The Watchmaker of Dachau is yet another story that deals with the horrors of WW II. The main story is set during 1945, the last few months, 4.5 Stars
The Watchmaker of Dachau is yet another story that deals with the horrors of WW II. The main story is set during 1945, the last few months, where people who could escape for years got captured and tortured. Many more lost lives while some continued to hope and survive, waiting to be rescued. The prologue and epilogue are set in 1996, Cornwall, England. The past is divided into three POVs (though all are written in the third person). Issac, the watchmaker, Anna, the maid, and Friedrich, the son of Senior Officer Becher and his bratty wife, are the major three people who offer us viewpoints. We see another POV, one that is filled with love, pain, confusion, memories, and philosophy. Characters like Greta, Jan, Nina, Elijah, Levi, and others add to the story. We see many thoughts and reactions from the characters, all of which seem as real as they can get. It is evident that the author did her research very well. She and her editor also made sure not to dump their research into the book. The focus was on bringing the characters to life and making them appear human rather than using them as mere tools to share historical details. For me, that’s what made the book so effective. I love how Friedrich’s character was used throughout the book. It’s one of the highlights of the story. The writing is both descriptive and concise. It’s not fast-paced but is not too slow to make the reader lose interest. Right from the prologue, we see hints provided to the reader about what’s to come. This is no crime fiction, but it’s seemed like the author’s way of preparing the reader and allowing them to make their own conclusions. It is clever writing. I was disappointed by the ending (not for what it is was, but well, I wished it to be a wee bit different). I don’t want to say more and reveal anything. That said, I did have an inkling that it would be on similar lines (ref: hints). Overall, this is a sad yet beautiful book about love, hope, and rebuilding a new life after surviving the worst nightmare. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review. #TheWatchmakerofDachau #NetGalley ...more
Okay... This is a cute and not-so-little book about a girl who drank the moon, literally. The setting is vivid and magical. The characters are both deOkay... This is a cute and not-so-little book about a girl who drank the moon, literally. The setting is vivid and magical. The characters are both detailed yet mysterious. The combination of lighthearted fun and heavy themes works well. Considering that this is MG fic, the depth of evil has been kept low. It did make the climax a bit less effective, but I guess it would work for the kids. My only grouse is that the narration is too slow. Even though the imagery is fantastic, and I could visualize the entire story, I wanted it to be a little pacier. And maybe add a little more to the main climax scene. After all, the book *is* about the magic within the girl. ...more
Never a Bride is the story of Emma, a wedding planner, with past issues, and Carlo, a caterer and a friend of Emma for the past 8 years. The3.7 Stars
Never a Bride is the story of Emma, a wedding planner, with past issues, and Carlo, a caterer and a friend of Emma for the past 8 years. They have feelings for each other. Though they do nothing about it, no thanks to Emma’s emotional baggage. With Emma’s friends finding love and getting married, will she be able to overcome her insecurities to accept Carlo’s love? The book is a straightforward contemporary romance with a tried and tested plotline. I knew it right away, so I wasn’t looking for anything unique. I wanted a book that’s light yet has some sort of emotional connection between the characters. Never a Bride ticks the boxes quite well. The friendship between Emma, Maggie (Book 1), Connie (Book 2), and Tracy (possibly book 4) was good to read. It was positive, light, and sweet. The connection between Carlo and Emma was good even though this girl took her own sweet time to come to a decision. While I’m in no way brushing away her past (her dad was a jerk. Period), it seemed a bit too stretchy to make her so indecisive. She was someone who usually had a good head on her shoulders. The conflict was predictable since it was the only possible way to create one without making the plot contrived. The resolution was decent, and I liked that Emma finally makes her decision. Of course, the book has a happy ever after, so we know the outcome. Overall, it’s a decent and light read with some nice and sweet moments. A good book for a beach/ travel read where you don’t want to use your grey cells. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ...more
This is a hilarious little play full of satire, sarcasm, and wit. By creating a caricature of characters who ridicule their stereotypes, the author haThis is a hilarious little play full of satire, sarcasm, and wit. By creating a caricature of characters who ridicule their stereotypes, the author has given the readers countless reasons to chuckle and laugh with every dialogue. This play inspired a Telugu movie Ashta Chemma, directed by Indraganti Mohan Krishna. I could picturize the movie scenes as I read the play. Of course, the storyline has been tweaked to suit the regional setting and brings the same amounts of laughs. Nothing much to write except that everyone who appreciates humor and a good play of words should read The Importance of Being Earnest. Happy reading!...more
This is such a warm, sweet, and lovely book! The illustrations are beautiful, and the story is heartwarming. Can I get one cute little tea dragon, pleThis is such a warm, sweet, and lovely book! The illustrations are beautiful, and the story is heartwarming. Can I get one cute little tea dragon, please?
People who know me know how much I love to read (and write) short stories. Imagine a book with a bunch of stories in different locations, wi4.5 Stars
People who know me know how much I love to read (and write) short stories. Imagine a book with a bunch of stories in different locations, with varying themes and a multitude of characters. And when friends publish their collection of short stories, it is always special. Goya by Priya is one such book I’ve been eager to read for a while. We have been working closely for the past year, and I appreciate her determination, humor, and dedication even more. Coming to the book, this is a delightful collection of 27 stories belonging to different genres. Most stories are short, crisp, and still manage to pack a whole lot of emotions. The biggest story happens to be my favorite, and why not? It’s detective fiction. Nothing like a crime waiting to be solved to make me happy. I’ve already read a couple of stories online, and one of them has been my absolute favorite- The Second-best Bed. I’m not going to list all my favorites (don’t worry) but will mention that there’s a story for every reader. From science fiction to YA to family drama and historical fiction, Goya is an array of genres, colors, and emotions. The writing is lucid and flows like a gentle river. You can drift from one story to another and not feel any jerks, even though the stories are far from being connected to each other. There isn’t even a common theme in the book. Still, it took me less than two hours to read from the first page to the last and remember the stories as well. Goya is a dreamy and delicious book (minus food, of course) for readers who enjoy short doses of interesting characters. Grab your copy today and step into the world where words carry the readers to distant lands. ***** P.S: I have been lucky enough to get an author-signed copy of the book. ...more
This isn't your regular whodunnit or even a psychological thriller. It's a straightforward murder case where the reader knows what has happened and reThis isn't your regular whodunnit or even a psychological thriller. It's a straightforward murder case where the reader knows what has happened and reads the book wondering if detective K is capable of solving it. Safe in this knowledge, the reader smirks, amused that the detective K is taking too much time. And then, there comes something that makes the reader sit straight and pay more attention. The reader realizes that only the physicist, the famous Detective Gaelio, got it right, and that doesn't match with what's in the reader's mind. The writing was to the point and neat, though it still slowed down my reading speed. Deleted one star for that. ...more
I’ve been planning to read this book for more than 8 months and am so glad that I could pick it up now. It is a lovely and delightful book tackling seI’ve been planning to read this book for more than 8 months and am so glad that I could pick it up now. It is a lovely and delightful book tackling serious issues with apparent ease. The character development of Linus (the Case Worker with meticulous precision in note-making) and even Arthur (the master of the orphanage) are wonderful.
The setting is my all-time favorite, a home in a forest island near the sea. Though the entire book doesn’t take place here, the crux of the story unfolds in the cerulean sea. The inmates of this house are rather unique. In fact, they are different even from the different beings.
A lonely Linus blooms and gains confidence when he finds people who love him for who he is. The magical kids, too, grow and become confident and compassionate, thanks to Arthur and Zoe. Arthur has his own secrets that could come between him and Linus.
With the Extremely Upper Management of the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth putting more pressure on Linus to do what they want, we see how he tries to come to terms with what his heart says and what his mind says.
I love how the story unfolds, one step at a time. There’s a bit of rambling when Linus gets going, but since it provides us more insight into his character, I don’t mind.
The writing is easy to read (and I did my best to ignore the liberal sprinkling of adverbs) throughout the book.
The children are a treat to know. Each of them has a defined personality, and the author did justice to them all. However, Talia, the lady gnome, and Lucy, the Antichrist, continue to be my favorites. I should have loved Phee more for being a forest/ earth spirit, but somehow these two held my attention more. Lucy is a charming little brat, and I confess to falling in love with his antics from the very moment he is introduced.
Talia is a sweetheart and cute little thing doting on her precious garden. Nature is more or less an inherent part of the book, and that’s another plus. The author’s take on serious topics using these cute characters is commendable. There are a couple of instances where it felt a bit preachy. However, the immediate change in the scene ensured that the story continues to be in the limelight. The book is full of lovely quotes (which I didn’t mark because it disturbs my reading flow). You are sure to find some gems when reading the dialogues.
I hesitated if I should stick to 4.5 stars, but the ending pushed it to full five stars. I love books that leave a smile on my face when I turn to the last page. Books like that feel complete and let me sleep in peace. This one made me smile so wide, I had to give it the extra points. I was even willing to overlook the bit of drag in the middle and the excessive adverbs (yeah, I know I mentioned them before).
Overall, this is a must-read if you love fantasy, magic, life, character development, and a good story rolled into one....more
The book has been on my TBR list for more than a year, and I picked it up to tick off a reading challenge.
The Seven Sisters is both an introduction tThe book has been on my TBR list for more than a year, and I picked it up to tick off a reading challenge.
The Seven Sisters is both an introduction to the strange family of Pa Salt and six adopted girls and the story of Maia, the eldest. The book starts with Pa Salt's death and moves on to give us a glimpse of the sisters before focusing on Maia's past. The book has a dual timeline, one with Izabel in the 1920s and another with Maia in 2007.
I knew there would be suspended belief, with Pa Salt having a larger-than-life persona. I was prepared for it. My issue was Maia herself. It's clear that I fall close to the minority gang here, but Maia didn't feel like the kind of heroine to pull off the book on her shoulders. No wonder Izabel had to do the job. I haven't got any problem with flawed characters. Izabel was one such lead. But she was strong enough to carry the book even when she felt desolate and dejected.
When Maia is compared to Izabel, the difference is just too clear. Having the male lead constantly remind her to be brave and not feel defeated when faced with dead ends wasn't something I enjoyed. I mean, it's her past. She's got to decide if she wants to know and stick to her decision. If she's going to give up at the slightest hurdle, might as well leave it alone.
Some of the character development in the past track felt forced. It seemed like there was a sudden realization to do something to justify Izabel's actions. Nothing wrong with that. However, it would've felt more in sync with the rest if there were hints from the first. It would've made Izabel dearer to the readers.
To sum up, The Seven Sisters was decent enough for me. The slow pace didn't help either. I'm intrigued enough to read about Star and Electra, so I'll jump directly to their stories and get back to the rest, depending on how these two go. Not anytime soon, though. ...more
Beartown is much more than a book about hockey. Yes, the sport is everywhere. But the people are also everywhere. Here, it's the sport. In another plaBeartown is much more than a book about hockey. Yes, the sport is everywhere. But the people are also everywhere. Here, it's the sport. In another place, it would be something else that dictates and decides how people should live their lives.
The narration is in short scenes with lots of foreshadowing that tells us what will happen next. This only makes the reader frustrated as the actual plot takes its own sweet time to unfold. But when it does, it hits hard.
The portrayal is so realistic, it gets uncomfortable at times. I was constantly drawing parallels to what I see on social media every day. As I said before, hockey is the reason in the book, while ideologies are the reason in real life. The basic human interaction and reactions are the same. That's the only reason I wasn't overwhelmed by the events in the book. Reality is worse, and I'm almost numbed by now.
The character arc for each person is fantastic. I only wish the book moved a bit faster during the first 30%. Nevertheless, Beartown is a book that will stay with the reader for a long time. ...more
What was Christie even thinking when she wrote this book? This is so not her. *sob* Battle has a blink-and-miss appearance at the end. Doesn't Why?!?
What was Christie even thinking when she wrote this book? This is so not her. *sob* Battle has a blink-and-miss appearance at the end. Doesn't even make sense to categorize it in his series.
If it wasn't a Christie book, I'd have given it two stars. ...more
