2018-05 - Keepers Reviews

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Happy May to all! I hope you have found some wonderful books to read from this month's shelf - Keepers.

It seemed that there were a lot of books on the list that looked interesting. I can't wait to see what you all read. And if you want, include a quote from the book in your review. I love seeing the quotes!

Remember, to be eligible to be the shelf picker for July, you must post a review in this thread!

Happy reading!

[Jamie]

I just finished The Alchemist and found it to be a wonderful story that is adventure and philosophy wrapped together. It makes me wonder about fate, destiny, luck, etc. It makes you think but not in an annoying way. It also really makes me want to go to Spain and Africa.

I give it 4.5 stars!

[Joyce]

I just finished Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews. Ilona Andrews always has great sexy scenes and she did not disappoint in this book. Nevada is trying hold her family together doing P.I work. Only a few people have magic capabilities due to a virus a long time ago. The most powerful ones are Primes. Conner "Mad" Rogan is one of them. He is very volatile and tries not to fall for Nevada. He is very arrogant and pissed me off a lot but that just makes for the best characters. Nevada does not put up with him and fights him until he softens towards her. I give it 4 stars. I'll read the next in the series

[Marina]

I finished If on a Winter's Night a Traveler, which has been shelved as "keepers" by 2 people. It was a re-read after 7 years, and I loved it even more than the first time. Calvino is a wonderful author, he's one of my favorites. The book is a perfect example of postmodernism and I would recommend it to everyone who loves the genre. It is a marvellous love declaration to reading and readers, to novels, to imagination. I can't say much more because I'm always a bit in awe of books that are so beautiful.

[Jamie]

I finished The Little Prince and I liked it but I feel like I don't have too much to say about it. I totally understand how some people are obsessed with it. Maybe I would be too if I had read it when I was younger or I like philosophy more. Either way, it;s super cute and I'm really happy I read it.

4.5 stars

[Karin]

Jamie wrote: "I finished The Little Prince and I liked it but I feel like I don't have too much to say about it. I totally understand how some people are obsessed with it. Maybe I would be too if I..."

I have never liked this book, and yet so many people I know love it.

[Elvenn]

So far, for this month's shelf, I've read The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny in which Chief Inspector Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec is sent to investigate the murder of a monk to a monastery so hidden in the woods that the Catholic Church thought the order extinct.

The place is one of a kind: Only 24 monks reside within its walls in almost complete isolation from the world, under a vow of silence and never leaving the place, but they're famous for their voices and as the custodians of Gregorian chants lost for centuries and in order to discover the murderer, the inspectors must submerge themselves in the daily life of the monastery. This may prove difficult as not only they could be under the same roof as the killer, but the location of the place prevents them from returning home before the investigation is concluded and all the silence and the contemplation may exacerbate their inner turmoils.

I enjoyed the story a great deal and found it very interesting but there wasn't much action nor a complex investigation and the plot was mostly character driven and advanced with what the inspectors learned from each monk, so it may not be for everyone... Some aspects of the story reminded me of The Name of the Rose but without the historic and literary comments so if you want to read about a murdered monk in an isolated monastery but dislike lengthy explanations about medieval history, semiotics or philosophy, this could be a good book for you. I'll definitely be reading more Louise Penny books in the future.

Rating: 4.5 stars

[Marina]

I noticed that many of the books I've read this month have been shelved as "keepers" by someone. So, here's what I read that fits in this month's shelf:

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler - see my comment above

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - a good testimony of life in the gulag. I have not read much on the subject, so I was glad to read this, but I have a feeling there must be something better out there. I should probably try to read something else by the author.

Like Water for Chocolate - I've only picked it up because of Bookopoly, and ended up liking it a lot. I gave it 4 stars. That's why I'm glad for challenges, because they make me discover books I wouldn't have read otherwise. This one is a great romance novel (and please note that I don't usually like romance), and also a great book for everyone who loves food and cooking.

Chocolat - same here, only picked it up because of Bookopoly. I liked it but couldn't give it more than 3 stars. I felt like too much was happening in too short a time, which didn't make the book very likely. I wonder why most people on GR shelve it as romance, when it is nothing of the kind. Probably led astray by the movie. I approached it thinking it was a romance, too, but I was glad to be mistaken. The level is much deeper, although the execution could have been better.

[Paige]

So having read Clockwork Princess, the Shadowhunter world being a keeper of mine, this book not so much a favorite. More like it really did not to be stretched out to 570 pages. But it also has a good end to the Infernal Devices Series of the Shadowhunter books.

[Paige]

Clockwork Princess was not as good as Clockwork Prince or Angel. In fact, I found the 3rd book of The Infernal Devices quite boring for the most part and stretched out to long. They ended the plot way to quick I find and after they killed Mortmain, it was easy to Speed read the rest because it was irrelevant and stuff that could have been only 1 or 2 chapters. Not 3. To be honest, this series of the Shadowhunter World was not the best I have enjoyed by Cassandra Clare. Not my cup of tea. Although I do enjoy the fact we learn more of the Shadowhunter history that was touched in The Mortal Instruments. Like the creation of the Portal and all that. And the heritage of some of the families we love. That is why I give it a 3 out of 5. The series was not all bad but it was a different take and did not really care for this version. I am on the fence with it.

[Christina]

I finished The Shining for this month *cough* and last month *cough*. I really enjoyed the book, especially that it didn't end with any uncomfortable moments (I'm looking at you IT). I now feel like I should watch the movie (which I've also never seen) and compare them.

[Rosemary]

I read:
These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

The sinful rake the Duke of Avon encounters a boy on the streets of Paris and takes him to be his page. But soon Leon becomes Leonie, a pawn and a weapon in the deathly battle of revenge between Avon and his oldest enemy.

In terms of the plot, this was a good story that develops at a cracking pace. The ending was perfect and even had me shedding a tear or two.

Unfortunately, I found Leonie unbearably irritating, and she’s on almost every page until the end. It’s also unsettling these days to read of a young woman of 19 speaking and acting like a spoilt 12-year-old and being addressed as “my infant” by the much older man who is in love with her. I’m hoping these issues are limited to this particular book, so they won’t stop me trying more by this author.

[Marina]

I finished another book for this shelf, Leaves of Grass, which I've been meaning to read for a while. I'm quite disappointed because when I started reading I found out that mine was an abridged copy - I didn't know when I bought it because it isn't stated on the cover. Anyway, I gave the book 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I liked the way Whitman writes, but I guess his poetry just doesn't work for me. Some lines were beautiful, but I couldn't really connect. It's a shame, but I'm glad I read it anyway.

[Tyra]

I read Kindred by Octavia.E.Butler in May. I really liked this book, it was a great blend of historical fiction and sci-fi/fantasy. Dana's story is intense and moving, the character driven plot lets you get close to it's characters. Really awesome story.

[Elvenn]

Paige wrote: "Clockwork Princess was not as good as Clockwork Prince or Angel..."

I still have to return to that book... After the depth the characters had gained in Clockwork Prince, I felt the author kept making them act against their personalities to reach the designated ending, which made me lose interest and put the book aside, at least for a while.

I understand many authors prefer to write following a detailed plan but sometimes the characters develop differently than how they were initially imagined and the plot needs to be adjusted... I believe that may have been the case with this book. Of course, it's just my personal opinion and the book has legions of fans that have loved it and found it perfect just the way it is. :)

[Susan]

I read Lirael, the second in the Abhorsen series. I have mixed feelings about it, and gave it only 3 stars. But I am still interested in what happens to the characters, so I can't make myself stop reading the series.

[Paige]

I have finished The Snowman by Jo Nesbo and I will like to say it is a good keeper. It was indeed very suspenseful and had me constantly guessing. Normally can solve who did it before they even reveal it but this one I simply could not. I enjoyed it and I would suggest you all to read it.

[Paige]

Elvenn wrote: "Paige wrote: "Clockwork Princess was not as good as Clockwork Prince or Angel..."

I still have to return to that book... After the depth the characters had gained in Clockwork Prince, I felt the a..."


I agree with you. 100%
I found there were moments where I could not get into the characters because they kept changing....or were to very much similar to The Mortal Instruments. As someone who writes, sometimes you just have to give into your characters whether you like it or not. They develop way differently than planned.

[Bea]

I know that I am late, as usual, in getting my monthly planned book actually read. But, at least I am catching up!

I read Twilight and would have given it 4.5* if I could have. I really enjoyed this book...and guess now I have another series to add to my long list of continue-to-read. Yes, this is another vampire book.

I think I know that vampires are a creation of an imaginative mind, but the myth of them is very long-standing...and who knows where the truth lies. The family of vampires in this book and their interaction with the human Bella is refreshing. Good guys, not bad. I loved the character of Bella and her struggle with not only what to do...but her openness to understanding others who are not like her. Something that seems to be sadly lacking in much of our "normal" society. Is it any wonder that I prefer this made up one?