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Carol Dines

Teoksen The Queen's Soprano tekijä

4 teosta 165 jäsentä 11 arvostelua

Tietoja tekijästä

Image credit: Courtesy of Carol Dines

Tekijän teokset

The Queen's Soprano (2006) 128 kappaletta
Talk to Me (1997) 12 kappaletta
The Take-Over Friend (2022) 10 kappaletta

Merkitty avainsanalla

Yleistieto

Syntymäaika
1956
Sukupuoli
female

Jäseniä

Kirja-arvosteluja

3.5 stars out of 5

I was able to read this book for free through NetGalley. To be honest, I might not have thought to read it based on first impressions of the cover and title, but I’m glad I gave it a chance!

This book deals with topics that may be triggering to some, including mental health (primarily depression and bipolar disorder), self harm, suicidal ideation, adultery, separation, animal cruelty. It’s important to note these before going into it.

With that out of the way, let’s address the good parts! The author handles difficult topics very well, and with a gentle but honest hand. As the book is from the pov of Frances, who is navigating her own relationships as well as witnessing the complicated relationships between others in her life, we get to see a daughters perspective of those entanglements. Frances grows within the pages until, at the end, it seems she has finally been able to find her own voice and personality.

There is a lot that most people (especially women) can relate to - the thoughts and feelings of Frances, the complicated friendship she shares with Sonja, and the difficulties she faces as a teen. She feels like a completely realistic character, and a fairly reliable narrator. It helps that she is incredibly likeable, in comparison to Sonja, who often comes across as precocious and rude, albeit partly due to her upbringing. They act as foils of one another in some ways. The depth and fast pace of their journey from stranger to inseparable best friends to mere acquaintances also feels entirely realistic, given their ages.

For me, the majority of characters in the book were really well developed, the author really taking the time to let the readers get to know even the more adjacent characters. None of them felt two dimensional.

I absolutely did not see the twist towards the end coming. I audibly gasped, and was more emotional than I might have thought! One of the better twist executions I’ve seen in a while.

I enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend it as an easy read, in writing and style. There are a few points that could be improved on, in my opinion. Firstly, the book does start quite slowly. It takes some time to really get into; I had to get halfway through before I really found myself on a role in terms of reading.

Secondly - and not necessarily a bad thing - it should be noted that there’s little in the way of an actual plot. That isn’t something I class as a negative really - the book is primarily about the friendship between two girls in a fairly short space of time, and that is interesting enough for me. But I could see how others may want more.

Thirdly, I found Sonja a little too unlikeable. Perhaps the least realistic of the characters. Pretentious, too smart for her own good, manipulative, and impertinent, the only saving grace is Fran’s growth, which she inadvertently aids. I understand that she isn’t necessarily meant to be liked; but there were many points regarding her life and family that should have made me sympathise a little with her, but I didn’t. Teenagers aren’t often irredeemable; she feels it.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this. I would definitely be intrigued to look into anything else the author writes, as I liked her style, and the simple no frills attached writing, which can be a breath of fresh air in a world of flowery, purple prose. The book deals with complicated issues and feelings, but isn’t difficult to digest. I think it’s relatable in many points, and mostly a realistic depiction. The twist is one that I do not think anyone could see coming, and that alone was worth it!
… (lisätietoja)
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
lwile18 | 1 muu arvostelu | Nov 2, 2022 |
#FirstLine - Maybe it only happens once.

This book is such a great book. A quick read that is small is size, but big in feels. The story is thought provoking. I loved the characters because you could relate to them. They were not made to feel overdone, they were real, raw and far from perfect. This book cover important topics that readers can learn from and it is done so in a quiet and endearing way. A great read and one I highly recommend.
 
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Mrsmommybooknerd | 1 muu arvostelu | Oct 1, 2022 |
This was better than I thought it would be. 17th Century Italy, singing, AND an unexpected ending? That makes for a pretty interesting read, but not the best young adult novel I've read recently.
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
rkcraig88 | 8 muuta kirja-arvostelua | Jul 15, 2019 |
Solid historical YA about the Swedish Queen's court and intrigue in Italy. Fairly heavy on the romance, but YA with a good setting so all is forgiven.
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
ewillse | 8 muuta kirja-arvostelua | Jan 18, 2016 |

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Tilastot

Teokset
4
Jäseniä
165
Suosituimmuussija
#128,476
Arvio (tähdet)
½ 3.7
Kirja-arvosteluja
11
ISBN:t
13

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