I think this was supposed to be a horror story? Or a thriller? Or something like that at least? It's been a while since I've been so let down by a proI think this was supposed to be a horror story? Or a thriller? Or something like that at least? It's been a while since I've been so let down by a promise of good thriller, but boy oh boy did this let me down. I liked the premise, a lot. I liked the descriptions of nature and the island the family moves to, I liked how the ending was chaotic and you couldn't tell who was who or wasn't. But then there's the rest. So many pages of maybe this is what happened, or maybe it's that, or maybe this third thing. Throw in all the typical elements from affairs to child abuse to kids bullying and you have this mess that for pages on end doesn't really move anywhere. When a goddamn dinner party is the most interesting thing in a book that could have been really terrifying, you know something's wrong. I'm sure writing thrillers/horror isn't easy, but when you have an idea that's this good, you shouldn't go as much astray as the author did here. ...more
Noh, eihän tää parasta Isomäkeä ole. Ei varmasti huonointakaan, mutta se jokin jäi tällä kertaa puuttumaan. Perusidea on hyvä, on vähän historiaa ja hNoh, eihän tää parasta Isomäkeä ole. Ei varmasti huonointakaan, mutta se jokin jäi tällä kertaa puuttumaan. Perusidea on hyvä, on vähän historiaa ja hienoja arkeologisia löytöjä, on vähän merentutkimusta, ja on vähän ympäristökatastrofia. Ja kaikki jotenkin liittyy toisiinsa, vaikka en edelleenkään oo ihan varma miten noi kirjan nimessäkin olevat kurganit liittyy muuhun tarinaan. Joko multa meni ihan ohi mikä yhteys niillä on Mustanmeren äkilliseen ja dramaattiseen muuttumiseen, tai sitten ne vaan oli osa tarinaa syystä X. Ei sillä, ihan mielenkiintoista lukea muinaisista haudoista ja kansoista jotka niitä on rakentanu. Ja näin kielinörttiä kiinnosti kaikki teoriat ja pohdinta kielten synnystä ja leviämisestä ja kehittymisestä, vaikka niillä ei oikestaan ollu yhtään mitään yhteyttä muuhun juoneen. Isoin ja kantavin teema Mustanmeren muutoksesta oli mielenkiintoinen vaikka ihan kaikkea siihen liittyvää fysiikkaa en tajunnutkaan (vaikka oli selitetty suht kansantajuisesti - syytän sitä että luin tätä yleensä just ennen nukkumaanmenoa). Totta kai mukana oli myös kaikki ne aspektit siitä miten ihmisen käytös ja rakentaminen ja ympäristöstä välittämättä oleminen vaikuttaa kaikkeen. Kokonaisuudessaan ihan kiinnostava kirja, vaikka henkilöhahmot jää aika yksiulotteisiksi, joihinkin juttuihin tuhlataan turhan monta sivua, ja loppu on samaan aikaan uskottava ja epäuskottava. Kaikesta huolimatta tykkään lukea Isomäen kirjoja koska huomaamattaan aina oppii jotain uutta. ...more
I enjoyed this immensely! Because of that I'm being nice and rounding the rating up, in reality this is more of a 4.5 star book because there were somI enjoyed this immensely! Because of that I'm being nice and rounding the rating up, in reality this is more of a 4.5 star book because there were some flaws. But. A book about food, about a mysterious chef, her food history, told by people she's crossed paths with at some point in her life. This was all worked so well. It started off seemingly normal, with the main character being born and her parents telling the start of the story, but from then on it changes. You can tell the author has a background with short stories, because each chapter is like a short story of its own, with the main character Eva popping up at some point, sometimes having a more prominent role, sometimes just being a brief mention. Some of the chapters rise above others, I loved the one where chili played a major role, as I did with the one where it's all centered around a certain kind of cake - despite the latter one having some very clichéd moments with white lutheran suburbia. And it all wraps up very nicely at the end, with characters from previous characters making a comeback (though it also took me a while to remember how some of them were connected to Eva) and all the food, or at least ingredients, from the chapters being combined. Great work.
I also loved how the book not-so-subtly laughs at those people who take food extremely serious, needing to know the origins of every single ingredient, avoiding certain foods, being hysterical when they eat something they think they shouldn't. Yes, I'm all in for quality ingredients, and well-made food, and try to eat healthy, but can't be bothered to take it to the extreme. After all, food is meant to be enjoyed, not regulated and inspected. So, if you can take jabs at die hard foodies, like food and like books, this novel is something for you. ...more
Here's the thing: I read this more as separate one-off than as any kind of official sequel to the original Harry Potter stories. And I think it's the Here's the thing: I read this more as separate one-off than as any kind of official sequel to the original Harry Potter stories. And I think it's the best way to read this. Yes, there are characters that appeared in those stories, there are new characters, this is a sequel but not something I am going to take as written-in-stone canon.
So, how's the story? It's not bad. It's nowhere near as bad as people have said it is. It's not the greatest story ever told, it has a lot of flaws, but it also has a lot of great moments and things that carry it. The general storyline is good, intriguing even (even if it comes with a ridiculous amount of issues, some of which were addressed in the original books yet completely overlooked here which is somewhat annoying), and makes for good theatre, I am sure of that. I also liked the aspect of parenting - I guess I am old enough to appreciate that now even though I don't have children of my own - and would have almost liked to see it explored even more. Because it's not easy being a parent, not when you're the Boy Who Lived, or especially when that's your legacy. Some of it was superficial, but there were good moments. (God, I sound so old.)
And the characters, you ask? Well. They've changed, the old ones of them, grown older and gotten careers and all that boring adult stuff. I think my biggest issues were with Ron, who wasn't given the space to be who he was in the original books and thus became bit of a caricature; and Draco, who seemed to be a bit all over the place and like the writers didn't know exactly what to do with him. It's a shame, because Draco and Scorpius' relationship seemed like worth of a book of its own. I liked Scorpius in general, easy to relate to, and even fun at times, whereas Albus almost veered into the annoying territory sometimes, and there were moments when I couldn't deal with his antics. Aside from the "bad guy", it feels the rest of the new characters were more extras who had to be there than integral parts of the story.
I liked the way this story explored relationships, friendships, who the characters are and where they come from, the big twist worked nicely, and I'm sure that as a whole this works wonderfully on stage. However, there were too many things that collided with the original stories, things that should not have been possible. If you choose to read this without the die hard Harry Potter fan cloak on you, it's a good story, as good as any of those fan fic writers could have come up with, and it's enjoyable for the most part. If you choose to nitpick on every single thing that conflicts with what you've learned in the original stories, then I know you will have an unpleasant reading experience.
It's not perfect, it has a lot of fan fic qualities, but by no means is it bad or not entertaining. It'll be interesting to see this on stage one day. ...more
It has been eons since I've last read a comic or a graphic novel of any kind, and I have absolutely no idea how to rate this book. I liked the style, It has been eons since I've last read a comic or a graphic novel of any kind, and I have absolutely no idea how to rate this book. I liked the style, how the colours change from one chapter to another based on the location and events. The text was readable, and the 'side note' kind of things on the background were fun and a nice extra. The story itself is a good crash course into Middle East history, what has happened a few decades ago and see how it has affected the world we live in today. Of course it is easy to see where things went wrong, but as is with Sattouf's father, it is also easy to see why certain events and things appeal to people, why and how people we now call dictators got into power....more
I find it impossible to give this a star rating because I picked this up to revisit childhood summers. In all honesty I can't remember if I ever finisI find it impossible to give this a star rating because I picked this up to revisit childhood summers. In all honesty I can't remember if I ever finished this when I was younger, but now I did and liked what I read. This is a strangely empowering book, Emily has her moments of sticking up to herself in addition to showing weakness and fear. It deals with the issues of growing up well, and even if it's set into a world of over hundred years ago, I think there are a lot of things that resonate with today's kids. There's a reason classics have gotten their status and why they are timeless and attract generations after generations. This is definitely one of those books. ...more
Science! Actual science in science fiction! For that alone this book gets five stars. Sure, I don't know how accurate all that science is, but it sounScience! Actual science in science fiction! For that alone this book gets five stars. Sure, I don't know how accurate all that science is, but it sounds plausible so I give it a pass. And as weird as it is, all the science made reading this a very enjoyable experience. Now, I knew the basic idea, and was expecting a survival story, but the way it was delivered went beyond all my expectations. It was funny. There was wittiness, believable and unbelievable things happening and the story flowed forward very well. Of course some parts of the plot are predictable, but not in a way that would have bothered me at any point. And of course it's hard to believe someone would be so optimistic and never dip into depressed mindset or anything of the like, but I guess that would have made this a very different book. There's pop culture references, funny translations (going to start using the Finnish one for hot damn just because it's so ridiculous), the claustrophobic feeling is transmitted well, and most importantly, the characters are likable. Obviously we don't get to know anyone but Watney deeply, but the little we get of other characters is enough to make you root for them and hope they succeed in their endeavors. This is definitely among the better sci-fi I have read in recent years, and I very much recommend it to anyone who likes space-related things even a little. ...more
I have some mixed feelings about this book. The premise of dystopian Paris with Fallen angels and other more or less supernatural beings is right up mI have some mixed feelings about this book. The premise of dystopian Paris with Fallen angels and other more or less supernatural beings is right up my alley. However, I kind of feel like I expected this story to deliver more than it did. Yes, I know it's the first in a series and there's probably plenty more to come, so I should not be too hard on character development and such. Which is something I'm definitely looking forward to, because there are a lot of interesting characters in this book, and I would love to know more about them, especially of Philippe and Selene. (Possibly also Asmodeous, depending on if the author is going to explore other houses besides Silverspires in depth or not.) Now, it seems like there was a lot of going on in this book, but in the end it was a rather simple and straightforward story, and I almost wish it had been more complicated. More complex with the 'bad ones', the evils not so easy to fight. I'd say this is a good start, and I'm looking forward to the following book(s) to throw in a lot more curve balls and surprises. ...more
I am not entirely sure what I think of this book. The subject - 1999 WTO protests in Seattle - sure was interesting and I liked the multiple points ofI am not entirely sure what I think of this book. The subject - 1999 WTO protests in Seattle - sure was interesting and I liked the multiple points of views and how it took place within one day. But then it also felt like there was a bit too much going on, like you couldn't really get under the skin of any of the characters. Some chapters were excellent, especially towards the end, some on the other hand felt just like fillers. Like said, it was extremely hard to relate to any of the characters, maybe because I'm not a devoted activist or a law enforcement member - I kind of wish there had been a journalist telling part of the story from their point of view. What struck out to me the most was at the end, the brutal way the protests were being broken down, the way the police acted. It felt very current, and being too young to actually remember the Seattle protests I can't say if it's a truthful account or if some of today's police brutality has seeped into the text. As a whole this book was an interesting take into something that has happened, but I feel like it could've been sharper, had a little more depth. ...more
Based on the description this novel wasn't quite what I expected it to be. I thought I was going to read a story of survival, instead I got a story abBased on the description this novel wasn't quite what I expected it to be. I thought I was going to read a story of survival, instead I got a story about how to deal with someone who doesn't want to survive. And honestly, I am not entirely sure how I feel about it all. The novel was beautifully written, though not in language that was floral and elaborate and deep in detail. There were those things too, but the strongest point were all the mundane things, sticking to the basics because it truly worked here. And I liked it that you did not get one fucked up character balanced by perfect one. No, everyone was more or less fucked up, like we all are. It felt very real. The subject matter wasn't easy, but there was no tiptoeing around it, it would have been pointless. I liked Yoli with all her imperfections, and to a degree I liked Elf because it was her character that made me realize some things in my own behavior. Not as extreme as hers, but there were a couple of paragraphs that were eye-opening. It's really difficult for me to say why I liked this book, or what it was that I didn't like about it. It's such a complex entity despite being a rather simple and straightforward book. ...more
Oh what a book this was. The actual rating is 4.5 stars, just because there were some parts that I didn't completely love and cannot give full 5 starsOh what a book this was. The actual rating is 4.5 stars, just because there were some parts that I didn't completely love and cannot give full 5 stars because of that. Anyway. The idea of this book is amazing - literally life after life. We follow Ursula, who is born in the beginning. And dies. And is born again. And then dies again. There are so many scenarios and events where she can die, how her life can go differently, how things turn out just a little bit unlike before. It sounds unusual, it sounds like it's repetitive, like it'll be extremely boring to read, but it works so well. You never know if she is going to survive or not when you start a new section, you can never tell how her life is going to turn out. What really stood out for me were the various descriptions of WWII, I downright devoured those chapters. Somehow the author managed to make all those scenes feel so real, the bombings, the aftermath, the desperation, all of it. I liked all the alternatives in those scenes, how such little things could change so much. Ursula is obviously the main character, but you get to know so many other people as well, and depending on the situation either root for them or wish they had never entered the story. Chances are, in the next incarnation they do not exist and as clichéd as it sounds, it's then a completely different story. If you want something that's a little bit challenging, makes you think, and is truly rewarding, read this book. ...more
Actual rating around 2.5 stars, but rounding it down this time. Because this is yet another book that I truly wanted to like a lot, but there were tooActual rating around 2.5 stars, but rounding it down this time. Because this is yet another book that I truly wanted to like a lot, but there were too many elements that made it impossible. I think what threw me off the most was the language - too 'old-style' for my liking. If this book had been written in the 1700s then I would have understood it, and I guess in a way I understand the author's choice to use it, but it made reading very slow and at times difficult to understand what was being said. My second gripe is the plot: a lot of ideas but the development lacks. There is obvious focus on the characters, but it feels like in the end very little happened in the story. A couple of twists and turns, but from a book like this I expected more - which I shouldn't have done, it seems. Prunella was a fine character, we could actually see some development in her and if there are more books to come, she'll have a good ground to work from. Zacharias on the other hand, I was left with the feeling he was there because he had to be. Started off promisingly, but then did not live up to... anything. What ruined this book for me was the ending, which was barely foreshadowed. Maybe if I'd read Austen I would've seen it coming, and would have been okay with it, but here it just felt unnecessary. In a nutshell, so many great ideas, prospects, and even supporting characters, but unfortunately the delivery killed most of that. ...more
I have a difficult relationship with historical fiction - I very rarely find anything I feel like reading, let alone finishing. This book, however, caI have a difficult relationship with historical fiction - I very rarely find anything I feel like reading, let alone finishing. This book, however, caught my interest when I found out it's set in New Zealand, a country I've been fascinated with since I was a kid. I didn't have high expectations, I was actually intimidated by the 800+ pages. But! This book turned out to be great! Yes, it has weak points, especially towards the end when everything for some reason needs to be peachy and rainbows and sunshine, and at times it gets boring to read about trees and sheep and horses and more sheep. That being said, the positive outweigh the negative. The main story arc seems plausible, the way the author has decided to put some characters aside for a while and focus on others and their stories works - especially since it makes you wonder what the others do in the meanwhile - and it's interesting to read how the farms and stations and cities and towns develop. The best part of this book are the characters though. Yes, there are plenty of them and it takes a while to get on track with them all, but once you do it's easy to follow everyone's story. Helen and Gwyn start out as the main characters and are the forces that build this story. The men of this book are very, well, stereotypical most of the time, but it didn't bother me because the women were great. Sure, it's kind of hard to believe they would all have the kind of fates they have, but it's not impossible to see either. Strong women in time when men ruled the world (at least according to official history books)? Yes please, sign me up for more. ...more
I'm rounding up 3.5 stars to 4. I had such high expectations when I started this book because back in the day when I read "Mornings in Jenin", I was fI'm rounding up 3.5 stars to 4. I had such high expectations when I started this book because back in the day when I read "Mornings in Jenin", I was floored by how incredible it was, and obviously I was looking forward to a similar reading experience. Sadly that did not happen. This is not a bad book, far from it, but I can't help but think that it lacked a bit of something - but what, I can't name it. It's very much a story about women, and that I liked a lot. Some of the things they all had to go through were so obvious and easy to guess - especially with Nur - that it dampened the enjoyment. In general this novel gives you a good insight into the daily life of people living in Gaza, and that is definitely what it does best. Just almost casually talking about the mundane, everyday things we all do, and helping you understand what it's like in Gaza. However, I do feel that despite the hardships the women and families go through, everyone has it pretty well off. The chapters in this novel are short, easily going over events happening over a long period of time in four or five pages, and at least I thought it gives the story a disjointed feel. That it doesn't fully grow to what it could be, or doesn't go in as deep as it should. That is the biggest reason why it's only a 3.5 star book.
As a side note, the Finnish cover of this book is one of the most gorgeous of the recent years. Such eye candy. ...more
I'm not 100% what I think of this book, or what the rating should be. Originally came across it on this website and it sounded interesting, and when iI'm not 100% what I think of this book, or what the rating should be. Originally came across it on this website and it sounded interesting, and when it was available for 2€ at the bookstore clearance section I picked it up. The basic story is good, telling about the Armenian genocide, a side of WWI that is rarely if ever brought up in fiction. And it's a very interesting topic, and the author takes quite an in depth look. However, the novel also has moments set in modern day, giving more background information on the characters and events. I did feel this is what made the story a bit disjointed, and I think if the author had decided to stick to the events happening in 1915 or only on the events of modern day, the structure would've been better. There were a bunch of characters, each having their own purpose, but I think Nevart was criminally underused and getting the story from her point of view would've been more interesting. It's a good book, with an interesting topic, but loses a lot of the potential it has. ...more
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