Reviews by Andrea (65)

Andrea 2026-02-21 Time Shelter

Brilliant, But Hard to Read

Time Shelter

I got halfway through this book. Then, I skipped through it to the end. I'm not sure whether the translation does it any favors. It's beautiful in a way, and the concept is clever. It poses the question: If individuals feel most comfortable in a certain era, communities, and even most people in some countries, may feel the same way. It's dramatic in places, slow in most. Intriguing at first, it lost me by the halfway point. Still, I was curious enough to skip through to the rather sad but profound ending,

Andrea 2026-02-21 What We Can Know

Brilliant Book Embracing Multiple Themes

What We Can Know

I'm totally blown away by this book. It can't be judged per chapter. Every detail comes together as the story develops. Even the earlier chapters, which are somewhat slower in terms of the central narrative, set the scene. Themes include: What the world might look like given current sea level rise plus additional catastrophes How mystery turns the unknown into something of infinite value, even when it is not The way we often misconceive history based on our preconceptions The vagaries of love and desire And more. Pay attention while the scene is set. You will be rewarded!

Andrea 2026-02-06 All the Beauty in the World

An Absolutely Beautiful Book

All the Beauty in the World

A beautifully written book packed with so many marvelous passages that one could fill a notebook with quotes. Read it with your phone handy so that you can search for and view the works that moved the author so deeply. Thoughtful and philosophical without being self-absorbed, it is an education on how to appreciate art with intuition, your senses, and your consciousness. Loved it.

Andrea 2026-02-03 Unearthed

I Disliked This Book: Overly Emotional and Occasionally Irrational

Unearthed

I expected to like this book, but I did not. I found the author's extreme self-consciousness and anxiety disturbing and felt that she should avoid social media altogether since it seems to translate these into irrational aggression. Although parts of the book, particularly Mauritius's history, were certainly interesting, and I feel she has a few strong points, she pushes them too hard, too often, and sometimes, from an uninformed perspective. I feel sorry for her personal trauma. I worry about her anxiety and self-image issues, and though I sympathize with her views in places, I find her far too absolutist and not always rational, given the context: gardening.

Andrea 2026-01-31 Charlotte

I Hated it at First; Loved it at Last

Charlotte

Written as a sequel to "Pride and Prejudice," this story begins unpromisingly. In fact, I thought it was too depressing to continue. When I picked it up again, I found that it progresses well. There is a strong emphasis on the tenuous lives women led in the past. Money, potential inheritance, marriage (though it might rob them of every asset they had), and the birth of sons were requirements for a secure future. Additionally, the need for societal approval and the fear of contravening the strict morality women were expected to observe are highlighted. Despite these serious themes, I found Charlotte's story amusing and heartwarming, highlighting the value of close friendships between women and the acceptance of what is good, even if it is unexciting. At the same time, the story offers a glimpse of the independence available to only a few women in that era. Despite a painful start and the thread of grief that runs through it, this is a positive story worth reading. It encompasses the roots of early feminism and leads to what we can all only hope for: a contented conclusion.

1 ... 3 4 5 ... 13