italy, the story takes you through a chase of art, history, and the Illuminati.

Another masterpiece work by the great Dan Brown, that will keep you glued to the story.]]> 3.62 2000
author: Dan Brown
name: Johara
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 2015/05/12
date added: 2024/04/21
shelves:
review:
Although I have read The Da Vinci Code first, this was technically the first installment of Robert Langdon series, which I didn’t know but then it didn’t affect the reading experience much, as each one is a standalone story with the same leading character.

Taking place in Italy, the story takes you through a chase of art, history, and the Illuminati.

Another masterpiece work by the great Dan Brown, that will keep you glued to the story.
]]> 23482800 From the author of the 2 million+ copy, worldwide bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, an exquisite, funny and heartrending parallel story.

When Queenie Hennessy discovers that Harold Fry is walking the length of England to save her, and all she has to do is wait, she is shocked. Her note had explained she was dying. How can she wait?

A new volunteer at the hospice suggests that Queenie should write again; only this time she must tell Harold everything. In confessing to secrets she has hidden for twenty years, she will find atonement for the past. As the volunteer points out, ‘Even though you’ve done your travelling, you’re starting a new journey too.��

Queenie thought her first letter would be the end of the story. She was wrong. It was the beginning.

Told in simple, emotionally-honest prose, with a mischievous bite, this is a novel about the journey we all must take to learn who we are; it is about loving and letting go. And most of all it is about finding joy in unexpected places and at times we least expect.]]> 384 Joyce Rachel 178416030X Johara 4
Having read the first book, The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, 10 years ago and watched the movie adaptation recently, I really wanted to pick up the second book and experience Harold Fry's journey but from Queenie's perspective.

I loved this book and every single character I got to know and grew to love in the hospice. This is a story about grieving, love, friendship, family, life, and death. There are so many quotable lines and so much wisdom.

And the ending... I DID NOT see that coming!

This book is not a sequel but rather a side-by-side journey of Harold and Queenie, as the author puts it, "a companion."

I finished this book in 3 settings.

I definitely want to pickup the third book - Maureen.]]> 4.09 2014
author: Joyce Rachel
name: Johara
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/18
date added: 2024/04/19
shelves:
review:
What a beautiful, beautiful book!

Having read the first book, The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, 10 years ago and watched the movie adaptation recently, I really wanted to pick up the second book and experience Harold Fry's journey but from Queenie's perspective.

I loved this book and every single character I got to know and grew to love in the hospice. This is a story about grieving, love, friendship, family, life, and death. There are so many quotable lines and so much wisdom.

And the ending... I DID NOT see that coming!

This book is not a sequel but rather a side-by-side journey of Harold and Queenie, as the author puts it, "a companion."

I finished this book in 3 settings.

I definitely want to pickup the third book - Maureen.
]]> 35051839 ‘Vivid and immersive, Pachinko is a rich tribute to a people that history seems intent on erasing.��
–The Guardian

Yeongdo, Korea 1911
A club-footed, cleft-lipped man marries a fifteen-year-old girl. The couple have one child, their beloved daughter Sunja. When Sunja falls pregnant by a married yakuza, the family face ruin. But then a Christian minister offers a chance of salvation: a new life in Japan as his wife.

Following a man he barely knows to a hostile country where she has no friends and no home, Sunja’s salvation is just the beginning of her story.

‘A beautifully realised saga.��
TLS]]> 537 Min Jin Lee 178669137X Johara 4 audiobook
This isn't a light read, though. It's a full-blown family saga, so be prepared to meet many characters spanning generations.

I was amazed by how much I learned about the relationship between Koreans and Japanese and the discrimination they faced in Japan. Although I already knew it was tough and dark, reading this book was an eye-opener.

What's also noticeable in this book is the presence of strong female characters. They were all hardworking women who would do anything for their family. We have all met some of these women in real life, so it was heartwarming to see how they elevated everyone around them and have the story come together so beautifully.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Allison Hiroto. Her voice gave the story such authenticity and personality, bringing each character to life.

It's definitely worth reading, especially if you're into rich family dramas and want to learn a thing or two about history along the way.]]> 4.34 2017
author: Min Jin Lee
name: Johara
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/11
date added: 2024/04/11
shelves: audiobook
review:
[3.7] So, I finally hopped on the Pachinko train, and I have to say, what a ride. The writing was just gorgeous. I couldn't put it down. The way Lee weaved the story together is mesmerizing.

This isn't a light read, though. It's a full-blown family saga, so be prepared to meet many characters spanning generations.

I was amazed by how much I learned about the relationship between Koreans and Japanese and the discrimination they faced in Japan. Although I already knew it was tough and dark, reading this book was an eye-opener.

What's also noticeable in this book is the presence of strong female characters. They were all hardworking women who would do anything for their family. We have all met some of these women in real life, so it was heartwarming to see how they elevated everyone around them and have the story come together so beautifully.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Allison Hiroto. Her voice gave the story such authenticity and personality, bringing each character to life.

It's definitely worth reading, especially if you're into rich family dramas and want to learn a thing or two about history along the way.
]]> 127280850
2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.]]> 392 Emilia Hart 1250842727 Johara 0 to-think-about-trendy 4.02 2023
author: Emilia Hart
name: Johara
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/10
shelves: to-think-about-trendy
review:

]]> 17465750 Librarian note: An alternative cover for this ISBN can be found here.

“She was one of those who, having once begun, would be always in love.��

Best-selling Regency era author Jane Austen has created many memorable female characters, with intriguing Emma Woodhouse being perhaps the most popular. Emma, a matchmaker at heart, is obsessed with love and romance--for others. As for her own love life, she wants nothing of it. She even feels repulsed by the amorous declarations she receives. But as her matchmaking schemes go awry, and her friend Harriet shares her feelings toward a certain friend, Mr. Knightley, Emma soon becomes aware of her own heart’s longings.

��

* This beautiful book comes with luxurious endpapers, a beautiful and stylish heat-burnished cover, and is a convenient 5 x 7 trim size for easy handling.

* The classic has sold millions of copies since its first publication.

��

Emma has been one of the most charming coming-of-age love stories for nearly two centuries.

��

About the Word Cloud Classics series:

Classic works of literature with a clean, modern aesthetic! Perfect for both old and new literature fans, the Word Cloud��Classics series from Canterbury Classics provides a chic and inexpensive introduction to timeless tales. With a higher production value, including heat burnished covers and foil stamping, these eye-catching, easy-to-hold editions are the perfect gift for students and fans of literature everywhere.]]> 344 Jane Austen 1607109468 Johara 3 audiobook, classics
Honestly, it was a drag. It took me a whole month to go through it because I just couldn't be bothered with all the chitchat and the characters, who were about as memorable as last week's leftovers. Emma herself? Meh, don't even get me started. She's like that friend you keep around out of obligation but secretly wish would go away.

And, of course, true to Austen's style, everything interesting in Emma's so-called "love life" only happens in the eleventh hour. Seriously, couldn't we have sped things up a bit?

Don't get me wrong. I still find Austen's writing as beautiful as ever. The prose? Gorgeous. But beauty can only take you so far when you're slogging through a story that feels stuck in quicksand.

As for ranking it among Austen's other works, let's just say it's firmly in the "meh" category, right alongside Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Persuasion. Nothing will ever top Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility in my book. So, I guess that means I've only truly enjoyed two out of Austen's six main books. Disappointing, to say the least.

Anyway, onto new literary adventures. Farewell, Austen. It's been... something.]]> 4.09 1815
author: Jane Austen
name: Johara
average rating: 4.09
book published: 1815
rating: 3
read at: 2024/03/28
date added: 2024/04/02
shelves: audiobook, classics
review:
So, I finally finished this book, and it feels like a bittersweet relief. It was the last book on my Austen to-do list, and I am glad to put it behind me.

Honestly, it was a drag. It took me a whole month to go through it because I just couldn't be bothered with all the chitchat and the characters, who were about as memorable as last week's leftovers. Emma herself? Meh, don't even get me started. She's like that friend you keep around out of obligation but secretly wish would go away.

And, of course, true to Austen's style, everything interesting in Emma's so-called "love life" only happens in the eleventh hour. Seriously, couldn't we have sped things up a bit?

Don't get me wrong. I still find Austen's writing as beautiful as ever. The prose? Gorgeous. But beauty can only take you so far when you're slogging through a story that feels stuck in quicksand.

As for ranking it among Austen's other works, let's just say it's firmly in the "meh" category, right alongside Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Persuasion. Nothing will ever top Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility in my book. So, I guess that means I've only truly enjoyed two out of Austen's six main books. Disappointing, to say the least.

Anyway, onto new literary adventures. Farewell, Austen. It's been... something.
]]> 59572009 400 Mai Al-Nakib 0063135108 Johara 0 to-read 4.08 2022
author: Mai Al-Nakib
name: Johara
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 38470233
In 2016, Eddie is fully grown, and thinks he's put his past behind him. But then he gets a letter in the mail, containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank . . . until one of them turns up dead.

That's when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago.]]> 340 C.J. Tudor 1405930950 Johara 0 to-read 3.75 2018
author: C.J. Tudor
name: Johara
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 7557452 A conspiracy of staggering brilliance.
A thriller unlike any you've ever read....

When a new NASA satellite spots evidence of an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory�� a victory that has profound implications for U.S. space policy and the impending presidential election.

With the Oval Office in the balance, the President dispatches White House Intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton to the Milne Ice Shelf to verify the authenticity of the find. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic academic Michael Tolland, Rachel uncovers the unthinkable—evidence of scientific trickery—a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy.

But before Rachel can contact the President, she and Michael are attacked by a deadly task force…a private team of assassins controlled by a mysterious powerbroker who will stop at nothing to hide the truth. Fleeing for their lives in an environment as desolate as it is lethal, they possess only one hope, to find out who is behind this masterful ploy. The truth, they will learn, is the most shocking deception of all…]]> 585 Dan Brown 0552161241 Johara 0 to-think-about 3.83 2001
author: Dan Brown
name: Johara
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2001
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/20
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 60506185 Demon Copperhead is set in the mountains of southern Appalachia. It's the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father's good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. In a plot that never pauses for breath, relayed in his own unsparing voice, he braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens' anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can't imagine leaving behind.]]> 548 Barbara Kingsolver 0063252015 Johara 0 to-think-about 4.42 2022
author: Barbara Kingsolver
name: Johara
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/17
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 60707 160 J.L. Carr 0940322471 Johara 0 to-think-about 4.10 1980
author: J.L. Carr
name: Johara
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1980
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/16
shelves: to-think-about
review:

]]> 6011275 A young man is fighting for his life.
Into his room walks a bewitching woman who believes she can save him.
Their journey will have you believing in the impossible.

The nameless and beautiful narrator of The Gargoyle is driving along a dark road when he is distracted by what seems to be a flight of arrows. He crashes into a ravine and wakes up in a burns ward, undergoing the tortures of the damned. His life is over - he is now a monster.

But in fact it is only just beginning. One day, Marianne Engel, a wild and compelling sculptress of gargoyles, enters his life and tells him that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. In her telling, he was a badly burned mercenary and she was a nun and a scribe who nursed him back to health in the famed monastery of Engelthal. As she spins her tale, Scheherazade fashion, and relates equally mesmerising stories of deathless love in Japan, Greenland, Italy and England, he finds himself drawn back to life - and, finally, to love.]]> 499 Andrew Davidson 1847671691 Johara 4 richard-and-judy
Meet our Burned Man, an ex-porn star, addicted to alcohol & drugs... in a moment of hallucination, gets into a car accident and burns himself. While in the hospital, he meets our Marianne Engel, a sculptress of gargoyles.. who tells him that she knew him hundred years ago, and wants to share their past, and their love affair.

And that's how the story goes... two timelines: her past memory, and real time.

Beautifully narrated, with so many stories in different centuries and countries. You are drawn into Marianne Engel, her art, her tattoos, and her gothic house. I loved every bit of it, and felt I was there with them, touching her gargoyles, and listening to her voice.

It took me a while to finish the book, but not because it dragged on, it's because I loved every bit of it, and was savoring the moments... didn't want it to end.

And what an ending.]]> 3.90 2008
author: Andrew Davidson
name: Johara
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2018/08/28
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves: richard-and-judy
review:
What happens if one day you wake up in the hospital, and meet a person who tells you that you two were lovers in a past life? Will you think that she is crazy, or will you go along with it just to find out if there is any truth to it?

Meet our Burned Man, an ex-porn star, addicted to alcohol & drugs... in a moment of hallucination, gets into a car accident and burns himself. While in the hospital, he meets our Marianne Engel, a sculptress of gargoyles.. who tells him that she knew him hundred years ago, and wants to share their past, and their love affair.

And that's how the story goes... two timelines: her past memory, and real time.

Beautifully narrated, with so many stories in different centuries and countries. You are drawn into Marianne Engel, her art, her tattoos, and her gothic house. I loved every bit of it, and felt I was there with them, touching her gargoyles, and listening to her voice.

It took me a while to finish the book, but not because it dragged on, it's because I loved every bit of it, and was savoring the moments... didn't want it to end.

And what an ending.
]]> 39970636
As the event begins, Langdon and several hundred guests find themselves captivated by an utterly original presentation, which Langdon realizes will be far more controversial than he ever imagined. But the meticulously orchestrated evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch's precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever. Reeling and facing an imminent threat, Langdon is forced into a desperate bid to escape Bilbao. With him is Ambra Vidal, the elegant museum director who worked with Kirsch to stage the provocative event. Together they flee to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch's secret.

Navigating the dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion, Langdon and Vidal must evade a tormented enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain's Royal Palace itself . . . and who will stop at nothing to silence Edmond Kirsch. On a trail marked by modern art and enigmatic symbols, Langdon and Vidal uncover clues that ultimately bring them face-to-face with Kirsch's shocking discovery . . . and the breathtaking truth that has long eluded us. Origin is stunningly inventive--Dan Brown's most brilliant and entertaining novel to date]]> 542 Dan Brown 0552174165 Johara 4
The book takes you to Spain with its dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion, this story is slightly different from the rest of Dan Brown’s books. The characters were surprising, and very complex. The story shifted so many times, in an intriguing way.

I will always enjoy Dan Brown books, even if they don’t live up to your expectations. He is the only author that will make me google everything, learn about history and art, and just get fascinated by the amount of knowledge he has, even if they were contradictory. ]]> 3.82 2017
author: Dan Brown
name: Johara
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2019/02/15
date added: 2024/03/13
shelves:
review:
The last instalment of Robert Langdon series, which came as a surprise considering the ending of Inferno, but then nevertheless a novel that I was looking forward to.

The book takes you to Spain with its dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion, this story is slightly different from the rest of Dan Brown’s books. The characters were surprising, and very complex. The story shifted so many times, in an intriguing way.

I will always enjoy Dan Brown books, even if they don’t live up to your expectations. He is the only author that will make me google everything, learn about history and art, and just get fascinated by the amount of knowledge he has, even if they were contradictory.
]]> 6747115 About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.]]> 144 Plato 019953893X Johara 0 to-read 4.01 -380
author: Plato
name: Johara
average rating: 4.01
book published: -380
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 40060728 544 Joseph Heller 1784874337 Johara 0 to-read 3.57 1974
author: Joseph Heller
name: Johara
average rating: 3.57
book published: 1974
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 17881 Notes from Underground tells the story of his tortured life. With bitter sarcasm, he describes his refusal to become a worker in the ‘ant-hill�� of society and his gradual withdrawal to an existence ‘underground��. The seemingly ordinary world of St Petersburg takes on a nightmarish quality in The Double when a government clerk encounters a man who exactly resembles him �� his double perhaps, or possibly the darker side of his own personality. Like Notes from Underground, this is a masterly study of human consciousness.Jessie Coulson’s introduction discusses the stories�� critical reception and the themes they share with Dostoyevksy’s great novels.
]]> 287 Fyodor Dostoevsky 0140442529 Johara 0 to-read 4.19 1864
author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
name: Johara
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1864
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 28381 Dead Souls, Russia's first major novel, is one of the most unusual works of nineteenth-century fiction and a devastating satire on social hypocrisy.

In his introduction to this new translation, Robert A. Maguire discusses Gogol's life and literary career, his depiction of Russian society, and the language and narrative techniques employed in Dead Souls. This edition also includes a chronology, further reading, appendices, a glossary, map and notes.]]> 464 Nikolai Gogol 0140448071 Johara 0 to-read 4.00 1842
author: Nikolai Gogol
name: Johara
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1842
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/03/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 59710987 My Sister, The Serial Killer, and her dark, contemporary struggle places her as the perfect sister to Carmen Maria Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties.

Written with Susan Abulhawa’s distinctive “richly detailed, beautiful, and resonant�� (Publishers Weekly) prose, this powerful novel presents a searing, darkly funny, and wholly unique portrait of a Palestinian woman who refuses to be a victim.]]> 384 Susan Abulhawa 1526618818 Johara 0 to-read 4.58 2019
author: Susan Abulhawa
name: Johara
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 105992 687 Vincent Bugliosi 0393322238 Johara 0 to-buy-books 4.05 1974
author: Vincent Bugliosi
name: Johara
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1974
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/02/28
shelves: to-buy-books
review:

]]> 35224179 9780141182575.

The chilling true crime 'non-fiction novel' that made Truman Capote's name, In Cold Blood is a seminal work of modern prose, a remarkable synthesis of journalistic skill and powerfully evocative narrative published in Penguin Modern Classics.

Controversial and compelling, In Cold Blood reconstructs the murder in 1959 of a Kansas farmer, his wife and both their children. Truman Capote's comprehensive study of the killings and subsequent investigation explores the circumstances surrounding this terrible crime and the effect it had on those involved. At the centre of his study are the amoral young killers Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock, who, vividly drawn by Capote, are shown to be reprehensible yet entirely and frighteningly human.

'It is the American dream turning into the American nightmare ...By juxtaposing and dovetailing the lives and values of the Clutters and those of the killers, Capote produces a stark image of the deep doubleness of American life ...a remarkable book' Spectator]]> 316 Truman Capote Johara 4 audiobook
Capote's narrative is as chilling as it is captivating. I had no idea that Harper Lee played a significant role in helping Capote with the interviews and investigations and in completing the book. This obviously made me more interested in the book, as she is one of my favorite authors.

The book is the true story of the ruthless murders of the Clutter family in Kansas. What struck me most was how Capote humanizes the perpetrators, making you feel almost conflicted about them at times. But as you read more and understand the gravity of their actions, what they have done, what the family had to go through, and for what, you can't help but acknowledge the justice served.

And what made it more interesting was the psychological aspect of the investigation. It gave more depth into the complexities of the human mind and behavior.

Capote's writing is masterful, drawing you in from the first page and refusing to let go until the end. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving you questioning morality and justice.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Scott Brick, who gave a stellar performance, adding an extra layer of immersion to an already gripping story.

This is not just a book. It is an experience that will stay with you long after you read it. I had to remind myself so many times that what I was reading was not a work of fiction. Everything was real. These were real people, and this was a true crime.

It is the perfect introduction to the true crime genre, and I want to explore more of it.

Highly recommended!]]> 4.15 1966
author: Truman Capote
name: Johara
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1966
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/28
date added: 2024/02/28
shelves: audiobook
review:
This was my first experience in the true crime genre, and I am now a fan!

Capote's narrative is as chilling as it is captivating. I had no idea that Harper Lee played a significant role in helping Capote with the interviews and investigations and in completing the book. This obviously made me more interested in the book, as she is one of my favorite authors.

The book is the true story of the ruthless murders of the Clutter family in Kansas. What struck me most was how Capote humanizes the perpetrators, making you feel almost conflicted about them at times. But as you read more and understand the gravity of their actions, what they have done, what the family had to go through, and for what, you can't help but acknowledge the justice served.

And what made it more interesting was the psychological aspect of the investigation. It gave more depth into the complexities of the human mind and behavior.

Capote's writing is masterful, drawing you in from the first page and refusing to let go until the end. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving you questioning morality and justice.

I did this as an audiobook narrated by Scott Brick, who gave a stellar performance, adding an extra layer of immersion to an already gripping story.

This is not just a book. It is an experience that will stay with you long after you read it. I had to remind myself so many times that what I was reading was not a work of fiction. Everything was real. These were real people, and this was a true crime.

It is the perfect introduction to the true crime genre, and I want to explore more of it.

Highly recommended!
]]> 2273242 A superb new translation of Dostoyevsky's chilling and prophetic novel of revolutionary fanaticism

Pyotr and Stavrogin are the leaders of a Russian revolutionary cell. Their aim is to overthrow the Tsar, destroy society, and seize power for themselves. Together they train terrorists who are willing to lay down their lives to accomplish their goals. But when the group is threatened with exposure, will their recruits be willing to kill one of their own to cover their tracks? Savage and powerful yet lively and often comic, Demons was inspired by a real-life political murder and is a scathing and eerily prescient indictment of those who use violence to serve their beliefs.]]> 842 Fyodor Dostoevsky 0141441410 Johara 0 to-think-about 4.27 1872
author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
name: Johara
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1872
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/02/24
shelves: to-think-about
review:

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