Maike > Recent Status Updates

It's still so early in this collection of Elric books but it's been such a delight even through just these bits how thoroughly classic, old school fantasy this story is.

Even though I found the emphasis on strong women rather on the nose, the ending did touch and surprise me to an extent. I am glad to have read the book.

Daaaamn. When they were about to leave the house I almost bought it. Thought that maybe there'd be a twist reveal after a time jump, after Margaret would have been in treatment, court case through and all. But whew, what a way to storm into the final chapter(s?). Daaaamn!

So hard to tell what might be true anymore. Someone is about to go down into the basement and there is no knowing if the evil spirit is gonna get them or whether they will find Hal's dead body... let alone that there still are the bones of Elias' mom in the house somewhere. Rather glued to the book.

55% and I would not be entirely surprised if Margaret or the neighbour Edie were actually dead already. Or the daughter not real. No big clues for any of that, but so far some things were only hinted at in subtle ways anyways.

It definitely makes you question how reliable a narrator Margaret is and whether everything she sees is real, or at least whether those visions actually are/could be as clear for anybody else as they are for her.

Katherine still annoys the hell out of me, but it's been a nice twist of sorts to find out more about Margaret, the protagonist. How violent Hal actually used to be. How much M had bent down to keep what felt like control. And I love how with each research outing now she receives these subtle hints on the Vale situation that is having a hold on her home. Something very cinematic about it.

Spoiler (Not that I think anybody will ever look at this, but still): I am so annoyed by the hot headed daughter. I hate how she just carelessly creates literal chaos; it actually hurts to read how she tears up her father's office, justified anger or not.

Beautiful text so far.

The beginning chapter is already completely different from what I had expected, so I'm excited.

I found the premise of this one awfully interesting, so I'm very curious how everything will take off after the first chapter of introductions of the girls who will be sent off from Paris.

Ah well. Nothing outstanding, but also an easy read and obviously engaging enough to have me finish it (and fairly quickly). A few early twists I had not seen coming, most later ones I did. Overall it's somewhere in the middle for me.

It feels so bizarre to read concern for the serial killer. While at the same time the book does not quite accomplish the shocks it would like to deliver.

The repeating passages about fighting her folks on being pushed into marriage are just getting tiresome. Same for the flashbacks to what cruel things Sean did in his childhood.

Now this has been very unexpected. Had not read any reviews or whatsoever and assumed that this would mainly be about family matters and identity questions. Seems that I was wrong. (Having fun, though.)

Had read this one already many years ago, now I'm gonna re-read it alongside my boyfriend :)

What a read. Looking forward to reading more from this writer.

Don't know why I have not finished this book yet - had it for ages and it's a nice read. I guess sometimes nonfiction just feels too close to home, or maybe it's about wishing more people in the world (of the wealthy) would care about the insights books like this share.

I remember having seen the German version of this book years and years ago in a book store, possibly just when it was published. I didn't buy it then but somehow the title and first page of the book never left me, so I'm happy I at least get to read the English version now.

Interesting times to be reading this when people have started to compare the current state of the USA to the final days of the Roman Empire.

More mild spoiler/speculation.

Also that car she had been given for the stay. Sure it's being tracked.

Mild spoilers ahead.

Or rather, some halfway speculations.

But I just wanna say that I am pretty sure N is a driving force in the whole thing. Too big a name, too good a person (seemingly) to just get involved in this randomly. So I'm calling it, N did it.