2021/05/31

BOOK REVIEW:
BORN A CRIME BY TREVOR NOAH

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
_____
Title: Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
Author: Trevor Noah
Published: 2016
Language: English
Pages: 289
Rating: 5/5


Summary:
This is Trevor Noah's memoir and stories from his experience of growing up in South Africa, being born to a white father and black mother during apartheid. 


Review:
This was so good! I've had this book for ages and I can't believe it took me so long to read. 

This is my favorite type of memoir; this is a collection of stories told from the viewpoint of an interesting person who seamlessly manages to balance humor and seriousness. We explore apartheid, racism and the time after apartheid in South Africa, as well as South African history and culture, which I loved reading about.

My favorite stories in here where the stories about Noah's mother; you really feel like you get to know her throughout these pages and what a fascinating and intriguing woman! I love how you can see how monumental their relationship has been for the author, and in general I think this book does a really good job of exploring familial relationships.

This is definitely one of the best memoirs I've read and I'd highly recommend it. It'll make you think and reflect, at the same time as you're getting a laugh. 
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
SHARE:

2021/05/30

MAY WRAP UP

SHARE:

2021/05/28

2021/05/27

BOOK HAUL:
MAY

 S P O N S O R E D  :  T W O  B O O K S  S E N T  B Y  P U B L I S H E R S
I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
_____

May is coming to an end and summer is right around the corner! Things are really getting brighter here in Oslo; we're coming out of lockdown and we're lucky enough to be able to hang out with people, go to shops and even go out to eat! Having all of those things unavailable for an extended period of time really makes you appreciate it.

This past month has been pretty good for me. I'm back at work, spring has been lovely and I'm generally just feeling a bit lighter these days.

As with most months, I got a bunch of new books and it's time to show them to you!

















( 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  b y  p u b l i s h e r s )

Hope you're all having a good day!
SHARE:

2021/05/25

BOOK REVIEW:
THE PRIORY BY DOROTHY WHIPPLE

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
_____
Title: The Priory
Author: Dorothy Whipple
Published: 1939
Language: English
Pages: 536
Rating: 3/5


Summary:
A family of a father, two daughters and their aunt live in a large house in England and find their lives turned upside down when the father marries a younger woman.


Review:
I usually start my reviews of Whipple's books with stating that I always enjoy her books and I really do; it's true for this one as well.

I love how Whipple constructs her characters and how much of the story focuses on them, both their outer and inner lives. I always end up really caring for them and I'm always a bit sad to have to leave them behind when I finish the book.

I can't help but compare this book a bit to the other books that I've read by her though and this isn't one of my favorites by her. I think it's a bit too long and there were some things about the story that I didn't quite love, but I did very much enjoy it. It's always comforting to read books by this author, her stories are charming and lovely and she's one of my faves.
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
SHARE:

2021/05/23

SUMMER TBR

SHARE:

2021/05/18

BOOK REVIEW:
EN JAPANSK VÅR BY INA STRØM

_____
Title: En Japansk Vår
Author: Ina Strøm
Published: 2020
Language: Norwegian
Pages: 250
Rating: 3/5


Summary:
Journalist and author Ina Strøm takes us on her journey through Japan, exploring its history and her travels through the country. 


Review:
To be honest, I don't have that much to say about this book. I read it and enjoyed parts of it, and now that I've finished it, I don't really have a lot of strong feelings or opinions about it. It was fine.

I think this does give us an interesting look into Japan, it's culture and history, and it was interesting to see this through the eyes of a Norwegian. There were things in here I'd never heard of, both cultural and historical, and I liked learning a bit more about it all. 

I think this book would've benefited greatly from having more pictures in it, helping to break up the chapters and offer up a stronger look at the authors travels. Sometimes the book felt a bit dense and there were parts that were a bit dull, and I would've liked to get to know the people she met along the way a bit better.

I think it just felt a bit surface level to me in the end, and although I liked reading this, it probably won't make much of a lasting impression.
You can get this book at Adlibris (different edition)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
SHARE:

2021/05/16

2021/05/14

2021/05/12

BOOK REVIEW:
THE HOUSEKEEPER AND THE PROFESSOR BY YOKO OGAWA

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
_____
Title: The Housekeeper and the Professor 
Author: Yoko Ogawa, Stephen Snyder (translator)
Published: 2003
Language: English (translated from Japanese)
Pages: 180
Rating: 5/5


Summary:
A young housekeeper with a ten year old son comes to work for a brilliant math professor whose suffered a traumatic brain injury, causing his short term memory to only last for 80 minutes. 


Review:
I loved this book!

This is a quiet and calm exploration of memory, friendship and math, and I loved every minute of it. It's charming and explores of unlikely connection between people, and alongside that it takes a look at how math and numbers are all around us, as if alive. Luckily for someone like me who doesn't know a lot of math, there's not really much need to understand it; it's more about the beauty of numbers than the understanding of them.

It's a simple story, but touching. I loved getting to know the characters, and reading about the setting and the time period. It's written in a sort of fluid way that I love, every page was wonderful.

It's definitely one of my favorite books I've read this year, and I'd really recommend it for readers who like quiet stories about friendship. 
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
SHARE:

2021/05/09

2021/05/08

NEW ON MY TBR

 

SHARE:

2021/05/07

#FRIDAYREADS

 

SHARE:

2021/05/05

BOOK REVIEW:
DØDENS DISIPPEL BY HJORTH ROSENFELDT

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
_____
Title: Dødens Disippel
Author: Michael Hjorth, Hans Rosenfeldt, Håvard Syvertsen (translator)
Published: 2011
Language: Norwegian (translated from Swedish)
Pages: 469
Rating: 4/5

This is the second book in the Sebastian Bergman series.


Summary:
A series of murders in Stockholm raise interest with the police when they discover they're linked and eerily similar to the murders of a serial killer currently in prison. 


Review:
I loved the first book in this series and I'm happy to say the second book is just as good.

We return to many of the characters we met in the first book, both the team of investigators and the unlikeable and slightly unhinged psychologist who forces his way into their investigation. What we learn in the first book is carried on in this and provides an extra intriguing element alongside the mystery.

The murders and everything about it is fascinating. It's dark, gritty and pretty gruesome, but very well done and incredibly exciting to read about. I will admit that it took me quite some time to get through this though, despite it being such an interesting read, and I think that it's a little bit too long. 

I'm really very impressed with this series so far, it's absolute top notch Nordic noir. 
You can get this book at Adlibris or the English edition at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
SHARE:

2021/05/03

BOOK REVIEW:
THE PRINCE AND THE DRESSMAKER BY JEN WANG

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S
_____
Title: The Prince and the Dressmaker
Author: Jen Wang
Published: 2018
Language: English
Pages: 277
Rating: 3/5


Summary:
At the dawn of the modern age in Paris, a prince hires a dressmaker to make daring dresses for his alter ego, Lady Crystallia, a fashion icon of the city. 


Review:
This was a really cute book and I really enjoyed it!

I really enjoyed the characters in here and I think the story explores interesting themes. We take a look at friendship, love, identity and the importance of being yourself. I think the art is lovely and especially love the colors in here; the drawings suit the story well.

It is quite a fluffy read though, which isn't a bad thing, but it didn't dig quite as deep as I had expected. I also felt like it ended very abruptly. That being said, it was a very enjoyable and fun read. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be sweet. 
You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads
SHARE:

2021/05/02

© The Book Castle | All rights reserved.
Blogger Template Created by pipdig