I just wanted a light summer read, and got hit in the head instead...
There are many things I can forgive a book. Lousy world building, one dimensionalI just wanted a light summer read, and got hit in the head instead...
There are many things I can forgive a book. Lousy world building, one dimensional characters, crappy dialogue... Really, I'm a forgiving spirit. Give me some sense of humour, someone to like and a story to enjoy, and I'm in.
BUT. In this book there is literally nothing to like. The main character is as sloppy as it gets, the love interest is a walking and talking cliché, world building is basically non existent. Technically, story takes place in Scotland in late 19th century and the author marks that by using 5 Scottish words and sending characters to a ball :D Seriously, if you want to write a period piece, do your research.
Up to 40% of the book nothing happened, then for a few pages I got a little bit interested, and then again nothing. Boo. Even the finale grande was so obvious and stiff that I was just happy to finish with this piece of boredom.
What a MASSIVE disappointment. I sat down to read a nice retelling, and got really lousy written young adult romance.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a big faWhat a MASSIVE disappointment. I sat down to read a nice retelling, and got really lousy written young adult romance.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of young adult.
But. You don't build a relationship- any kind of relationship- between the characters by writing "We became friends in the next two years". That's just being lazy. And the retelling part? Taking a story and retelling it in an interesting way requires skill. Here there was no world-building behind the name dump, no character building behind people being nice or bad or talented. The only imaginative things came from... Well, the story that was being retold.
I only gave this book two stars because one star is reserved for super-crappy books. This one was just super-boring. ...more
What a massive disappointment. I'm not even Ukrainian and I know this book is shit.
First, forget about the implied "journey through the history of UkWhat a massive disappointment. I'm not even Ukrainian and I know this book is shit.
First, forget about the implied "journey through the history of Ukraine". The author picked some bits and pieces that sell well - Holodomor, Holocaust, a bit about Kiev, a bit about Lviv, something about Crimea... There is not structure, no continuity, no depth - the only readable parts are those when she quotes external sources. Her analysis is sometimes so shallow I had to check her actual credentials (and ruin my assumptions about Oxford education).
In official notes you can find a phrase saying that "Anna Reid combines research and her own experiences to chart Ukraine's tragic past" - WELL. No charting was done, five articles on random subjects are not charting. AND the book would be definitely better without "her own experiences" as they are continuously condescending, silly and/or offensive. If felt like reading a blog of a person that went to a country once and is coming back to tell you stories.
Seriously, you can get a better understanding of Ukrainian history if you read Wikipedia on Ukraine, Poland and Russia, as the histories are entwined. This thing - it's as good as quotes it contains.
If anyone knows a good book on Ukrainian history (in English, Polish or French) please let me know, I now regret transporting this one with me when I moved. Thought I was bringing a piece of history of my family with me, ended up with annoying crap. ...more
I have a bad series now with really boring books. This was like skip-to-the-end from the very first page. I find it a loss of my time, and give two stI have a bad series now with really boring books. This was like skip-to-the-end from the very first page. I find it a loss of my time, and give two stars only because Twilight got one....more
American Princess and Her Journey of Cultural Appropriation
How to Talk About One's Marriage to Make People Sick
Neurotic Diary of Self-CeGrrr. Arrrgh.
American Princess and Her Journey of Cultural Appropriation
How to Talk About One's Marriage to Make People Sick
Neurotic Diary of Self-Centered Creep
Priviliged Lady Travels the World
Book Of No Original Thoughts
Death of Feminism Is Here Again
How to Bubble with Stereotypes and Earn Millions
I hated this person, this author, this heroine. Not for her thoughts alone (shallow!) - for her actions, for her nearsightedness, for seeing only one important dot on the map of universe, this dot being her. ...more
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