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Marsha 📕

@booksaliciouss

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overly obsessed with reading & crafting book reviews.
also, an aspiring writer.
📖: Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser
📍Toronto 🇨🇦

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💫 Book Review 💫
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson 🇺🇸

Boy meets girl kind of read, but then more drama and underlying twists. A suuuuper fun one - not too cheesy but also the right amount of rom com vibes - (albeit maybe best for a summer or vacation beach) that made me appreciate friendships and real love.

I thought this would be overhyped, but it actually met expectations (or as much as I could expect). Totally fair and an entertaining novel.

I did find the characters (the supporting ones) very sluggish and a little forced (perhaps tried to knock off a bunch of stereotypes) but again, could also see them cast in a tv series drama. A little hard to follow at times (I mean, not really but I should have cared more), with the many side stories and detours along the plot’s way.
The timing worked for me, and the setting was picture perfect (again, for what I expected). Perhaps unbearable at times (sorry not sorry) but those pages flew by and something to be said about that.

I can see the appeal of many enjoying this!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

#theshampooeffect
#jennyjackson
#literaryfiction
#bookreview
#bookstagram taken in Switzerland by @booksaliciouss

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2 days ago

💫 Book Review 💫
Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 🇬🇧

A pure classic, and I enjoyed it… even though I’ll admit the plot was sometimes hard to follow. I found myself taking away more from the ideas and language than from the actual storyline.

I loved the strong feminist perspective and how Woolf explores women, expectations, identity, and the lives we might have lived. I also loved how old and different the writing feels. It pushed me outside my comfort zone as a reader. When was the last time you were simply “whelmed”?

The book made me think a lot about life and death, and how much can exist beneath an ordinary day. Reading on the train for majority of it also helped me pause and put things into perspective.

There is a silence throughout the book… hard to describe but it is a filled silence. And perhaps that’s what Mrs Dalloway is: a book about “nothing,” filled with everything.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#mrsdalloway
#virginiawoolf
#classicliterature
#bookreview
#bookreviewer taken in Switzerland by @booksaliciouss

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10 days ago

💫 Book Review 💫
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson 🇺🇸

What seems like an ordinary story, until you realize it’s also about kids who catch on fire. What? Yes. Literally 10 year old twins who suddenly burst into flames when they are stressed. A very random bit, but it works soooo well in this novel. You’ll just have to try it to believe it.

Although there is so much more to this book than combustion 😆. There is unique love. Deep friendship and political backstories that do feel believable in today’s day and age. The writing was spot on, humour when needed with deep underlying of empathy and forgiveness. It was weird but also mainstream. Good on you @kevinwilsonauthor

An easy read that feels different. I was engaged throughout. Thanks to @readinginthe6ix for the recommendation on one of your posts… pretty sure that’s why I placed it on my ever evolving @torontolibrary holds list. Bravo!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

#nothingtoseehere
#bookreview
#literaryfiction
#bookshelf
#libraryhaul taken in BOOKSTA by @booksaliciouss

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24 days ago

💫 Book Review 💫
Country People by Daniel Mason 🇺🇸

Let me start by saying that I loved North Woods, so I was really excited for this one. But... this took me a while to get into. And once I finally did, I found myself thinking, Okay, but now what?

I liked the idea of the story, and Miles’s endless, 14-year attempt to finish his Ph.D. dissertation (which somehow wanders from Tolstoy’s peasants to Russian folktales) is a pretty great metaphor for his general aimlessness. But honestly, that aimlessness also made the book feel a little aimless to me. Bahhhh

The characters were fine, but I just wasn’t curious enough about them. I never got that feeling of I NEED to know what happens next! Something was missing. A little mystery, a little magic, something to really pull me in.

I even tried the audiobook for a few chapters, thinking maybe that would help. And it was actually pretty entertaining! But alas, I still landed at... meh, it was okay.

And it’s not the writing. Daniel Mason writes in such a unique way, and I really enjoy that about him. He’s a genuinely talented writer. I just wanted a little more from this one.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

#countrypeople
#danielmason
#bookreview
#literaryfiction
#booksandflowers taken in Toronto, Canada by @booksaliciouss

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a month ago

💫 Book Review 💫
The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson 🇨🇦

What a beautiful book, full stop. I went into this slightly blind to what it could be, and wow am I ever happy I did!

Vancouver Island, a dramatic event, captivating characters, beautiful prose, perfect plot, split timelines that slowly blend into one… everything I love. Canada. Nature. Mystery. And even a slight magic (that doesn’t actually mean magic… but more magical and a sense of wonder on what if…).

Well done @doctorkellyanderson on your debut!

Unlike anything I’ve read. It truly made me think about doing what is best for YOU. Believing in yourself, being grateful for others around you, and the living world.

I highly recommend.

Also, I read this while visiting Vancouver Island (wild!!) aaaand while sailing in Georgian Bay. Meant to be. 🇨🇦

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#thewildbeneath
#kellyanderson
#canadianauthor
#bookreview
#canadareads

Aaaand a @reesesbookclub ! taken in Canada by @booksaliciouss

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a month ago

💫 Book Review 💫
Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon 🇺🇸

A whodunnit with a side of family saga and also a slight edge of coming of age. It was an easy read, filled with the right amount of ease and mystery. I enjoyed it!

Fun fact, I picked up this one from a @littlefreelibrary and gifted to my mom. She read and then I felt only appropriate that I do so as well.

I liked the protagonist, a perfectionist boss woman, likely early 60s who wants to be perceived as younger, gets diagnosed with cancer and moves in with her daughter and granddaughter. A mystery is a foot and she can’t stop until it’s solved.

There were many layers of empathy throughout the book and I thought the author did a good job of giving enough back history for each character, felt very thought out. Congrats on your debut!

Also, I did not guess the killer… so there’s that too!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#motherdaughtermurdernight
#bookreview
#littlefreelibrary
#whodunnit
#bookstagram taken in Vancouver Island, BC, Canada by @booksaliciouss

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a month ago

💫 Book Review 💫
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy 🇦🇺

Second book by this author, and she did not disappoint. A great writer full of nature, desperate protagonists and wonder. I felt the purity of this book, the drastic nature of the setting and found myself glued to the plot.

Beautiful prose. Effortless.

A slight dystopian feel of one following the last known Arctic terns ( 🐦 ). I loved the premise of the novel, and how the author weaved characters met along the way, alongside keeping a ‘crew’ solid and true. Would have loved a little more backstory for some, as some parts seemed to move a little fast for how obvious or known their connections were.

I loved how there are so many relatable pieces to this book. Makes you think about our choices, different directions we take, and how every decision has impact.

Beautiful!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#migrations
#charlottemcconaghy
#australianwriters
#bookreview
#bookstagram taken in Canada by @booksaliciouss

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5

a month ago

💫 Book Review 💫
The Foursome by Christina Baker Klein 🇺🇸

A fantastic historical fiction that brought together different forms of love, friendship and hardship into the story. Beautifully written in such a relatable way, even with such a span of history to separate reader and characters.

Conjoined (or siamese as they are said in the book) twins marry two sisters - and somehow they all make it work. Through ups and many downs, it’s an odd take on a story that really made you think, alongside being entertained in the most appropriate way.

I appreciated the authors choice to have a strong perspective of a main character, when it could have gone multiple perspective, I think the way it was written was definitely the right move.

Although some parts seemed obvious, I still wanted to read every word. Again, written so so well. Bravo @bakerkline

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#thefoursome
#christinabakerkline
#bookreview
#bookstagram
#historicalfiction by @booksaliciouss

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a month ago

💫 Book Review 💫
The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke 🇺🇸
(V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke)

A page turner that was also just soooo unrealistic. Too many random facts / backstories about characters that didn’t matter but it was a speed through to see what happens at the end type of book. I actually enjoyed it a lot although it was certainly not an intellectually stimulating read.

Love the setting. Dark stormy island night. So spooky and perfect for this style of writing. Could easily be a movie. Cheesy yet also fun (in a murder-esk way).

My expectations were higher only because of the one author… but otherwise, a classic #whodunnit

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#theendingwritesitself
#evelynclarke
#bookreview
#booksbooksbooks taken in Canada by @booksaliciouss

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2 months ago

💫 Book Review 💫
Honey by Imani Thompson 🇬🇧 🇯🇲

Unhinged protagonist, thriller aspect of a dark humour academia read. Thought it would have been more clever but I also appreciated the raw vividness of this book. Definitely a female rage vibe but also all the power to her? Haha

Although I was glued to the dark pages, stressed along the way, I also enjoyed the slight empowerment of the protagonist (if even it was a bit murder’y 😆). The characters along the way made sense and I appreciated the balance of obsession with calm (her regular hangs with her elderly lady friend)… but it also felt slightly undone. I wish there was a little more heart to the story. Felt almost 80% of the way there. (Her relationship with her family, her mom’s bizarre photo and backstory… left a lot to be determined).

Anyway, different for sure. Bravo on going there.

Oh and the ending? What???? Can we talk about this, I’m still confused…

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#honeybook
#femaleragebooks
#bookreview
#bookstagram
#booklover taken in BOOKSTA by @booksaliciouss

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2 months ago

💫 Book Review 💫
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino 🇺🇸

Unhinged main character, unlikeable supporting characters. Obsessiveness over a house. Some suspense but less thriller than I thought. Good to get out of a reading slump.

What else to say… one that will be hard to forget but also one I didn’t love? Wish there were SOME elements of the main character I could have sided with. Would have made the ending more fun. It was very surprising and can I use the word unhinged twice? Haha that I enjoyed but still think it even then power in the pizzazzz. The plot was creative yet rushed at times.

Otherwise quite entertaining!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#bestofferwins
#bookreview
#booksvibes
#bookish by @booksaliciouss

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2 months ago

💫 Book Review 💫
Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum 🇺🇸

An advertising man who is also a workoholic, until one day… he isn’t. His new mantra is less is more… with many odd twists. An entertaining satirical whacky adventure. From pet lobsters, posh country club annoyance and everything in between. Relatable but also ridiculous and far fetched. While reading I wanted to disconnect and as wildly abrasive as the protagonist’s QUICK decision was, I was there for it.

I mean, that’s basically it. The writing is good. Nothing too advanced but it also kept me guessing, intrigued and empathetic. The middle was a little repetitive but I appreciated the characters along with the plot. Lots of moving pieces but it all worked well… and I could totally see, hear and smellllll it all.

I really didn’t know how it was going to end… and was surprised and also have to say, it really worked well (the ending).

Bravo @cbmaum 👏

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

#alanoptsout
#courtneymaum
#bookreview
#bookshelf
#libraryhaul taken in London, Ontario by @booksaliciouss

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3

3 months ago