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eyreibreathe's reviews
369 reviews
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
5.0
I feel like an idiot, you guys.
1. All Things Great and Small is a (newer) classic.
2. It's set in England.
3. It's the definition of cozy.
In short, it's a totally "me" book. And yet it has sat on my shelf for years and years because I had assumed it might be kind of cheesy. I was blissfully wrong, friends. In fact, I was quite unprepared for how much I would love this book. All Things Great and Small was purely delightful and "feel good", and I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud while reading of the adventures and misadventures of an English countryside veterinarian. For anyone looking for the perfect cozy read, this is not only perfect for this time of year, but it just so happens that a new BBC adaptation premiers next month (at least here in the U.S.), so the timing is spot on.
1. All Things Great and Small is a (newer) classic.
2. It's set in England.
3. It's the definition of cozy.
In short, it's a totally "me" book. And yet it has sat on my shelf for years and years because I had assumed it might be kind of cheesy. I was blissfully wrong, friends. In fact, I was quite unprepared for how much I would love this book. All Things Great and Small was purely delightful and "feel good", and I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud while reading of the adventures and misadventures of an English countryside veterinarian. For anyone looking for the perfect cozy read, this is not only perfect for this time of year, but it just so happens that a new BBC adaptation premiers next month (at least here in the U.S.), so the timing is spot on.
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
3.0
Happy Wednesday, bookish friends! I thought I'd hop on and share a few thoughts about a recent read of mine, Miss Benson's Beetle, by Rachel Joyce.
The Push by Ashley Audrain
5.0
Well, I've finally picked my jaw off the floor, and I'm ready to talk about my latest read. THIS BOOK, you guys... I could not look away. Forget trying to put it down to get anything done. I was completely sucked in. Was it disturbing? Yes. Unsettling? Yes. But it gave me all the feels...sorrow, anger, fear, dread...it was a gut punch to my emotions in the best of ways.
Digging a little deeper into this story reveals that it's not all drama and no depth. There is a generational struggle with mental health within these pages, and it's a topic I felt was handled gracefully. In addition, there are some very relatable glimpses into motherhood - the exhaustion, the busyness, the worry, those niggling doubts of whether or not you measure up.
I've heard The Push compared often to Verity, and I am always a bit skeptical when I hear people make comparisons, but I felt like this one hit the nail on the head. It's so early in the year, I know, but I keep thinking that this is going to be a hard thriller to beat. All that hype? Well deserved, in my opinion.
Digging a little deeper into this story reveals that it's not all drama and no depth. There is a generational struggle with mental health within these pages, and it's a topic I felt was handled gracefully. In addition, there are some very relatable glimpses into motherhood - the exhaustion, the busyness, the worry, those niggling doubts of whether or not you measure up.
I've heard The Push compared often to Verity, and I am always a bit skeptical when I hear people make comparisons, but I felt like this one hit the nail on the head. It's so early in the year, I know, but I keep thinking that this is going to be a hard thriller to beat. All that hype? Well deserved, in my opinion.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
5.0
The Dutch House is a book that kept calling to me over and again with its striking cover and all the buzz surrounding it last year. I will admit something here and now: I let myself be somewhat swayed by a handful of reviews I saw on it, and it resulted in my not picking it up as soon as I wish I had. Most of the feedback on this book has been glowing, but the few not-so-glowing reviews I read mentioned that it was slow moving. Since I'm one that has the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel (only slight exaggeration), I put it off. Do you guys ever want to shake yourself as a reader and say, " What were you thinking?!" (Asking for a friend...
All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot
4.0
4.5 ⭐, rounded up.
I started with All Things Great and Small in December, and I found All Things Bright and Beautiful to be equally charming. I love a good English countryside setting. Flipping the pages, I always find myself wishing I could accompany James Herriot on his veterinary visits through the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales. It's almost as if each chapter is its own short story of his veterinary experiences, though they all tie in together. These recollections made me laugh, tear up, and charmed the socks off me in turn. I suspect this is a series I will find myself reaching to for years to come when I need to lose myself in a feel-good story.
I started with All Things Great and Small in December, and I found All Things Bright and Beautiful to be equally charming. I love a good English countryside setting. Flipping the pages, I always find myself wishing I could accompany James Herriot on his veterinary visits through the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales. It's almost as if each chapter is its own short story of his veterinary experiences, though they all tie in together. These recollections made me laugh, tear up, and charmed the socks off me in turn. I suspect this is a series I will find myself reaching to for years to come when I need to lose myself in a feel-good story.