Jun. 28th, 2019

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I did not get through as many books as usual this time around, mostly because I didn't sleep very well during my stay, and therefore had to keep fighting not to drop off in the middle of the afternoon, especially when snuggled on a sofa with a roaring fire (yes, in June!). Still, three books read, all very different and all excellent.

A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles:
I was going to say that I have no idea how this book ended up on my reading list, but Cressi, who runs the reading retreats, claims she's been recommending it to everyone, so I shall give her the credit! It's about a Russian aristocrat, Count Rostov, who is placed under house arrest at the Hotel Metropol in Moscow in 1922 and ends up remaining there for over 30 years. While little of import actually happens to him, the whole of Russian history plays out in the background of the book, and it is utterly absorbing. I love Rostov, I love the hotel, I love the other people who work and stay at the hotel, and I love the way the story of Rostov's confinement plays out over time. It's a quiet book, tinged with tragedy, but also with a lot of laughter and tremendous joy. The only thing that annoyed me was that Rostov's role within the hotel changes quite dramatically during one of the time jumps and how that came about is never explained. Otherwise, an absolute delight and highly recommended.


A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab:
I've been meaning to try this author for a while, and finally got round to the first in her main fantasy series. Initially, the exposition is very clunky, with characters doing and saying things that felt very contrived, in order to get information across to the reader. But, it settled down after a while. Plus, I like the characters and the setting - three (or four) separate versions of London in linked worlds, with only two (so far) characters who can cross between them. Kell makes for an appealing protagonist, and I like the relationship that builds up between him and Lila over the course of the book. One of the bad guys is also very interesting and sympathetic in a way, and I hope he will appear again in the later books. It was a bit grimmer than I perhaps would have preferred in places, but I guess I should have expected that from the title, and it hasn't put me off reading more of the series. I've already ordered the second one from the library (I'd love to listen to these, but they're apparently only available in German), so I shall soon see what happens next.


Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik:
This has been described as "the Muslim Bridget Jones" and I can see why - it's a contemporary tale of a young Muslim woman (sort of) looking for love, written in diary style. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it at first, but it drew me in and I got invested fast. Sofia is an appealing heroine - neither as self-absorbed nor as self-critical as Bridget Jones, and the cultural aspect of the book adds quite a lot of depth. I predicted where it was going very early on, but couldn't see how on earth it was going to get there. The ending felt a bit abrupt, and I would have liked to see more of what happened afterwards. I'm also not entirely sure how I feel about the plot device that eventually brings the correct people together, but it does fit the story, and it's a bold choice, so I'll err on the side of praise. I did enjoy the book overall, and it made a great palate cleanser after the previous dark fantasy.


Echo in Emerald by Sharon Shinn:
On the way home from the retreat, I finished this audiobook, which is the second in the Uncommon Echoes series. I immediately liked it more than the first one. Chessy makes a more compelling protagonist than Brianna, I think, and the way the story plays out is more interesting. I enjoyed the romance aspect more and I think the way the echoes are dealt with is more intriguing and better thought out. The ending wasn't entirely satisfactory, though - as with the first book, the conclusion to the story is taken entirely out of both protagonists' hands, which feels like a bit of a let-down. There's also a great deal of repetition of all the important information, often between characters who already know it all, and always with the reader already being aware of the details. Still, I will listen to the third one, and the other two have been entertaining enough.

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