Reviews by Andrea (65)

Andrea 2024-01-10 The Romantic

More than one book should hold

The Romantic

I read this book, and I finished it. Coming from a person who hasn't read novels in decades, I suppose that's a thumbs up. The Romantic covers an age of exploration, discovery and artistry, and its main character does it all. And that sums up my problem with it. It's a story that could easily, and more realistically, be about at least six different people. Good? Certainly not a bad read, but too much for one book about one person. Entertaining? Sure. But if it were mine, it would be read once and then donated to a charity bookshop.

Andrea 2024-01-10 Anxious People

I want to own this book

Anxious People

"Anxious People" charmed me from the first page. It's funny, sad, ludicrous and beautiful rolled into one. I laughed. I cried. And in the end, I was doing both at once. If I could read it six times, I would: an absolutely beautiful story told with warmth and a deep understanding of human nature.

Andrea 2024-01-10 Love Marriage

Yes... and no

Love Marriage

There are many good things about "Love Marriage." The characterizations are strong and, on occasion, warm, funny, and sad at once. At the same time, I found myself getting annoyed with the main female character and her fiance at times and started skimming it towards the end. Bear in mind that I chose this book as something I wouldn't ordinarily read. It only went part of the way towards persuading me to try this kind of reading adventure in future.

Andrea 2024-01-10 What you are Looking for is in the Library

A charming complation of stories

What you are Looking for is in the Library

I liked this book. It's gentle and engaging. It's divided into chapters that each represent a stand-alone story following the same formula but applying it to different contexts with differing results. It's not the kind of thing that keeps you up late at night - and that can be an advantage. The endings are happy, and the values represent the Japanese perspective of the high road to a fulfilling life. It's an empathetic and appealing collection of tales and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Andrea 2024-01-10 The Seventh Son

Curiously unemotional until it gets messy - but not bad

The Seventh Son

It's not a bad read - I certainly found it interesting enough to finish it pretty fast. All the same, I found some things about it rather incongruous. I've always said that you can judge a good author by how realistically they portray people of the opposite sex, and in this instance, I think the author didn't do a particularly good job. The concept is not unique, and although I think the author brings something new to the table and tells an interesting story, I will damn it with faint praise. Not bad. Could have been better.

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