davinareads's reviews
818 reviews

The Book Thief has been sitting on my TBR for years. I was always interested in picking it up but never found myself doing it. I have so much regret for not reading it sooner.

The number of times I've heard that this book will make me cry did make me hesitant in picking it up because I didn't want to be disappointed. I didn't want to go in, expecting tears to only come out with dry eyes. 

And once again, I was proven wrong because I cried nonstop all the way to end. It has been a while where a book made me ugly cry. I'm talking about snotty filled noes and tear stained glasses.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting but it certainly was not what I read. The first thing that took me by surprised was the narrator of this story is "death" and he tells us one of the most heart-wrenching stories about a little girl named Liesel - our Book Thief - during the rein of Hitler.

Through the whole book, it was me mumbling the quiest and saddest "ohs" and it kept building up. I loved every character in this book that at the end it hurts. "Death" gave so many warnings about the ending but it did nothing to prepare for the pain.

Markus Zusak knows how to write a book that punches you in the face. The slow build up and character development solidify the emotional build up that it is impossible for the reader to not feel anything.

An amazing story that was filled with childhood innocence, grief, love and the depressing and crippling times of war. If you're like me and have been thinking if you should pick this up, the answer is a solid and resounding yes. Prepare your tissues because you will cry.

I just finished reading The Widow's Crayon Box - Poems and I have to say, it's beautifully written. 

The poetry is easy to understand, which is something I really appreciate. The way it flows from one event to the next makes the whole story clear and cohesive. I didn't struggle to figure out the meaning it was trying to convey and I think that itself, for a poetry book, is a success. It's the balance of having pretty words to form a stong story. 

What struck me most was how well thought out the poems are. There are so many moments that felt quote-worthy, capturing deep emotions and experiences. The collection tells the story of Molly watching her husband pass away from cancer, her experience as his caretaker, and how she continues to live without him. This again, was all successful captured in this short poetry book.

Overall, it's a moving and accessible read that captures the complexity of grief and love with simplicity and grace in a small but powerful package. I highly recommend giving this a read.

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe is a refreshing and modern take on the classic story of a young woman facing the challenges of adulthood and motherhood. In this humorous and touching novel, we follow Margo, a new mom struggling to make ends meet, as she navigates the ups and downs of being broke and trying to support her newborn son.

What really stood out to me about this book is how Rufi Thorpe takes a seemingly generic storyline and breathes new life into it with her unique twist. The characters are memorable, the ideas are fresh, and the entire story feels incredibly relevant to today's world. Margo is a character who feels very real, and her struggles are both relevant and heart-wrenching.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is its exploration of themes that are often overlooked in mainstream literature. The story delves into the philosophy of sex work, especially when the sex worker is a parent, and challenges societal perceptions in a way that feels both necessary and powerful. The messages in this book deserve to be heard far and wide.

I also can't praise the writing enough. It's sharp, engaging, and full of wit. The chemistry between Margo and her father, Jinx, is particularly endearing. Their relationship adds a layer of warmth and authenticity to the story that I absolutely loved.

Overall, Margo's Got Money Troubles is a well-written, thought-provoking, and incredibly enjoyable read. Rufi Thorpe has crafted a story that is both unique and timeless, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a book that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even shed a tear or two.

Finishing We, the Drowned felt like coming ashore after an epic, unforgettable journey. This book takes you on a whirlwind of sea adventures, spanning three generations of sailors and it was a story that is like no other. It was brutal hardship after brutal hardship starting from the early 1848s in Marstal, Denmark to the end of WWII.

The way Carsten Jensen writes, it's like each chapter is its own short story, yet they all come together to form this grand, cohesive narrative. Just when I thought things might slow down, the pace picked right back up, keeping me hooked and I found myself seasawing from a 4 star rating to a 5. Ultimately, I settled for a 4.5 star rating.

Describing why I loved this book is a bit tricky. It was more of an experience than just a read—something that I think fellow readers will truly understand. The characters are lovable, and their stories are rich and full. We explored their childhoods - from the beatings the teachers gave to the antics they get to among friends - and followed them to adulthood where they meet challenges of dealing with hierarchy, power and the war. It was a perfectly balanced book with an addicted storyline.

This book is the definition of bittersweet. The journey through three generations of sailors is filled with highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies. It had a constant flow that was maintained throughout this 700 page book and I found it to be an impressive story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and if you love a good sea adventure with depth and heart, We, the Drowned is a must-read.

When I finished the first chapter of The Picture of Dorian Gray, my immediate thought was, This book is going to destroy me. And honestly, it did. From the very beginning, I could tell this novel has inspired so many others; I kept seeing echoes of its themes and characters in modern stories I've read.

Oscar Wilde's writing is utterly quote-worthy. Every line seemed to carry a profound truth or a biting wit that made me want to underline it and save it forever. The charm of Wilde’s literature is undeniable, and I found myself completely captivated by his storytelling.

This classic is one that I hold dear to my heart. Its timelessness is evident in how relevant its themes and messages feel even today. Wilde's exploration of beauty, morality, and the consequences of our actions is something that resonates deeply regardless of the era.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is more than just a novel; it's an experience. The way Wilde captures the complexities of human nature, vanity, and the pursuit of eternal youth is simply masterful. I was drawn into Dorian's world, feeling both horrified and fascinated by his descent into moral decay.

What struck me the most is how effortlessly Wilde weaves his narrative, making it feel both effortless and profound. It's a book that leaves you thinking long after you've turned the last page. If you're looking for a read that challenges you, charms you, and makes you reflect on the deeper aspects of life, this is it.

In short, I loved every moment spent reading this book. It's a classic for a reason, and its impact is just as powerful today as it was when it was first published. I highly recommend The Picture of Dorian Gray to anyone who appreciates beautifully crafted literature with a timeless message.

A Simple Carpenter is a very well written book that is part biblical fiction, magic realm and a bit of thriller all mixed in. Dave Margoshes did a fantastic job in balancing these three genres to create an enjoyable story.

I always have this fascination with books about God and this book asked all the right questions and gave some good responses with them. The overall story is our main character wakes up one day on a boat and has no recollection of any of his memories. He is a blank state and we follow him as he tries to regain the memory he's lost. As the story progresses, the main character discovers he has an uncanny ability to understand any language spoken to him. Pair this with his ability to perform small miracles, people start seeing him as a second coming of Jesus Christ. Of course, our main character doesn't see it that way which leads to his inquiry about God.

With addition to this, the characters and the settings did an amazing job in drawing the readers in. The characters introduced are a little odd but it fit in so well with this magical realm created that I wanted to read more.

I loved the ending and in a way I thought it wrapped up the book really nicely. I'm trying to not spoil it so I won't mention it but if you end up picking up A Simple Carpenter a read, please message me because I have discussion points 😂

The only thing that caused me to drop a star was I found some parts repetitive and I was impatient because I wanted to know what happens next.

To me, it was an interesting read and I wished more people will pick this up. The ending left me googling for more discussion on A Simple Carpenter and I love when a book gets me wanting more.

The Ministry Of Time had prospect and the idea about taking historical figures out of time to the 21st century to see if they can survive is a unique idea. I just felt let down because that idea and chance to create something memorable was not achieved. I felt rather lacklustered and lied to because the first sentence in the synopsis contained the words, "Romance", "spy thriller" and "workplace comedy" and I think my definition of those words are very different from the author's.

With this, the genre for this was labeled as scfi and contemporary. I am letting you know, there is nothing very scientific in this book other than the quick description of "we have time travel!"

There were high praises coming from this book, so this may be why my review so far is coming on very strongly because I did not see where all the high praise is coming from. Let me say that for a debut novel, it wasn’t bad. But it was also not a 4 or 5 star read to me.

To start, the things that I enjoyed with this book: 

- Definitely the idea. Very unique and again, there was a chance to make an amazing story with it

- The potential of our main character (who was never named throughout the book) and her expat Graham Gore (the time traveler). 

- I enjoyed reading about Commandor Graham Gore and liked how this book encouraged me to look him up to learn more about him

What I didn't like and what ended up dragging this rating down is: 

- The writing felt very janky. It felt like nothing was really connected well and I found myself very confused with what was happening at times. Some transitions from one scene to the next were rough

- I love learning new words but I felt like there were too many big and uncommon words used to sound above average. I don't enjoy having to pause multiple times to look a word up and I think I have an average vocabulary 

- The story is mundane. Yes, this is contemporary book, but come on, the main thing with this is there are characters brought from the past! 

- The plot twist wasn't bad but it was badly written and wrapped up

- The ending left me with nothing 

- "Romance" not the strongest 

- "spy thriller" where was the the spying? 

- "workplace comedy" it was as dry as possible 

If you can't tell, I felt very disappointed with this read. There was so much potential with so many ways this story could go that maybe that was the problem. I think I had too much expectation and there were too many possibilities trying to work together that in the end, nothing was really well done.

At the end of the read, The Ministry of Time, is a slowed down, mundane slice of life read with anticlimactic ending.

The perfect spring read that took me by surprise. When I picked this book up, I wasn't expecting anything but the first few pages hooked me in.

The tone for this book reminded me a little bit of Anxious People because it had this quirky aspect to it that was successfully carried through out. While it was a light hearted read, Making Up the Gods explored themes of  tragedy and recovery, building new relationships and when to let go of the past.

All of this was expertly shown in three different POVs with a stunning location. I loved the backdrop of this location taking place in a well described lake front - Lake Superior. Marion did a fantastic job in capturing Canada's wildlife, from the Spring temperatures, to the natural beauty of the lake, I felt like I was there with our characters.

As for characters, I loved every single one of them and I thought they were very well-written. It was easy to distinguish one character from another and I was invested in them from the start. 

From a retired widow living with ghosts and isolation, a young boy who lost his father and brother in a terrible accident to a man desperate for a job that he agrees to an outlandish task, these characters interacted with one another beautiful to form a memorable story.

I really enjoyed Simone and Chen's relationship and found it to be a natural development as Simone shows Chen the beauty of her home and camp site. I loved how the relationship was simple but at the same time, layered with many events - mundane chores to get the camp ready for summer such as raking and cleaning to breaks like skipping rocks or reading a story- to form a deeper connection between the two. I like how there is a contrast betwen them but a similar theme of lost ties them together.

Overall, Making Up the Gods is a well paced book perfect for Spring and those who enjoy the found family trope. Easily loveable characters with a short but simple plot, it was a great light read that was filled with a lot of emotional and sweet moments. I'll definitely be recommending this to everyone.

This is such a unique way to split two stories up in one book. The stories are not connected to one another so you don’t have to worry about choosing which one to start first. Both of them were amazing short stories.

In Sickness and In Health (3.5⭐️)
I enjoyed the parts where our main character showed her childhood growing up with epilepsy. At the beginning it was a bit hard to get into it because it felt a bit repetitive. After the first 2-3 chapters is where I started to get interested in the story.

It was heartbreaking to read the struggles Lily had to deal with growing up with epilepsy. The times were different so while trying her best to be good and "normal" she was still looked at as a moron and bad. The way she was viewed as a child and how she was treated, expands into how she deals with illnesses as an adult.

This short novel was an emotional read. I also liked the subtle way it was written depending on if Lily was sick and out of her body or in the present and feeling healthy.


Yom Kippur in the Gym (4⭐️)
Out of the two stories, this is my favorite. I loved the individual character's story and how each of them are dealing with their own problems as they are all gathered in a gym for Yom Kippur.

There were strong themes throughout this novel about forgiveness, happiness and acceptance. I like how in the end, individually they discovered something about their situation. I also liked how they came together at the end with a connection between each of them.

Well paced and another emotional short story, this one stood out to me.

What the Living do by Susan E Wadds invites readers into a poignant journey alongside Brett as she confronts her past while battling cancer. As we delve into Brett's world, I found myself captivated by the depth of her character and the steady growth she undergoes throughout the story. Susan skillfully guides us through Brett's struggles and triumphs, making her journey feel both personal and universal.

One of the book's standout elements is the portrayal of Brett's character. She's truly unique, and I appreciated witnessing her evolution as she grapples with her demons and embraces healing. Cole's unwavering loyalty adds another layer of depth to the narrative, showcasing the power of genuine connection amidst adversity.

Susan weaves symbolism and thematic elements throughout the story, particularly in the way Brett confronts her past through literature. The nods to Canadian culture, from mentions of beloved bands like Marianas Trench to subtle references like snowplows and maple leaves, added an extra layer of authenticity to the narrative.

However, I did find myself occasionally disoriented by abrupt transitions between settings. While this didn't detract significantly from my enjoyment of the story, smoother transitions would have enhanced the overall reading experience.

In summary, What the Living do is a moving exploration of resilience, love, and the power of confronting one's past.