I am disappointed and quite angry. For a while, I enjoyed the book immensely. It was clever, it was fresh and interesting, and it was (mostly) true to characters.
Then, about halfway through the book, a huge WTF moment. After this, the whole book really fell apart for me. It seemed to lose focus.
Although the novel has its moments, and the language is beautiful throughout, I'm not interested in continuing the trilogy.

Dear #HashtagBrigade I'd like to recommend the Literary Life podcast to you. All of their stuff is pure gold, and they've just started a series on The Age of Innocence. The episode on the first chapters is already available and completely spoiler free.
https://www.theliterary.life/289-2/

I find it immensely difficult to rate/review this book. It held my attention and made me think. It also annoyed me, I was often pulled out of the narrative by the author's constant presence.
It was an intriguing reading experience but I can't really decide if I liked it or not.

A slow book with intricate character studies, this one was perfect for a chapter-a-day buddy read. During the first few chapters, I didn't quite know what to expect, but then gradually the book grew on me, and before long I realized I was looking forward to the daily chapters.
Thanks for leading us through this @BarkingMadRead whose hashtags were hilarious as usual, and a shout-out to @mcctrish whose rage posts I was looking forward to each day 😂

A pleasant and useful book about Non-Violent Communication, I found it more easily digestible than the original by Rosenberg. The detailed case studies especially helped me see how the method can be implemented in ordinary situations. I think the techniques described can be more useful when dealing with poor communication rather than using them to elaborate on why we feel grateful -- the latter felt somewhat forced and unnecessary to me.

I've always loved Cornwell's battle scenes, and in this book, they really get center stage. The brutal reality of medieval warfare may even be a more important character than any of the named individuals. How armies were built up, how they travelled, what a siege and a battle looked, felt, and smelled like are described in detail, as is some of the aftermath.
⬇️

So I've just read the play from Mansfield Park 🤓

Short, quick paced, and easy to read, Lovers' Vows is an entertaining little play with some humour. I picked it up to gain a deeper understanding of Mansfield Park, and it will be valuable when thinking about role choices and relationships in the novel. However, I'm not sure the play would linger with me on its own merits.

#JaneAustenThenAndNow @Crinoline_Laphroaig

It took me a long time to finish this one. While it was informative, I basically had the same issue with it as with the collection of Jane Austen's letters: there were so many names and ordinary events.
It's a well researched and comprehensive biography, and the author is clearly passionate about her subject matter. However, I personally would have been happier with fewer details about the wider social circle around Jane Austen.

I found Children of Time absolutely mind-blowing, and I came to this book expecting to be blown away again. Sadly, it didn't happen.
Full review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6719789031

Exposure reads like a legal thriller, and the chilling thing is that all of it is real. As the subtitle suggests, Rob Bilott recounts how he uncovered what nasty practices had been going on at DuPont for decades, and he does so using easy-to-follow English despite the number of chemical and legal terms popping up in the narrative.
I'd seen Dark Waters earlier, still the book was worth reading ...

Roman Blood follows Gordianus, a private eye in the Roman Republic, working on murder case. While the premise sounded intriguing, the book as a whole was a disappointment for me. It was slow, and there were lots of chapters that did nothing to further the plot. Many historical details were weaved into the story, but these couldn't save it for me personally, and I lost interest in both the whodunit part and the characters' fates.

I wasn't blown away but I enjoyed reading this. The author successfully modernized the book, the contemporary setting felt realistic and believable. Jane (the Marianne character) and Callum (Col. Brandon) worked well as viewpoint characters, their first-hand experiences added to the story.
(Dislikes to come in a comment.)
Overall, it was a nice read, but nowhere near as entertaining or insightful as the original. #JaneAustenThenAndNow

January was a great reading month, with a 5-star and some 4-star books. I loved The Conqueror's Wife, enjoyed some buddy reads (although I didn't have enough patience for Lark Rise), and started some non-fiction books that will be finished in February.
#montlywrapup

I found the novel very engaging. I liked that it didn't spoon-feed the discussion of historical events, but assumed a reader who is familiar with the basics.
However, I feel that the book could have been much more impactful if the two central characters had been given more emotional space. Both go through numerous traumas, but as a reader I understood rather than felt these. ⬇️

I'm not much of an audio person as far as reading is concerned, but it was a lovely experience to do this re-read as an audiobook.
As other #Pemberlittens have noted, I too picked up on the characters' ages this time around, Lord Middleton was a particular surprise, since I'd remembered him as an elderly gentleman, and it turned out he was only 40!
#JaneAustenThenAndNow

Behind each historical figure, there's a group of people that shapes them and is shaped by them in return. This book gives a voice to such a group of people. The title is somewhat misleading, as it's not only the story of Alexander the Great's wife, but also his sister, his friend/lover, and a Persian princess. Their struggles and hardships ... ⬇️

I enjoyed this collection and the discussions. Thanks @Cuilin and @dabbe 😊
#noplacelikeHolmes

I had serious doubts in November but had more reading time during winter break and finally managed to complete the 52nd prompt today 🎉
I enjoyed the challenge and read many books that I wouldn't have picked up otherwise. At points, however, it felt like a chore, and I am relieved that from now on I'm free to choose whatever I feel like on impulse.
Thanks for cheering me on, it was great to share this adventure with you!
#52bookclub24

My next 4 books for #52bookclub24 ; another great reading month.

Két feleség (Two Wives, not in the Litsy database) included two thought-provoking novellas about love, desire, and the ghosts of the dead haunting living couples. My first book from this author (Sándor Bródy) but definitely not the last.

(more in the comments)

My next 4 books for #52bookclub24
I loved Uhtred's last adventure (tagged), and I'll miss him a lot. More in the comments.

Here are my next 4 books for #52bookclub24
I am absolutely blown away by Children of Time, and I can't recommend it highly enough. I finished it last night and I have a massive book hangover. While it is (partly) about a civilisation built by sentient spiders (talk about a personal phobia!), Tchaikovsky managed to have me sympathize with them. Just wow.

Here are my next 4 books for #52bookclub24
I wasn't blown away by The Thursday Murder Club, but it was OK. The Secret History by Donna Tartt turned out to be an unexpected gem that I had picked up thanks to this challenge. Sorry I'm Late was kind of interesting, but I found it much less relatable than expected. The 4th book was about Hungary's history in 1918-1919, super intriguing but difficult to read due to all the info that was in it.

My next 4 books for #52bookclub24
I read book 12 of the Saxon Tales for a smelly book - lots of smells, especially in the London scenes.
Wide Sargasso Sea was kind of interesting but also difficult to read and overall a disappointment for me.
The Jókai book was full of twists and turns, I enjoyed it immensely (title translates roughly as Soul Tamer)
The Little Sister didn't quite hold my attention, but I guess I picked it up at a wrong time.

My next 4 books for #52bookclub24
The series made me re-read one of my all-time favourites, The Talented Mr Ripley, and enjoyed it immensely. The Hobbit was a good read, but fantasy is still not my cup of tea. The Man Called Ove was a disappointment, I'd read from and loved Backman before, but this one, I just couldn't warm up to it. Slaughterhouse Five made me think. A lot.

#52bookclub24 Here are the next 4 books I've read for the challenge. I tagged my favourite out of the four, which made me think a lot. “Go Set a Watchman“ and “The Magnolia Palace“ were disappointments; “Never Let Me Go“ was sad and depressing but beautifully written.

I still have very little time to post, but here are the next 4 books I've read for the #52bookclub24 challenge.

I've been more of a lurker than a poster lately because it's been such a busy period at work for me, but I have read books and ticked off some prompts, and I'm pretty much on track with the #52bookclub24 challenge.
(Further comments and links to books in comments.)

Five Bloody Hearts is a thriller in which a convicted serial killer warns a detective from prison that a copycat killer might be on the loose. The detective has his doubts about the serial killer's intentions, but an investigation starts, and not surprisingly, some gruesome murders are discovered.
The ending was a bit underwhelming, but overall I enjoyed it.
(Full review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6106414202?book_show_action=false)

Another great reading year 🎉

Here are my top reads in 2023. Cornwell has become a steady favourite. Mary Jane was an unexpected summer treasure. Tess was a sad but memorable read. The Caboni book (Garden of Secret Flowers) was a case of picking up the perfect book at a perfect time. I wish more of her books were available in translation.

I've always known that Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was amazing, but now I admire her even more. This no-nonsense biography may be a little dry in its style, but it is very well researched and attempts to separate fact from rumour. It describes Mary's strength and how she was able to deal with the many tragedies life dealt her, explains the seeming controversies behind her attitudes, and draws the portrait of an exceptional figure. Great read.

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

(1) On Goodreads, I challenged myself to read 40 books. I'll accomplish this soon, I'm reading the 40th book right now.
(2) The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell
(3) I hope to continue Cornwell's trilogy as soon as the library opens after the winter break.

Thanks for the tag @The_Penniless_Author ☺️

Would you like to play @Dilara @Kristy_K @marleed ?

A retelling of the Arthurian legend, but a much grittier, more realistic tale than the romanticised myth of the knights of the round table.

I've just reached 10000 litfluence! 🎉
I may be slower than others in accumulating points, but I thoroughly enjoy being here even when I don't post so much. Thanks everyone for your comments, likes, and everything you do to make Litsy the best place on the internet! ❤️

I still adore the beings ☺️

I adored the book up until the point when the drama started. The couple was cute, their chemistry palpable, with a lovely Christmas atmosphere around them.
However, ...

A light-hearted Christmas romance, an okay read but nothing special. The plot was quite predictable and, while I found her insecurities somewhat relatable, I'm not sure I liked the MC much.
#kindlefreebie

I should probably start by saying that I didn't read the chunkster original but an abridged version (just over 400 pages). At first I was disappointed that I had only been able to track down this copy, but now I'm perfectly okay with having read this version. In my view, the story was more sad than funny, and I had enough of random people making fun of poor DQ.
Thanks for hosting the buddy read @TheAromaofBooks 🙂

I had expected to devour this book, instead I read it rather slowly, it took me months to get through the middle part. It was interesting, but perhaps there were too many names I was unfamiliar with, and several times I found myself putting the book down and looking for other things to read. That said, Smith painted a vivid picture of life in NY as an artist, and the final chapters were especially heartbreaking.

What a treasure. Lots of fantastic messages, tips and ideas. Will definitely reread later on.

Nothing much happened but I still found the book enjoyable. The character studies were excellent and I loved Pym's soothing way of writing.

Thanks @BarkingMadRead for hosting another fun buddy read, and thanks #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade for your commentary 🙂

#two4tuesday @TheSpineView

(1) Oh yes. My sister and I used to have a bunk bed, and we made it into a blanket fort all the time ☺️

(2) The tagged, which was probably the first book I picked up because I chose to, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Thanks for the tag @The_Penniless_Author 🙂

Heartbreaking and still eerily relevant today. Domineering men, double standards, obsession, and all this written by a man in the 1800s -- just wow. Also beautifully written and the details of farm life nicely captured. Loved it.

Thanks for leading the buddy read @BarkingMadRead and thanks for all the opinions, insights and laughs #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade , I love reading with you all 💕

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

(1) caramels
(2) Dracula

Thanks for the tag @The_Penniless_Author and sorry for the delay 🙃

Somehow this book just couldn't hold my interest. The mystery was good with some twists towards the end, but the story dragged, and the interactions between the characters were a bit boring.

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

(1) Read, walk, enjoy the colours 🍂
(2) hopeful
(3) Just Kids by Patti Smith

Thanks for the tag @The_Penniless_Author ☺️
Would you like to play @Dilara @sherrisilvera @Sparklemn ?

I've finally finished Vanity Fair!

It was a bit wordy at times, but overall a great book with fantastic character studies and a fitting ending.

As usual, thanks for the daily posts @BarkingMadRead and all the comments and insights #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade I loved reading this with all of you 💕

In spite of the somewhat generic plot (lawyer returns to the small town she grew up in to investigate, is haunted by her past), the book started out very promising. It was easy to read and the mystery kept me going. The second half, however, was a bit disappointing, with a messy and rather underwhelming ending. It wasn't bad overall, but I don't expect it to be very memorable.

It's official: I've given up on Catch-22 and returned it to the library.
Thanks for hosting the buddy read @TheAromaofBooks . Even though I bailed on it, at least it's off the TBR now! 😁

#Two4Tuesday for last week, but it's a busy time so I'm only posting now. Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView 💕

(1) I started several books in August but only finished one, A farkas gyomrában (In the Belly of the Wolf). I wouldn't call it a favourite, but it had been on my TBR forever so I'm glad it's off the list now.

(2) It was thought provoking. Although it was preachy at some points, it did a decent job of exploring different viewpoints.