June 2021 – Brooke & Binding

The Wise Man’s Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle # 2) by Patrick Rothfuss

My Rating: 4 Stars

Here’s why

I FINALLY finished this book. I have been reading it for what feels like forever – as a book that is almost 1,000 pages it makes sense – and am glad to have it under my belt!

In this second installment of Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy, Kvothe is continuing his studies at the University, but an opportunity arises for him to travel the four corners of the world – and beyond! Throughout these adventures, Kvothe is able to apply what he has been learning at the University, but also picks up some new tricks and knowledge from other people and ways of life. He is still on the search to learn more about the legends of the Amyr and the Chandrian, but in the process is becoming a legend himself.

***

This book definitely had “middle-book-syndrome” for me.

If I would have known that this was how it was going to go, I think my experience reading it would’ve been different; however, since I was just taking the book at face value (and to my own fault I didn’t even read the synopsis beforehand haha) I kept getting upset that all these little adventures were more like detours, taking time away from being back at the University. But what I didn’t know was how each of these detours were actually becoming building blocks for parts of Kvothe’s story and character development. Looking back at it, it was really well written and it all makes sense, but in the midst of it I just felt irritated.

I am giving this book 4/5 Stars because although I did enjoy the book like I previously stated, I think I liked the first one better. Again, as a middle book, I know Rothfuss is setting up his finale and using this book to explain parts of Kvothe’s journey that are a bit more unconventional, and he did it very well – the issue was really just on my receiving end haha! I also feel like since I was having a disconnect, it took me a lot longer to finish, which can add to my overall experience with the book.

I am really excited to see where Kvothe’s journey concludes and how Rothfuss is going to tie up this amazing story he has carefully crafted. I love this world, these characters, and his writing so much I am sad I have to wait for the next one to come out!

HAPPY READING 🙂

Genre: Fantasy/Fiction/Magic/Epic/Adventure

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

My Rating: 4 Stars

Here’s why

At the beginning of last year, I was able to get a free copy of Alex Michaelides’ popular read, The Silent Patient, as it was in the Top 5 of Book of the Month’s Book of the Year of 2019 competition. I really enjoyed it and was excited to see a new release by him this summer!

Mariana is a group therapist and has found her solace from her own losses by helping others through theirs. One day, her niece, Zoe, calls from Cambridge telling her that someone on campus has been murdered, and she thinks she knows who it is and who did it. Wanting to comfort Zoe and intrigued by Zoe’s information, Mariana travels to Cambridge and finds herself getting wrapped up in the mystery surrounding this murder – and the next – as both students were a part of an elite group called The Maidens. However, being back at Cambridge is bringing up ghosts from Mariana’s time as a student, and the memories she has to confront might cloud her judgment or clear her head as she tries to solve this mystery alongside the police.

***

I enjoyed The Silent Patient, and I could see why people were raving about it, so I knew there were some high expectations for Alex Michaelides’ latest release.

The overall plot of The Maidens was really interesting. I thought the premise of having a connection to Greek mythology/writings was fun – as a lover of those things – and the idea that there is someone who Mariana is suspicious of from the get-go really affects the lens she – and the reader – sees the murders through. Mariana as a character was okay. She could have been a little more likable in some ways, and I did mention in my podcast review that it would’ve been nice to have more than one narrator throughout (although you kind of do in the form of diary entries of an unknown person), but overall she is a risk-taker, and analyzer, and determined to figure out what is going on at Cambridge.

I am giving this book 4/5 Stars because of the uniqueness the plot, the overall detective work Mariana does, and I loved the nod to The Silent Patient Michaelides included. The reason I am not able to give it a full 5 Stars (or even a higher 4 rating in my mind) is that there is a lot of exposition in the beginning that made it hard to get the gears going waiting for the action to start, a character that I felt was unnecessary, and the very end. I understand WHO did the murdering and kind of WHY, but I was missing the HOW and would’ve liked more of the WHY explained.

If it was up to me, I would have had The Maidens published before The Silent Patient as The Maidens flows right into The Silent Patient‘s storyline, and that is the order I would recommend someone read it if they haven’t read either, but I know inspiration and stories don’t always come to us that way.

HAPPY READING 🙂

“Lit Sis” podcast review of The Maidens: https://anchor.fm/lit-sis/episodes/BOOK-REVIEW-The-Maidens-e12iead

The Silent Patient review: https://brookeandbinding.wordpress.com/2020/03/02/the-silent-patient-by-alex-michaelides/

Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Suspense/Crime/Mythology/Fantasy/England/Greece/Culture

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My Rating: 5 Stars

Here’s why!

As soon as I knew that Taylor Jenkins Reid had a new book coming out, I could not wait to get my hands on a copy! Thankfully, for June 2021, Book of the Month had it as a selection.

The Riva family has had it shares of ups and downs: a musical sensation for a father, an on-again-off-again marriage to their mother, and a few side pieces along the way. Now, the four Riva children are all grown up with successful careers of their own, but some things from the past do not want to stay buried. On an eventful night in Malibu, their annual blow-out party ends in flames.

***

I have loved TJR since her release of the popular novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and although I haven’t dove farther back into her catalogue of novels, I have enjoyed these newest three immensely.

No one writes family/contemporary/interpersonal relationships and drama like TJR. She has an amazing way of captivating her audience even with the subtlest plot lines that are driven mostly by the inner-workings of her characters’ lives. Malibu Rising is no different and has been receiving lots of attention – like her previous two novels.

I am giving this book 5/5 Stars for its flow, the characters and their relationships, the storytelling, and the way it captivated me. I read this book in two sittings within 24 hours, and was trying to find every little moment to pick it up and dive back into the Riva family and their drama.

If you have never read a TJR novel, now is your chance! I would recommend reading them in order of their release, but if you want to dive in to her more recent releases, start with Evelyn Hugo and work your way through Daisy Jones & The Six and Malibu Rising! (My reviews for the other two are down below!)

HAPPY READING 🙂

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo review: https://brookeandbinding.wordpress.com/2018/06/21/the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/

Daisy Jones & The Six review: https://brookeandbinding.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/daisy-jones-the-six-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/

Genre: Historical Fiction/Contemporary/Family Drama/Chick Lit

The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1) by Richard Osman

My Rating: 3 Stars

Here’s why

I first stumbled upon this book scrolling through the many book-based emails I receive daily, recommending reads, promoting up-and-coming books, etc. and this one caught my eye. A cute story that has very likable characters and a fun premise.

In Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, we meet four unlikely friends with a common love – solving crimes. But these are just any crime junkies, but a group of retirees that live in a retirement village where they meet up once a week – you guessed it, on Thursdays – to discuss unsolved crimes. But one day, the crime comes right to their doorstep as a local developer is murdered. As new clues – and dead bodies – are exposed, will this gang solve the case before the police can?

***

Cute story idea, right?

A group of senior citizens getting together each week to try and solve cases that need looking over – all for fun, of course – but their expertise from their past lives start to come in handy in solving a live murder case alongside the local police force.

I think this premise is so much fun and the characters are really charming, too. Joyce is one of our main narrators and she is just hilarious. Elizabeth is the mastermind behind it all and has lots of connections/strings she can pull. Ibrahim is more “chill” out of everyone, but watch out for Ron, who can be a bit of a hot head. Osman had quite a few adorable moments where they “show their age” in the way they talk about things or maybe don’t understand some modern technology/app/etc., and Joyce’s diary entries are full of bunny trails of unimportant information that mostly adds to her relatability.

So, why give it only 3 Stars then? Well, for starters, sometimes those little bunny trails of thought were cute and fun, but other times felt unnecessary or confusing. Other times, Osman would start a chapter off with a side story about a character we have never met – and never meet again – to set the stage of what is going on in the retirement village alongside some of the events that are happening with the TMC (Thursday Murder Club). For example, something like “Because Beatrice had a meltdown, the Crochet Class was canceled leaving the Jigsaw Room available for the TMC to meet on a Tuesday,” (but more drawn out and detailed). Anyway, I found these snippets of stories pull me away from the story and the flow/connection I was feeling from the previous chapter.

All that to say, I think this was a cute story that did have a few twists I did not see coming, but because of these little interludes, I feel like majority the twists didn’t have as much of a punch as they could’ve since the interludes disconnected me from the characters/story being told. Does that make sense?

If you think this premise is as fun as I did, feel free to check it out yourself, and let me know if you agree or disagree! Osman just released a second Thursday Murder Club book called The Man Who Died Twice, which I might pick up once I diminish my TBR pile a bit more.

HAPPY READING 🙂

Genre: Mystery/Crime/Elderly/Comedy/Cozy/Contemporary