The Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle: It started out promising but eventually evolved into a full blown ghost story. As much as I loved the food related parts, the “food hall” in the afterworld was just plain weird. The whole ending was a bit over the top and far too much fantasy for my taste. Which is funny, because I do love reading about dragons and what is more fantastical than that? But the ghosts were simply too much, especially once they started arriving in droves. I could have done without the last quarter of the book.
A Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson: I love buying books on vacation and I bought this one while in Greece. How fitting then that the story takes place on Hydra, a small Cycladic island. In 1960 Hydra was home to a small artists colony, mostly writers, from all over the world. The story of this golden summer, which saw Leonard Cohen fall in love with Marianne Ihlen, is told through the voice of Erica. Recently bereaved of her mother and disowned by her father, she finds in the writer Charmian Clift an unwilling yet fitting substitute. Although the book had its lengths, it beautifully captured the atmosphere of a time and place that now feels long bygone. It also made me miss Greece in summer. I can’t wait to go back again!
To Defy a King by Elizabeth Chadwick: Although it took me a while to finish, that was probably because I read it on my phone. The story itself was more than fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed this fifth book in the William Marshal series. It is also the second book in the Bigod series, with William Marshal’s eldest daughter Mahelt taking center stage. The author weaves an engaging story set during the time of the Magna Charta and her detailed historical research, described in the afterword, lends even more gravitas to the novel. Enjoyable even for those who are not history lovers.
We were Liars by E. Lockhart: I first read it in 2014 and loved it. Now that the TV series is out I wanted to reread the book since I could only remember the ending. While rereading I noticed that I am quite a sloppy reader when I am really into something. There were so many hints along the way that gave the ending away if only I had paid attention the first time. Apparently I do not when I am fully invested. This time around I was more attentive and did not rush through it. Even on a second read it remains a truly fascinating story.
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