StPetersburg

The Reading Adventure: 100 Books to Check Out Before You're 12 | DK, We Need Diverse Books

One of my favorite #indies, #TomboloBooks in #StPetersburg FL, is on this list of #diversebookstores! This #BlackFriday, let‘s support #independentbookstores! https://www.diversebooks.org/resources/diversebookstores

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BookishTrish

City of Night Birds: A Novel | Juhea Kim

so-so

I loved the author‘s first book and had high expectations for this one. I LOVE reading about Russian ballerinas. I‘m not sure why, but I feel like I was being kept at a remove from these characters. It was difficult to root for them or empathize.

40 likes

Librarybelle

City of Night Birds: A Novel | Juhea Kim

pick

Light pick. This offers a glimpse into the politics of Russian ballet, told in dual timelines from the MC Natasha‘s perspective. There‘s a lot not to like about Natasha, but her determination and perseverance in dance is noteworthy. Natasha slowly tells her story, and for me the slow pace of the story would have been better reading a physical book rather than listening to the audio. Honestly, I struggled with the audio and the voice actress. ⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️ Her inflections in sentences seemed to be in the wrong place. At times, the story was portrayed with little emotion, and at other times too much emotion. This works well with some stories, but I‘m not sure that was the best choice for this one. My recommendation: read the book, skip the audio. 11mo

LeeRHarry I have this one to pick up from the library. 11mo

Librarybelle @LeeRHarry I hope you enjoy! 11mo

65 likes2 stack adds3 comments

marleed

City of Night Birds: A Novel | Juhea Kim

pick

I stacked this book expecting to read HS inspired by the Russian art world defections. Good thing the MC explained early on she was 7 in 1992 so I could adjust my head to a current story. It was hard to root for the MC, Natalia, because she was so self-involved (as her profession demands). She tells the reader her sweat doesn‘t smell and describes herself among the great artists so it becomes obvious her character is one to simply observe.

62 likes1 stack add

Hooked_on_books

City of Night Birds: A Novel | Juhea Kim

pick

In 2 time lines we follow Natasha, Russian prima ballerina, after she has retired and may be drawn back in to dance, and as she grows up to reach the pinnacle of ballet. Overall I liked the story but I suggest sticking with print. The audio reader is awful and nearly made me bail early.

LeahBergen I‘ve been intrigued by this one! 12mo

Amiable I like that cover—the colors are pretty. 12mo

Librarybelle I‘m listening to this right now, and I agree about the narration! I think I would be enjoying this just more if I had the print version. 12mo

marleed Yeah, I think Natalia‘s character is so distant and self-absorbed in a world where those two things are what the reader expects her to be. But it made it hard to root for her. I liked the story - the Mc born 1985 while I was expecting a HF defection story from the 19th century, but I found I observed rather than rooted for Natalia. 12mo

42 likes4 comments

suvata

The House of Special Purpose | John Boyne

Read in August 2024...
19 BOOKS

Six 5-Star reads this month:
• The House Of Special Purpose
• The Waste Land
• Paradise
• Daughters of Olympus
• The True Story of Hansel and Gretel
• What Is a Woman?

#Goodreads #Bookstagram #OUABC #Litsy
#Libby #Everand #Audible #Kindle

kspenmoll 🙌🏻🙌🏻 1y

29 likes1 comment

suvata

The House of Special Purpose | John Boyne

pick

5 Stars • Two words told me this was the book for me. #Romanov #JohnBoyne

"The House of Special Purpose" by John Boyne is a historical novel that intertwines the personal story of protagonist Georgy Jachmenev with the tumultuous backdrop of the Russian Revolution. Set in the early 20th century, the narrative follows Georgy, a young peasant boy who inadvertently saves the life of the Tsar's uncle ⬇️

suvata and is subsequently appointed as a companion to the Tsarevich Alexei. The story unfolds through flashbacks, juxtaposing Georgy's life as an elderly man in 1981 with his experiences during the fall of the Romanov dynasty. It explores themes of love, tragedy, and the impact of historical events on individual lives. 1y

rubyslippersreads This sounds fascinating. 1y

suvata @rubyslippersreads it was so good. 1y

Cuilin I loved this book. Really good storytelling. 1y

suvata @Cuilin totally agree 1y

37 likes3 stack adds5 comments