I decided that I’ll just show you some of my favourite book pictures that I took for the blog. Looking at pictures is always easier than reading a text, especially on days when you just want to relax.

Here are the photos. If you click the titles you’ll get to my reviews of the books.

1. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

(There are more photos of Usyaka and the book.)

2. The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

3. Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller

4. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

There’s no review because I haven’t read the book yet. (And taking into account my unfortunate experiment with reading fantasy, I’m not sure how soon I will read this one). There’s still this nice wintery photo

5. The Birds and other stories by Daphne du Maurier

Here’s the review of The Birds.

And here are the reviews of the other stories.

6. Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

7. Melmoth by Sarah Perry

8. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

9. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

10. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

This book will be one of my first reads in 2019, so come back soon to read the review!

Many people adore Bitter Orange. I won’t say that the adoration is undeserved. I just won’t be one of those people. I did like this book but there were some moments that I liked less. Here’s more about the story.

Spoiler-free synopsis

An American purchases an old English mansion called Lyntons. He’s in the States so he hires two people via mail to assess the estate. One of these people is the protagonist called Frances, an expert on old bridges. Another one is a handsome man called Peter. Frances, Peter and Peter’s wife called Cara move to the mansion to explore the territory. We start discovering their histories, while their relationships develop.

Why Bitter Orange is a very good book

The writing

Sometimes you know the writing is going to be good from the first lines already. That’s how it is with Bitter Orange. It feels like listening to someone who is only slightly aware that you are there and who doesn’t care that you are. The voice is natural but enchanting, and it pulls you into the atmosphere straight away.

Lyntons. Just thinking the word raises the hairs on my arms like a cat that had seen a ghost.

Who wouldn’t want to rewrite their past, if it means it will change their future?

Psychology

The main gem of this book to me is how well it shows the psychological portraits of the characters. They are so multilayered and deep, their behaviour can be analysed and explained as if they were real people. Frances’s inner world is conveyed so well, it’s possible to understand (almost) all her actions, and it’s possible to predict some of the things she would reveal about herself only later in the book.

Four shop people spoke to me with a good morning or a thank you as they handed over my items or change. I like to count these things. More than seven was a good day.

My problem with Bitter Orange

The personalities themselves

I found Frances too spineless. I know this is a story and she just played her role for the book, but I would have loved her to fight harder. As for Peter, I quite despised him for some actions and decisions he made. I find him immoral. I can sympathise with Cara’s state but it’s the same sympathy I would have for a rabid animal. I understand these people. I understand what made them the way they are, but this does not make me like them.

In fact, in order to distract myself from them, I thought more about the barely ever mentioned American who purchased the estate. He just hired a couple of professionals to have a look at his property and what did he get as a result?

The storyline

In the beginning of the book, the story is delivered via inconsequent waves of memories. The effect is perfectly created, but it’s hard to follow what’s going on. Also, the plot doesn’t really progress anywhere for the most part of the book.

The aftertaste

I like some light at the end of bookish tunnels, or ideas so deep they would justify the lack of light. I found neither in this book.

Final thoughts

This is a very good book if you are looking for something dark and atmospheric that explores human mind and relationships.

I’ll soon show you an absolutely stunning book I got. So come back soon, subscribe or just remember where to find me.

1. Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller

Bitter Orange is supposed to be really good. I heard only praise for it. Strangely enough, every time I try to read it I can’t follow the narration. I probably overdosed on sophisticated stories, and now I need to read something light first. In order not to spoil this book for myself I haven’t read any descriptions. I can only share its photos with you.

(An update: you can now read my review of Bitter Orange.)

2. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Spinning Silver is a big step for me. It’s meant to be my return to reading fantasy! The writing is so nice and intriguing, I’m finding it hard to stick to my original plan, which is to read this book somewhere where there’s snow and a fireplace.

The story is about a young woman who helps her family out of debt. That attracts the attention of various people and causes her some problems. I refrained from reading more of the blurb in order to escape spoilers. If you want to learn more, you’ll have to either google or wait till I read it.

3. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Bone Gap wasn’t in my original order of the books with beautiful covers. I was attracted to the cover first, obviously. When I saw “magical realism” in the description, I knew I had to get this book.

Here’s a summary of the description:

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. Finn knows Roza was kidnapped, ripped from the cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember.

Intrigued yet? I am!

(An update: I read the book. Here’s my review of Bone Gap.)

I’ll be telling you more about all these books soon. I first need to finish the awesome short stories by Daphne du Maurier.

Here’s a spoiler about my review – I will be raving about the book!

(An update: here are my reviews of The Birds, and the short stories.)

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