Thursday, February 28, 2019

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

Author: Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling
Original title: The Silkworm
Pages: 574
Edition Language: Russian
Series: Cormoran Strike #2
Format: Paperback 
Genres: Thriller, Mystery  
Goodreads

Blurb:     
      When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike.
    As Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance than his wife realizes. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. 
    When Quine is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any Strike has encountered before... 

My thoughts: 
     It was okay, not that dull and tedious as the first book. The characters are quite well drawn and unique, but the writing does not sit well with me, I get frustrated really fast. I cannot say that I enjoyed the book, though I read it fast. It is a strange fact: I like the characters but I do not like the book.

Rating: 
    2/5 

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

WWW Wednesday and Library Loot, February 27th


WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Sam over at Taking on a World of Words. A similar meme, This Week in Books is hosted by Lipsyy Lost and Found.

Description: WWW Wednesday is a weekly event where you share answers Below questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
  
I am currently reading books:

1. Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
2. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert 

I have finished:
1. Tales of Belkin by Alexander Pushkin
2. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

I am planning to start with the following books as part of Middle Grade March
1. Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder by Jo Nesbo
2. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
3. Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
 
Hosted by: The Captive Reader and Silly Little Mischief
Description: Library Loot is a weekly event that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.

I got 1 books from the library this week for my Classics and Russian literature challenge.

1. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
      Dr. Yury Zhivago, Pasternak's alter ego, is a poet, philosopher, and physician whose life is disrupted by the war and by his love for Lara, the wife of a revolutionary. His artistic nature makes him vulnerable to the brutality and harshness of the Bolsheviks. The poems he writes constitute some of the most beautiful writing featured in the novel.

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Middle Grade March Announcement and TBR 2019

Middle Grade March is a month long readathon happening March 1-31. It will be hosted by Katie @ Life Between Words  and Krista from BooksAndJams.
Katie's Announcement Video
Krista's Announcement Video
Don't forget to use the hashtag #middlegrademarch so we can follow your reading!

CHALLENGES (optional, of course):
In order to help you choose books for the month we have five challenges or guides.
1. A nonfiction or book based on true events
2. Book with a nonhuman main character
3. A fantasy
4. Book written in verse
5. A diverse read

    I do not read too many so I put up quite a big TBR list I can choose from depending on the mood.

1. I want to check Jo Nesbo's series about Doctor Proctor. Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder, Bubble in the Bathtub, Doctor Proctor Who Cut the Cheese?, The Great Gold Robbery are the four books so far and quite chunky, so it will be good to start and see if it any good.

2. For challenge #2 I have a book sitting on my TBR for some years The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

3. For challenge #3 I have Inkspell by Cornelia Funke. It is sitting on my shelves for more then a year.

4. Additionally I have 6 books by Michael Bond about bear called Paddington. I guess it does not fall under middle grade rules, but I need to read it someday, so why not during March.

Challenges #1,3,5 are quite difficult for me as do not read much children books, so I will wait for recommendations from the hosts.

Monday, February 25, 2019

Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray

Author: Libba Bray
Original title: Before the Devil Breaks You
Edition Language: English  
Series: The Diviners #3  
Genres: Fantasy  
Format: Audio book  
Read by: January LaVoy
Duration: 21h26m
Goodreads 

 Blurb:     
    After battling a supernatural sleeping sickness that early claimed two of their own, the Diviners have had enough of lies. They're more determined than ever to uncover the mystery behind their extraordinary powers, even as they face off against an all-new terror. With terrible accounts of murder and possession flooding in from all over, and New York City on the verge of panic, the Diviners must band together and brave the sinister ghosts invading the asylum, a fight that will bring them fact-to-face with the King of Crows. But as the explosive secrets of the past come to light, loyalties and friendships will be tested, love will hang in the balance, and the Diviners will question all that they've ever known. All the while, malevolent forces gather from every corner in a battle for the very soul of a nation--a fight that could claim the Diviners themselves. 

My thoughts:
      I was waiting so much for this book and was a bit disappointed by it. First of all, I did not like how it ended. The first two books were logically rounded and felt like completed stories. This one, however, ended on a cliffhanger and none of the story lines were completed. Secondly, there was too much sex in the end: it felt like an end-of-the-world resolution: almost everyone coupled in about 2-3 chapters. It is not that I am against love lines, but all of them were rushed together and it felt too much at the end, though I was waiting for some couples come together for almost 3 books.
     And, finally, the new characters that were introduced in this book were not enchanting and I did not feel for them. And the deaths of the old ones just broke my heart! Why? Just why? Does not make sense to me at all.
      Altogether, I think the book was a bit rushed, so much action and not much motivation behind. And after all the adventures in book 1 and 2, I expect more self-control and patience of Evie and others, since they learned that the world is not black and white, but the only rational person is still Ling Chan and Henry. Definitely a weaker book than Lair of Dreams but still solid and I am looking forward to the final one.
Rating:  
    4/5 

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Sunday Post #39, Life Slump

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
      It seems I am falling into "life slump". Every day seems like a previous one: same routine, same stuff, same weather, I feel tired and irritable. Maybe it is some kind of the slowness before the spring hits, as everything around seems as well in some sleepy anticipation.
   This week I hardly read, I listen to some part of Great Alone and love the story, but my listening opportunities are limited, so it is going on slowly.
    I found some free time for a movie and chose Widows (2018) and did not like it. This movie dragged so much, unnecessary scenes, badly written dialogue, so many story lines, that are left undeveloped and thus essentially irrelevant. The only positive point was the acting - it was really good. I regret I spent my time on this movie.
 Last on the Blog
Next on the Blog
  • On Monday I will review Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray
  • On Tuesday I will publish Middle Grade March Announcement and TBR 2019
  • On Wednesday I will publish WWW Wednesday and Library Loot
  • On Thursday I will review The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
  • On Friday I will publish Friday in Memes #3
  • On Saturday I will review Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
  Newcomers on my Shelf
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
I am not sure why I grabbed it, as I have read many negative review on it, but it was a good deal and I'd better check for myself.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Author: Neil Gaiman
Original title: Norse Mythology
Edition Language: English
Series: no
Genres: Mythology
Format: Audio book
Read by: Neil Gaiman 
Duration: 6h29m
Goodreads

Blurb:
Gaiman stays true to the myths while vividly reincarnating Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, the son of giants, a trickster and unsurpassed manipulator. From Gaiman’s deft and witty prose emerges the gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to dupe others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again
My thoughts:
      I thought I am going to hate the book. First of all, I am not Neil Gaiman's fan. Secondly, I hate mythology. But I have heard so many absolutely different reviews: from the most enthusiastic to the most negative. 
    I am not an expert of the mythology and especially Norse, I did not even watch Thor movies, so I cannot judge how accurate Gaiman interpreted the myths, but the way he did it I liked. Each story was narrated in a simple way with only the gist of the story without flowery description lost in thousands of names. If any name came across it was explained over and over again, for me it was a great help as you cannot read a mythology book in one sitting and after a day or two I start to forget who is who. So after this book I have a better understanding of Norse Gods names and rule structure than if I read some scholarly book on the subject. I wish I had something like this in my youth about Greek mythology. Maybe I would end up loving this subject as Gaiman does.
Rating: 
         4/5 

Friday, February 22, 2019

February 22, Friday in Memes #2

The Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop's purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

This Week's Book Blogger Hop Question:
What's your favourite bookish accessory that's NOT a book? (submitted by Angelica @ Paperback Princess)

My Answer:
If Kindle is considered a book and not accessory, then I guess I have none. I love reading and I do not need some special lamp, bookmark etc. to enjoy the reading. I do read everywhere and in different circumstances.

Book Beginnings of Fridays hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader. A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. 
The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice. Join us every Friday and share an excerpt from a book you’ve been reading.

Goodreads
My Book Beginnings:
The sleeping woman will feel nothing the next morning, only a vague sense of unease and the unshakable feeling that someone is watching her.
My 56:
We ate and slept in the big building. Between five and six hundred people had bled out in there, but the floor and walls had been bleached and the cots they died on had been burned. It still smelled faintly of the Pestilence (a little like soured milk), and the bleach hadn't removed all the bloodstains. There were patterns of tiny spots covering the walls and long, sickle-shaped stains on the floor. It was like living in a 3-D abstract painting.
Outline: I literally know nothing about the book, and I am actually hooked by the beginning and 56 quote. It might be disappointing in the end but for now I am up to it.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

The Sandman by Lars Kepler

Author: Lars Kepler
Original title:  Sandmannen
Pages: 490
Edition Language: English
Series: Joona Linna #4
Format: Paperback
Genres: Crime
Goodreads

Blurb:    
       Jurek Walter is serving a life sentence. Kept in solitary confinement, he is still considered extremely dangerous by psychiatric staff. He's Sweden's most prolific serial killer.
He'll lull you into a sense of calm.
      Mikael knows him as “the sandman”. Seven years ago, he was taken from his bed along with his sister. They are both presumed dead.
     When Mikael is discovered on a railway line, close to death, the hunt begins for his sister. To get to the truth, Detective Inspector Joona Linna will need to get closer than ever to the man who stripped him of a family; the man who wants Linna dead.

 
My thoughts:
      I did not know it is a part of the series when I started it. I hope I did not miss much in the character development of the main character of Joona Linna. The first time I encountered Lars Kepler's writing was undoubtedly nice. It is highly probable that the Nordic location influences my affection. This novel was fast and captivating read with dynamic plot, but still it missed something to enter into the list of my favorite thrillers, but anyway it is a good thriller.
      The story is quite original, however the end leaves some shadows, most probably for further sequels.
Rating:  
    3/5 

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

WWW Wednesday and Library Loot, February 20th

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Sam over at Taking on a World of Words. A similar meme, This Week in Books is hosted by Lipsyy Lost and Found.
Description: WWW Wednesday is a weekly event where you share answers Below questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
  
I am currently reading 3 books:

1. I have almost finished Tales of Belkin and Other Prose Writings by Alexander Pushkin 
2. I have just started Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
3. I am half way through  The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

I have finished:
1. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
2. Headhunters by Jo Nesbø

I am planning to start with the following books:
1. Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
and maybe
2. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan


Hosted by: The Captive Reader and Silly Little Mischief
Description: Library Loot is a weekly event that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.

I did not go to the library this week. I have such huge TBR that library hauls really scary me)))

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

February 19, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week’s TTT topic is Books I LOVED with Fewer than 2,000 Ratings on Goodreads


It was a hard work to find those books)) I was taking into consideration only books translated into English. I am quite curious to see other lists, I guess mostly will be translated works.

1. The Last Quarter of the Moon by Chi Zijian- 181 ratings

      At the end of the twentieth-century an old woman sits among the birch trees and thinks back over her life, her loves, and the joys and tragedies that have befallen her family and her people. She is a member of the Evenki tribe who wander the remote forests of north-eastern China with their herds of reindeer, living in close sympathy with nature at its most beautiful and cruel. I loved this book, even though I was reading it for several months.

2. Thais of Athens by Ivan Efremov - 1,188 ratings

    Set in the era of Alexander the Great, the book tells a story of an Athenian hetaera Thais, whose fascinating image captured our hearts and minds. Her adventures, masterfully described by the author, hold your attention from the very first page and make you fall in love with the heroine.
 

3. The Waif of the "Cynthia" by André Laurie and Jules Verne - 107 ratings

 A novel about a young man's search for his identity leads him through Arctic exploration. Eric is a waif and adopted by a Norwegian family. He does not know anything about his family, country or heritage. One of my most favorite books from childhood. And though everything comes together too conveniently it is a great adventurous story about exploring Arctic.

5. The Hidden Light of Objects by Mai Al-Nakib - 194 ratings

    The language was very flowery and the headlines tell of war, unrest and religious clashes. But if you look beyond them you may see life in the Middle East – adolescent love, yearnings for independence, the fragility of marriage and life. Although her stories are accessible and easy to read, there is an undeniable depth.  
This is a short story collection and it was difficult to say if I loved it immensely or not.

6. Lou-lan by Yasushi Inoue - 10 ratings

      Lou-lan is a collection of stories by Inoue Yasushi. I realized that different editions of the book have different stories. Mine has eight. All of them are situated in ancient China.
     The Yasushi’s narration is really enchanting, though not easy. There are a lot of names and dates and footnotes. But I liked the way dry history comes to life with a colorful mythical touch, and random characters introductions whom we can empathize with.

7. Eight Children and a Truck by Anne-Cath. Vestly - 379 ratings

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.

8.  Asya / First Love by Ivan Turgenev - 580 ratings

     When I read two novellas Asya and First Love I was impressed by the ability of the author to create such dramatic, extraordinary stories and turn them into a masterpiece from a seemingly simple and straightforward situation. Turgenev's writing style is poetic and melancholic, I devoured every word and every sentence admiring his exceptional skill of using words. The magnificent and vivid descriptions of the people and places in the stories made them tangible and so familiar.

Monday, February 18, 2019

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Author: Mark Haddon
Original title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Pages: 272
Edition Language: English
Series: no
Format: Paperback
Genres: Contemporary
Goodreads

Blurb:    
   The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is a murder mystery novel like no other. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's Syndrome. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He loves lists, patterns and the truth. He hates the colours yellow and brown and being touched. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour's dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down.
My thoughts: 
     I just LOVED the theater adaptations of this book. I went to two performances in two different languages and loved it every time. Sad, heart-breaking story. However, the book was a complete torture. I was struggling for months and could not care less for Christopher. It bored me immensely and I do not know on what power I finished it. It does not mean that I am giving up on the author. On the contrary, I think that the Christopher's perspective did not sit with me well and I am looking forward to other books of Mark Haddon.

Rating:  
    2/5   

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Sunday Post #37, Sping Warmth

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
      It is so warm outside during the day that it is difficult to believe that it is still February. But the nights remind me that winter is still here.
I have come to the cinema for the first time in this month; there are not many movies that interest me, and after watching the trailers I feel desperate - it seems there will be nothing worth seeing for some time.
So I watched Alita: Battle Angel and I really enjoyed the combination of action and visual composition. I am not an expert to discuss those types of movies in details, but it is definitely is a good one.

 Last on the Blog
  • On Monday I will review The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
  • On Tuesday I will publish Top Ten Tuesday
  • On Wednesday I will publish WWW Wednesday and Library Loot
  • On Thursday I will review The Sandman by Lars Kepler
  • On Friday I will publish Friday in Memes #2
  • On Saturday I will review Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
  Newcomers on my Shelf
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Friday, February 15, 2019

February 15, Friday in Memes #1

The Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop's purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.


This Week's Book Blogger Hop Question:
Have you ever thought about taking a break from blogging/Booktubing? If you have, how long was the break and what did you learn from it? (submitted by Danielle @ PoetryBooksYA)

My Answer:
I never wanted, but I took a long involuntary break. I was traveling and was not posting anything and then it was just difficult to get back. I had a huge pack of books to overview and I guess I was lazy, but in the end I could not stay any longer away from the blog.

Book Beginnings of Fridays hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader. A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think.

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice. Join us every Friday and share an excerpt from a book you’ve been reading.

Goodreads
 My Book Beginnings:
A convenience store is a world of sounds.
My 56:
When something was strange, everyone thought they had the right to come stomping in all over your life to figure out why. I found that arrogant and infuriating, not to mention a pain in the neck. Sometimes I even wanted to hit them with a shovel to shut them up, like I did that time in the elementary school.
Outline: This is the book about the woman who works in a convenience store and loves it. But in the modern society it is difficult to understand a person who is satisfied with a part-time low paid job. And every one was still trying to "cure" her. It is a quick read and a bit upsetting.

Wayward Pines by Blake Crouch and TV series

Author: Blake Crouch
Original title: Pines; Wayward; The Last Town
Edition Language: English
Series: Wayward Pines
Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Format: Audio book
Read by: Paul Michael Garcia
Duration: 8h33m; 8h39m; 6h36m
Goodreads

Blurb:
Secret service agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a clear mission: locate and recover two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase.  Why can’t he get any phone calls through to his wife and son in the outside world? Why doesn’t anyone believe he is who he says he is? And what is the purpose of the electrified fences surrounding the town? Are they meant to keep the residents in? Or something else out? 

My thoughts:
     I loved the series. The story was captivating and fast paced. The idea behind the series is great.
     The main point is to get into the book without knowing anything. Do not read any reviews and reaction. Even the indication the genre can be a spoiler. Just read the first book and you know for sure if you will like it or not.
 Rating:  
    4/5 

Name: Wayward Pines
Year: 2015-2016
Creator: Chad Hodge
Cast: Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Toby Jones, Shannyn Sossamon, Matt Dillon
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Language: English
Country: USA
Time: 20 episodes

      I was looking forward to TV series even that I know the BIG TWIST, still I was sure I would enjoy it.
     First couple of series of the first season, I was a bit irritated as I did not know where the series are going and I did not like little omissions in the plot. Then I calmed down and thought: "Here it is a new twist to the series, it is going to be different with different characteristics and motivations". But for a long time I could not believe that nurse Pam is actually being on the good side! Can you just imagine my shock? There must be a catch! It is a pity, that the suspense that I felt in the movie was not so intense, and in the series it felt more as an evil town turned against proper Ethan Burke, and not so much of his fear of going mad. But altogether the first season was a solid part of a story.
     The second season made really angry and agitated. I actually hated how they twisted the story and it felt like another apocalyptic teen movie with the only difference: there was no "chosen one". Oh no, wait, there was - Jason. The beginning was abrupt and not logical (you guys get on the wagon and catch up later) - it felt like I started the season from the 2 episode, and every episode was about someone's death from the season 1. What was the point? What's the point to bring old characters in episode 2 and kill them in episode 3 -  just to connect the seasons? It really irritated me - the plot felt so raw, illogical and crumpled that I really wish I could un-watch this season. And I really hated how they handled Adam Hassler in the series. In the book he is a really dramatic figure and though he is not in the foreground, he is quite a strong and unique character. In the series, he is actually some kind of hysteric weirdo who did not wash for ages.
      So the second season hinted my enjoyment of Wayward Pines
  
Rating:  
    2,5/5 

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Six of Crows Series by Leigh Bardugo

Author: Leigh Bardugo
Original title: Six of Crows; Crooked Kingdom
Pages: 576; 672
Edition Language: Russian
Series: Six of Crows
Format: e-book
Genres: Fantasy, YA
Goodreads

Blurb:    
       Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…
      Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

  
My thoughts: 
    Overall, I'm rating this duology three stars which means that I quite enjoyed it but was not so involved. These books are 100% character driven with a cast of six unique and lovable anti-heroes. The world is easy to get into and the characters are quick to love. I highly appreciate that everyone was given an individual voice and that all six of them had different struggles, but ultimately, by working on a shared goal, managed to overcome them together.
      I loved the aspect of friendship and the romantic relationships were not so heavy and did not make me roll my eyes as it usually happens with YA. Nina and Matthias just won my heart. Also, I love the fact that Nina is fat and loves food and everyone loves her for it and she isn't shamed at all.
     And though it was a fast and captivating read I enjoyed more the character development than the heist itself.
Rating:  
    3/5