Review No. 19: A Sudden Light - Garth Stein

Genre: Gothic / Fantasy / YA

Edition: ebook

No. of Pages: 400

Expected publication date:  30th September 2014

Published by: Simon & Schuster UK

Source: Netgalley

Series?: No

Get this book: Amazon




Description: Trevor Riddell is a 14 year old boy (in the summer of 1990) who is trying to bring his parents back together after they decided to 'take a break'. His father dragged him along to 'visit' his sick grandfather at Riddell House, the legendary family mansion. Things are not what they seem at Riddell House, however, and Trevor  strives to uncover the centuries of secrets buried within its walls. Are there really ghosts in this mansion or has Trevor's mind snapped under the stress of his parents' impending divorce? Read it to find out.

What I think about it: From the beginning, this story is surrounded by a melancholic vibe. Equal parts terrifying and entertaining, it entrances the reader with its special magic. There are some points in the story where the main characters do things that are very irritating but for the most part they're alright. The story is well paced, it doesn't move too fast and it's not so slow that it bores the reader either. By the end of it all, the characters and their unique stories have taken a hold of your mind and invaded your heart. I loved it, even though it tore my heart to shreds.

Character Analysis: (I am not going in to every character, that would take ages! And has the potential to spoil the story.)
Trevor- A.K.A. Clever Trevor. Ah, Trevor........such a simple yet stunning character. I liked him for most of it. He went through quite a journey and came out a changed person (in other words, his character development was amazing).

Serena- I disliked her as soon as we met her.  Her character hits my morals the wrong way and I can't like her.

Ben- I admired him a lot. He did scare me for the first half of the novel, then he grew on me. But I think I did adore Harry more than him.

Conclusion: 4.5/5 stars. This is one of those stories, it's gonna be in my mind for months to come.

Review No. 18: A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman

Genre: Humor / Contemporary / Swedish Literature

Edition: epub

No. of Pages: 298

Published on: July 15th 2014

Published by: Atria Books

Source: Netgalley

Series?: No.

Get this book: Amazon






Description (taken from Goodreads):
Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.


What I think about it: It's been days since I've finished reading this book and I still cannot think of the perfect words to describe it. I went into this book expecting it to be a fast, funny read. It was really easy to get through and it was very humorous at times, but this book was so much more than that. It dealt with some really serious issues (depression, loss, love, family, helplessness, and so much more) but it was executed in such a way that the reader, does not feel the seriousness of the situations. I loved it, and I think, I will be carrying around the lessons I learnt from this story for a long time. This brilliant masterpiece was one of those unforgettable, life-changing moments that stay with us forever.

Character Analysis:
Ove- I adored his grouchy mood and sharp tongue. His quiet strength is admirable. He's an extremely loveable character.

Cat Annoyance- I loved this cat! Such attitude and personality! So unique and wonderfully hilarious.

Conclusion: A solid 5/5 stars. I highly recommend this book to everyone. There's something in it for everyone.