eyreibreathe's reviews
369 reviews

Every once in a while, a book comes along that completely captures my attention before I've ever even cracked it open. And so it was with The Midnight Library. When I first read the synopsis months ago, I knew I had to get my hands on it.  Fantasy realism is not always a genre I gravitate towards, but this one just sounded so compelling....and friends, it did not disappoint.

This was such a fitting book for this time of year!  Ruth Ware is wonderful at crafting atmospheric tales featuring settings that pop off the page.  This one admittedly took me longer to get into because it had a slow build, but ever so gradually, I was pulled into this mystery, and it wouldn't let me go.

I had such mixed feelings on this one.

After some reflection, I've decided to do things just a bit different with this book review.  I purposely chose a book outside my comfort zone with The Remains of the Day. I struggle with books that are slow and character-driven with little plot, and while this may not be my personal kind of read, I can nonetheless see why so many love it. Instead of doing a "star review", therefore, I'm simply going to share my thoughts. ⁣
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This book has such a strong sense of character, one of the strongest I've ever read, in fact. The point of view of a butler, Stevens, was so utterly believable, so masterfully done, that the English major in me was a bit in awe.  His narration was told with subtlety and restraint, with deep reflection and a slowly niggling doubt. I started out fully trusting this respectable gentleman, but as his perspective ever so gradually shifted and as his doubt edged in, I began to sense he was an unreliable (and yet, to me, still endearing) narrator. I felt like there was a symbolic parallel in his taking his first ever leisurely road trip while also taking his first internal journey of thought and reflection concerning his years of servitude. This was very much an internal, introspective story. It was slow and meandering, which is why I personally struggled with it, but there's no doubt this book is so skillfully and beautifully written. ⁣
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This was a stunning read!  The same richness in storytelling that I so loved in Callahan's previous book was alive in this one as well.  You all know that I'm all about atmosphere... I live for those books in which I'm fully immersed in the setting, and I experienced that with in spades with Surviving Savannah. I was completely enraptured in this story of devastation and survival. As I became so attached to the characters, I found myself reaching for tissues more than once as the heartache and the sheer lengths they had to go to in order to survive leapt off the page. It was all the more moving and fascinating to know this is based upon a true story. Surviving Savannah sealed the deal for me - Patti Callahan is officially an auto-buy author for me.

One thing I love about longer books is that there is more space to delve deep. Characters, setting, storyline...each is often more developed in these thick volumes, and that is certainly what I found in The Forgotten Garden. I loved that a fairy tale aesthetic was woven throughout this book.  Even though this wouldn't be categorized as fantasy or even magical realism, there was definitely a sense of magic and whimsy here, and I was utterly enchanted. I found myself attached to the characters, and the swoon-worthy setting left me aching to visit Cornwal. I did unravel the mystery long before the reveal, but since I didn't pick this one up for the mystery aspect of it, I was a-okay with that.  One thing is for sure...I will not be letting 3+ years pass me by before I pick up another Kate Morton book.  ⁣
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My rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love a good mystery, and courtroom thrillers are always intriguing since I haven't read much of the specific genre.  The Holdout did not disappoint!