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ofbooksandtrees's reviews
1166 reviews
Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
DNF June 2024 14%
Just not vibing with this at all.
Just not vibing with this at all.
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
Read June 2024
Unfortunately, this was a bit of a disappointment for me.
I actually tried to read this once before a few years ago but couldn’t get into it and (soft) DNFed it. At the time I put it down to not being in the mood for a sci-fi (it was the romance that initially got me interested with a comparison to Red, White & Royal Blue). Maybe I should have just trusted my instincts that were telling me this was not the book for me..
Initially I did like it more than on my first try, but it soon turned to “just fine” and after about 70%(I think?) things went in a direction I didn’t care for.
I think mainly, I found the worldbuilding lacking which in turn made it difficult for me to follow/care about the political system. And as for the romance, it’s just one big miscommunication trope. Which is uh.., not exactly my favourite.
DNF 19% 2021
Couldn't get into it, might try again later.
Unfortunately, this was a bit of a disappointment for me.
I actually tried to read this once before a few years ago but couldn’t get into it and (soft) DNFed it. At the time I put it down to not being in the mood for a sci-fi (it was the romance that initially got me interested with a comparison to Red, White & Royal Blue). Maybe I should have just trusted my instincts that were telling me this was not the book for me..
Initially I did like it more than on my first try, but it soon turned to “just fine” and after about 70%(I think?) things went in a direction I didn’t care for.
I think mainly, I found the worldbuilding lacking which in turn made it difficult for me to follow/care about the political system. And as for the romance, it’s just one big miscommunication trope. Which is uh.., not exactly my favourite.
DNF 19% 2021
Couldn't get into it, might try again later.
Thuis draag ik bij me by Cecile Korevaar
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Read June 2024
Na “Zolang de citroenbomen bloeien”, een boek dat zich voornamelijk afspeelt in Syrië, met aan het einde een kort stukje over de vlucht, nu een boek dat juist over het vluchten uit Syrië gaat. Bijzonder om deze twee zo vlak na elkaar te lezen. Ik was bang ze te veel te willen vergelijken, maar eigenlijk complimenteerden ze elkaar juist heel mooi.
Zelf geef ik er de voorkeur aan om boeken te lezen geschreven door auteurs die dichter bij de thema’s van het boek/de achtergrond van de personages staan. Bij “Thuis draag ik bij me” is dat niet het geval, maar zoals het nawoord aangeeft heeft Cecile Korevaar haar huiswerk absoluut gedaan. Zo heeft ze onder andere veelvuldige gesprekken gevoerd met echte vluchtelingen die nu in Nederland wonen en haar personages op hen gebaseerd. Ook is ze op reis geweest naar de plekken van de vluchtroute en heeft ze Libanon en Syrië bezocht.
*gelezen met vpro club lees
Na “Zolang de citroenbomen bloeien”, een boek dat zich voornamelijk afspeelt in Syrië, met aan het einde een kort stukje over de vlucht, nu een boek dat juist over het vluchten uit Syrië gaat. Bijzonder om deze twee zo vlak na elkaar te lezen. Ik was bang ze te veel te willen vergelijken, maar eigenlijk complimenteerden ze elkaar juist heel mooi.
Zelf geef ik er de voorkeur aan om boeken te lezen geschreven door auteurs die dichter bij de thema’s van het boek/de achtergrond van de personages staan. Bij “Thuis draag ik bij me” is dat niet het geval, maar zoals het nawoord aangeeft heeft Cecile Korevaar haar huiswerk absoluut gedaan. Zo heeft ze onder andere veelvuldige gesprekken gevoerd met echte vluchtelingen die nu in Nederland wonen en haar personages op hen gebaseerd. Ook is ze op reis geweest naar de plekken van de vluchtroute en heeft ze Libanon en Syrië bezocht.
*gelezen met vpro club lees
Zolang de citroenbomen bloeien by Zoulfa Katouh
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Read June 2024
I'm not someone who easily cries whilst reading, but this one got me.
The horrors of war, shootings, bombings, etc. Trying to survive whilst also still doing everything you can to help your people. Being so torn between loving your country and being loyal to it, but also knowing you and your loved ones can't stay there if you want to survive.
And amidst all that still finding love and moments of beauty.
I'm not someone who easily cries whilst reading, but this one got me.
The horrors of war, shootings, bombings, etc. Trying to survive whilst also still doing everything you can to help your people. Being so torn between loving your country and being loyal to it, but also knowing you and your loved ones can't stay there if you want to survive.
And amidst all that still finding love and moments of beauty.
The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Read May 2024
A book about the aftermath of a rape and getting revenge, but also one about growing friendships, solidarity, and a sapphic romance.
While dealing with some very serious and heavy topics, the book never felt overly heavy to me. I think it helps that it’s balanced by the friendships and even the new romance. Also, it’s not too graphic as the actual assault isn’t on page, it’s more about the aftermath and rape culture in general. However, if this is an especially difficult subject for you to read about, make sure to look after yourself.
Would recommend the audiobook for this one. The narration is really well done.
A book about the aftermath of a rape and getting revenge, but also one about growing friendships, solidarity, and a sapphic romance.
While dealing with some very serious and heavy topics, the book never felt overly heavy to me. I think it helps that it’s balanced by the friendships and even the new romance. Also, it’s not too graphic as the actual assault isn’t on page, it’s more about the aftermath and rape culture in general. However, if this is an especially difficult subject for you to read about, make sure to look after yourself.
Would recommend the audiobook for this one. The narration is really well done.
De verborgen glimlach by Nicci French
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Read May 2024
Not one of their better books unfortunately. Mostly this was just really frustrating and the characters kinda annoyed me. Still kept me curious though, not wanting to put it down.
Not one of their better books unfortunately. Mostly this was just really frustrating and the characters kinda annoyed me. Still kept me curious though, not wanting to put it down.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Read May 2024
It took me almost a month, but I did it. The biggest book I’ve ever read and it was so worth it!
I’ll admit, there were a few times where I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, or where I didn’t remember who a character was, but mostly it was surprisingly easy to read (for someone who isn’t used to reading classics).
Also, I’m really happy I went with the ebook. Being able to change the font & font size to something I find comfortable to read, just makes it less intimidating and much easier on my hands & wrists.
It took me almost a month, but I did it. The biggest book I’ve ever read and it was so worth it!
I’ll admit, there were a few times where I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, or where I didn’t remember who a character was, but mostly it was surprisingly easy to read (for someone who isn’t used to reading classics).
Also, I’m really happy I went with the ebook. Being able to change the font & font size to something I find comfortable to read, just makes it less intimidating and much easier on my hands & wrists.
Poems for Palestine: Recent poems by nine Palestinian poets & actions you can take to stop genocide now by
emotional
5.0
Read May 2024
A short, but heartbreaking, collection of beautiful poems & illustrations 💔
A short, but heartbreaking, collection of beautiful poems & illustrations 💔
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read May 2024
Nine stories, six I loved, two I liked & one that wasn’t really my cup of tea (though by no means was it bad).
Nine stories, six I loved, two I liked & one that wasn’t really my cup of tea (though by no means was it bad).
The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Read April 2024
While maybe not quite as strong as the first in the duology, due to real world events happening*, I still loved The World We Make a lot.
I might not be a big-city girl myself, but I love the way N.K. Jemisin writes about them, or in this case specifically, New York, its people, and its monsters.)
*a quote from the acknowledgments:
"You know the problem with writing a fantastical paean to a real city? The real world moves faster than fiction. […] All of this meant I ended up writing about the soul of a city at a time when that soul was, as we used to say in my old counselling career, "in a transitional stage"—i.e., midlife crisis.
The New York I wrote about in the first book of the series no longer exists. [...] The Great Cities trilogy that I'd initially planned became a duology because I realized my creative energy was fading under the onslaught of reality, and I didn't have it in me to write three books in this milieu. I came dangerously close to quitting after book one, in fact—but I absolutely hate leaving stories unfinished (and readers disappointed!) once I've begun a thing, so I finished this out of sheer bloody-minded stubbornness."
While maybe not quite as strong as the first in the duology, due to real world events happening*, I still loved The World We Make a lot.
I might not be a big-city girl myself, but I love the way N.K. Jemisin writes about them, or in this case specifically, New York, its people, and its monsters.)
*a quote from the acknowledgments:
"You know the problem with writing a fantastical paean to a real city? The real world moves faster than fiction. […] All of this meant I ended up writing about the soul of a city at a time when that soul was, as we used to say in my old counselling career, "in a transitional stage"—i.e., midlife crisis.
The New York I wrote about in the first book of the series no longer exists. [...] The Great Cities trilogy that I'd initially planned became a duology because I realized my creative energy was fading under the onslaught of reality, and I didn't have it in me to write three books in this milieu. I came dangerously close to quitting after book one, in fact—but I absolutely hate leaving stories unfinished (and readers disappointed!) once I've begun a thing, so I finished this out of sheer bloody-minded stubbornness."