March 2023 📚 Wrap up
I know that this is way too late (again), but I thought that I should post it for the sake of consistency. Unfortunately, March wasn't a good month in terms of quantity, but at least I'm happy with the quality of the books! Are you interested in seeing what books I read in March? Well, either way here they are.
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (1854)
Set in the mid-nineteenth century and written from the author's first-hand experience, North and South follows the story of the heroine's movement from the tranquil but moribund ways of southern England to the vital but turbulent north. Elizabeth Gaskell's skilful narrative uses an unusual love story to show how personal and public lives were woven together in a newly industrial society.
This is a tale of hard-won triumphs - of rational thought over prejudice and of humane care over blind deference to the market. Readers in the twenty-first century will find themselves absorbed as this Victorian novel traces the origins of problems and possibilities which are still challenging a hundred and fifty years later: the complex relationships, public and private, between men and women of different classes.
My thoughts:
✅ Interesting discussions about work and class.
✅ Environment plays a crucial role in the story.
✅ A wide range of characters with unique and distinct personalities.
❌ I wanted more scenes featuring Margaret and Mr. Thornton.
My rating: 4 / 5 💛
The Absolution by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (2016)
Detective Huldar joins the investigation, bringing child psychologist Freyja on board to help question the murdered teenager's friends. Soon, they uncover that Stella was far from the angel people claim, but who could have hated her enough to kill her?
Then, another teenager goes missing, more clips are sent to social media, and the body with a "3" is found. Freyja and Huldar can agree on two things at least: the truth is far from simple. The killer is not done yet. And is there an undiscovered body carrying the number "1" out there?
The Absolution is the third installment in Yrsa Sigurdardottir's series about the psychologist Freyja and the police officer Huldar.
My thoughts:
✅ A fun thriller with an intriguing story that felt modern and creepily realistic (at least, for the most part).
✅ Creepy ending
❌ Although an effort for progressive social commentary was put in many parts, there were some thoughts that not only were problematic but also did not match the characters' nature. The thing that stood out to me was the fact that an experienced child psychologist thinks to herself that a teenage girl is boring and frivolous just because she likes typically girly stuff.
❌ Despite major plot twists, the readers get a whole chapter from the perspective of a person who is involved in the murders. This makes readers lose the sense of surprise for a good chunk of the book. Additionally, although we get a whole chapter from the specific character, his fate is hurriedly given in a sentence at the end of the book.
My rating: 3 / 5 💛
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