immabehazzie's reviews
255 reviews

I enjoyed this book the same as I enjoyed the others in this series. It was twisted and in the words of many of the characters “wicked”. Something that the first book Flowers In The Attic has but something that Petals On The Wind was lacking. I liked how this book was from the point of view of the two sons Jory and Bart. It gave an outside look and Christopher and Cathy. Something I needed. Whilst reading the other two books I couldn’t stand Cathy but couldn’t help but be intrigued by her, whereas, in this book because we see not only one but two outside looks on her, it’s easier to see how human she really is. Jory is a sweet boy and almost reminds me of Chris in Flowers in The Attic and Jory, well, he’s trouble and angers me more than anything throughout almost the entire book but at the same time I can identify with his loneliness and wanting anyone who will to love him. Overall, I liked the fresh take of If There Be Thorns gives.

If you’ve read any of my reviews on this instagram then you’ve probably saw at least one about Lang Leav’s poetry. She is close to being one of my favorite poets. Lullabies is wonderfully put together just like her others and even though I felt more of a connection with “Love & Misadventure”, I still enjoyed this book.

The Secret Garden is a magical book in almost every sense of the word. Frances Hodgson Burnett really knows how to write a magical world without it really involving magic. The descriptions and the characters are so well written and thought out that it’s hard not to love her writing. And the friendships that grow between the three characters is so sweet and wonderful it almost makes you feel lonely. Burnett is such a good writer that I wouldn’t just recommend this book but every book she has wrote.

I loved this book. Plain and simple. I don’t think I’ve read one poem of Lang Leav’s that I’ve disliked. I’m not saying that the poetry is magnificent or heart stopping. Most of the poems are short and simple but they hold so much truth and passion that I can’t help but love them.

I loved this book! Different from the show, which is also good. I liked how in the book they clearly show you how the house drives you mad and targets certain people. I also liked how we saw more of Eleanor as well. Theodora is so fun and colorful, she’s the type of character I wish I was like but in reality I’m more like Eleanor. Shy, quiet and I let the others take the lead. I do wish they were siblings in the book like they were in the show but it still worked pretty well.

Honestly, I have been putting off reading this book. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book so big and I regret to admit that I didn’t like the 2012 movie. I couldn’t help reading it, though because there is something about Imperial Russia that intrigues me. The book though - I liked it. Not enjoyed it like how I enjoy other books. The book made me think. Paralleling three marriages. No matter what you think of the characters, they’re all written in such a human way that it’s hard to actually hate them. One last thing - I know a lot of people think of this story of a romance story but I disagree. I do think that it’s a story about love, but about human love and human nature and not necessarily romantic love. Only two things stop me from rating it higher the first is all of the characters. It was almost impossible to keep up with who was who and how they were related. And the second - all the Russian politics. It’s very different from American politics and it takes places in the 1800s. I did like the book and if it wasn’t so long, I’d probably read it again.

I’m actually quite sad that I’ve finished the final book in the series. I mean, there’s The Garden of Shadows but that is a prequel and it just won’t be the same. This series was something else but it was amazing. It has been a long time since I read I full on series and I’m going through that part where I’m actually, literally going to miss the characters. I’ll admit, though, Seeds of Yesterday was my least favorite of the series but I still liked it. It doesn’t help that in the first book Cathy started out as 12 and now in Seeds of Yesterday she’s 52. The characters have grown up but just like Cathy when she sees Foxworth Hall rebuilt she can’t shake the memories. She can’t let go.

The Characters, I have a lot to say about them but I don’t want to spoil anything. Throughout almost all of the books Chris just feels stagnant to me. He doesn’t really change and I guess if he’s a good guy that’s a good things. Cathy - I have so many opinions on her I’m not even going to type them. Jory - sweet Jory - he’s honestly probably my favorite character. I also like how his story parallels both his mothers and biological fathers story and how he is still so different from them. And he gets the short end of the stick so many times and no one really seems to care. I don’t really want to comment on Bart because I know that I’d spoil his story line. And Cindy - I feel so bad for her. She’s a teenager in a dysfunctional family and she’s rebelling but trying not to and Cathy is looking down on her for doing all the things she used to do. And lastly, Joel, to me he’s just a knock off version of John Amos.

I really did love this series and I’m upset that I’m at the end of the Dollanganger storylines. I can’t wait to see what Garden of Shadows has in store.

This book is one of the few books that I went into not knowing what to expect. I originally got this book because I love reading books about witches and this book delivers. Not in the way I was expecting but The Witch of Willow Hall has a lot of unexpected turns. After every chapter something happened that completely threw me off. In a good way, of course. I haven’t read a book like this in a while, it’s definitely original. I also haven’t been entertained like this by a book in a long time.

The Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie so when I found out it was originally a book I just had to read it. Sadly, with it being my favorite movie I had very high expectations. I wasn’t let doesn’t necessarily - the book was just different. There are strange places and creatures that are in the book that aren’t in the movie but I think the biggest differences is that in the movie Dorothy dreams that she travels to Oz whilst in the book she actually does travel there. The book was actually darker than I actually expected. But I will admit that I was entertained the whole time.

I don’t know why I have never read anything by Sylvia Plath before. Her writing feels as though it was written for me. The Bell Jar is seems so real, so real it’s almost uncomfortable. I’m an avid reader and I’ve related to characters before but not like this before. The way she processes things and thinks about things is so similar to mine, it’s kind of scary.

I was surprised that this book allowed the character to have honest feelings against marriage and didn’t guilt her into wanting children. And I loved how they portrayed her slow spiral into depression.

Truth be told, I loved this book. And I think that if you enjoy this book you would also enjoy Girl; Interrupted.