This was a good 'want to wind down and forget everything going on in my own life' novel, it was cheesy and predictable and fast to read and definitelyThis was a good 'want to wind down and forget everything going on in my own life' novel, it was cheesy and predictable and fast to read and definitely took my mind off things. That's the biggest problem with it too, with most characters you knew what was going to happen to them the moment they were introduced, they were so stereotypical. I did like the fact that there were a lot of women in this book, but the fact that they turned out to be the kind who needed a man to 'save' them was a big dampener. Bonus points for the literary mentions and tea. However, this is not something I would read again....more
This was a fun and enjoyable read. Yes, it was filled with cliches and you didn't even need to guess what was going to happen, but it worked despite tThis was a fun and enjoyable read. Yes, it was filled with cliches and you didn't even need to guess what was going to happen, but it worked despite that. Life as a person was a cool idea and the way Lucy's moods and actions reflected on him worked well. Lucy was the kind of character you'd expect to find in a book like this, but I really liked the fact that she was flawed, very much so, and didn't even try to pretend to be perfect. There were nice supporting characters (a book about Melanie's life would be such a great read!) and in general this worked as a good escapism from bleak everyday stress. I also liked the subtle nods to other literary works, it was fun spotting those. ...more
More of a strong 3.5 stars than full 4. What brings the rating down a bit is the ending, it doesn't feel like it fits the rest of the book and is justMore of a strong 3.5 stars than full 4. What brings the rating down a bit is the ending, it doesn't feel like it fits the rest of the book and is just too much out of this world. Yes, the whole setting and events are surreal, but the ending goes overboard and drags on for too long. I liked the beginning a lot, the build-up for everything, the little secrets and whispers and not knowing what was going on. Who were these souls, what was shady about the company Judit starts working for, what's happened in the past, what might happen in the future. That works so well, and it carries on for a long time. However, with the way everything was set up, I almost wish the ending had been something... else. Maybe properly over the top battle, or a quiet "this is how we'll win" kind of thing, but not what it was. None of the characters were truly likable, Judit was interesting, Martta somewhat despicable and Moreau predictable. Despite all that the story managed to be captivating, especially when you read it and listen to the pouring rain outside. ...more
I know this is a classic, a very important on top of that, but I was not convinced by the story. Yes, there is a story, but it took me quite a while tI know this is a classic, a very important on top of that, but I was not convinced by the story. Yes, there is a story, but it took me quite a while to find it tucked in between talk about crops and yields. Maybe it's the main character's power and him being better than others that put me off in a big way. Maybe it's the fact that he didn't seem to develop much during the novel even if he was a different person at the end. Maybe it's the fact that this story does not resonate with me on any kind of personal level because I have absolutely nothing to associate with. It's not a bad story, it's just not something for me. ...more
It took me a while to get into this, but after halfway it really took off and I wanted to do nothing but keep reading. The biggest problem in the begiIt took me a while to get into this, but after halfway it really took off and I wanted to do nothing but keep reading. The biggest problem in the beginning was that there were two very closely set timelines and at times it was difficult to distinguish between them (is this happening before or after the big thing that happens to Jennifer?). Because of this the structure felt off for me and some times I couldn't keep up with it. I liked the general plot arch, especially the idea of having two stories at once, one happening in the 1960s and one in 2003. As a sucker for history I liked how there was a minor subplot about Congo and how well the author depicted the atmosphere of the 60s. Obviously the modern story felt more, familiar is not quite the right word, but the only one I can think of. I can imagine Ellie being the kind of character that she divides opinions, but I liked her, liked it that she wasn't perfect even if it kind of seemed like that in the end. I fear that at times this was a bit too romantic for me, but in general it was a lovely and enjoyable read. ...more
I wasn't quite sure if to give this 3 or 4 stars. However, the predictability at times dropped the rating lower. The thing is, this was a nice read. TI wasn't quite sure if to give this 3 or 4 stars. However, the predictability at times dropped the rating lower. The thing is, this was a nice read. The general idea is lovely, and all the details revealed along the way are the reason you keep reading. But like said, there is certain predictability and the characters come from a stereotypical mold to make it something truly outstanding. I liked Harold, there were some things that reminded me of my own dad, and Maureen was a lovely supporting character. However, the other pilgrims felt unnecessary; I wish the author had dropped them and focused more on people Harold meets on the way but who do not join him. The big twist at the end was nice, but also something you could see coming, one way or another. A nice read, gives you hope that humanity is not all terrible even if this is just a work of fiction. ...more
I'm going to start by saying that the rating is a very strong 3 stars. I knew next to nothing about this book when I spotted it at the library, save fI'm going to start by saying that the rating is a very strong 3 stars. I knew next to nothing about this book when I spotted it at the library, save for the fact that it's been extremely popular in certain circles. Witches sounded good though, so I decided to give it a go. The first part did not particularly work, at least not for me, but once we got more backstory and depth, its structure and role became clear and I understand much better why it was chosen to open the book. I do like that the characters are not perfect, far from it, that everyone has flaws and at times are terrible, it made them so much more humane. It isn't necessarily the most compelling story in the world, it definitely did not suck me in the way I'd expected, but as it got further it got better. And while I don't think I'll read the following books, I do like how this set up the scene for whatever may follow. ...more
Voi Pekka Hiltunen minkä teit. Halusin pitää tästä kirjasta niin paljon, todella halusin. Mutta mutta. Juoni oli vähän mitä sattuu, varsinkin osa 2 tuVoi Pekka Hiltunen minkä teit. Halusin pitää tästä kirjasta niin paljon, todella halusin. Mutta mutta. Juoni oli vähän mitä sattuu, varsinkin osa 2 tuntui täysin sopimattomalta kokonaisuuteen ja jotenkin jäi tunne, että lopulta kaikki selvisi suurin piirtein sormia napsauttamalla. Muistan edellisestä osasta puolivälin todellisen shokkihetken, ja varmasti Hiltunen oli tällä kertaa yrittänyt samaa, mutta kaikessa ennalta arvattavuudessaan kuvio ei vaan toiminut. Ja sitten ne hahmot. Edelleen annan pisteitä siitä, että päähenkilöinä on (vahvoja) naisia, mutta pikkuhiljaa alan odottaa sitä, että hahmot olis vähän vähemmän ylivoimaisia, että ihan kaikki ei onnistuiskaan, että rahalla ei saisikaan ihan kaikkea mahdollista. Nyt hahmot jäivät kaiken lisäksi todella pinnallisiksi, herra Vong oli ainoa josta oikeastaan opittii jotain uutta. Ikävä kyllä se oli myös ehkä kirjan heikointa antia, Hiltusen tyyli valistaa ja 'opettaa' lukijoilleen historiaa (tai mitä ikinä tarvitseekaan) on ainakin omaan makuuni liian opettajamaista eikä sulaudu sopivasti osaksi tarinaa. Ei Varo minua huono ollut, mutta aiempiin Studio-teoksiin verrattuna heikoin lenkki. Ja herättihän se taas Lontoo-kaipuun, että edes jotain. ...more
Kiinnostava katsaus suomalaisen peliteollisuuden menneisyyteen, nykytilaan ja tulevaisuuteen. Itse pelaan lähinnä pasianssia, joten esitellyt pelit ovKiinnostava katsaus suomalaisen peliteollisuuden menneisyyteen, nykytilaan ja tulevaisuuteen. Itse pelaan lähinnä pasianssia, joten esitellyt pelit ovat suurimmaksi osaksi jääneet pimentoon, joten pisteet siitä, että pelien juonta, rakennetta ja maailmaa jaksettiin avata lyhyesti mutta selkeästi. Kirjan jako pelifirmoittain oli toimiva ja toi hyvin esille muitakin menestyjiä kuin Rovion ja Supercellin. Koska kaksi edellämainittua ovat ne isot nimet, oli niille myös uhrattu eniten sivuja ja kyseisten yhtiöiden toimintaa oli ruodittu tarkemmin kuin muiden. Paikoittain kirjasta tuli kuitenkin sellainen fiilis, että kyseessä on enemmän akateeminen lopputyö kuin suurelle yleisölle suunnattu yleisteos. Pieni oikoluku ennen painoon menoa ei myöskään olisi haitannut, nyt ikävät kirjoitusvirheet veivät jonkun verran pohjaa asiantuntevuudelta.
This was a very quick read, even with the subject matter being quite heavy. I'd read a few reviews saying this sheds light on what's going on in MexicThis was a very quick read, even with the subject matter being quite heavy. I'd read a few reviews saying this sheds light on what's going on in Mexico at the moment and is a fascinating story and all that jazz. And I can't deny, it definitely gives you an insight into Mexico the way evening news don't, but to me it seemed more like a story about growing up in fear and with regulated life. In the end it did feel like a superficial novel, not truly going into depth about why girls are kidnapped and become slaves or how the society works, something I might have been a lot more interested in. ...more
Well. This book gets one star for the extremely intriguing world creation and ideas it kept throwing around. The second is for the fact that the femalWell. This book gets one star for the extremely intriguing world creation and ideas it kept throwing around. The second is for the fact that the female protagonist didn't suck. And to be honest, that's about all I remember of this book. I kept reading, and reading some more, and after 200 pages I could not recall what had happened earlier. It's actually remarkable for a book to be so easy to forget while you're still reading it. Like I said, the basic idea with different worlds, dimensions, something like that with different creatures inhabiting them was great, and I wish the author had explained that a lot further. At times the protagonist was annoying as hell, but there were aspects of her I liked, besides that obvious half-cyborg thing. The plot however was incredibly flat, with massive amounts of cliches and predictability, and the story just did not work. The only reason I really finished this book was that I hate leaving books unfinished. ...more
This is a book my mum recommended to me, and because I'm a good daughter, I take her recommendations seriously. And to be honest, when she said it's aThis is a book my mum recommended to me, and because I'm a good daughter, I take her recommendations seriously. And to be honest, when she said it's a nice, uplifting story, she was not lying. It's not all roses and rainbows and fluff, the book includes the harsh realities of life as well, and in the case on Bowen, some of them really are harsh. But it's also a surprising feel-good story, showing you how a pet can change your life. And I must admit, it made me open my eyes and properly think what are the thoughts that cross my mind when I see a local "Big Issue" seller or someone who looks like life is not treating them well. I am much more a dog person, but I'm sure even I would've been charmed by a cat like Bob, he sounds like an amazing little cat. ...more
I vaguely remember when this book came out, seeing the cover and reading the description, thinking it sounded interesting. Then I promptly forgot abouI vaguely remember when this book came out, seeing the cover and reading the description, thinking it sounded interesting. Then I promptly forgot about it for ages before I saw it at the library and decided to pick it up without remembering much about it. And what a positive surprise this book was. It took me a while to get into the structure, emails, faxes, traditional narrative all becoming one story told from many different perspectives. At first it seemed that it's just about a somewhat crazy woman and her daughter with a few other characters mainly annoying the protagonist. However, the further you get into the story the bigger the role of the other characters becomes. And while at times it's very clichéd and quite predictable a story, it's a fun read with over the top events and characters. Not to mention a few twists and turns that spice up the story even more. This is a nice, funny, light but not too light of a read that I enjoyed a lot. ...more
**spoiler alert** I'd heard so much good about this book that I really wanted to like it. I truly did. The premise was amazing, and I honestly would'v**spoiler alert** I'd heard so much good about this book that I really wanted to like it. I truly did. The premise was amazing, and I honestly would've loved to read more about it, see the Scion citadel of London and its inhabitants explored more in depth. Which is most likely the reason why I liked the "flashbacks", or those chapters where we got more information on Paige's background and what had happened in her past. Some of those really stood out from rest of the story, especially the Ireland one. The main storyline is what bothered me. It felt like for about 300 pages there was nothing happening, Paige was wandering around, sometimes doing stuff, but in the end that wasn't very interesting. Especially the way it led to the final showdown that just felt almost disconnected, how it happened way too fast in comparison to the rest of the story. Paige as a main character was fine, I particularly liked her loyalty to Liss, but the unnecessary love interest thing with Warden made me sigh in despair. It would've been so nice if she had not fallen for her "master". There is a huge bunch of intriguing supporting characters, and I would've loved to learn more about them. Maybe they'll be featured more in the following stories. Though I'm not sure if I'll ever make myself read those, because the story needs to pick up speed more than it did in this one, otherwise it feels like a drag. ...more
Jotenkin todella vaikea lähteä arvioimaan tätä kirjaa millään lailla. Aihe oli sellainen, ettei itsellä muutamien lehtijuttujen lisäksi ole oikein minJotenkin todella vaikea lähteä arvioimaan tätä kirjaa millään lailla. Aihe oli sellainen, ettei itsellä muutamien lehtijuttujen lisäksi ole oikein minkäänlaista kosketuspintaa, ei uskonnollisiin yhteisöihin eikä äitiyteen. Erittäin raskas aihe myös, mutta toisaalta myös erittäin tärkeä. Päällimmäisinä tästä jäivät mieleen voimattomuus, painostavavuus, yhteisöllisyys ja se kuinka se voi myös kääntyä ihmistä vastaan, mutta myös rakkauden voima ja se, kuinka hienoa on hiljalleen toipua ja nähdä auringonsäteet, ymmärtää miksi elämä on kaunis. En muista minkälaista keskustelua tää kirja synnytti ilmetyttyään, mutta oli se millaista tahansa, se tuli varmasti tarpeeseen. Luulen, että osa lukijoista kokee tän todella ahdistavana kertomuksena, toiset taas omalla tavallaan helpottavana. Kieli oli kaunista, vaikka välillä tuntui että olis se voinut olla hiukan vähemmän proosallistakin. ...more
I picked this up because it was recommended and seemed like a nice and quick read. That it was, but I do not think it as the greatest thing since slicI picked this up because it was recommended and seemed like a nice and quick read. That it was, but I do not think it as the greatest thing since sliced bread like so many others seem to. Yes, it was funny. Yes, it was charming. Yes, it had some excellent moments. Yes, the characters were stereotypes with twists. Yes, the main idea carried until the end. Yes, if you're looking for a romantic comedy in book form this is it. Yet there was something lacking. Maybe it was how Don learnt new things so easily, or how Rosie was not what you were supposed to expect she is. Maybe it was the fact that it was just a tad too clichéd. I enjoyed reading it, and it was fun, but it's not something I'd read again multiple times. Or even once really. Good, but not as amazing as everyone made it out to be. ...more
Good crime novels are so hard to come by these days. If you read this simply as a crime novel, it's confusing, messy, and not even that strong of a stGood crime novels are so hard to come by these days. If you read this simply as a crime novel, it's confusing, messy, and not even that strong of a story despite the excellent and intriguing setting. However, if you read this as a horror story about the cruelties people are capable of doing to each other, it's slightly better. Flynn's characters, women in particular, are extremely unlikable, and in this novel only half fleshed-out. The beginning of this book is its strongest part, and while the ending is nice with a little twist, overall it's quite a flat story. You can see echoes of "The Secret History", which is this case is not a good thing at all. Compared to this book, "Gone Girl" actually feels like a great novel. ...more
I was mostly inspired to pick this up from the library by the lovely (Finnish) cover. I knew the basics of the story, partly because of a cartoon I'd I was mostly inspired to pick this up from the library by the lovely (Finnish) cover. I knew the basics of the story, partly because of a cartoon I'd seen as a kid, and expected it to be a fun read. And in a way it was, but in a way it also wasn't. Of course you have to keep in mind the time it was written, but to my modern reader eyes some of the things came off as extremely racist and were bothering me quite a bit. Which is why I did not enjoy the story as much as I would've liked to. There is also a feeling it the story being very rushed, maybe due to the chapter length, maybe because of the time limit for the journey. A mixed bag, that's what this book is. Some of it is nice, some of it not. Mostly I think it demonstrated the problem I have with classics, how I have a hard time getting into the story and seeing why people have loved it so much....more
Did this book have a single track it was going on all the time? Yes. Were at least half of the characters train wrecks either waiting to happen or havDid this book have a single track it was going on all the time? Yes. Were at least half of the characters train wrecks either waiting to happen or having already happened? Yes. Was it entertaining and an easy read despite that? Yes. The beginning of this book is very strong, and it sets the scene well, especially when you start to understand that Rachel is not the most reliable narrator. I liked that the point of view changed, and that the story was told from women's perspective. Even if those women were helpless wrecks locked inside their pretty middle class cages. It's nearly impossible to relate or even truly like any of the characters, yet you still hope things would turn out well for them. Of course they don't, and it wouldn't be a crime thriller if there weren't twists and turns that are supposed to make you doubt everyone and keep reading to find out who did it. The climax itself is a disappointment, hastily explained and predictable, but that seems to be the problem with books like this so very often. This was a nice and easy read, perfect for a weekend when you don't want to do anything else but curl up on a couch with a book. ...more
Johtuneeko siitä, että viimeksi olen esseitä lukenut lukiossa, vai mistä, mutta mun oli vaikea saada mitään tarttumapintaa tähän teokseen. Tuntuu siltJohtuneeko siitä, että viimeksi olen esseitä lukenut lukiossa, vai mistä, mutta mun oli vaikea saada mitään tarttumapintaa tähän teokseen. Tuntuu siltä, että luin esseen toisensa jälkeen ilman että niistä jäi mitään mieleen, puhumattakaan siitä että mikään olisi liikuttanut ennen paria viimeistä. Tai ehkä tää olis toiminut paremmin jos olisin lukenut vain yhden esseen päivässä sen sijaan että niitä meni neljä tai viisi. 'Reko' oli sykähdyttävin, Arnkilille selvästi henkilökohtaisin, ja omalla tavallaan kaunein. Pidin myös 'Melancholian lopusta', koska pakko on tykätä jos joku kirjoittaa niin hienosta elokuvasta esseen. Muuten Arnkil käsitteli paljonkin teoksia joista en itse ollut aiemmin kuullutkaan, joten syvempi ymmärrys jäi saamatta. Suomen sana järjettömänä projektina toki kiinnostaa, mutta muuten ei tästä juuri paljoa muisteltavaa jäänyt. Harmi. ...more
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