Danielle > Recent Status Updates

I just finished the first chapter and I’m in love. 😍

Just when I thought it was merely bad, it got worse. The painful has just become excruciating. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m going to push through for book club, but this book is awful. More to come in what will probably be a scathing review.

I’ve only read the foreword and introduction, but I’m already in love. 😍 I’m really excited to see where this goes!

Strong, thought-provoking opening with "Tower of Babylon," and I am enjoying the 180 degree shift and adventure of "Understand."

Ok so far, but for me the romantic tone of the relationship between the snow demon Morozko and main character Vasya has an ick factor. If my math was right at the end of the last book, Vasya is still only 14. Her brother believes she should be “a matron, with a babe in her arms” and sees her as a woman. It’s just not flying with me.

Finally got to a turning point where he gets around to discussing the persecuted church. I feel like the first 130 pages should have been condensed to make the focus more on the stories of the persecuted church and less on the author. Still some red flags, however, and we’ll see where this goes.

I’m struggling to get through this one. I came expecting stories of the persecuted church. Instead I am finding a 30 year old story of relief work in Somalia with hasty, random mentions of God. Not sure how much longer I can take this.

And—ugly cried again in the final chapter. This has been hard, but a wonderful encouragement.

I was ugly crying by the end of chapter one. Whoo boy.

The painful use of similes continues. At this point I'm skimming through the story. Yes, I should probably give up, but I'm still interested in how Edwards works with the character with Down Syndrome. Also realized that Sena Jeter Naslund, author of one of the worst books I've ever read, liked this one. That should have been a red flag.

Ugh. So. Many. Similes. The most recent offender: “Paul’s arm was small and the cast grew steadily, white as a bleached shell, as bright and seductive as a sheet of paper.” What?! At this point I’m only holding on to see what happens to the child with Down Syndrome because I want to see how it’s handled.

Ugh. The story has taken a hard turn into the philosophical (i.e. trying too hard) and the main character is a writer. That's generally a red flag.

The word “prescient” came to mind after finishing yet another story that could be reflective of reality in 20-30 years.

Finally getting around to reading this one!

I rolled my eyes somewhere in the first couple of chapters but it may be looking up.

I'm giving it another try. We'll see how it goes, and this time I'll give the whole series a try.

Finished ch. 21.

Here we go! Hopefully my brain won't melt.

This author's style is driving me crazy. I feel pretty lost half the time, and with a topic like the court of Henry VIII, you need someone who's straightforward in their writing to keep up with everyone. I don't have the luxury of time that I used to, so if I'm not into it by page 100, I'm done.

I'm about two-thirds done and my feelings so far? Meh. I don't see what all the fuss is about.