Maria > Recent Status Updates

The most horrifyingly hilarious choose-your-own-adventure imaginable. Devastatingly clever, insightful, and uncomfortably close to home.

What a perfectly hilarious holiday read. Shame to be rushing it so am probably not going to achieve my book-in-a-day lockdown challenge. Barely half way but loving these characters. Laughing out loud.

Greater Brisbane Surprise Lockdown Challenge: Read a book in a day. Think this one’s a good choice. Not too challenging and I’ve already chuckled three times (by page 9). Weather overcast so let’s settle in!

Now I rarely post an update. Especially with a book as compelling as this. Just want to get back to it. But...
Aaarrrggghhh! The toenail!?? Had to look away.

OMG this is seriously good reading. So loving this book I'm compelled to take the rare step of logging a shout out before finishing. Grab a copy if you can, people. It's good. So. Damn. Good!

OMG this is seriously good reading. So loving this book I'm compelled to take the rate step of logging a shout out before finishing. Grab a copy if you can, people. It's good. So. Damn. Good!

OMG this is seriously good reading. So loving this book I'm compelled to log a shout out before finishing. Grab a copy if you can, people. It's good. So. Damn. Good!

O.
My.
God.

This book is responsible for me running late to work this morning! Simply CANNOT put it down. The real world takes a back seat when I'm lost in these pages. I guess this is what substance addiction is like.

This book lost nothing on a second read. In fact it will only ever gain more esteem from me. Such a special reading experience. Brutal, brilliant, and painfully moving. Justine lives in my head, still. I live in hope that Laguna will produce a second volume one day, to bring us up to speed with Justine and Joe Michael, Rita and Naomi. They are all shining lights in a story full of pain and hurt. LOVE this book.

Finding this such a struggle. I gather (from the film trailer) that it's an important story. But the book is so dry and the characters a confusion of names so far, virtually indistinguishable from each other. Will have to shelve it, maybe until I've seen the film... and no longer need to wade through the book!

With some books you know you're holding a gem within the first 10 pages or so. With this one I knew after the very first paragraph. I sit here reading with a huge smile on my face. It's that. Damn. GOOD. Characters that leap off the page and a haunting air of suspense and intrigue. Jessie Burton whoever you are, I loved you for The Miniaturist. I revere you and adore you for The Muse.

However this book ends I want to say right now that I'm dreading the last page. I've loved every paragraph: the historical aspects, the masterful prose, the characters (though they grate and frustrate they are expertly drawn), the learned descriptions of master artworks, and the clever construction of a plot that unfolds across three layers of time. I need to slow down and savour it before it's all over.

What?? 3 books behind schedule in the 2016 Reading Challenge...? Arrghhhh! DAMN you, Pokemon Go!!

Have been loving this book. The characters, the friendships, the career struggles, the lovely, natural writing that invites you to drift effortlessly into the world of this story. But it's just taken a shadowy turn. I am gritting my teeth for the sadnesses that seem inevitable.

I am finally holding another Doerr in my eager hand. And I can't stop smiling as I drink his words.

Oh dear dear Harold, your poor, lovely, desperately flawed but earnest gentleman - I just want to bring you in, soak your feet in condies and buy you a decent pair of boots!

As the dangling threads of this collection of novellas are deliciously and satisfyingly plaited (in reverse order now) I dread the approach of the final page. David Mitchell you are a magician.

What a beautiful and intriguing puzzle is this book! A puzzle that slowly reveals its own answers, like the optical marvels in those old "Magic Eye" books. Suddenly you can't help but see what was previously hidden. And you don't want to look away. I don't want it to end!

David Mitchell is freakishly good. Loathe every minute I have to be away from this book right now. Finished three sections - each so contrasting in style and content it's hard to believe the same world class writer created them all. Totally hooked. Can't wait to see how he ties these golden threads together.

David Mitchell is freakishly good. Loathe every minute I have to be away from this book right now. Finished three sections - each so contrasting in style and content it's hard to believe the same world class writer created them all. Totally hooked. Can't wait to see how he ties these golden threads together.