Book reviews: Klara and the Sun | Wonderstruck | The Time Machine

Title: Klara and the Sun

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro

Original title: Klara and the Sun
First published: 2021
Genre: Sci-fi
Series: --
Publisher: Faber Faber
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 307
Finished: 21/11/21
Summary: From her place in the store, Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, watches carefully the behaviour of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass in the street outside. She remains hopeful a customer will soon choose her, but when the possibility emerges that her circumstances may change for ever, Klara is warned not to invest too much in the promises of humans.

My thoughts: It's been such a long period of time between me reading this book in November 2021 to me writing this review in May 2022. What I remember of my opinion on this book is that I enjoyed it, but that the story had an anticlimactic ending and a writing style that never quite managed to pull me in. It was the first book I ever read by Ishiguro and despite my somewhat lukewarm feelings for Klara and the Sun in particular, I still look forward to reading more of his work, especially the books of his that are more beloved, like Never Let Me Go.

Rating: 3,25/5

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Title: Wonderstruck

Author: Brian Selznick

Original title: Wonderstruck

First published: 2011
Genre: Historical, Middle grade
Series: --
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: Hardcover

Pages: 629
Finished: 17/05/2022
Summary: Ben and Rose secretly wish for better lives. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories - Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures - weave back and forth in symmetry.

My thoughts: I was lucky enough to find this in a pleasantly cluttered second hand in Morecambe on the coast of Lancashire. Having read Selznick's earlier book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which is presented in text and illustrations in the same manner as Wonderstruck, I didn't hesitate in buying it and immediately reading it. I knew it would be a quick and fun read to get me started if I wished to engage in more reading for pleasure this summer. Indeed it was a relatively fast read, for I bought it only three days ago. I'd summarize it as a fast, almost too fast, and enticing reading experience. The storytelling that is woven between Ben's text and Rose's illustrations is compelling as a format. I must argue, however, that the format needs the support of a strong story to reach its full potential. What I found with Wonderstruck was that despite finding the 400+ pages of artwork enjoyable, I was not so invested in neither Ben's nor Rose's tales. I hoped that Ben would achieve his goal, but I got no satisfaction in following his journey. With Rose, I found that the lack of textual storytelling created a gap between me and the character - a hole that was never filled. I didn't get to know her, didn't make a connection. The concept of deafness, both long-term and temporary, could have been explored at an even deeper level. I could have been prompted to feel deeper sympathy for Ben, or to share his panic even more. But I didn't, and that may in part be due to the relatively small amount of text in the novel as well as the writing style. The sentences are generally very simple and didn't invoke much emotion in me. The writing style felt flat and plain, which resulted in Ben sadly being a rather mediocre focalizer. In the end the novel achieved what I wanted it to, which was to offer a quick and interesting read to get my desire to consume literature on a roll. I appreciate the format and the artwork, but other than that this wasn't a great hit for me personally. I'd definitely recommend The Invention of Hugo Cabret over this.

Rating: 3/5

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Title: The Time Machine
Author: H.G. Wells

Original title: The Time Machine
First published: 1895
Genre: Classic, sci-fi
Series: --
Publisher: Fab Audio Books
Format: Audiobook
Time: 3h 36min
Finished: 30/04/2022
Summary: The time? 802,701 A.D. The place? An Earth stranger than you can imagine. The people? A pretty, childlike race, the Eloi-and their distant cousins, the Morlocks: disgusting, hairy creatures who live in caves and feed on the flesh of-what? Enter the Time Traveller, who has hurtled almost a million years into the future. After the Morlocks steal his machine he may be trapped there...and at their mercy.

My thoughts: The Time Machine was part of a Victorian Literature course I took this spring. I decided to consume it in audiobook format because I was running out of time to read it before the deadline and my brain was too tired to read text. Regardless of the format, I ended up really enjoying this short novel and the ideas that Wells presents in it. So much so that I wrote about its villains/monsters, the Morlocks, in an essay about the links between evil, physical ugliness, and contemporary Victorian issues. My focus while working with this novel was on class and the Victorian idea of degeneration in the lower classes of the UK. The Morlocks reflect that in that the Time Traveller imagines them to be the future evolution of the working class, whereas the beautiful but weak Eloi are a progression of the upper class. The description of the Time Traveller's panic in seeing what the future has in store for the human race was intriguing, and the way Wells presents his ideas was interesting and entertaining. I absolutely look forward to reading more or his work in the future, and will recommend this novel to anyone who has an interest in sci-fi and classics.

Rating: 4/5

Book reviews: Bridge to Terabithia | A Midsummer Night's Dream | The Wind in the Willows

Title: Bridge to Terabithia
Author: Katherine Paterson
Original title: Bridge to Terabithia
First published: 1977
Genre: Middle grade, Fantasy
Series: --
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Paperback
Pages: 179
Finished: 25/07/2020
Summary: Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone. That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits.

My thoughts: I read this during the 2020 Reading Rush for the challenge to read a book that's inspired a movie I've already seen. I've seen the movie several times and it's one that I actually quite like. Somehow I'm always weeping at the end of it, despite knowing the plot inside out by now. Sadly, the movie is better than the book in this case. I just think the adaptation to the screen really brings out the emotions and visuals that this story needs. In book form, I didn't get the same experience. I don't mean to say that it's poorly written, but the movie had my expectations high and they were not met. Had I read the book first, I'd have had no interest in seeing the movie after. Things I liked about the book are Jess' relationship to his sisters, and the stern teacher. I did not like the style of the illustrations.

Rating: 3/5

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Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Author: William Shakespeare
Original title: A Midsummer Night's Dream
First published: 1595
Genre: Classic, Play, Comedy
Series: --
Publisher: Avenel Books
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 20
Finished: 26/07/2020
Summary: Demetrius and Lysander both want Hermia but she only has eyes for Lysander. Bad news is, Hermia's father wants Demetrius for a son-in-law. On the outside is Helena, whose unreturned love burns hot for Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander plan to flee from the city under cover of darkness but are pursued by an enraged Demetrius (who is himself pursued by an enraptured Helena). In the forest, unbeknownst to the mortals, Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the faeries) are having a spat over a servant boy. The plot twists up when Oberon's head mischief-maker, Puck, runs loose with a flower which causes people to fall in love with the first thing they see upon waking. Throw in a group of labourers preparing a play for the Duke's wedding (one of whom is given a donkey's head and Titania for a lover by Puck) and the complications become fantastically funny.

My thoughts: I read this for the 2020 Reading Rush for the challenge to read a book with a cover that matches the colour of my birth stone (emerald). I read "The Comedy of Errors" earlier this year and found it rather humorous. This one? Not so much. Perhaps I missed the comedic point of it all. Oh well. At least it was easy to keep up with the characters and plot, which was a bit more difficult in "The Comedy of Errors" (with two pairs of characters sharing the same two names). To me, this wasn't a very engaging or fun play. I didn't care what the ending would be. I understand that it's a big classic, and I hope I enjoy his other works more.

Rating: 2,75/5

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Title: The Wind in the Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame
Original title: The Wind in the Willows
First published: 1908
Genre: Classic, Childrens
Series: --
Publisher: Wordsworth
Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
Finished: 26/07/2020
Summary: Spring is in the air and Mole has found a wonderful new world. There's boating with Ratty, a feast with Badger and high jinx on the open road with that reckless ruffian, Mr Toad of Toad Hall. The four become the firmest of friends, but after Toad's latest escapade, can they join together and beat the wretched weasels?

My thoughts: I read this during the 2020 Reading Rush for the challenge to read the first book I touched. This was the first one I touched in a secondhand store. I unfortunately had to stress through this one a bit, as I had to squeeze it in together with some of the Shakespeare play on the final day of the Reading Rush. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant book to stress through. It's quite what I expected it to be. It neither surprised me nor let me down. The characters were rather cute and nice, though I hated Toad, that little fu**er, and the story was one with a clear moral to teach. I wish Toad was never even introduced in the story and that we'd only get to read about the calm and pleasant adventures of Mole and Ratty. Begone, Toad!!! Very cute illustrations as well.

Rating: 3,25/5

Book reviews: Our Man in Havana | The Crimes of Grindelwald: The Original Screenplay | Malamander

Title: Our Man in Havana
Author: Graham Greene
Original title: Our Man in Havana
First published: 1958
Genre: Classic, Mystery
Series: --
Publisher: Vintage Classics
Format: Paperback
Pages: 225
Finished: 16/04/2020
Summary: Mr. Wormold, vacuum cleaner salesman in a city of powercuts, is, as always, short of money. His daughter, sixteen, followed everywhere by wolf whistles, is spending his money with a skill that amazes him, so when a mysterious Englishman offers him an extra income he's tempted. All he has to do is run agents, file reports: spy. But his fake reports have an alarming tendency to come true, and the web of lies he weaves around him starts to get more and more tangled.

My thoughts: This is the first book I read for the Stay at Home Reading Rush, following the prompt to read a book that would make me smile. I'm glad to say that it managed to make me smile a little! One of the strong suits of this novel is without doubt the witty and quick dialogue, of which there is a lot. Mr. Wormold (a brilliant name) is a very confused man, but he's always doing his best, and that made me really like him a lot. He is introduced as a very average man who is easy to look past, and who was few friends and a staggering relationship to his daughter. All of this reminds me of "Stoner" by John Williams, one of my favourite books of all time that I just cannot shut up about.
However, "Our Man in Havana" is quite different from "Stoner". In fact, the similarities end there. This book is much more lighthearted and breezy to get through. I understand why it's described as a humorous book. Unfortunately I liked the first 100 pages more than the rest of the story. I think I would have liked it to stay more focused on how forgettable Mr, Wormold felt that he was and how that affected him in life. The way things went, I felt I missed out on how emotional things had the potential to be. And though I liked some characters a fair deal, there were several others that I cared very little for. There was also an adult man who was uncomfortably interested in Mr. Wormold's 16-17 year old daughter. (Spoiler alert, highlight white text to read: he thought it appropriate to marry her and that the best time of life to bear child was at the age of 17. no thank you, disgusting creep. luckily, everyone else in the book seemed to agree with me). Nevertheless, I believe this novel was never intended to be the moody but charming story I wished it would have been. And though it lacked moodiness, it did try as best as it could to charm me. It kind of worked!

I did highlight some quotes that I liked (there were a few more, but they'd spoil the plot):
"You lost the remembrance of pain by inflicting it."
"Please would you mind telling me how they are going to murder me? You see, it interests me personally."

Rating: 3,75/5

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Title: The Crimes of Grindelwald: The Original Screenplay
Author: J.K. Rowling
Original title: The Crimes of Grindelwald
First published: 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Fantastic Beasts Screenplays #2
Publisher: Little, Brown
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 272
Finished: 17/04/2020
Summary: Spoiler alert! The powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was captured in New York with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and sets about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt, his former Hogwarts student, who agrees to help once again, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

My thoughts: This is the second book I read for the Stay at Home Reading Rush, this time for the prompt of reading a book set somewhere I wish I could go. I of course, wish I could visit the wizarding world.
Unfortunately, this was not for me. I was impressed the first screenplay (and movie), which is something I cannot say about this second instalment. I was uninterested in the conflicts, I could not understand Queenie at all, I don't care for the romance between Newt and Tina, and we didn't even get to see that much of the beasts. Also, "The Crimes of Grindelwald"? More like "Grindelwald sits in a room and doesn't do much, basically just talks". Well, I guess it's plain enough now that I was not a fan.
Nevertheless, I like Newt and Jacob quite and bit, and some of the other characters as well. I do love Newt's beasts, too. And the book is beautiful for the illustrations inside. These are kind of redeeming factors.

Rating: 3/5

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Title: Malamander
Author: Thomas Taylor
Original title: Malamander
First published: 2019
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Middle grade
Series: Malamander #1
Publisher: Walker Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 302
Finished: 18/04/2020
Summary: Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, knows that returning lost things to their rightful owners is not easy – especially when the lost thing is not a thing at all, but a girl. No one knows what happened to Violet Parma’s parents twelve years ago, and when she engages Herbie to help her find them, the pair discover that their disappearance might have something to do with the legendary sea-monster, the Malamander. Eerie-on-Sea has always been a mysteriously chilling place, where strange stories seem to wash up. And it just got stranger...

My thoughts: This is the third book I read for the Stay at Home Reading Rush, now following the prompt of reading a book with a house on the cover.
I think this might be the best book I read during this Reading Rush. "Malamander" is cute, adventurous, mysterious, and all around a delightful read. Herbert has an incredibly precious personality. He's so genuine and good and kind. I love him. I wasn't all-the-way gripped by the plot itself, but it was still interesting enough to keep me going. I was pleasantly surprised that I like it as much as I do seeing as middle grade was never my strongest cup of tea. But this is really cute! I definitely want to continue reading the series once the second book comes out this year. I want to know more about Herbert!

Rating: 4,25/5

Stay at Home Reading Rush TBR

The month of April is saved! Well, at least half a week of it. When it was announced on the Reading Rush Instagram page that an extra shorter version of the annual Reading Rush would take place on the 16th to 19th of April, it felt like a much needed gift. I'm not typically one for readathons, but I do really enjoy this one. I of course participated in July of last year, and I much look forward to this unique one. For the Reading Rush, I'll be deviating from my 2020 goal of only reading physical books that are over 400 pages. In the pace that I read, it would simply be impossible for me to read four such books in four days. I have of course already thought of a TBR pile based on the five prompts:

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1/ Read a book with a house on the cover

"Malamander" by Thomas Taylor

"Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, knows that returning lost things to their rightful owners is not easy – especially when the lost thing is not a thing at all, but a girl. No one knows what happened to Violet Parma’s parents twelve years ago, and when she engages Herbie to help her find them, the pair discover that their disappearance might have something to do with the legendary sea-monster, the Malamander. Eerie-on-Sea has always been a mysteriously chilling place, where strange stories seem to wash up. And it just got stranger..."

Pages: 240

or

"Morrigan Crows magiska förbannelse" ("The Trials of Morrigan Crow") by Jessica Townsend
"Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor."

Pages: 253

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2/ Read a book in the same room the whole time

"The Comedy of Errors" by William Shakespeare

"Two sets of twins are separated at birth by a storm at sea: a pair of masters (both named Antipholus) and a pair of servants (both named Dromio). Years later, the Antipholus-and-Dromio pair raised in Syracuse happen to visit Ephesus, where the respective twins reside—providing the basis for ongoing incidents of mistaken identity, within a lively plot of quarrels, arrests, and a grand courtroom denouement."

Pages: ca 50

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3/ Read a book set somewhere you wish you could go

"The Crimes of Grindelwald" by J.K. Rowling
Spoiler alert! "The powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was captured in New York with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and sets about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt, his former Hogwarts student, who agrees to help once again, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world."
Pages: 287

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4/ Read a book that will make you smile

"Our Man in Havana" by Graham Greene
"Mr. Wormold, vacuum cleaner salesman in a city of powercuts, is, as always, short of money. His daughter, sixteen, followed everywhere by wolf whistles, is spending his money with a skill that amazes him, so when a mysterious Englishman offers him an extra income he's tempted. All he has to do is run agents, file reports: spy. But his fake reports have an alarming tendency to come true, and the web of lies he weaves around him starts to get more and more tangled."

Pages: 225

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I hope you're also planning to participate. Maybe you're also cooped up at home like me, and need a distraction to keep you going. Remember; you don't have to read 4 books. If you can combine several prompts for one or two books to read during the readathon, that works just as well!
Either way, I wish you a happy reading <3

Book Reviews: The Raven King | Den sorgsna sjön | Firefight

Title: The Raven King
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Original title: The Raven King
First published: 2016
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Series: The Raven Cycle #4
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: Paperback
Pages: 438
Finished: 26/09/2019
Summary: Spoiler alert! For years, Gansey has been on a quest to find a lost king. One by one, he's drawn others into his mission: Ronan, who steals from dreams; Adam, whose life is no longer his own; Noah, whose life is no longer a life; and Blue, who loves Gansey … and is certain she is destined to kill him.

My thoughts: Going into “The Raven King”, I’d read the previous two books in the series within the past two weeks and gave them both over 4/5 stars. I read “The Raven Boys” years ago, but had fond memories of it. So what expectations did I bring with me when I picked up this fourth and final installment in the series? Well, what I liked most about the series so far were the characters; we follow a cast of four main character (Gansey, Blue, Ronan, and Adam) whom we’ve gotten to know on a deeper level in the previous books. The series focuses a lot on character development and relationship development, which I appreciate and was one of my favourite parts of the series so far. I especially liked Ronan’s perspective. Another thing I enjoy about the series is Maggie Stiefvater’s writing. I found that I at several points felt urged to highlight or take notes on certain quotes in the story.

In “The Raven King”, the writing style is one thing that didn’t let me down, though at times it became a bit sappy. No, what actually let me down in this novel was the abandonment of character closeness. The book is over 400 pages, but most of it is spent on kinda pointless plot detours that don’t really lead anywhere and just builds frustration for the reader. I’d wished to see more of several characters, like Noah and other spoilery folks. Instead, a handful of new characters are introduced, neither for which I can really understand the purpose. Yes, they drive the plot, but add nothing to what made me like the books in the first place. And truly, I didn’t care much for the plot at any point. It’s not what I came here for, and it’s not a plot that in itself had me hooked. Had it not been for the characters, I’d have never read further than the second book. And so it seems like a bleak finish to the series when what I got was 400+ pages of the thing I didn’t come to the party for.

Spoiler thoughts (highlight white text to read spoilers): So… Blue turned out to be a tree… I think it was at the moment of this reveal that I realized I really didn’t like “The Raven King”. And not only because Blue’s silly father stepped out of a tree to tell her she is also a tree, but also because of that not-so-amazing RoboBee of Henry’s and other minor stupid things that had me disappointed. The ending was anticlimactic and rushed, and the rest of the book did poor work of building up to it. We’re left with some loose ends that open up for sequels, but I don’t think I’ll consider reading those. Even though Ronan is my favourite character.

Rating: 3,25/5

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Title: Den sorgsna sjön (The Sorrowful Lake)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Original title: The Wide Window
First published: 2000
Genre: Middle grade, fantasy
Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #3
Publisher: Richters
Format: Hardback
Pages: 224
Finished: 30/09/2019
Summary: Spoiler alert! Dear Reader,
If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted; but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and this one may be the worst of them all. If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signalling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair. I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

My thoughts: The series continues with this third instalment! I have bad news, however. I think I'm starting to feel done with the series. Yes, I know, there are 10 more books to go, and they are pretty fast reads, but I just don't see myself getting to the next book anytime soon. It's a good series, and I would probably have appreciated it a lot at the age of 9 or 10. However, this is not the series for me right now. These would be great to read out loud to someone younger in age; they're quirky, exciting, educational, and original. My problems are simple; I've seen the Netflix show and know everything that will happen, and the books are targeted at an audience where I don't belong anymore. This isn't meant to sound negative, because I don't dislike these books. They just don't do much for me.

Rating: 2,75/5

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Title: Firefight

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Original title: Firefight
First published: 2015
Genre: Sci-fi, YA, Dystopian
Series: The Reckoners #2
Publisher: Gollancz
Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
Finished: 09/10/2019
Summary: Spoiler alert! Babylon Restored, formerly Manhattan, may give David answers. Ruled by the mysterious High Epic, Regalia, David is sure Babylon Restored will lead him to what he needs to find. And while entering another city oppressed by a High Epic despot is a gamble, David's willing to risk it. Because killing Steelheart left a hole in David's heart. A hole where his thirst for vengeance once lived. Somehow, he filled that hole with another Epic—Firefight. And he's willing to go on a quest darker, and more dangerous even, than the fight against Steelheart to find her, and to get his answers.

My thoughts: I’ve been eager to grab another Brandon Sanderson novel ever since I read "Steelheart" two years back. Despite my eagerness, I have yet to begin any other series by him, but I can finally say that I’m now two books into the "The Reckoners" trilogy. This series offers a ton of action that would look super cool on a screen. Of course it works in written form as well! I think the idea of a world taken over by supervillains is imaginative and so exciting to follow. Our main character, David, is witty and charming. His characteristic weird similes and metaphors are a nice touch to an otherwise rather serious story of battle, science fiction, and betrayal. I think what I wish this particular book had more of are “oh shit” moments to make me gasp and gawk. I want this series to just sink its claws into my brain so I can only think about the story all day. Unfortunately, I’m not feeling quite that so far in the series, which is why this doesn’t get a higher score than 4,25/5. I’m hoping for a grand finale in the next book, “Calamity”, which I’ll be picking up immediately after this one.

Rating: 4,25/5

Book Reviews: Siddharta | The Copper Gauntlet | The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Title: Siddharta

Author: Hermann Hesse
Original title: Siddharta
First published: 1922
Genre: Classic, Philosophy
Series: --
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 116
Finished: 26/07/2019
Summary: Siddhartha, a handsome Brahmin's son, is clever and well loved, yet increasingly dissatisfied with the life that is expected of him. Setting out on a spiritual journey to discover a higher state of being, his quest leads him through the temptations of luxury and wealth, the pleasures of sensual love, and the sinister threat of death-dealing snakes, until, eventually, he comes to a river. There a ferryman guides him towards his destiny, and to the ultimate meaning of existence.

My thoughts: My fifth read for "The Reading Rush" 2019! This one was read for the challenge "read a book with purple on the cover"; a challenge that proved difficult to fulfil! It seems that not many of my slimmer books have something purple on the cover, so I was lucky to discover that "Siddharta" delivered in my time of need ;)
Unfortunately, I didn’t find this book to be anything but boring. It is a work of philosophy, and it was easy to read and understand, but it offered me no new wisdom or view on life. Basically, it’s a repetition of “money can’t buy happiness” and a small bunch of other lifestyle ideals. The characters were boring, and I really didn’t care for Siddhartha going out into the world and finding himself and the right path of life. Overall, this book scores a low rating because it gave me nothing at all, without being inherently bad.

Rating: 2/5

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Title: The Copper Gauntlet
Author: Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
Original title: The Copper Gauntlet
First published: 2015
Genre: Middle-grade, Fantasy
Series: Magisterium #2
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: Hardback
Pages: 264
Finished: 27/07/2019
Summary: Spoiler alert! Callum Hunt’s summer break isn’t like other kids’. His closest companion is a Chaos-ridden wolf, Havoc. His father suspects him of being secretly evil. And, of course, most kids aren’t heading back to the magical world of the Magisterium in the fall. It’s not easy for Call . . . and it gets even harder after he checks out his basement and discovers that his dad might be trying to destroy both him and Havoc. Call escapes to the Magisterium -- but things only intensify there. The Alkahest -- a copper gauntlet capable of separating certain magicians from their magic -- has been stolen. And in their search to discover the culprit, Call and his friends Aaron and Tamara awaken the attention of some very dangerous foes -- and get closer to an even more dangerous truth.

My thoughts: Behold: my sixth read for the 2019 Reading Rush! This was read for the challenge "read a book you meant to read last year".
This series is still a lot like Harry Potter. The similarities are just too many to go unnoticed. However, seeing as I read and loved “Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell, which also shares a glaring amount of similarities with Harry Potter, I guess I cannot fault this series for doing the same. And honestly? It’s a very decent middle grade fantasy series. As far as these first two books go, I’m enjoying them a lot and as the world and story unfolds, I am compelled to read more and more. We follow a worried and cynical protagonist with a character depth that I like, and I’d say almost all the characters are well developed and described so far in the series. I’m also starting to see how much parts of the series are similar to Cassandra Clare’s other works, though I can’t say the same about Holly Black with certainty, since I’ve only ever read one book by her.
All in all, a solid, suspenseful, exciting read!

Rating: 4/5

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Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky
Original title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
First published: 1999
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Series: --
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Paperback
Pages: 231
Finished: 28/07/2019
Summary: This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that the perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

My thoughts: My seventh and final read for the 2019 Reading Rush, thus completing the last two challenges on my list; "read a book with five or more words in the title" (this has 6) and "read seven books" WHICH I HAVE NOW DONE OMG. I am officially the best ever (for a minimum of 2 minutes).
This is a very special book. Did I cry? Yes. I don’t think I will say more than that.

Rating: 4,75/5

Book Reviews: Gul Utanpå | The Invention of Hugo Cabret | Kirke

Title: Gul utanpå (Yellow on the outside)
Author: Patrik Lundberg
Original title: Gul utanpå
First published: 2013
Genre: Biography
Series: --
Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren
Format: Paperback
Pages: 249
Finished: 27/05/2019
Summary: All his life, Patrik Lundberg has been called "Chinese fucker". He was adopted from South Korea in 1983. He was sent halfway across the globe and landed in the middle of the Swedish idyllic small town Sölvesborg. There, he grew up in an ordinary dysfunctional family and was raised like any other Swedish boy. 24 years later, he travels back to his country of birth. There, he becomes "the awesome guy" -  the westerner that all the girls want. He's spoken to in Korean and is faced with a culture that he's only ever read about. Most of all, he's looking for his biological parents. But will he find them?

My thoughts: I believe this is the first real biography that I’ve ever read. I got a copy of this from a library because I’d turned 18 (a sort of birthday gift), but I’d heard about it before, since I’d been to one of the author’s lectures. My impression of his as a person and the narrative he has in the book are very similar, which I’d say is good for a biography. As is to be expected, the story is very personal/private-ish, so we get pretty close to Lundberg throughout the story. To me, it meant a lot to read a biography centered around adoption to the western world, since I’ve met a decent amount of children who’ve had that fate. “Gul utanpå” gave me a new perspective that I find really valuable and will keep in mind in the future.

Rating: 4/5

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Title: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Original title: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
First published: 2007
Genre: Historical, Middle Grade
Series: --
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: Hardback
Pages: 525
Finished: 24/06/2019
Summary: Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

My thoughts: A peculiar "little" book that I've wished to get my hands on for quite some while now. I was stoked to find it not-so-hidden-away in a secondhand shop and immediately lunged for it (only half metaphorically). "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is half written, half drawn in beautiful full page illustrations which tell parts of the story themselves. To me, it was this special way of storytelling that really made it good for me. I already knew the plot by heart; having seen the film several times before, and having my teacher read it out loud to the class in middle school. I enjoyed it a lot and basically flew through the whole thing.

Rating: 3,75/5

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Title: Kirke
Author: Madeline Miller
Original title: Circe
First published: 2018
Genre: Fantasy, Historical
Series: --
Publisher: Wahlström & Widstrand
Format: Paperback
Pages: 407
Finished: 12/07/2019
Summary: In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

My thoughts: Circe, Circe, Circe… How should I even begin? Well, maybe like this:
“Kirke” (or “Crice” in English) is like a warm cup of Earl Grey tea on a misty winter morning. It is like the first red leaf of autumn, the last snowdrop of spring, and the first mighty thunder of a storm. Eager, persistent, intense. While reading it, I often found the need to take a step back to process what I’d taken in, and each time I returned it was like inhaling the first breath of salty ocean breeze when exiting the car by the beach, over and over again. Following Circe is sometimes bitter, sometimes triumphant, but always refreshing and exciting. Wherever the book wanted to take me, I gladly followed; I soon learnt that it had much more to offer than I’d at first thought. “Kirke” is filled to the brim with, as others have mentioned before me, female power, though also with intrigue, learning, and cultural history (which someone as thirsty for knowledge as me appreciates). I should be mentioned that you don’t need to have any deeper knowledge of Greek mythology when going into this book; just lean back, relax, and enjoy Madeline Miller’s captivating style and ingenious storytelling. So if you’re curious, don’t hesitate! “Kirke” is a book that you’ll surely remember.


(this book was sent for me to review by Bokus, where you can soon find the Swedish translation released!)

Rating: 4,5/5