Tuesday, October 31, 2017

The Circle by Dave Eggers

Author: Dave Eggers
Original title: The Circle
Pages: 448
Edition Language: Russian
Series: no
Format: e-book
Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia
Goodreads

Blurb:     
When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime. The Circle, run out of a sprawling California campus, links users’ personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency.

My thoughts: 
      One third of the book I was really captivated: the idea is so intriguing and frightening. At the beginning the main character seems to be a strong personality which needed a chance in life, but still a person who is able to value privacy and has a sense of dignity and common sense. And how I was surprised and disappointed that she actually has none of it and so easy to be brainwashed. So my dissatisfaction of the book is based mostly on the on resentment towards Mae's spineless behaviour.
      Description of the office life also raises bewilderment in me. Whoever worked in huge offices knows that there is always gossips about everything, but mostly carrier movement and sex life of employees. Here in absolutely transparent Circle, with average employee age of 25, we see nothing of the kind. It is not that I need sex discussion, but Mae's love interests are so tragic and actually only relationship pictured in the book, that the firm feels really unreal.
    Finally, some scenes raised a question of their relevancy to the book at all. For a example: there is a quite detailed description of Mae's two kayak trips with nature description. You can think those scenes are to show what Mae misses in life, then she voluntarily stays in Circle more and more often, but that would be valid if she at least think about those losses, but she seems to adapt fast and did not regret anything in her former life, thus what those scenes for? To show the reader what Mae is missing, but we all know it and do not need additional poetic descriptions, if it did not add anything to plot or character development.
   So, although, the premises of the book were quite promising, I did not like the execution.
Rating:
    2,5/5 

Monday, October 30, 2017

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Author: Nicola Yoon
Original title: Everything, Everything
Pages: 379
Edition Language: Russian
Series: no
Format: e-book
Genres: YA, Contemporary
Goodreads

Blurb:     
Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world. So allergic, in fact, that she has never left the house in all of her seventeen years. She is content enough - until a boy with eyes the color of the Atlantic Ocean moves in next door. Their complicated romance begins over IM and carries on.

My thoughts: 
     I have heard some much about it, but luckily I did not remember about what the book should  be. Actually, this is the best to get the book and wait till you forget the plot and go into it with an open mind. I do not say I was overwhelmed by it, but the reading was quite fast and easy until I started to stumble on small details that irritated me. I cannot relate to the disease description and the feeling the main protagonist had, as I have never been restricted from world perception and I cannot even imagine how difficult and frustrating it is not to know the smell of the air and touch of wood. But altogether Madeline irritated me a lot. She either passive as a fish, or breaks out of the house and fly to Hawaii; she is not consistent with the understanding of her situation and her relationship with her mother. Secondly, I was wondering where Madeline has money from. She opens the credit card and books hotel and has luxury dinner, but who is going to pay for that? Her poor mum who works alone to provide her all the care..? Not mature at all, and very egoistic. Thirdly, during all the narration, we never get any 3rd opinion on her disease... 17 years at home and not a single check by authorities? social care? or any other 3rd medical party. My parents would probably have the huge Concilium of different doctors every year...
    Altogether sweet YA romance, but it does not have solid characters and realistic world picture.
Rating:  
    2/5 

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Sunday Post #20, Windy

The Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things received, and share news about what is coming up on the blog for the week ahead. To get in on the Sunday fun, see the rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

 Outside the Blog

     October finished horribly fast. I had so many reading plans but at the end I read hardly 5 books. I still have 3 days till the end of the month, so I might finish some books that I started.
     November is also bringing some challenges and the biggest is Nonfiction November hosted by abookolive and Non Fic Books (Olive's announcement video). The idea of Nonfiction November is to read more nonfiction in November than you normally would. Since I hardly read any non-fiction, 4 or 5 books would be a great achievement. I am still looking through my shelves to pick up something that correlate to the following categories: 1. Home 2. Substance 3. Love 4. Scholarship
    Today the weather has changed drastically. Although the sun is shining, the storm wind is keeping everyone at home as it is not possible to walk without catching your breath. It is high time  for me to do some catch up activities on blog.

   Last on the Blog
Next on the Blog
  • I will review Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
  • I will review The Circle by Dave Eggers
  • I will review The Ocean by Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa
  • I will publish update on Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2016 
  • I will review The Diviners by Libba Bray
Newcomers on my Shelf
    I am still waiting for the book for November reading club, but in the meanwhile I decided to pick some light literature.
1. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
2. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Friday, October 27, 2017

September 2017 Wrap up

Read books: 
read: 11/ listen: 0/ pages: 3131/ hours listened: 0
1. The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas p.349 - my review
2. The Making of Pride and Prejudice by Sue Birtwistle, Sue Conklin, Susie Conklin  p.120 - my review
3. Eight Children and a Truck by Anne-Cath. Vestly p. 175 - my review
4.  Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Thief by Maurice Leblanc p. 254 - my review
5.  Love Virtually by Daniel Glattauer p. 287 -  my review
6. Goodnight June by Sarah Jio p. 384 - my review
7. The Archived by Victoria Schwab  p. 384 - my review
8. The Ocean by Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa p. 448 - my review
9. A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond p. 188 - my review
10. If I Stay by Gayle Forman p. 256 - my review
11. Where She Went by Gayle Forman p. 286 - my review

Challenges overview:
Goodreads Reading Challenge: 50/50 - completed
Pages Read Challenge: 14179/12000 - completed
Audiobook Challenge: 6/15
Russian Literature: 2/30
World of Literature: 12/50 (ES, AT, FR)
Booker Prize Project: 3
Classics Club: 2/50

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

Author: Art Spiegelman
Original title: The Complete Maus
Pages: 296
Edition Language: English 
Series: no 
Format: Paperback 
Genres: Comics, Non-fiction
Goodreads

Blurb:     
Combined for the first time here are Maus I: A Survivor's Tale and Maus II - the complete story of Vladek Spiegelman and his wife, living and surviving in Hitler's Europe. By addressing the horror of the Holocaust through cartoons, the author captures the everyday reality of fear and is able to explore the guilt, relief and extraordinary sensation of survival - and how the children of survivors are in their own way affected by the trials of their parents. A contemporary classic of immeasurable significance.

My thoughts:
        Absolutely heartbreaking story. I had real difficulties not read this book as the topic is really heavy and I felt it weight and had to make stops. The structure of the book allows breaks as well: the two story lines in "now" and "past". When "past" becomes too overwhelming the focus is switched to "now" with its day-to-day problems and small conflicts in Spiegelman's family. 
       Vladek Spiegelman is frankly speaking is not the nicest character, he even repulses and it is difficult to sympathize him and it not possible not to sympathize him. And I think in this contradiction the writers talent is seen: to portrait a real person with shortcomings and faults, but still real, who is able to evocate sympathy but not pity.
       I discovered a lot of new information in this book. Though I know enough about the WWII, I did not know much about Polish Jews (I read mostly about Austrian and German Jews). It never occurred to me that Auschwitzh was been not only chosen for location. Secondly, I was really taken aback by the fact how people were taking the last belongings from Jews and then betrayed them. I understand that this was unthinkable time but I have not seen any scene in the book where someone helped free of charge and out of heart. Maybe I have a bit idealized vision, but did all people lost their conscience and compassion? There might be at least motivation to help your countryman against invaders. But again this was unthinkable time...
     The most heartbreaking scene for me was when Vladek was coming back to Poland and someone told him not to claim his property as one man was killed by Poles by daring to demand back what is now theirs. This is so beyond cruelty: to survive Holocaust and be killed by your countrymen when the war was over!! The description of gas chambers was so vivid that I needed fresh air, it was insufferable to know what one human being is capable to do to another without any particular reason. 
      There are many Holocaust stories out there, and they're all important. This book offers a story in a strikingly easy format that will likely attract those who usually steer away from this topic. This book is terribly good and I would recommend it to anybody, but it will never become my favorite due to its topic, it is too painful. 


Rating:  
    5/5 

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Author: Gayle Forman
Original title: If I Stay
Pages: 256
Edition Language: Russian
Series: If I Stay #1
Format: Paperback 
Genres: YA, Contamporary
----------
Original title: Where She Went
Pages: 286
Edition Language: Russian
Series: If I Stay #2
Format: Paperback 
Genres: YA, Contamporary

If I Stay.
Blurb:    
Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?
Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.


My thoughts: 
     Truly I had no idea what I am getting into. When I started the book I thought I am going to read yet another ordinary YA contemporary with love triangles and high school problems. And when this plot twist happened at the beginning of the story I felt like I was hit by that truck. The whole story was turning on this soft spot, making me cry almost non stop. I felt so much for this family that I did not pay much attention to some flatness of other characters and over sweetness of romance line.
     The book is basically is about the idea of life values and when everything you loved is gone how to find strength and, most important, wish to go on. I enjoyed it even if there were not much character development and action. The story left me touched and emotional.
Rating: 
    4/5 
 
Where She Went.
Blurb:    
It's been three years since the devastating accident and three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.
       Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance. 

My thoughts: 
      And here this book was a normal ordinary YA contemporary. It was a very sweet read, but did not raise any emotions in me, though the narration from Adam's was quite interesting and captivating. I do understand my many prefer this book over the first one. At last there is some action and plot development in a story. We moved from the tragic point on which the whole first book was concentrated and moved to back to live with its ups and downs.
      I enjoyed Adam's character development and how he truly analyzes his state of mind and emotions. Mia, on the other hand, was rather shapeless and neither fish nor flesh. I could not picture her; nor feel for her anymore.
Rating:  
    3/5 

Monday, October 23, 2017

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

Author: Michael Bond
Original title: A Bear Called Paddington
Pages:188
Edition Language: Russian
Series: Paddington Bear #1
Format: Hardcover
Genres:Childrens
Goodreads

Blurb:     
Mr. and Mrs. Brown first met Paddington, a most endearing bear from Darkest Peru on a railway platform in London. A sign hanging around his neck said, "Please look after this bear. Thank you" So that is just what they did.

From the very first night when he attempted his first bath and ended up nearly flooding the house, Paddington was seldom far from imminent disaster. Jonathan and Judy were delighted with this havoc and even Mr. and Mrs. Brown had to admit that life seemed to be more filled with adventure when there was a bear in the house.


My thoughts: 
      Of course I have heard about the movie, but I was not aware of the book series. When I saw it, I thought why not; if they made a movie out of it; it should have some merit. How I loved it! I am just in love with Paddington. Of course I would never want him in my house and I do not envy Brown Family, but I find this bear absolutely a charmer. He perceives the world as a normal creature not touched by big city flame: straightforward and literally. That puts him in so many comical situations that you cannot hold a smile. At the same time he is kind and sensitive to other people's feelings. Truly open and inspiring character.
Rating:  
    4/5 

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Sunday Post #19, Foggy mornings

The Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things received, and share news about what is coming up on the blog for the week ahead. To get in on the Sunday fun, see the rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

 Outside the Blog

  This week was quite slow in reading. I finished the Circle and had mixed feeling about it. After this book I did not want to read too much. So I made a small break as on Friday I was joining Cosy Reading Night hosted by lovely Lauren And The Books, which is basically 3 hours dedicated to reading in cosy atmosphere with snacks, tea, blankets, candles and so on. With my current schedule that was really blessed time, about which I announced beforehand and was left by my family alone with 3 books of my choice and some Korean snacks I decided to have.

   Last on the Blog
Next on the Blog
  • I will review A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
  • I will review If I Stay by Gayle Forman
  • I will review The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
  • I will review The Ocean by Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa
  • I will publish update on Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2016 
  • I will publish September 2017 Wrap up
Newcomers on my Shelf

      I have not been to the book store for a while and I treated myself with the visit and  a hot cup of chocolate. Unfortunately, I was not captivated by any titles and the prices put me off a bit. But I could not leave without anything and got 2 book I have heard a lot of:
1. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
2. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
And the second book in Diviners series has just arrived. I was not sure if I want to continue with the series, but then why not - it is not so bad and quite an easy read.
3. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray 

Friday, October 20, 2017

Goodnight June by Sarah Jio

Author: Sarah Jio
Original title: Goodnight June
Pages: 384
Edition Language: Russian
Series: no 
Format: e-book
Genres: Chick Lit, Romance
Goodreads

Blurb:     
June Andersen is professionally successful, but her personal life is marred by unhappiness. Unexpectedly, she is called to settle her great-aunt Ruby’s estate and determine the fate of Bluebird Books, the children’s bookstore Ruby founded in the 1940s. Amidst the store’s papers, June stumbles upon letters between her great-aunt and the late Margaret Wise Brown—and steps into the pages of American literature.

My thoughts: 
      This was my first time reading this author. I heard about her quite a lot and was wondering if I might like her books. It turned out no. I was aware that this book is a romantic story and I did not expect it to be very intellectual read, but it turned out to be just rubbish. I have read a lot of love romance and this one was not a good one. Every character was as flat as paper, and predictable as a 5 o'clock tea. I cannot find any positive scene in the book: Seattle seemed like a village with three houses, the main love interest too perfect and eager to marry after 2 days, even the situation with a cancer and hospital seems so forced, just to paint the book less pink. I forced myself to finish it and was skipping especially boring passages. I will not venture to read another book by this author.
Rating:  
    1/5 

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Love Virtually (Gut gegen Nordwind #1) by Daniel Glattauer

Author: Daniel Glattauer
Original title: Gut gegen Nordwind
Pages: 287
Edition Language: Russian
Series: Gut gegen Nordwind #1
Format: Paperback 
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads

Blurb:     
    It's a virtual romance that begins by chance. When Leo mistakenly receives e-mails from a stranger named Emmi, he replies--and Emmi writes back. Soon, secrets are shared, sparks fly, and erotic tension simmers. Even though Emmi is married, it seems only a matter of time till they meet. But will their feelings survive a real-life encounter? And, if so-what then? Funny and fast-paced, Love Virtually offers plenty of twists, turns, and satisfaction.

My thoughts: 
      I liked the book, but it did not seem funny to me, not a bit. Frankly, I find rather dramatic and depressive. Something that started as an innocent chat about nothing turned out into a passion that on the one hand healed and on the other hand destroyed a family and friendship.
The book is written in the form of e-mails and we do not see the author's attitude in the description of the characters. We picture the Leo and Emmi from their letters and those portraits changing as changing their relationship.
I found out that this book has a sequel but I most definitely will not read it as the first book somehow destroyed me. I was thinking it over almost for half of the night imagining different What If's and possible solution of the situation. And I am afraid that a sequel might be rather bleak and disappointing.
Rating:  
    3/5 

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Eight Children and a Truck by Anne-Cath. Vestly

Author: Anne-Cath. Vestly
Original title: Åtte små, to store og en lastebil
Pages: 175
Edition Language: Russian
Series: Eight Children #1
Format: Hardcover
Genres: Childrens
Goodreads

Blurb:     
    Eight Children and a Truck concerns a family with eight children living in a small apartment in Oslo and their adventures.

My thoughts: 
      It was a lovely children's book, worthy of Lindgren. It was so fun, warm and moving. The whole book is full of kindness and sincerity. The huge family with limited financial resources find joy and pleasure and magic in the small, everyday things like a pirate party, painting the floor, going into the forest or riding in a tram. Even unpleasant and disagreeable people are not so bad when it comes to life tests. In this book such values as kindness, sincerity, family ties and even forgiveness are shown in such a simple and accessible way, what I have no doubt that a child will get it. And grown-ups will be left with a warm cozy feeling of something light and heartwarming coming in their life.
Rating:  
    4/5 

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Sunday Post #18, Sun is Back

The Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things received, and share news about what is coming up on the blog for the week ahead. To get in on the Sunday fun, see the rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

 Outside the Blog
   I finally got back into audio books and listened to The Diviners by Libba Bray. It is funny but I grade the narration 5 stars and the story itself 3 stars. I have my doubts to continue with the series as I was quite bored through this book.
   I am not able to resume movie watching, I already have quite a queue, but do not have inspiration to start from anything. I would say TV and Movie slump.
   After a couple of weeks of rainy and cold weather the sun is finally coming back and temperature is rising to 22 degrees. The best weather to enjoy the autumn colours.

   Last on the Blog
Next on the Blog
  • I will review The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
  • I will review Eight Children and a Truck by Anne-Cath. Vestly
  • I will publish September 2017 Wrap up
  • I will review Love Virtually by Daniel Glattauer
  • I will review Goodnight June by Sarah Jio
Newcomers on my Shelf
      I am trying to finish Pop Sugar Reading Challenge till the end of the year and got two following books to cover 5 and 37 requirement.
1. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
2. The Circle by Dave Eggers

Saturday, October 14, 2017

August 2017 Wrap up

Read books: 
read: 6/ listen: 0/ pages: 2364/ hours listened: 0
1. The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman p.296
2. The Son by Jo Nesbø p.527 - my review
3. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith p. 509 - my review
4. Blood Ties by Samantha Hayes p. 543 - my review
5. The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare p. 273 -  my review
6. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness p. 216 - my review

Movie watched: 
None this month due to the broken PC.

Challenges overview:
Goodreads Reading Challenge: 39/50
Pages Read Challenge: 11048/12000
Audiobook Challenge: 6/15
Russian Literature: 2/30
World of Literature: 9/50 (NO)
Booker Prize Project: 3
Classics Club: 1/50

Friday, October 13, 2017

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Author: Patrick Ness
Original title: A Monster Calls
Pages: 216
Edition Language: English
Series:no
Format: Paperback
Genres: YA, Fantasy
Goodreads

Blurb:     
An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

My thoughts: 
      I have read this book on the advice of the Booktube. I guess if 60% of the bloggers that I am following did not raved so much about it, I most probably would just watch a movie. Because of all the hype, I put too much expectations on the book and forgot that it is YA. So at the end it almost left me untouched. Do not get me wrong, I liked it, I liked the poetic writing, I liked the fairy tale structure and the topic is very sensitive and deep; it just all this did not make me think about the book afterwards. It was like: yeh, touching, close the book, what is next on the shelf.
      I believe that if I were younger, I would appreciate the book more, after all it is really good story and greatly told. It deals with grief handling and shows the agony the child goes through with a sick parent. That was a really interesting point of view I never considered and understood before.
Rating:  
    3,5/5 

Thursday, October 12, 2017

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Author: Victoria Schwab
Original title: The Archived
Pages: 384

Edition Language: Russian
Series: The Archived #1
Format: e-book
Genres: YA, Contemporary
Goodreads

Blurb:     
      Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
     Mac has grown into a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves. In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.


My thoughts: 
      What can I say? This is my first acquaintance with Victoria Schwab and unfortunately not a happy one. I hear about this author almost on every book channel that I watched and decided to read something by her. I do not know why I have chosen this book, but I did not like it at all. I have so many issues with it: firstly I was greatly bored by the narration - it was rather slow, secondly, I was terribly irritated by main characters Mac and this other Keeper, and finally, I was disappointed by the author style.
     As for the first point slowness, by the time there was some action I was already half way through the book and utterly bored. As for the main characters...I think Mac should be kicked out of her job straight away. Being on a dangerous job the best thing she does is not telling her supervisors about abnormalities. If she would behave as a normal employee behaves in an unknown hazardous situation, this book would not happen. And the rest of her decision making has been just so poor that I kept rolling my eyes. And finally the style: the story is terribly repetitive, we have description of everything all over and over again: his eyes were underlined, the walls were vibrating, the key hole was lightened and all those tiny details repeating again and again...I guess it could be twice shorter.
    What I liked is the idea itself: our memories in the shape of our body stored like a book in a library, but I am not sure I want to continue with the series.

Rating: 
    2,5/5 

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Author: Neil Gaiman
Original title:The Graveyard Book
Pages: 543
Edition Language: English
Series: no 
Format: Paperback 
Genres: YA, Fantasy
Goodreads

Blurb:     
    Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts.
    There are dangers and adventures for Bod in the graveyard. But it is in the land of the living that real danger lurks for it is there that the man Jack lives and he has already killed Bod's family.


My thoughts: 
      I found this story rather amusing. Every chapter is reads as a separate short story with a common plot line: life of Nobody Owens in a graveyard. You can meet a bunch of ghosts which are mostly nice and charming. But some other strange creatures are not so charming and sometimes terribly dangerous. I liked the story altogether and think it might be rather spooky for a young reader, but still I have some dis-satisfactory places in the book which interfered my enjoyment. To my mind the theme of Jacks is not thoroughly worked through, it leaves too many questions: where they came from, what is their purpose, their methods and so on. Maybe it is described in some other Gaiman's book, don't know. And Silas, Bod's guardian is also left in a obscurity. We see him only in action but do not get too much about him as a person or creature if you like and about his history. I find the book without those explanation not a full one.
Rating: 
    3/5 

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Thief by Maurice Leblanc

Author: Maurice Leblanc
Original title: Arsène Lupin, gentleman-cambrioleur
Pages: 254
Edition Language: Russian
Series: Arsène Lupin #1
Format: Paperback 
Genres: Classics, Mystery
Goodreads

Blurb:     
   Created by Maurice LeBlanc during the early twentieth century, Arsene Lupin is a witty confidence man and burglar, the Sherlock Holmes of crime. The poor and innocent have nothing to fear from him; often they profit from his spontaneous generosity. The rich and powerful, and the detective who tries to spoil his fun, however, must beware. They are the target of Arsene’s mischief and tomfoolery.  Sparkling with amusing banter, these stories—the best of the Lupin series—are outrageous, melodramatic, and literate.

My thoughts: 
      I have never heard about this Sherlock Holmes of crime, and I happy to read this book. It is not I am now a fan of Arsene Lupin and will read all the books, but really enjoyed the book and found it an easy and funny read. The book is full of style and  high society demeanor. You can feel the book was written at the beginning of the 20th century by the author style: it is so calm, full of dignity and manners. Unfortunately, the characters and adventure seem a bit out of date and someone who is just getting into the series must not expect mind-blowing events and action, but a cozy and enjoyable read.
Rating:
    3/5 

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Sunday Post #17, October blues

The Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things received, and share news about what is coming up on the blog for the week ahead. To get in on the Sunday fun, see the rules here: Sunday Post Meme.  
Outside the Blog
    I skipped some of the Sunday post due to good weather. I was just not able to write anything on the weekend since it was so nice outside that we walked in the parks most of the free time at weekends.
There is so much going on in October, but I decided to stick to the plan to clean my shelves of some quite old TBRs. But if you would like some challenges there is some ideas what to read in October:
1. Victober - one of the host's video- Where we will be reading Victorian Literature in the month of October.
2. Mercedes' from MercysBookishMusings Autumn Readathon 22.10-28.10.2017
3. Kingtober with Alex's Fiction Addiction

   Last on the Blog
Next on the Blog
  • I will review Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Thief by Maurice Leblanc
  • I will review The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • I will publish August 2017 Wrap up
  • I will review A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
  • I will review The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Newcomers on my Shelf
       I have bought some books these weeks:
1. The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke
2. The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon
3. The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike, #2) by Robert Galbraith
4. Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike, #3) by Robert Galbraith

Thursday, October 5, 2017

The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas

Author: Alexandre Dumas
Original title: La tulipe noire
Pages: 349
Edition Language: Russian
Series: no 
Format: Paperback 
Genres: Classics, Historical Fiction
Goodreads

Blurb:     
    A deceptively simple story and the shortest of Dumas's most famous novels, The Black Tulip (1850) weaves historical events surrounding a brutal murder into a tale of romantic love. Set in Holland in 1672, this timeless political allegory draws on the violence and crimes of history, making a case against tyranny and creating a symbol of justice and tolerance: the fateful tulipa negra.

My thoughts: 
      It was a re-read for me. The shortest novel by Dumas and a great story of love. If you survive the first chapters of brutal bloodbath that set the plot in Holland in 1670s you will then follow the touching and innocent love of two young people and the overwhelming and brutal struggle over such a small but great phenomenon as the Black Tulip. Sometimes it sounds like a joke -  a whole book about one particular flower, and still it is so full of action, emotional strain and strong feelings. Dumas's descriptive style pictures the nature, style and manners; and while following the story of two beloved, we see the clear picture of the land and people at that time.
Rating:  
    4/5