Angie Golish

Too Religious and Antiquated Gender Roles

Reviewed: 08-11-22

Really did not enjoy this listen. The performer was fine, but the book itself is catered more towards stay at home moms who take on all “matronly” aspects of their home. Instead of teaching family to help with the house she recommends just doing most things for them. She also mentions God and religious stuff a bit too much for my taste (and I can overlook that typically but she just made me feel icky when she did it). Also very targeted towards the physically able.

There are a few good points in the book, but nothing earth shattering or new. I’d skip this one honestly and read any of Dana K White’s stuff instead-her books are a thousand times better.

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Fascinating and Heartbreaking

Reviewed: 02-17-17

This book was a fascinating historical fiction set during the time of the Holocaust. It successfully wove together the storylines and lives of three very different characters during this time of tragedy and death; a Nazi doctor, a Jewish girl from the ghetto, and a young half -german half-gypsy girl who was kidnapped from her family and sent to one of the infamous reform schools where the Nazi party tried to educate children on being "more german."

As the story comes together, you witness the change in each of these characters as they not only adjust to their circumstances but transform in order to rise above and fight against the regime being enforced upon them. They each deal with heartache, love, and finding themselves again during this terrible time, and some even find a small amount of redemption in it.

Wonderfully written, this book completely sucks you into a time when it was nearly nothing but heartache and surrounds you in a story that is rich with possibility in a time where there was little hope. I also really enjoyed the author's ability to wrap up many loose ends without it feeling forced or false.

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Not What I Expected, But Still Hooked!

Reviewed: 02-17-17

I think I was expecting something more high-brow with this book than what I got, and perhaps I should have read the part of the synopsis which compared this book to that of Anne Rice (or Harry Potter on other sites) and said "but with a side of Twilight" or "with the sensuality of Twilight." Then I would have been better prepared for it I think... (I do not care for Twilight)

However, that being said, I really did enjoy this book and Deborah Harkness had me thoroughly hooked into the story. While I can see the touches of Anne Rice (faintly) and a grown-up version of Harry Potter (actually, strongly and welcome in my opinion), I feel like this book provides a unique take on the magical world and an interesting view of different creatures (though it only calls out three in particular: Demons, Vampires, and Witches. It could have expanded to so many more...) and it bridges a really wonderful link between the magical world as we can imagine it and the real world by involving actual history and science.

All in all, I found it a very intriguing story (and series altogether) with rich characters and many fun adventures and plot twists. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys magical realism with a touch of romance.

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A Fun Continuation-Set in the Past

Reviewed: 02-17-17

This was a very fun continuation of the story that started in book one, A Discovery of Witches, and took place largely in the past which I loved. I'm a big fan of historical fiction and Deborah Harkness' second book in her All Souls Trilogy was immersed in historical fiction that was wrapped in researched accuracy. It was fun to follow big names of Elizabethan times, such as Walter Rawley and Christopher Marlowe (even if he is a total D-bag) and hear how it was lived not only once, but twice by our main Vampire love interest Matthew deClairemont.

A very fun follow-up and continuation of the story I first fell in love with and can't wait to see continue in the next book.

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I Want More

Reviewed: 02-17-17

If I'm being honest, while I still enjoyed reading/listening (audio books are my jam) to The Book of Life for the simple reason that I fell in love with the characters in the last two books, this third and final book in the All Souls Trilogy was my least favorite of the three for a few different reasons.

***Spoilers***

First, Diana lost a little bit of her edge. It was the author's intention to make her even more of a warrior in this book, which you could tell from repeated interactions and where the book finally ends up, but so much of Diana gets lost in this storyline of her finding her happily ever after as a wife/mother. Don't get me wrong, wives/mothers are warriors and I love all of that, but I feel like after so much time Diana spent not even expecting or worrying about love/family/kids (which is even brought up by her best friend Chris who is shocked to find her in that situation as well) she just seems to immediately fall into this different personality where it seems to be everything she's ever dreamed of.

It's almost like she has two personalities, and you see her warring with the fact that to embrace her magic she has to possibly give up her scholarly pursuits and career-but on the other hand this other side of her is totally okay suddenly becoming a wife/mother/consort to a vampire (which she's repeatedly warned is a full-time domestic gig). I feel like this became all encompassing, but having never been a wife nor mother, perhaps that is just what happens? I don't know, it felt odd the way it was shown out.

That being said, I do have to say that the interactions between the family in this book felt so very genuine and full of love. The entire birthing scene (which felt like maybe the longest scene in the whole book?) was written very well, and walked us through just how each of the characters must have been feeling and made me feel very much like I could sympathize with Diana during that moment... You could feel her fear, pain, and all the overwhelming love and I really enjoyed how well my emotions were pulled into the situation.

But then, I feel like after the babies were born we lost that emotion... It spent a lot of time talking about how it felt to have them and the first few days as a mother, but it also felt too cold and cavaliere when Diana was able to just pass them off to others without a second though. Or how she was able to leave (even though she had to) and it didn't touch on her feelings as a mother while she was away from her infant children in Venice?

I feel like the book, or Diana's character, couldnt decide who it wanted to be or how it wanted to feel for a good part of this and kept going back and forth between extreme emotion and nearly no emotion...

Second: There was SO much wrapped up in this book that some of the events almost seemed rushed... There's all of this build up to the main battle and then it's kind of just... Done? It felt rushed a little...

Third: The fact that this book introduced all kinds of new events, issues, paths, etc. and then ended as the third and final chapter of the series was disappointing. Yes, she got her "happy ending" and everything seemed great and all wrapped up at the end with her balancing her family, career, and new calling in the Congregation-but what? Again, rushed.

I feel like I'm left with all of these questions... What happens with the warnings that Philip's ghost provided that there would still be rough patches? What happens with the babies and their strange abilities? What happens with Phoebe becoming a vampire? Do they ever see Emily and Rebecca's ghosts too? Does anyone else ever see Philip's ghosts? And what about the whole concept that is only briefly mentioned in a conversation between the two ghosts that indicates people can only see ghosts if they've "gotten over" someone's death and moved on? Can we explore that more?

So I guess, my main complaint with the book is that I wanted more and didn't get it... Which can be considered a good thing for the author in some ways... We love your work Deborah Harkness, but I think you're missing out on a fantastic opportunity to continue the storyline for your die-hard fans of this series... I mean look at how far Charlaine Harris was able to take her Sookie Stackhouse series (maybe too far in that case haha) or how far Anne Rice got out of her Vampire Chronicles? We want more? Who wants in on the petition?

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Amazing Historical Fiction Set in Nazi Germany

Reviewed: 12-30-16

This book was fantastic. It's a twist on one of the original fairy-tales that Beauty and the Beast is based off of, and it's set in Berlin during World War 2. The book covers so much of a time in Germany when so much was so wrong, and one girls fight as she lives a double life fighting the Nazi regime and falling in love with the German Officer she was forced to marry in order to save herself and her family.

This book is filled with so much emotional, historical relevance, and deep deep thought. What would I do in that situation? How terrifying, and how much we can learn from even fictional characters about who we are, and a what we must prevent from ever happening again.

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A Bit Slow At First, but Super Interesting

Reviewed: 12-30-16

This book starts a bit slow, but it's actually quite fascinating as I've never looked into this type of relationship during this time period. Throw in a bit of murder-mystery-escapades, and you have a pretty interesting tale!

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Lovely!

Reviewed: 12-30-16

I really enjoy Susanna Kearsley's work, and Mariana is no exception to that rule. The book premise seemed a little less like something I wanted to read, but once I started it I was quickly pulled into the rich history of the cozy little Greyweather's Cottage and both time periods it inhabited prominently.

The book is filled with great historical fiction, lots of information about the region/countryside it is set in, and characters who are deep and well thought-out. There's also a touch of romance, but without anything too smutty or cheaply done. It feels graceful, and heartwarming.

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The Best Book I Read This Year!

Reviewed: 12-30-16

This book was probably one of the best books, if not the best book, I read all year. I LOVED everything about it, from the rich history in the lives of those living during the Salem Witch Trials, to the historical relevance that was imparted on those living today. It was educational, entertaining, and so enthralling! I'd recommend it for anyone who loves magical realism, historical fiction, mystery and plot twists, and learning a little something from their entertainment.

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AMAZING.

Reviewed: 12-30-16

I LOVED Bitter Greens, and it was easily a favorite this year. Kate Forsyth re-tells the story of Rapunzel in a richly historical way that both follows the fairy tale and elaborates on it. This book is filled with mystery, ties to the past, and lore so rich it both feeds your nostalgia for the tales of youth and sucks in your inner adult. Such a fantastic read!

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