Though you'd think money smoothes away all obstacles, it seems in the lives of these heiresses to be the thing that stands between them and happiness.Though you'd think money smoothes away all obstacles, it seems in the lives of these heiresses to be the thing that stands between them and happiness. Using the examples of individual heiresses to make her case, Thompson shows how the lives of heiresses evolved with the times, and what they may need to achieve happiness in their different ways.
The book is broken down into four sections which deal with different eras of heiresses, from the heiress abductions of the Georgian times to the American invasion in Regency and Victorian, the freedom and hedonism of the World Wars, and finally the politically-minded 'anti-heiresses' of the mid-century period. Except from Patty Hearst and Barbara Hutton, both discussed in this last section, the women covered by Thompson were mostly unfamiliar to me, so it was very interesting to learn about these figures who were pivotal in their own times but quite obscure today.
Though we learn about insane excesses, unhappy marriages, and scandals galore, the tone of the writing was quite academic - no recklessly unsubstantiated rumors here! I know this disappointed some readers who were expecting more salacious stories, but I thought the lives of the heiresses were wild enough without. I also really enjoyed the razor-sharp style of writing, which in turn lauded and lambasted the various players in the dramas and held an arch but sympathetic view of most heiresses.
Overall, this was a fascinating read, and I think I will check out this author's other work on the Mitford sisters sometime.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
After being caught up in a museum robbery, Will Chen and a group of other second-generation Chinese-Americans are hired to steal back five pDNF at 37%
After being caught up in a museum robbery, Will Chen and a group of other second-generation Chinese-Americans are hired to steal back five priceless works of Chinese art that, looted centuries ago, have ended up in museums around the world.
The premise of this story was really exciting to me when I ran across it on NetGalley. Art heists? The immigrant experience? A rag-tag group of geniuses? And there's plenty to like - characters struggling with identity, for one, and interesting familial relationships, and the sheer joy of rooting for the repatriation of stolen art.
Unfortunately, though, this book could simply not hold my interest. I did not feel I had gotten a sense of any of the leads still, and could not really engage with them. The prelude to the heist did not feel very clever or interesting - the group fumbles around so much that it really doesn't make sense why they were hired. And the style of writing was not my cup of tea at all - it felt rather slick and overwrought all at once.
I think a lot of these issues are growing pains - this is the author's debut, after all. But for these reasons, I am not really interested in finishing the book.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Lydia is a vampire – has been all her life, since her mother turned her as an infant. Now she’s living on her own for the first time, and having troubLydia is a vampire – has been all her life, since her mother turned her as an infant. Now she’s living on her own for the first time, and having trouble tracking down blood.
Though I did not know there was a term for them, I have long been aware of the Sad, Strange, Miserable Women that populate the modern literary landscape. Generally I have avoided them, if only because I can contrive to be miserable enough without heaping the troubles of fictional people atop it. But this book is different, because Lydia’s alienation is way more literal – she is no longer human.
It’s a pretty excellent metaphor. And the book has a wonderfully claustrophobic quality to it, sinister despite not very many things that are sinister on the surface happening. Lydia’s relationship with food is also an interesting read, both in itself and in how it speaks for her loneliness.
However, I felt that the central plot was simply too thin for the length of the novel. I skated through this book pretty fast, but that’s because a lot of it is just Lydia’s juddering thoughts and self-reflections. I also thought the ending was very predictable – I knew where we were going after Lydia’s first few days of work. This might have worked better as a novella, or even a short story.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
After Toby wakes up to find himself married to Autumn, a Las Vegas croupier, he decides that the distraction of a marriage of convenience is exactly wAfter Toby wakes up to find himself married to Autumn, a Las Vegas croupier, he decides that the distraction of a marriage of convenience is exactly what he needs to sell his estate undetected. But Autumn and Wishcliffe alike latch onto his heart.
This was a quick, low-angst read about a pair of serious commitment-phobes. Autumn has been left behind enough times that she is determined to leave first, and Toby is frightened to find himself in possession of Wishcliffe. The characters are well-suited to each other and I thought Autumn in particular was well-written, with complex emotions and motivations.
However, I wish we had had the chance to see the characters really fall in love. I feel like we skated from the opening to the drama relatively quickly, so there's not much on-screen bonding to convince the reader of Toby and Autumn's love.
Overall, this was a light read that was well-written, though unfortunately a little lacking in swoon-worthy romance.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
‘But Lottie is alive. My daughter is alive. She’s tenacious, determined, ferocious. She couldn’t be extinguished without creating a disturbance, a ren‘But Lottie is alive. My daughter is alive. She’s tenacious, determined, ferocious. She couldn’t be extinguished without creating a disturbance, a rent in the fabric of the world that I would feel.’
Alex’s three year-old daughter Lottie is kidnapped from a destination wedding in Florida, vanishing into thin air under the negligent eyes of the guests. Sympathy for grieving Alex turns to suspicion as the case progresses.
This story, told from the viewpoints of Alex, reporter Quinn, and a mysterious abductor, takes an unusual approach to the issue of child abduction. Though she loves her daughter dearly, Alex is no saint and struggles with the responsibilities of motherhood.
I thought the first third of the story, which deals with Lottie’s abduction, was the strongest part. We really feel Alex’s horror and desperation as the hours wear on with no sign of her daughter. The situation seems like an impossible one – how could a little girl go missing so tracelessly?
But once we get to the time-skip, the plot abruptly slows down. There are a couple of plot twists in this section, but they are delivered without much suspense so I was not wowed by them. I did like the discussion of Alex’s relationship with her family and her feelings of guilt, though, as I thought it was interesting to see how the impact of Lottie’s abduction radiated outward.
The ending was disappointing. Things clicked into place, but one aspect of the solution to the mystery is so far-fetched I had trouble swallowing it. I think the problem was that the mystery was so built up that it’s tough to get a satisfying conclusion.
As for Quinn – I’ve noticed reviews rarely mention her, and it’s with good reason. For an alcoholic disabled lesbian former war correspondent, she doesn’t make much impression or bring much to the table – she could have easily been cut from the story without much change to anything.
Overall, a decent thriller, but the final showdown drooped.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Stacie is a tour guide, introducing people to Alaskan wildlife from a boat. When a man vanishes from the tour, she thinks he's stowed away to cause trStacie is a tour guide, introducing people to Alaskan wildlife from a boat. When a man vanishes from the tour, she thinks he's stowed away to cause trouble. But when his body is discovered out amid the ice floes, she realizes that there is something far worse at play.
I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounds so cool and so eerie, the idea of a body bobbing out in the frigid Alaskan waters. Unfortunately the story goes downhill from there.
My main issue was the character of Stacie. She felt rather flat, and it seemed like her only interests were her job and wildlife, and this interest is rather more told than shown to the reader. I also did not like her narrative voice, which was oddly chirpy and hollow. Sasha, her beloved dog, also doesn't make an impact, despite being present in nearly every scene of the story. Apart from barking at crucial moments in the story, she mostly toddles along with Stacie with nary a trace of personality.
The mystery was also very disappointing. In a course of events that beg great suspension of belief, Liam, the detective investigating the case, allows Stacie to help out, excusing it because his is an 'unconventional' office. Stacie mostly does this by badgering her coworkers about their ideas about the crime in a ham-fisted fashion. There was nary a clue to be found in this story until the last thirty pages, and even then the solution to the case is incredibly unsatisfactory.
The less said about the romance, the better. Stacie and Liam develop a relationship, but again the writing was so flat that I did not feel any attraction between them - and I don't understand why Liam would get into a sexual relationship with a potential suspect. It was very frustrating and the story could have done without it.
Do not recommend.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
“A book that sits on a shelf is nothing but a bundle of paper. Unless it is opened, a book possessing great power or an epic story is a mere scrap of “A book that sits on a shelf is nothing but a bundle of paper. Unless it is opened, a book possessing great power or an epic story is a mere scrap of paper. But a book that has been cherished and loved, filled with human thoughts, has been endowed with a soul.”
Rintaro Natsuki, a reclusive high school student, inherits a bookstore when his grandfather passes away. Then a talking cat appears and demands his help in rescuing books from their misguided owners.
This was a short, whimsical read with a message that will appeal to all book lovers. There is a strong streak of magical realism - talking cats aside, Rintaro's adventures take place in what feel like almost parallel realities, which I enjoyed but may not appeal to all readers.
This book revolves primarily around the idea that books - or at least literature - is getting less popular. To rescue books, Rintaro must negotiate with their owners and persuade them to change their ideas about them. In the process, there are a lot of meditations on the importance of books and why tough books are worth the struggle to read them.
Though Rintaro is the main focus of this novel, he is accompanied by his classmate Sayo on some of the adventures. They make a fun pair as they contrast greatly in character and their approaches to problems, but still work together well. I also liked the so-called 'bosses of the labyrinth' (so-called by me, at least!) and how they represented different ways to love books - though they had to unlearn their mistaken beliefs.
Unfortunately, the titular cat was the weak point of this novel. Tiger comes and goes out of nowhere, which is fine by me, but he also does not have much of a presence beyond serving as a guide down the passageway and giving out dire warnings. Also he is quite rude.
This was originally written in Japaense, and the translator is Louise Heal Kawai. I thought the writing was lovely, but something dialogue felt a little stilted - but it did not take away my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, an endearing read for book lovers of all stripes.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
In this collection, Kiernan strings together a disturbing mix of twenty-two dark stories.
These stories are about drowning and dark water, the end of tIn this collection, Kiernan strings together a disturbing mix of twenty-two dark stories.
These stories are about drowning and dark water, the end of the world, vampires and dreams and above all the telling of stories to one another. They are mostly vignettes without distinct beginnings or ends, and possess an unsettling ambiguity.
I enjoyed the dreamlike tone of the collection, the dwelling on dark places and fairytales, which reminded me of Angela Carter. The author has published many collections of short stories before, and you can tell that from her strong and assured prose. I also liked the etchings interspersed through the book, which add to the dark effect of the stories.
However, I wondered if the the collection would have been more effective if it were shorter. With twenty-two stories, they tended to blend into each other sometimes, especially as they isn't much variation in tone.
Overall, an enjoyable dark collection of stories. My favorite was Day After Tomorrow, the Flood.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review. ...more
You don't usually think of Hitler as someone who had friends - but he did, and that inner circle played an important role in his daily life DNF at 38%
You don't usually think of Hitler as someone who had friends - but he did, and that inner circle played an important role in his daily life and ambitions.
I picked up this book because it was on a subject I had never thought about before, and I was interested in learning what kind of people Hitler surrounded himself with in his most private life and how it impacted him. However, I found the writing rather dry and clunky, and try as I might could not get invested. Matters weren't helped by the enormous cast revolving in and out of the story.
Overall, not a bad book at all - merely not one for me.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
All is not well in Brighton. Inspector Steine has a criminally insane murderer of policemen after him, a visiting professor has been murdered at a depAll is not well in Brighton. Inspector Steine has a criminally insane murderer of policemen after him, a visiting professor has been murdered at a department store, and worse, Mrs Groynes, charlady and gang leader, has been booted from the police department by the new police secretary.
This book is utterly hilarious and made me laugh out loud quite a bit. The characters are endearing though rather bumbling - as the reader is told more or less from the beginning who the villains are, I did spend a lot of time wondering how the twain would meet! There were some really hilarious sequences and asides that I enjoyed, such as the relationship between the governor of Broadmoor and his 'Carlotta'.
Though the author does a good job explaining events of the previous books, this one's plot heavily relies on characters introduced before, so it was a bit of a tricky read at times. I did also think that the plot might have been too complex for the length of the book - consequently, events like the professor's murder get short shrift.
Ultimately an enjoyable darkly comic romp, perhaps more for fans of comedy than of mysteries.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Elizabeth Chudleigh, the Duchess-Countess, has led a rather interesting life to say the least. A lady-in-waiting in the English royal court, she was tElizabeth Chudleigh, the Duchess-Countess, has led a rather interesting life to say the least. A lady-in-waiting in the English royal court, she was tried for bigamy in her later years - not that is not all that is there to her, as the author makes the case.
I had never heard of Elizabeth Chudleigh before, but I have become convinced through this book that she exemplifies the spirit the lush and luxurious Georgian era. The writing is really lovely, creating vivid scenes of the time and place, and the reader is well-grounded in all the factors that would have guided the actions of the players. There was a good amount of suspense to the point that the book read like a novel at times, though it is clearly well-researched too.
I did question the hindsight diagnosis of a possible personality disorder that Elizabeth could have suffered from though, as I don't know that it was adequately evidenced yet the author cited it fairly often. However this is not really detract from my enjoyment of the book.
All in all a strong and engaging biography that should appeal to a wide audience of historical fiction and historical romance as well the more usual suspects.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Trapped by a drug dealer in Jamaica for five years, Cassidy sends letters to the FBI begging for rescue for her and her son. But she doesn't anticipatTrapped by a drug dealer in Jamaica for five years, Cassidy sends letters to the FBI begging for rescue for her and her son. But she doesn't anticipate that the one to save her will be her old crush from high school.
The writing is fluid and the characters work together as well as always. There is plenty of tension and action to keep suspense lovers engaged. There were points in the action scenes where I gasped out loud!
However, I was a little disappointed. There were some odd things in the story, like how Cassidy was sending letters, that were never explained, and while I liked the way Mario was written he is pretty clearly a walking stereotype. Despite the characters having a past with each other, it felt very surface level.
Overall, not the author's best work, but still an enjoyable read.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Dr O'Sullivan discusses a plethora of mass functional illnesses, including resignation syndrome from Sweden, Havana syndrome, and several more individDr O'Sullivan discusses a plethora of mass functional illnesses, including resignation syndrome from Sweden, Havana syndrome, and several more individual cases.
This was a really interesting read about a subject I did not know too much about. The author did a good job of scouting interesting cases, some more well-known than others. She discusses the background, the disease itself, and what social factors may have caused them.
She also talks about the field of functional illnesses more generally in a clear and engaging manner. I appreciated that we got to go along on her investigation beside her, sharing in her changing thoughts and opinions as she learned more about the illnesses.
I did sometimes find her tone slightly unsympathetic toward the patients, which bothered me, but I think this added veracity to the account. Ultimately I found this an informative, interesting read.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
It was tough being a king in medieval England, and this book drives it home, relating the stories of six kings who won their thrones in less than savoIt was tough being a king in medieval England, and this book drives it home, relating the stories of six kings who won their thrones in less than savory ways.
It was an informative, straightforward read that I quite enjoyed. The author covers six kings from William the Conqueror to Henry VII in brief chapters, touching upon the lead-up to their reign, the taking of the throne, and what they did with their power afterward. The various political machinations were laid out in a clear and easy to follow fashion, which is impressive considering the tangle that is the War of the Roses.
However, I did not feel that the author dug deep with much new insight. Also, sections of the last three chapters were sometimes repetitive due to the intertwining nature of those kings' histories.
Overall, this is an excellent read for those who are new to English royal history.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Charity Brookes, an opera singer, embarks on a tour of the north with her close friend Dorothy - but this means going with Dorothy's brother Griff as Charity Brookes, an opera singer, embarks on a tour of the north with her close friend Dorothy - but this means going with Dorothy's brother Griff as well, and the two have always loathed each other since childhood. However, as they see more of each other, their feelings begin to change.
This was a short charming read about a pair of well-matched leads. I liked how the characters got on and that they both understood and supported each other's interests. The conflict also made sense to me, stemming primarily from Griff's insecurity and jealously. There were moments of both humor and emotion, and both had strong impacts.
I did think that some of the transitions between chapters were jerky, and the shifts in mood at these times could make it hard to follow. Overall, however, I enjoyed my read and I would check out more books by this author.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Chris Martin drops out of college to become a marine, inspired by the warrior life of Alexander the Great. Over several years, he goes through traininChris Martin drops out of college to become a marine, inspired by the warrior life of Alexander the Great. Over several years, he goes through training, gets deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and faces combat.
This was a very interesting read. The author does a good job of capturing the atmosphere of his training and deployments, so that it feels very surreal to the reader who is comfortably far away from his experience. I liked that the author seems to have had quite ordinary experiences, a 'grunt's' life, so that the reader gets a grassroots level view of the war.
My main complaint is that there was sometimes a lack of self-reflection in the writing about his experiences, more merely just a recounting (though certainly a fascinating one). I also would have liked to see in the epilogue what the author did after his enlistment was over.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Violeta, who was born during the Spanish influenza pandemic and turns one hundred years old during the coronavirus pandemic, writes a memoir to hand dVioleta, who was born during the Spanish influenza pandemic and turns one hundred years old during the coronavirus pandemic, writes a memoir to hand down to her grandson Camilo.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Isabel Allende, and in fact have several others of her books on hand, piled in the tottering tower that is my TBR list. However, this is the first book by her that I’ve read, and it did not reach the heights I was expecting.
Not that this is by any means a bad book. The writing is so excellent that I slipped through the novel almost without realizing it, coming up for air at the end like after a swim in an extremely placid lake. I found the storyline interesting, following as it does the ups and downs of such a long life through such varied circumstances – Violeta lives in poverty and wealth, has romantic attachments with a variety of personalities, has complicated relationships with both her children, and ultimately turns to activism in her old age. She makes both wise and reckless decisions throughout, and is brave enough to own up to them.
However, I felt like the novel was oddly lacking in emotional impact. There’s a lot of bad things that happen to Violeta, but they felt almost glossed over at times. This may be because Violeta at the time of the writing is so far removed from those previous events of her life, but I felt that this does the reader a disservice. The only time where I felt emotion really break through was with Nieves, her daughter.
I also had trouble getting close to many of the characters. Those written about earlier in the story, such as Miss Taylor and Júlian, are more vivid than those who enter the tale later on. Violeta herself is hard to peg, despite being the narrator and main character – perhaps it is because she stands in the reader’s blind spot, as the purported author of the memoir, but I did wish we got to know her better.
Overall, a decent read, but I expect not one of Allende’s best.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Helena Montgomery is in need of money to support herself and her siblings, so she turns to robbing coaches with a group of her closest friends. HoweveHelena Montgomery is in need of money to support herself and her siblings, so she turns to robbing coaches with a group of her closest friends. However, when she falls in love with Sebastian, an earl, that becomes exponentially more difficult.
Firstly, may I shout this from the rooftops - I adored Helena. She is a tough and loving woman who is driven to go whatever she can to save her family. I thought Sebastian was a little blander than her, but I really liked their relationship and how devoted he is to her, almost puppyish. I also really liked the Lawless Ladies and would love to keep reading the series to find out what happens to them - already I have spotted several potential heroes!
I did think, however, that the black moment and the resolution of the story was a touch rushed, compared to the much longer build-up of the story. Sebastian comes to his realization remarkably quickly, though I am glad he was able to recognize his privilege.
Overall, an excellent, sweet read with an unusual premise.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Winston and Clementine Churchill had four daughters. While one died in childhood, the rest went on to lead colorful lives and play important parts in Winston and Clementine Churchill had four daughters. While one died in childhood, the rest went on to lead colorful lives and play important parts in their father's.
This is an interesting joint biography of Winston Churchill's daughters. While I had never paid much attention to them before, I learned they led quite fascinating lives, doing things such as playing important parts in the war effort. I liked that the author balanced the sisters' personal lives with placing them in the larger context of time as women in the public sphere. The author's writing style reminded me of listening to a clear and engaging history lecture.
However, I did wish that the book went more in-depth - the short length meant that many important parts of the sisters' lives were skimmed over or underdeveloped. This book felt more like a good launch-point to start learning about the Churchill sisters than anything very comprehensive.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
Penelope doesn't want to travel on the Titanic and move to New York with her parents - but as an unwed woman in 1912, she has no choice. However, thinPenelope doesn't want to travel on the Titanic and move to New York with her parents - but as an unwed woman in 1912, she has no choice. However, things begin to change when she meets her new roommate, Ruby, and strikes up a romance.
I really enjoyed some parts of this book - others not so much. Ruby and Penelope are both likable, and I was rooting for their romance. The portions of the book concerning the Titanic were first informative and then harrowing. I liked that the author talked about Penelope's relationship with her parents and the position of women in society at the time.
However, I did feel that some parts echoed too closely the movie, and I wish we could have spent some time in Ruby's head, as occasionally she felt somewhat flat. I also would have liked to see more of the romance's development, as the length of the book curtailed it.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary review....more
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