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November 2021 - Dual Timelines
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I seem to read a lot of books with dual timelines. I haven't planned one yet this month, but I'm sure I can find something.
Just found The Last Mona Lisa which can be use for monthly challenge. I ever read an article (I don't know whether it was real or a fiction) about mona lisa being stolen. I think the thief was dead. I'm not sure anymore. But that makes me want to read it. It has thriller on the MPG so there's something I can look forward to. But it's a long passage, uh oh.
I have just started to read Surviving Savannah. I was able to get a copy from the library on Borrowbox.The first couple of chapters are a great start to the book. I liked the references to the legends of the sea and stories told to Everly as a child by her grandfather. The setting is done well and also the introductions to the characters in the two different time lines.
Christina wrote: "I started Water for Elephants and I went into it a little blind. [spoilers removed]"I'll be interested to see what you think of it if you stick with it. I've been hesitant to read that one because of (view spoiler)
I really enjoyed Water for Elephants. There is animal abuse, but there is resolution.
I really enjoyed Water for Elephants as well. It had a few hard topics, but stick with it, it was a five star for me 😊
Good to know. Thanks, ladies.
Reading The Island of Missing Trees. I’m enjoying it so far - set in present day U.K. and the 70s in Cyprus. Amended - timelines are 1970s, 2000s, and 2010s. I’m intrigued by the Fig Tree - a major player in the book.
About half way through Surviving Savannah and finding it a compelling read. I am enjoying the style of writing, and the descriptions of places I am not familiar with. It is also suspenseful and feel the need to keep reading. Though maybe some of the things that are happening are just a little too convenient.I read Water for Elephants a couple of years ago.
Though it made me feel sad at times, thought it was a good story. I liked it more than an earlier book by same author, At the Water's Edge.
I have finished reading Surviving Savannah. I found so much to like in this book. The story is based on a real life incident. The two timelines seemed to fit very well together. I need to think about it some more.
I'm on chapter 7 of The Last Mona Lisa and convinced that the article I read back then about the stolen Mona Lisa was real. I don't know how much (view spoiler) but I'm enjoying it so far. At least for the geography lesson. I even did online traveling through google earth from Florence to Paris and it was fun! I have no vision where the story will lead me, but I'm guessing it'd be more or less like Dan Brown's book.
Water for Elephants through chapter 13- I can see what you all mean by animal cruelty. (view spoiler)
Water for Elephants was a five star read for me too, but I have never gotten around to reading her At the Water's Edge.
I finished The Island of Missing Trees - I really enjoyed it and it’s one of my top ten reads for 2021! More on my thoughts here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Oh, I thought I recognized the author’s name, Lilisa. I read The Architect’s Apprentice. I’m adding your book to my TBR!
Now that I have thought about the book will comment.- Setting: I liked the descriptions of old and new Savannah and the ship and its sinking at sea. The author seems to bring to life places, especially Savannah, that I am not at all familiar with.
- Characters developed in the course of the book, and some were more likable than others. Surviving the trauma seemed to change characters. (view spoiler). I found the modern day characters harder to identify with. (view spoiler)
- Writing style. I did like the writing style, which seemed to have a mystical and gothic feel about it. The suspense was kept up for me throughout the book. Though, I feel the author was trying to put too many big ideas into the book.
- How the book made you feel. It made me feel sad in places with the deaths at sea. Especially (view spoiler). Also I was a little disappointed that Lilly's story was not expanded on. (view spoiler) In the present timeline (view spoiler)
I have started reading Build Your House Around My Body
There's a list of characters in the front of the book. This is a warning! Lots of characters to keep track of! There's also 3 pages of maps. I'm pretty sure I'll be referring back to these as I read the book.
The story is in the dual timelines of 2011 and 1986 and chapter headings refer to when the events are taking place in relation to "the disappearance". (e.g. "Saigon: 7 months before the disappearance"). To complicate matters there are also two different settings, the Highlands and Saigon.
So far, I'm just hoping I can stay with it, because I am enjoying the writing.
Cherie wrote: "Oh, I thought I recognized the author’s name, Lilisa. I read The Architect’s Apprentice. I’m adding your book to my TBR!"Great Cherie - I hope you’ll like it. Yes, we read The Architect's Apprentice about Mimar Sinan, the famous Turkish architect. I think we read it for a monthly themed read. I liked that one too.
Aargh! I just finished reading Build Your House Around My Body
and I want to throw it far far away. I feel as if I was tricked into reading what I thought was a historical novel with a bit of magic realism, but is actually a trippy, convoluted ghost story which is not my thing at all. I don’t know what the meaning of the ghosts, snakes, revenge was all about and I didn’t understand the ending. I would have to read it again to pick up the threads but I’d rather be (view spoiler). I’m giving it two stars, one for the beautiful cover and layout ( each chapter has a beautiful little sketch at the top of the page and the first letter is entwined with a snake. Another star for the first half that is not hallucinatory descriptions of - not sure what. I did enjoy the writing in the first half and I was invested in the characters. P.s. let it be known that I usually don’t disparage a book, but I don’t think the blurb gives a true description of what this book is.
I'm on chapter 22 of The Last Mona Lisa. New character has appeared but I still don't know what is her role yet. I'm wondering, why do authors like to put a female character to accompany the MC through the quest? I'm good with no romance at all though, lol.The story hasn't progress much. Like I said before, it's a typical Dan Brown theme. I know what it is about but still can't see the connection of each characters and what they are truly after. I've got a lot lesson in art though. I'm lacking the knowledge, so I need to google some paintings mentioned in the book and I just knew that there were some gay artists in Renaissance era in which it was still forbidden by the law. I also learned that The Adoration of the Magi is an unfinished work.
One of the character said that it's bad the painting wasn't finished, but I have to agree with the MC that it's best this way.
The good point of this book is that it gives us information for the things mentioned so it feels like a museum tour, just like our annual challenge!
I am reading Great Circle. I really am loving the story. One of the timelines is about a female pilot (and her twin brother) in the mid 1940s and the other is a modern actress playing her in a movie. It's funny that both of the timeline books I read for this month have a twin theme to them! The writing is beautiful and the best kind of historical fiction where I just get sucked into the story and feel like I am there. It's kind of a chunkster (25 hours on audio) and I have about 4 hours left. Unless the book does something horrible here at the end I am thinking I will probably give it a 4.5 stars rounded up. The 1940s timeline is 5 stars, but I don't like the modern one as much. The MC in that timeline is a bit of a spoiled mess so it's harder to like her.
Lilisa wrote: "I finished The Island of Missing Trees - I really enjoyed it and it’s one of my top ten reads for 2021! More on my thoughts here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."I added this one to my TBR. I have read a few of her books and have loved them all.
Katrisa wrote: "I am reading Great Circle. I really am loving the story. One of the timelines is about a female pilot (and her twin brother) in the mid 1940s and the other is a modern actress playi..."Good to know that you like this book. I have it on my TBR and will look out for a copy.
I'm on chapter 52 of Mona Lisa. Things finally got intense. (view spoiler)The painting lesson ends and the historical building tour has begun. And soon the set will move fro Florence to Paris where Louvre Museum is located. I didn't know that Musee d'Orsay (Museum 17?) isn't that far from Louvre.
Some (if not many) characters are based on actual people like Valfiero the art dealer, Yves Chaudron who made forgeries, Apollinaire, Vincent Peruggia, and Picasso. I also learned about his arrest here. I think I learn more of art history here than any other sources. Wish history classes was this amusing! Lastly, this book gave me the benefit of the doubt about Mona Lisa's painting.
I added both of your books to my TBR list.Ayacchi - I love a good art lesson and I do know some things about the theft of the Mona Lisa.
Katrisa - I have read several books set in Montana this year. I guess I cannot get enough.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Great Circle (other topics)The Island of Missing Trees (other topics)
Great Circle (other topics)
The Last Mona Lisa (other topics)
Build Your House Around My Body (other topics)
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