But, in all fairness, did you see the size of the Kostova book?! It's huge! It should count for two reads due to the sheer size of it.
April's choices were rather odd, but humorously in the same genre: romance! Oh, how I love me a good romance. "Snow Melts in Spring" was actually written by a relative (well... sort of a relative. By marriage. Or something.) and given to me by my great Aunt. The Kostova book was a gift from another book worm friend of mine which she found at the greatest little discount bookshop in the area. Seriously, they let you have a running tab; goodbye grocery money!
Needless to say, it was odd they fell in the same genre and that they came to me almost at the same time; they could not be more different from each other. Let us review.
This book is technically categorized as a Christian romance novel. And let it be said that Christian romance is apparently not my thing. I could not wait to get through this book, because there just wasn't a whole lot of physical business happening. I know, I know; a romance does not have to be all about sex! I absolutely know that; however, there was maybe only a few kisses in the entire book and some hand holding. Not really enough to keep me ripping the pages away.
And, she had this great opportunity at the beginning of the book to really build some suspense that would have lasted the entire novel. And, well, she didn't. She just kind of laid it all on the line point blank; she wasted a pretty awesome build up, in my personal opinion.
This book is set in the Flint Hills of Kansas, somewhere near and dear to my own heart, and I loved the country feel of it. The main characters Mattie Evans, a vet who has fallen on some hard times here and there and Gil McCray who is fresh off his pro football career and thinking of settling down; but not back at home, are a good fit even if they think otherwise. They fight and argue, which is the good standby beginning for any romance, but suddenly they begin talking about having a relationship (the big R) almost from nowhere. This book was a little confusing for me and I constantly asked myself 'where is this coming from?'.
Overall, I liked the characters and the location, I thought she had great ideas that could have been executed better. This book got a ton of great reviews on Goodreads (my own personal favorite way of investigation) so if you are someone who enjoys Christian romance this is probably an OK choice. It just wasn't for me.
This book absolutely was for me! Despite it's mammoth size, it was engaging and kept me up till the wee hours of the morning. It is not just one love story, but several all tied together. Sort of like those movies where each character is randomly tied to one another somehow, but through time. Years of time.
This book follows Dr. Andrew Marlow when he receives a new patient, Robert Oliver. Robert, a renowned painter, refuses to speak after being arrested for trying to assault a painting in the National Gallery of Art (crazy, I know!). And what unfolds is nothing short of magical. There's romance, mystery and art. So much art. Reading this book made me want to immediately pick up my pencils and paints and get to work on something. Anything!
The romance of it is so wonderful tying through the ages and across countries and you feel like you're trying to solve a riddle throughout the book; trying to link all the pieces, follow the breadcrumbs and reach the answer before the book can tell it to you. The sense of excitement is enough to keep you going. I will say, though, that the ending was a little too neat for me. Everything just sort of wrapped up and was 'fine and dandy'. I don't really know what other kind of ending I would have preferred, but it just felt a little choked to me.
Well, that's all I had time to put away in April, but already thinking of what to start reading this month. I'd love to know what you've been reading (or like to read) and also if you read either one of these titles (love love love others' opinions on books).
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Curious: any book suggestions for me? My lists always need updating ;) See you for the next bit!
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