February 2023 📚 Wrap up

I know that this is late, but better late than never, right? I will not waste any of your time and go straight to the books I read in February. 

1. Wild Bees by Melina Tsampani (2021)

The hate and the vendetta that spark between the humble Stamiri family and the rich Sevasti family will cause havoc on the quiet Diafani village.

My thoughts: 

✅ This book is a prequel to my favourite Greek TV show, so it was super interesting to see the background of characters I'd already known and loved. 

❌No major conflict. 

❌Missed opportunity for expanding and diving into the love story that created the hatred between the two rival families

My rating: 2 / 5 💛

2. Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbo (2015)

Olav lives the lonely life of a fixer. 

When you "fix" people for a living -terminally- it's hard to get close to anyone. 

Now he's finally met the woman of his dreams. But there are two problems: she's his boss's wife, and Olav's just been hired to kill her. 

My thoughts: 

✅ Interesting take on our memories, the way each of us creates a story about the actual events that happened to us. This plays a significant role in the twists of the story.

✅ Olav is a very intriguing gray character. 

✅ The whole story was beautifully crafted without spoonfeeding the readers. This led to a true page-turner. 

❌ I feel that Corina had a very intriguing backstory, reasons that led her to take a very dark turn in her life but we didn't get the chance to actually learn anything about her. 

My rating: 3.5 / 5 💛

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (1999)

Charlie's not the biggest geek in high school, but he's by no means popular. 

Shy, introspective, intelligent, yet socially awkward, Charlie is a wallflower, standing on the threshold of his life whilst watching everyone else live theirs. As Charlie tries to navigate his way through uncharted territory -the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends- he realises that he can't stay on the sidelines forever. There comes a time when you have to see what life looks like from the dance floor. 

My thoughts: 

✅ Interesting format; letters to an unknown friend who never answers. 

✅ Hopeful and meaningful ending

❌ It felt underwhelming at points 

❌I needed more elaboration on the mental health treatment that Charlie has been subjected to. 

My rating: 3 / 5 💛

4. Of  Dogs and Walls by Yuko Tsushima (1982)

Two luminous, tender stories from one of Japan's greatest twentieth-century writers, showing how childhood memories, dreams and fleeting encounters shape our lives. 

My thoughts: 

✅ Beautifully and artfully written short stories.

✅ It requires attention from the reader as the author doesn't spoon-feed them.  

✅ Ordinary characters and everyday actions give great insight into human nature and the impact of family dynamics. 

❌ I got a bit confused with the who is who. 

My rating: 4.5 / 5 💛