Rosh ~catching up slowly~’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2022)

Rosh ~catching up slowly~’s comments from the Aussie Readers group.

Completed "The Surgeon's Daughter" by Audrey Blake.

I would have liked it a lot more if I had known it was a sequel and had read the first book. The story is a continuation and no character background is provided. Worth reading if you go in series order. 3.5 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

"Gone but Still Here" by Jennifer Dance

An emotional portrayal of an Alzheimer's patient and her caregiver, with a loveable dog to boot. Slow but compelling. 4.5 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken.

A wonderful read for historical fiction fans, providing details on the Holodomor famine (man-made) in 1930s Ukraine. 4.25 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

"A Tidy Ending" by Joanna Cannon -

This is a well-rated book but I didn't like the story as much as I had expected. The ending was farfetched. So here's my outlier 2-star review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Brenda wrote: "Are you going to go back to the beginning Rosh?"

I sure am, Brenda! I loved the character, Kim Stone. :)

Completed the latest DI Kim Stone story, "Six Graves" by Angela Marsons.

Worked pretty well for me, though I haven't read any other book in this series. 4.25 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Completed "Hollow Fires" by Samira Ahmed.

Covers the topic of Islamophobia in the US. Pretty well-written for its target group of YA readers. 4.25 stars from me.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

1. "When the Day Comes" by Gabrielle Meyer -

An outstanding timeslip historical fiction. Loved the author's approach to the story. 4.5 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

2. "Monsters in the Mist" by Juliana Brandt -

A middle-grade paranormal horror story with some really dark themes. Well-handled, though a tad rambling. 4.25 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Completed "Dreaming of Flight" by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

A heart-warming book that would work well when you want a soul-satisfying read. 4.5 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Literary fiction lovers, give a try to "The Condemned Oak Tree" by Ada Rossi.

A dark and entertaining read. 4.5 stars from me.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Marianne wrote: "I really enjoyed Joanna Cannon's latest novel, A Tidy Ending, so I was pleased to see the audio up for request on NetGalley. Been approved and downloaded already, ..."

Glad to hear that. I was just granted my audiobook request. Looking forward to this one now. :)

Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris.

A compelling historical fiction debut novel set around the 1992 Bosnian war. Much recommended. 4.5 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Completed a fun domestic thriller: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

It was an entertaining and quick read. 4.25 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo

Read this for the second time and it left me equally satisfied. Recommended with all my heart.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Some wonderful children's fiction ARCs from Netgalley:

1. "The Clockwork Queen" by Peter Bunzl

Lovely story blending historical facts with an appealing fictional plot. Aimed at middle graders. 4.5 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

2. "Meltdown: Why the Glaciers Are Disappearing and What You Can Do About It" by Anita Sanchez.

Brilliant, informative, must-read. Written for the 12+ age group. 5 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

3. "Call Me Penny Pickleberry" by Meghan Grana

A cute little picture book for little readers struggling with anxiety. 4.5 stars. Suitable for beginner readers aged 3-8.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

"Hotel Magnifique" by Emily J. Taylor.

A decent debut YA Fantasy but could have been a lot better. The fantasy part is outstanding. The writing, amateurish. 3.5 stars.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Shadows of Berlin by David R. Gillham.

An interesting read for literary fiction fans. Set in the post-WWII era. 4.25 stars for the audiobook.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane.

This didn't quite work out as I had expected but it spotlights some important issues. 3.25 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

1. The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain

A heartwarming though somewhat predictable book. Definitely recommend the audio version. 4 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

2. The Secret Wild by Alex Evelyn

An excellent children's novel full of adventure and mystery. 4.5 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

3. Tin Man by Justin Madson

An interesting graphic novel, combining elemets from The Wizard of Oz and The Iron Giant. 4.25 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review of The Resistance Girl by Mandy Robotham. Loved the historical details. The writing style, not so much.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...