tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post6662013546544614439..comments2023-10-07T11:55:47.724-04:00Comments on A Reader of Fictions: Review: The Mirrored WorldChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370486039531015541noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-37680921705728068432013-07-31T10:25:29.351-04:002013-07-31T10:25:29.351-04:00Oooh, I've not heard of the latter. I'll h...Oooh, I've not heard of the latter. I'll have to check it out!Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370486039531015541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-84837938431900810422013-07-31T10:20:27.346-04:002013-07-31T10:20:27.346-04:00I really do try to be as positive as possible, but...I really do try to be as positive as possible, but, sometimes, most of the comments I have are negative, even if I didn't dislike the book. What can you do? <br /><br />Ahhh, well, the Grisha world IS inspired by Russia, so that does make some sense.<br /><br />I wouldn't be surprised if that were true. That tsarina was BONKERS.<br /><br />Different parts at different ages. It sort of jumps and shows a little bit here and there.<br /><br />I will, since I already own Madonnas. I hope I do like it more.Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370486039531015541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-35241505662393290032013-07-31T10:09:02.044-04:002013-07-31T10:09:02.044-04:00It is a shame, but you should check out The Winter...It is a shame, but you should check out The Winter Palace. That one was more into characters. Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370486039531015541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-65745288416196874412013-07-31T09:43:43.614-04:002013-07-31T09:43:43.614-04:00Same here. The MC did feel sort of purposely vacan...Same here. The MC did feel sort of purposely vacant, but I just don't care for that. Sigh.Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370486039531015541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-64075628538739470912013-07-31T06:51:37.613-04:002013-07-31T06:51:37.613-04:00Christina, you should try Deathless by Catherynne ...Christina, you should try Deathless by Catherynne M.Valente and The Age of Ice by J.M. Sidorova - both are fascinating in terms of Russian culture and mentality. Fab review, I'll keep this book on the back burner. At least I know what to expect now.kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11262585710463536717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-67807364261241373152013-07-30T14:20:02.987-04:002013-07-30T14:20:02.987-04:00"I suspect this shall be one of those reviews..."I suspect this shall be one of those reviews that sounds like I didn't like the book, but I did for the most part, so make note of that." <-- I should follow your lead with this. I'm always guilty of giving more weight in reviews to negative aspects over positive ones, even when I love the book.<br /><br />"There's something about Russia I find so captivating, and I suspect that has to do with the wide divide between the serfs and the upper classes."<br />Yes. And now you are sort of reminding me of Shadow & Bone/Grisha world though they aren't really the same....<br /><br />"Throughout are such historical goodies as a party where Elizabeth ordered everyone to crossdress or the way she married off people for her own entertainment. I was definitely in it for the historical pageantry, and that was enough to get me through."<br />What?!? Lol, she ordered everyone to crossdress? This is why historical fiction is so awesome. Reading about such great juicy tidbits that I never knew before lol (unless this is fictitious element in which case, still awesome for the creativity there.)<br /><br />"In those pages, Dean takes Dasha from a child to an old woman, which gives you a sense of how quickly the pace goes."<br />Is this like a day-in-the-life-of story? Or kind of like Atonement, with different parts set at different ages?<br /><br />The pretty writing makes me think that I should try something else of hers, and I hope you do enjoy the Madonnas book, if you go on to read more of the author's work. Sorry that this one fell flat for you!Christina Reads YAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14937783114868207494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-89488390445963666422013-07-30T12:56:20.028-04:002013-07-30T12:56:20.028-04:00I loooove Tsarist Russia and books set in that tim...I loooove Tsarist Russia and books set in that time period. Shame about the drawbacks of this one, but I may check out that other book you mentioned, The Winter Palace. I just need more Russian books in my life.GillyBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03622344092774777709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-45836217940065757022013-07-30T12:05:17.252-04:002013-07-30T12:05:17.252-04:00It's really hard for me to really like a book ...It's really hard for me to really like a book if the characters aren't developed really well. I don't even need to like them, but they just need to feel like real people. I also don't like when things seem to be rushed through. I'm glad that you still enjoyed reading it, even if in the end it wasn't quite what you wanted. Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09669564557768319285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-84774549074949684422013-07-30T09:07:48.279-04:002013-07-30T09:07:48.279-04:00I'm sad too, but it happens. It certainly wasn...I'm sad too, but it happens. It certainly wasn't a terrible read by any means, and I might recommend it to a particular subset of readers, but I was left wanting more.Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370486039531015541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-59461691877579132212013-07-29T23:22:57.782-04:002013-07-29T23:22:57.782-04:00I'm sorry this one didn't turn out to be a...I'm sorry this one didn't turn out to be a favorite for you, especially since there were things that you really did like. Thanks for being on the tour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-30906436251320153172013-07-29T14:01:12.613-04:002013-07-29T14:01:12.613-04:00Yup, I like to delve down into the characters and ...Yup, I like to delve down into the characters and chill there. You never really get to know anyone because it's so speedy. Most of it was enjoyable, but it was a steady downhill slide.Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370486039531015541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-45078664721035616802013-07-29T13:49:49.616-04:002013-07-29T13:49:49.616-04:00Oh yeah, I don't think this one's going to...Oh yeah, I don't think this one's going to stick with me in the slightest. It's pretty but there's not really much to it. I feel like less of her life but with more depth would have had more of an impact.Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370486039531015541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-2450226707158880772013-07-29T13:22:26.781-04:002013-07-29T13:22:26.781-04:00To bad this one zoomed too fast for you. I can def...To bad this one zoomed too fast for you. I can definitely understand how the quickness and therefore lack of depth can hinder your connection to the novel. I'm sure you know this isn't one that I would read but I am happy that despite the 2.5 you did enjoy reading it!Jennihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10714782276296445149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-555254327067745492.post-49892377830993841512013-07-29T11:05:52.666-04:002013-07-29T11:05:52.666-04:00Great review -- I liked this one immediately upon ...Great review -- I liked this one immediately upon reviewing it, but now, some X months later, I've completely forgotten everything about it. If I didn't recognize the cover, I might even have thought I hadn't read it! I think you're right about the briskness lending a sense of ... I don't know, lack of oomph.Audrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07511122937603890352noreply@blogger.com