2020/07/31

2020/07/30

BOOK HAUL:
JULY

S P O N S O R E D  :  S O M E  B O O K S  S E N T  F O R  F R E E
I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
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We're nearing the end of summer and if you know me at all, you'll know that I'm not really sad about it because summer ending means we're inching closer to fall. I'm totally ready for it!

I had some time off work this month which was great; I spent most of that time in Oslo but also went to the west coast for a few days to meet up with gramps, aunts, uncles and cousins, which was lovely. I really appreciated being able to make that happen in a safe way in times like these!

Anyways, on to the stack of books I got this month! About half of these were sent to me for free by Book Depository (I was supposed to have these for a sponsored video last month, but then they didn't get here in time), and the rest I got myself!














( a f f i l i a t e  l i n k s  +  b o o k s  m a r k e d  *  s e n t  f o r  f r e e  b y  B o o k  D e p o s i t o r y )

I hope you're all doing all right and you're having a great day!
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2020/07/29

BOOK REVIEW:
GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER BY BERNADINE EVARISTO

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
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Title: Girl, Woman, Other
Author: Bernadine Evaristo
Published: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 464
Rating: 4/5


Summary:
Set in Britain, we follow of cast of twelve different characters and get to see their personal journeys spanning over a century.


Review:
This was really, really good.

It's not easy to write a book with so many characters, but somehow Evaristo pulls it off. I really liked getting to know them and their stories, and it's pretty incredible how the stories somehow manage to link together. I really like the representation of different kinds of people in here, and there are a lot of interesting themes in these stories that I liked, although sometimes I felt like I would've loved to stay for a bit and explore them more instead of moving on to the next character.

The writing style in here is very interesting; it has little punctuation and sometimes veers off towards poetry, and I'm not going to lie, that took me a good while to get into, but when I did, I really liked it and I feel like it suits the book well. It feels fresh and it has an excellent rhythm to it.

There are some things I didn't like as much about this book though; I think sometimes some of the perspectives have too similar of a voice and I think overall, the book is a little too long. In the last third of the book I really felt like it started dragging out, although I did really like the final bit.

I was contemplating wether to give this three stars or four, but I've tipped it up to four because I think this is a really interesting and well accomplished novel, and well worth the read, especially if you like contemporary, literary fiction and you want to meet some interesting characters.
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
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2020/07/28

2020/07/27

BOOK REVIEW:
THE EMPRESS OF SALT AND FORTUNE BY NGHI VO

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
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Title: The Empress of Salt and Fortune
Author: Nghi Vo
Published: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 112
Rating: 3/5


Summary:
Set in a magical land, in a house by a lake, a cleric meets an older woman who tells her the story of when she was the handmaiden of The Empress.


Review:
This was a quick read and I quite enjoyed it!

There are a lot of things I liked about this little book; the fairytale-esque feel of it was wonderful, the setting was great and I really liked meeting the characters and hearing the story of the empress. I think there are several interesting themes brought up throughout the story. It's a magical little novella.

With it being so short though, we don't really get to know the characters that well, or the world. There were some things I didn't really understand and were left unexplained, and I kind of just wanted more from it. If this had been a full novel though, I'm sure I would've absolutely adored it.

Still an interesting and lovely fantasy novella though, filled with magic, so I'd say it's worth the read. I'm also pretty sure this is the first book in a series too, so I'll definitely be reading the next one when it comes out.
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
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2020/07/26

2020/07/25

BOOK REVIEW:
KIM JIYOUNG, BORN 1982 BY CHO NAM-JOO

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
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Title: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
Author: Cho Nam-Joo, Jamie Chang (translator)
Published: 2020
Language: English (translated from Korean)
Pages: 144
Rating: 3/5


Summary:
This is the story of a woman in her thirties plunging into psychosis and we look back at her life as a young girl and woman in South Korea and the way misogyny and a patriarchal society has affected her.


Review:
This was a very interesting book to read! It's quite a short book but it manages to convey a lot in only a few pages, which I like.

This is the kind of book that is a fictional novel, but clearly very heavily bases itself on actual life, so much so that the book has footnotes with references, referring to studies and reports done on the life of women in South Korea. It's an odd mix and I wasn't expecting it, so it took a little while to get used to.

Although we do get to meet several characters, it's clear that the focus on this book is its themes and the characters are just there to present them to you. It feels kind of artsy and weird, but I did really like reading and learning about sexism in this country. I really like that we follow this woman from she was very little, through school and until she has started a career and has had a child, and I feel like by having the story be like that, we can naturally explore the hurdles she faces in each facet of her life.

All that being said though, I almost wish this was just a straight up nonfiction book; I felt like the themes and the exploration of them sort of took over the story and it just... maybe I just wasn't prepared for it and I had a hard time really getting into it. I would've loved to see what actually happened to this main character afterwards and getting to know her character more. Definitely an interesting book though!
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
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2020/07/24

2020/07/22

BOOK REVIEW:
A LADDER TO THE SKY BY JOHN BOYNE

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
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Title: A Ladder to the Sky
Author: John Boyne
Published: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 419
Rating: 4/5


Summary:
All Maurice wants is to be a writer and he will stop at nothing to find a good story to write, and one day he meets a distinguished but lonely writer in Berlin who takes him under his wing and Maurice uses him to start off the successful career he's so desperate for.


Review:
This was a fantastic book to read, although I can see why it might not be for everyone.

The main character in here is one of the most unlikeable characters I've ever read about; he's a complete narcissist, he's cold, calculating and unloving. One thing I think that makes him bearable to read about though is that the whole story isn't told from his point of view, it's also told from the people around him, which I thought was really interesting and worked very well. I really liked getting to know all the characters in here and I really liked getting to know all of them.

I really like how this book is written and the themes it brings up; it discusses the darkness of humanity, sexuality, unbridled ambition and integrity. It has a story I was continuously intrigued by and it was infuriating in the best possible way; the dislike for the main character is what kind of keeps you going, because you want to see where he ends up.

I enjoyed reading all the different sections in here, but looking back at it, I think the first part is the best one and it loses a little of the magic as we go along.

I also really liked the setting of the literary world and reading about the characters roaming within it. The main character of this is one I'll not soon forget and I'd really recommend this if you like reading literary fiction and can handle reading about such a horrible person of a character without throwing the book across the room.
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
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2020/07/20

BOOK REVIEW:
THE TURN OF THE KEY BY RUTH WARE

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
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Title: The Turn of the Key
Author: Ruth Ware
Published: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 352
Rating: 4/5


Summary:
A nanny is accused of having caused the death of a child in her care, but claims she innocent and in trying to enlist the help of a lawyer, she writes him letters, chronicling what actually happened.


Review:
This was great!

There are so many things I loved about this; I love the setting of not only middle-of-nowhere Scotland, but also the weird Victorian technology house most of this takes place in. The atmosphere is fantastic and there's a lot of suspense throughout. I really liked reading about our characters as well and I loved getting to know their secrets and all the secrets of this place.

The writing in here is addictive and compelling and I read this whole thing in a day. The story is spooky and creepy in a way that I just love, and the reveal had me so surprised and shocked, it was delightful!

I do think there are parts in here where it drags a little bit and not all of the characters are fully fleshed out, but enjoyment wise, this ranks really high! Definitely worth reading if you're up for something suspenseful and creepy!
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
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2020/07/18

BOOK REVIEW:
I'LL NEVER TELL BY CATHERINE MCKENZIE

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
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Title: I'll Never Tell
Author: Catherine McKenzie
Published: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 368
Rating: 3/5


Summary:
After their parents sudden death, five siblings gather at the camp they spent their childhoods at, and which their parents ran, to read the will and decide what to do with it, but their parents have left odd instructions, specifically to do with a girl who was found bludgeoned in a boat on the camp 20 years earlier.


Review:
This was very engaging and suspenseful and I very much enjoyed it!

I really like the setting of this book, there's something very atmospheric about it, and I like the general suspense throughout this book. I thought the characters were interesting; a little unlikeable but I like reading about those types of characters. Not all of them are equally well developed but I loved reading about the relationships between all of them and slowly but surely getting to know everyone and all their secrets.

I generally found this really engrossing and easy to read, and I love how we get little twists and turns throughout the story. We slowly but surely get more and more puzzle pieces of the mystery throughout this and I like those mystery novels where you just kind of suspect everyone. I did find the ending slightly underwhelming but getting there was very entertaining and enjoyable.

Definitely worth reading if you're a mystery thriller fan, and I feel like this is especially perfect to reading during summer and early fall!
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
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2020/07/17

2020/07/16

2020/07/15

BOOK REVIEW:
WHITE RAGE BY CAROL ANDERSON

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
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Title: White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
Author: Carol Anderson
Published: 2016
Language: English
Pages: 256
Rating: 4/5


Summary:
This takes a look at the time all the way from the Civil War up until our present day, exploring conversations about race and the powerful forces continually throughout history opposing the progress of black people in America.


Review:
This was a very interesting and educational read.

This book succinctly explains the advances the black population of America have made and the continuing and never ending opposition those advances sparked. You see very clearly in this the constant two step forwards, one step back history of black advancement and it makes for depressing but educational reading.

It's a painful book to read but I feel like it's important that it is that way, because that is what this history is, it's difficult to grasp and difficult to look at. It really shows you how ingrained racism is in American history and how deep it goes; it also shows you that it isn't over and a lot of the advancements that are hailed as great progress, often weren't because white people used all the forces in their arsenal to make sure they didn't really work the way they were supposed to.

Definitely a book to make you think and I'd highly recommend it, especially if you maybe feel like you don't have a grasp of the history of black people in America; the book isn't that long and it's pretty easy to read, so it can be a good one to start with.
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
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2020/07/13

BOOK REVIEW:
THE SILENT PATIENT BY ALEX MICHAELIDES

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
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Title: The Silent Patient
Author: Alex Michaelides
Published: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 320
Rating: 3/5


Summary:
A woman has murdered her husband and she has stayed silent in the six years since, not uttering a single word. This catches the interest of a psychotherapist who applies for a job at the institution she's locked up in just so he can try to treat her.


Review:
This was a really readable and interesting book and I really enjoyed reading it!

This is a book I'd heard a lot of great things about before I started it, so that definitely hyped me up for it, and although I definitely enjoyed reading this, I wasn't as blown away as maybe some other readers were. I really enjoyed getting to know our characters and the story switches between current day and six years prior, and I felt like that worked well. There is something captivating about this that made me want to keep going.

I do think that we spend a lot of time building up to just one thing though; in the first two thirds of the book, there isn't really that much going on except just pure buildup. I would've loved more exciting things to happen along the way and because we spent so much time building up to the end, I found the ending a little underwhelming, even though it surprised me.

So it definitely starts off slow, but I do feel like it's worth the read if you like mystery thrillers. If you've read a lot of them though, you're probably going to be able to see some of the things in here coming.
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
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