Hey you lovely readers,
Today I am trying my hand at writing some mini-reviews.
I’ve read some books lately that I didn’t plan on reviewing at all, but realised that I wanted to share my thoughts and opinions. Rather than writing full reviews, I decided instead to just do short snatches of thoughts and see how I go.
If no one likes them, I won’t do it again. But if they do, well, who knows where things will lead!
So today, I’m having a little look at The Readers of Broken Wheel by Katarina Bivald and The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett.
Author: Katarina Bivald
Title: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
Publisher: Vintage
Date: 2016
Goodreads: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
My Thoughts
I giggled my entire way through this book.
Well, that’s a slight exaggeration. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it. I didn’t quite figure out what was going on for the initial chapters because it didn’t dawn on me that Amy was much older and that her death was completely natural. It made me stop and pause as to what genre I was reading.
But once I got going, I loved it!
There is something Jenny Colgan-ish about The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, or maybe that is because I’ve read The Little Shop of Happily Ever After. But, for me personally, this had more depth.
I guess what I love most is just how many books are mentioned. And it’s not all the classics and ones you feel like you should read. As soon as Eragon turned up, that was it; I was sold.
I’m not normally one for cliché love stories. This proved me wrong and oozed charisma and romance. Sara is a dreamer and I just felt an instant connection with her character. Tom is mysterious – and you can see why Sara would fall for him. He’s also a romantic at heart! Caroline is not to be reckoned with – until she herself feels the caress of love from a much-younger, supposedly gay-but-really-bi visitor.
I adored this book. If you’re not a massive book lover, it might not be your thing. But if you are, and want a little charm, this is the book!
Author: Laura Barnett
Title: The Versions of Us
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Date: 2015
Goodreads: The Versions of Us
My Thoughts
I wanted to read this book for ages; the premise gripped me as being something a little different. Although I managed to keep track of the three different stories, the book wasn’t for me.
There are three different plots running through this book, three alternate realities, if you like. Each chapter is a different story. It took me until halfway through until I was able to identify the different stories quickly enough to enjoy the relatively short chapters.
I felt Barnett had three different love stories she wanted to tell, couldn’t decide, chopped them up, stuck them back together and got the final result published. Although the characters were moving, I couldn’t relate to them and there was no growth – Jim is unfaithful in each, either with Eva or to her. Eva and David do not work. They have different children with different lives.
It also didn’t help that the book spans a long period of time. We see their entire lives, three different versions of it, with only some recurring themes such as love, fidelity, ambitions etc linking the three together.
I prefer Eva over Jim – she is a stronger character in all three versions, learning how to pick herself up and carry on. Jim is a dreamer, who follows his heart regardless of the consequences. I wanted it to be a happy love story, but none of the versions are particularly satisfying.
I’m glad to have read The Versions of Us but not sure I would read again.
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