Book reviews presenting honest opinions on various books/titles.
The first thing you need to know about this fictional book about the real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie is that it NOT really a book about Agatha Christie. She is a secondary character in Nan O'Dea's narrative. The sooner you come to this realization, the more readily you'll enjoy this book.
What if every single decision you ever made branched off into a different version of yourself that exists parallel to the you right now? What if you were allowed to pick one of them and take over that life instead of your present one?
Smart writing full of humor and heart, this is a great book that doesn't make you think too hard but still surprises you.
When We Let Go is about loss, guilt, forgiveness, and relationships, specifically mother-daughter type relationships. Sometimes you're in the mood for a book that promises a good cry, which was why I requested this book, and it delivered. The book covers a lot of heavy subjects, but does so in a thorough way, allowing us to grow with the characters in our perception of those topics.
Well, I am going to be honest, this isn't my favorite Kristin Hannah book...not even close, but it's also not my least favorite. I spent the first half, yes, HALF, of this book absolutely hating the main female characters, but The second half of the book is where this story shines.
Hedy Lamarr's life before Hollywood and her contributions to the scientific community have long gone unknown to the general public. The fact that her work serves as the largely unacknowledged foundation of the technology you are likely using to read this review (your mobile phone, wifi, etc.) is just a prime example of the way women were written out of history for far too long.
Told from a Chinese-American girl's perspective during the time of women's suffrage in the antebellum south, this story covers intersectionality, racism, sexism, feminism and a love interest that hints at miscegenation - all topics that are still very much relevant today.
Restrained magic, prophesies, friendship, angry ancestral spirits, betrayal, UNrestrained magic, Orisha gods…this was a great ride!
The premise of the book is truly interesting to me, and it is obvious that Laster did her research in order to write this book. But, while this story started out strong with an opening scene that's sure to get your heart rate up, as it gets into the world-building and story, it just doesn't really ever pick up again.
I really enjoyed this book! While the book dragged a bit at first and took a while to get going, a slow burn for sure, I enjoyed learning about the inner workings of BP and watching the women's relationship evolve.
