This a rehashed and mediocre and quite insecure piece of patronising work of art. Dan Brown throws in the crowd pleasing elements (older woman, handsoThis a rehashed and mediocre and quite insecure piece of patronising work of art. Dan Brown throws in the crowd pleasing elements (older woman, handsome black character etc) but yikes! What a mess. A bloated mess at that, because on my Kobo the page count is 701....more
I found this nonfiction book slow at the beginning, and gradually knew some of the spitfires will bite the dust and some would live a long life with sI found this nonfiction book slow at the beginning, and gradually knew some of the spitfires will bite the dust and some would live a long life with something to talk about. I simply love learning about women who are feminists, often before the word was properly coined or used....more
I really enjoyed reading this sociologically themed book. It was an educative throwback to the past when things were dicey for women. Despite the bleaI really enjoyed reading this sociologically themed book. It was an educative throwback to the past when things were dicey for women. Despite the bleak circumstances, I felt cosy when reading it. I think this is because nowadays people have moved on quite much from this alien and distant past....more
An escapist book with an unpopular end. I don't know how the book can be reviewed. It is hard to evaluate the merits of the book. The plot is evocativAn escapist book with an unpopular end. I don't know how the book can be reviewed. It is hard to evaluate the merits of the book. The plot is evocative but not complex. The emotions are not sharp. The ending is too deflating though. The sign of the times du Maurier grew up in perhaps....more
This is a colossal effort to summarise a president that was reviled for Watergate and whose record speaks for itself among the discordant cries of scaThis is a colossal effort to summarise a president that was reviled for Watergate and whose record speaks for itself among the discordant cries of scandal. I loved this book and may consider it as one of my top 10 books ever. A reread would confirm or deny the book that place for me personally....more
Mediocre cozy despite a few early chapters, at which point the author simply gave up. This series should be wrapped up, but that will happen far off iMediocre cozy despite a few early chapters, at which point the author simply gave up. This series should be wrapped up, but that will happen far off in the future. I wish Krista Davis the best, and I hope she lives long, but I can do without her books and must do so, as she is no longer a good writer....more
Excellent book on the environmentalism of the US, from cradle to grave I am tempted to say. The tone is not impartial. However I did find the tone in Excellent book on the environmentalism of the US, from cradle to grave I am tempted to say. The tone is not impartial. However I did find the tone in question shrewdly chosen, as it befits its aims in writing this book. I will read it again in 2026, a year from now....more
A splendid start undermined by the length of the book. By the time the resolution comes in, boredom had already set in for me. I haven't read any mystA splendid start undermined by the length of the book. By the time the resolution comes in, boredom had already set in for me. I haven't read any mystery that is over 350 pages that I think is 4 or 5 stars. From now on, I will be aware and will avoid 400+ paged mysteries....more
A second strange and silly but spectacular tale by Whitney. It took me a few days to read it. The characters are muted. I don't know for sure if they A second strange and silly but spectacular tale by Whitney. It took me a few days to read it. The characters are muted. I don't know for sure if they were muted by design though. The pull of the cast, the tragedy were both made more of farce than anything concretely fascinating. I enjoyed reading this one....more
I think I am in a reading slump that is permanent. In such conditions, a readable book like Lost Island worked wonders for me. The book healed me. I dI think I am in a reading slump that is permanent. In such conditions, a readable book like Lost Island worked wonders for me. The book healed me. I did not know for most of my time spent with the book that it was written in 1970. What is weird is that Phyllis Ayame Whitney was 67 years of age when Lost Island was published....more
This was a meandering book. One can see clearly when the author stops writing and when he is buying time, and bulking up his book. Maybe I am being haThis was a meandering book. One can see clearly when the author stops writing and when he is buying time, and bulking up his book. Maybe I am being harsh, but though most of the book was 3 star worthy, the solvency of the case was an idea plucked from a previous tome in this series...more
The work of an author that was finding it hard to come up with believable or surprising twists. The story was quite good, but things got less interestThe work of an author that was finding it hard to come up with believable or surprising twists. The story was quite good, but things got less interesting towards the end. It would have been better if the murderer had really wanted to kill a woman....more
This is the best manga I have ever read. Silver Spoons is written by Hiromu Arakawa who wrote Full Metal Alchemist. She is so versatile. This manga coThis is the best manga I have ever read. Silver Spoons is written by Hiromu Arakawa who wrote Full Metal Alchemist. She is so versatile. This manga comes in 15 tomes. It does not have much humour. But humour in the romance aspect of the story enhances the latter so much. I recommend this a lot if you are reading my review....more
This was a fairly paint by numbers mystery. I did not guess the culprit's identity, but that of course does not mean anything. After some time elapsedThis was a fairly paint by numbers mystery. I did not guess the culprit's identity, but that of course does not mean anything. After some time elapsed, I find myself reading this series. It was good fun reading this particular one. Nothing more....more
With this 6th book resuming its above 100 pages volume, there were many needless sentences. This was a book with a lot happening, yet it was all borinWith this 6th book resuming its above 100 pages volume, there were many needless sentences. This was a book with a lot happening, yet it was all boring stuff. I had the feeling that the writer was of the ghostly persuasion. The writer did not seem to love his work. The ending was typical of the book, namely an exciting premise with mediocre pacing....more