This is one of my favorite books ever. The writing was so incredible. One thing I really appreciate about your book reviews is how objective you strive to be even when you're giving your opinions.
Should we have to read all the chapters or skip some because some chapters (0,2,4,6...) Cuts from the main stream and Takes us to very different scenarios plz reply
I for one, really enjoyed the ending. I think I would have felt like my emotions had been taken advantage of by the author if they ended it early. As for the diamond, I like your perspective of it being magical realism. However I also think it’s important to recognize that there are real life problems other than the war still occurring even during the war. For them, being museum workers, the diamond is a real thing for them. Bad things may have happened to them anyway, but I feel like the diamond gave them both hope and fear during their lives.
I definitely think it played a role in their lives. I guess I was more surprised at how often the book had the characters (and potentially the reader) wondering if the “curse” was playing a role. Which-like I said-I think there’s tons of symbolism behind all of that, I just found myself completely caught off guard 😅
Should we have to read all the chapters or skip some because some chapters (0,2,4,6...) Cuts from the main stream and Takes us to very different scenarios plz reply
I liked the book, Different from all the crime, horror and graphic novels i read, And it was actually a quick read, 4 hour train journeys help with that
Loved it! A book that occupies your thoughts long after you’re done with it. The “slow” parts didn’t bug me because I was so immersed with the characters and their world. The book could’ve been 500 pages longer and I would’ve happily sat through it. Reading it was a complete experience. It did help that the chapters were short. Had they been longer, maybe it would’ve been harder to digest. The Sea of Flames added to the story for me. The author establishes it at the very beginning, so I was expecting it to play a big part in the story. The jumping forward so many years shortly after Werner’s death kind of took me out of it for a bit, but as I kept reading, I accepted it and got used to it; plus I really loved the very last scene. Overall an incredibly complex, emotional, profound, and thought-provoking novel with a lot to say. 10 out of 10 for me.
I love the writing but I was kind of disappointed towards the end I really wish there was more interaction between Marie Laure and Werner. Nothing over the top like a Hollywood movie scene, but just a little more considering we were literally building up these two characters throughout the whole book up until when they meet.
Just started reading books. And this book is absolutely beautiful and fantastic. Easy to read for a beginner who has just gotten into books. It really is a masterpiece. Bought 2 copies to support the author.
I personally thought this book was AMAZING, but I also agree with you a little about the ending. The first time jump caught me off guard, and left me slightly unsatisfied - I know the interaction between Marie-Laure and Jutta was meant to be one of those instances where the lack of words speaks volumes, but I didn’t really ‘feel’ that, if that makes sense. I just felt like more could’ve been done; the scene with Frederick, though, absolutely wrenched my heart. But anyway, the first time jump caught me off guard, so it’s safe to say the second one definitely did too. It was nice to see that Marie-Laure ended up living a long life, and I thought the last scene got across a beautiful message about human connections and how people live on within us, even if we only knew them briefly - but I also felt like it was unnecessary. I think if there were going to be any time jumps at all, the first one should’ve been expanded upon. Overall, while I didn’t love the time jumps, the writing in them was phenomenal, and a passage that stuck out to me was the one in the final scene where it describes Madame Manec, Etienne, Werner, and her father all in the sky, or something along the lines of that (funny I say it stuck out to me but I forgot what exactly it was haha. Either way I was moved by it’s beauty). As for the magical realism/diamond discussion, I find what you say very interesting. I totally understand it and am actually pretty surprised I never felt that way while reading it, I guess I was just lost within all the words maybe. Definitely something I want to reflect on. And fun fact, this is the only book that has ever made me cry.
This was one of my favourite books I read in the year it came out. I totally agree that the the Writing was stunning and incredibly impactful. I did find the pacing slow as well, but forgave it because of the beautiful writing. Thanks for the review😚
Should we have to read all the chapters or skip some because some chapters (0,2,4,6...) Cuts from the main stream and Takes us to very different scenarios plz reply
Curious, for me the ending was what made me love the book the way i do, something about the memoirs of the caracthers living their lifes after all that, gives realism to everything, as if war was just a chapter of their lifes instead of the whole reason to live.
I remember absolutely loving the writing but trudging through the first half of the book due to the slow pace. I will probably re-read it soon since I was so hooked the last part of it, I would want to go back and appreciate the story again right from the beginning (I was a newbie reader when I first read this).
I liked the writing, but the story was kind of boring there in the middle. Like you said, it gets to that point where you wanna just get to the present day already! Part 8 hooked me back in, but part 11 should have been the end of the story. Also, maybe due to the writing style or the story jumping all over the place, i didn't feel connected to the characters. When deaths happened, i didn't feel it as much as in other books I've read recently (ie mistborn).
I liked the female protag the chapter she was introduced, but afterwards it was so broken up i lost interest. Then, i googled the plot and found out about the diamond and i went: what? Not my cup of tea definitely. I felt the story could have been character driven on the two protag instead of fantasy element.
That’s how I felt too I really wanted to enjoy it but then I gave it a second shot and powered through the beginning and then I was really hooked but it could be not for everybody! :)
Should we have to read all the chapters or skip some because some chapters (0,2,4,6...) Cuts from the main stream and Takes us to very different scenarios plz reply
I've started telling people to not expect much from the gem. Like it's a little part of the story, but don't expect it to do THAT much 😂. Like I know it's definitely got its role, but it's more of a plot device and a "is it doing this? Is it not?" Sort of a thing? But I was so drawn to Werner and Marie Laure and I loved their characters so much! And also it definitely should've ended somewhere around 20 pages before it ended. Like right after a certain gut punch. It ahoidlve ended. It ending drew out so long I didn't get to sit in the sadness of the one part long enough.
I wanted to read this with you guys over on Byzans. And I got about 100 pages in and had to put it down. For me, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. I didn’t feel anything for them and I felt like I had to care about them because of the kind of book it was, if that makes sense. The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah is a good WW2 book that really touched me. I’m sure you’ve already heard about it though. 😊
We’re buddy reading the Nightengale later this year! I can’t wait. Also, are we the same person? I feel like we always end up feeling similarly about books 😆
I read this book over the summer and listened to a majority of it on audiobook - it was really beautiful but I agree with loosing interest in it halfway through
Elliot Brooks I generally like endings like that when you’re shown the one point in time when the character’s paths cross so i liked it but I feel like I’ve seen it been done slightly better in the past. Overall though it was cute and I liked the two perspectives
I hope you like it! I haven’t read as much historical fiction as I’d like, but I’m hoping to read more this year. Then maybe I could actually give recommendations 😊
I have just started this book today (something like 100 pages in) and it is amazing so far!!! It reminds me so much of The Book Thief that I read during high school - and I love that book - so it's a win-win for me
I am not sorry that I read the Wikipedia after reading half of the sample chapters, and when I saw the diamond as the main conflict, I was very disappointed. Elliot said it better in the vid, I think the inclusion of a diamond is bizarre, the author could have written a good story without the diamond. I think the story is good enough with the two protag, also the villain sounded uninteresting to me. The diamond also reminds me of Titanic, Jack and Rose and I don't like it. :/ I like Titanic during its time I think it was fine.
This book has been on my radar for a while, I really want to read this.. I heard a lot of good reviews about this book.. Some people even cry And the cover is so beautiful 😍
Are you planning to read any of backman's books... I never thought about the book's writing style and all, I thought any writing style appeals to me or that I don't care much about them. But then I read beartown and us against you (sequel to beartown) and I was blown away with the writing style I think it can be described as a balance of flowery and bluntly spoken things too... I prefer saying that it spoke to my soul bt you wouldn't know what appeals my soul.... 😂
I thought I would like the book, it was well written, but ultimately I just didn’t feel anything towards the characters. And the whole diamond thing just ruined it for me.
Didn't care for this book much. The writing was nice, but I didn't like it in a long-form writing piece, like a novel. I ended up losing interest in it. Not saying it's an inherently bad book, but not my taste.
His death caught me so off guard. I was like, “Nah, there is no way he actually died.” And then it jumps forward decades, and I was like, “Shit, he actually killed him?! What the fuck?” But I LOVED the book. One of my favorite.
Raul Ruiz de Velasco his death was a waste of my time. I really wanted his life to go on. And protecting that jewel for what? To throw it in the ocean!?
Django It was bound to end up in the ocean. I do agree that Werner’s death happened too fast. I would’ve liked more closure there, as well as a more “satisfying” send off to the Sea of Flames. I would’ve also liked more interaction between Werner and Marie-Laure. The short time they spend together was really engaging and beautiful. Wouldn’t have minded a lot more of that. But those are minor details for me. I LOVED the book overall.
I hAvE tHaT bOkK iN HaRdCoVeR bUt HaVeNt ReAd It YeT. mAy I ReCoMmEnD MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE fOr EvErYoNe WhEn ThEy ArEnT rEaDiNg. ItIs On AmAzOn PrImE iN oZ. i HoPe I aM nOt CoMmEnTiNg ToO mUcH. yOuR vIDeOs ArE gReAt.
Dear Raahil, In the future, please type a spoiler like this, to make sure the spoiler text is below the line were regular text is shown. Thx and have a nice day 😊 SPOILER . . . . . Spoiler text ,Thank you 😊
![เปิดบ้าน โคตรสวย ป๋องกพล รู้จักตั้งนาน เพิ่งรู้ว่ารวย!!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tmgCF_2HfYI/mqdefault.jpg)
This is one of my favorite books ever. The writing was so incredible. One thing I really appreciate about your book reviews is how objective you strive to be even when you're giving your opinions.
Well thank you, that means a lot! I do think this was a good book, but... the diamond 😆 I just didn’t expect it!
Should we have to read all the chapters or skip some because some chapters (0,2,4,6...) Cuts from the main stream and Takes us to very different scenarios plz reply
MADAME MANEC. IT’S BEEN 4 DAYS AND I’M STILL SOBBING.
I for one, really enjoyed the ending. I think I would have felt like my emotions had been taken advantage of by the author if they ended it early.
As for the diamond, I like your perspective of it being magical realism. However I also think it’s important to recognize that there are real life problems other than the war still occurring even during the war. For them, being museum workers, the diamond is a real thing for them. Bad things may have happened to them anyway, but I feel like the diamond gave them both hope and fear during their lives.
I definitely think it played a role in their lives. I guess I was more surprised at how often the book had the characters (and potentially the reader) wondering if the “curse” was playing a role. Which-like I said-I think there’s tons of symbolism behind all of that, I just found myself completely caught off guard 😅
Should we have to read all the chapters or skip some because some chapters (0,2,4,6...) Cuts from the main stream and Takes us to very different scenarios plz reply
I liked the book, Different from all the crime, horror and graphic novels i read, And it was actually a quick read, 4 hour train journeys help with that
Four hours one way? 😮
Indeed, I should learn to drive or something lol
Oh my gosh! That’s insane!!!
2 pages per minute doesn’t sound like an enjoyable reading experience at all
Loved it! A book that occupies your thoughts long after you’re done with it.
The “slow” parts didn’t bug me because I was so immersed with the characters and their world. The book could’ve been 500 pages longer and I would’ve happily sat through it. Reading it was a complete experience. It did help that the chapters were short. Had they been longer, maybe it would’ve been harder to digest.
The Sea of Flames added to the story for me. The author establishes it at the very beginning, so I was expecting it to play a big part in the story.
The jumping forward so many years shortly after Werner’s death kind of took me out of it for a bit, but as I kept reading, I accepted it and got used to it; plus I really loved the very last scene.
Overall an incredibly complex, emotional, profound, and thought-provoking novel with a lot to say. 10 out of 10 for me.
I agree about the diamond part! It definitely caught me off guard because I didn’t realize it would be such a big part of the story.
literally have this book beside me about to start reading it! cannot wait
jesus christ, this book. beautiful. it sits heavy on my mind. the writing is so damn lovely.
I love the writing but I was kind of disappointed towards the end I really wish there was more interaction between Marie Laure and Werner. Nothing over the top like a Hollywood movie scene, but just a little more considering we were literally building up these two characters throughout the whole book up until when they meet.
Just started reading books. And this book is absolutely beautiful and fantastic. Easy to read for a beginner who has just gotten into books. It really is a masterpiece. Bought 2 copies to support the author.
Great book. I met the author at a signing the week this book came out. I even went to Saint Malo France last year cuz of this book
ohh I like ur perspective abt the role of the diamond being over than the damage of the war!
Luna liked this book, too. It was tasty :)
She did 😆
I got my book today and can someone please tell me if few lines are supposed to be covered in black or is my book just defected?
I personally thought this book was AMAZING, but I also agree with you a little about the ending. The first time jump caught me off guard, and left me slightly unsatisfied - I know the interaction between Marie-Laure and Jutta was meant to be one of those instances where the lack of words speaks volumes, but I didn’t really ‘feel’ that, if that makes sense. I just felt like more could’ve been done; the scene with Frederick, though, absolutely wrenched my heart. But anyway, the first time jump caught me off guard, so it’s safe to say the second one definitely did too. It was nice to see that Marie-Laure ended up living a long life, and I thought the last scene got across a beautiful message about human connections and how people live on within us, even if we only knew them briefly - but I also felt like it was unnecessary. I think if there were going to be any time jumps at all, the first one should’ve been expanded upon. Overall, while I didn’t love the time jumps, the writing in them was phenomenal, and a passage that stuck out to me was the one in the final scene where it describes Madame Manec, Etienne, Werner, and her father all in the sky, or something along the lines of that (funny I say it stuck out to me but I forgot what exactly it was haha. Either way I was moved by it’s beauty).
As for the magical realism/diamond discussion, I find what you say very interesting. I totally understand it and am actually pretty surprised I never felt that way while reading it, I guess I was just lost within all the words maybe. Definitely something I want to reflect on.
And fun fact, this is the only book that has ever made me cry.
This was one of my favourite books I read in the year it came out. I totally agree that the the
Writing was stunning and incredibly impactful. I did find the pacing slow as well, but forgave it because of the beautiful writing. Thanks for the review😚
Should we have to read all the chapters or skip some because some chapters (0,2,4,6...) Cuts from the main stream and Takes us to very different scenarios plz reply
Curious, for me the ending was what made me love the book the way i do, something about the memoirs of the caracthers living their lifes after all that, gives realism to everything, as if war was just a chapter of their lifes instead of the whole reason to live.
I remember absolutely loving the writing but trudging through the first half of the book due to the slow pace. I will probably re-read it soon since I was so hooked the last part of it, I would want to go back and appreciate the story again right from the beginning (I was a newbie reader when I first read this).
I liked the writing, but the story was kind of boring there in the middle. Like you said, it gets to that point where you wanna just get to the present day already! Part 8 hooked me back in, but part 11 should have been the end of the story.
Also, maybe due to the writing style or the story jumping all over the place, i didn't feel connected to the characters. When deaths happened, i didn't feel it as much as in other books I've read recently (ie mistborn).
I liked the female protag the chapter she was introduced, but afterwards it was so broken up i lost interest. Then, i googled the plot and found out about the diamond and i went: what? Not my cup of tea definitely. I felt the story could have been character driven on the two protag instead of fantasy element.
Yay I was looking in to reading this book perfect timing.
Hope you enjoy it!
I just started this book yesterday and I don't know man. Starting to seem like it might not be my thing. Idk.
That’s how I felt too I really wanted to enjoy it but then I gave it a second shot and powered through the beginning and then I was really hooked but it could be not for everybody! :)
Yeah the first time I tried reading it, I didn’t get too far in, and then I gave it another shot and i really enjoyed it.
I really enjoy watching your book reviews.Sometimes we may have different taste, but still I quite enjoy these kind of videos.
Should we have to read all the chapters or skip some because some chapters (0,2,4,6...) Cuts from the main stream and Takes us to very different scenarios plz reply
R u going to tower of swallows and lady of lake review ?
Yes, eventually! Sorry I haven’t gotten to it sooner.
When did you think the book should've ended at? Just curious.
I've started telling people to not expect much from the gem. Like it's a little part of the story, but don't expect it to do THAT much 😂. Like I know it's definitely got its role, but it's more of a plot device and a "is it doing this? Is it not?" Sort of a thing? But I was so drawn to Werner and Marie Laure and I loved their characters so much!
And also it definitely should've ended somewhere around 20 pages before it ended. Like right after a certain gut punch. It ahoidlve ended. It ending drew out so long I didn't get to sit in the sadness of the one part long enough.
I am working on a list that features books about WW2. I wasn't sure about adding this cause I haven't read it yet, but your review helped a lot! Thx 😊
You’re welcome! Feel free to post your list here, if you have the time 💗
I wanted to read this with you guys over on Byzans. And I got about 100 pages in and had to put it down. For me, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. I didn’t feel anything for them and I felt like I had to care about them because of the kind of book it was, if that makes sense.
The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah is a good WW2 book that really touched me. I’m sure you’ve already heard about it though. 😊
We’re buddy reading the Nightengale later this year! I can’t wait. Also, are we the same person? I feel like we always end up feeling similarly about books 😆
I read this book over the summer and listened to a majority of it on audiobook - it was really beautiful but I agree with loosing interest in it halfway through
What’d you end up thinking of the end?
Elliot Brooks I generally like endings like that when you’re shown the one point in time when the character’s paths cross so i liked it but I feel like I’ve seen it been done slightly better in the past. Overall though it was cute and I liked the two perspectives
wow, great explanation - thank you!
Wait so....no video with you and Sean talking about the book together? :(
@Seanreadscomics oh since ive found you,is there any chance you two do together "favourite anime " video ?:D
The hubby answered, but we will have our chat go up 😊
Maybe eventually! We have a lot of shows we still need to watch 😅
@@ebnovelsVery nice, looking forward to it ! :)
Seanreadscomics Yaayy! Great! :D. Thanks for the reply Sean!
I am not really a big Historical Fiction reader, but this book just really intrigues me and makes me want to pick it up.
I hope you like it! I haven’t read as much historical fiction as I’d like, but I’m hoping to read more this year. Then maybe I could actually give recommendations 😊
@@ebnovels maybe I'll read more this year as well. May be a nice change from my norm
What Marie throws in the sea in the last with when she was with Werner
I have just started this book today (something like 100 pages in) and it is amazing so far!!! It reminds me so much of The Book Thief that I read during high school - and I love that book - so it's a win-win for me
I am not sorry that I read the Wikipedia after reading half of the sample chapters, and when I saw the diamond as the main conflict, I was very disappointed. Elliot said it better in the vid, I think the inclusion of a diamond is bizarre, the author could have written a good story without the diamond. I think the story is good enough with the two protag, also the villain sounded uninteresting to me. The diamond also reminds me of Titanic, Jack and Rose and I don't like it. :/
I like Titanic during its time I think it was fine.
It felt bizarre to me for sure 😅 I agree that the story with these two characters could definitely have stood on its own :)
This book has been on my radar for a while, I really want to read this.. I heard a lot of good reviews about this book.. Some people even cry
And the cover is so beautiful 😍
I COMPLETELY AGREE ABOUT THE DIAMOND STORY LINE!!! Good grief I did not need that POV or plot AT. ALL. Sigh...
📝
Are you planning to read any of backman's books... I never thought about the book's writing style and all, I thought any writing style appeals to me or that I don't care much about them. But then I read beartown and us against you (sequel to beartown) and I was blown away with the writing style I think it can be described as a balance of flowery and bluntly spoken things too... I prefer saying that it spoke to my soul bt you wouldn't know what appeals my soul.... 😂
Haha, I get what you mean. I’d like to eventually read some of his works 😊 And they ALWAYS have them at my used bookstores.
Fantastic
Elliot Brooks
I thought I would like the book, it was well written, but ultimately I just didn’t feel anything towards the characters. And the whole diamond thing just ruined it for me.
Idk why I couldn’t get through the first few chapters. I was so bored and didn’t like it I didn’t even finish the book…..
I think your husband would like The Dragon and the Unicorn by A. A. Attanasio.
Happy reading weekend to u!! 💜📖
Thanks Safina, same to you 😄
Didn't care for this book much. The writing was nice, but I didn't like it in a long-form writing piece, like a novel. I ended up losing interest in it. Not saying it's an inherently bad book, but not my taste.
I personally think it could’ve been shortened quite a bit 🤷🏻♀️
@@ebnovels for sure!
I quit reading the book after Werner dies. That made me mad.
His death caught me so off guard. I was like, “Nah, there is no way he actually died.” And then it jumps forward decades, and I was like, “Shit, he actually killed him?! What the fuck?” But I LOVED the book. One of my favorite.
Raul Ruiz de Velasco his death was a waste of my time. I really wanted his life to go on. And protecting that jewel for what? To throw it in the ocean!?
Django It was bound to end up in the ocean. I do agree that Werner’s death happened too fast. I would’ve liked more closure there, as well as a more “satisfying” send off to the Sea of Flames. I would’ve also liked more interaction between Werner and Marie-Laure. The short time they spend together was really engaging and beautiful. Wouldn’t have minded a lot more of that.
But those are minor details for me. I LOVED the book overall.
I liked the book
Oh, yay, ANOTHER book to add to my TBR pile! Not even being sarcastic, there are just far too many awesome books in the world, haha!
my dad is obsessed with anything world war related so he would like this book XD
Yeah, he’s probably like this then 😊
Why are you sounding and lookin like Adelaide kane?
I hAvE tHaT bOkK iN HaRdCoVeR bUt HaVeNt ReAd It YeT. mAy I ReCoMmEnD MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE fOr EvErYoNe WhEn ThEy ArEnT rEaDiNg. ItIs On AmAzOn PrImE iN oZ. i HoPe I aM nOt CoMmEnTiNg ToO mUcH. yOuR vIDeOs ArE gReAt.
You aren’t commenting too much :)
Woooohooooo! I like cats. And dogs, but cats more.
Didn't like it, too shallow for me
Sorry that was the case for you!
Shallow? How on earth is it shallow?
This book is a masterpiece.
Spoiler alert!
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Spoiler
Werner dies.
Please mark that this is a spoiler!
Dear Raahil,
In the future, please type a spoiler like this, to make sure the spoiler text is below the line were regular text is shown. Thx and have a nice day 😊
SPOILER
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Spoiler text
,Thank you 😊
@@kiraironskin here
weird... just saw today I was unsubscribed from your channel... I did not do that... hope it's not happening a lot to others of your subs...
We have aspirations but what we are should be enough. And lifes too short to read this book