English Books

The Bilingual Brain

Berlin is a bilingual city. Even despite writing this review in English, I am not quite anglo- or egocentric enough to mean its linguistic identity is split between German and my mother tongue. But it is a city in which an extraordinary number of people have proficiency in more than one languages (and many in many).
Costa's book, an excellent introduction to the neuroscience of what it means to be bilingual, is therefore a book for Berliners. In witty, digressive prose, he charts how bilingual people's brains are shaped differently (sometimes literally) from the moment of birth to old age. Although he is cautious not to claim too many pure benefits (as a Barcelonan, fluent in Spanish, Catalan and English that could be perceived as smug), he does say bilinguals may be more empathetic and less susceptible to dementia than monolinguals. A book for polyglots to feel more smug about themselves and to inspire monolingual, anglophone Berliners to finally sign up for that German course...

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Wouldn't you like to be here?'
We've all been waiting so bad for this sequel!
Finally TJ Klune invites readers back to Mr. Parnassus Orphanage for magical Children at Masyas Island and offers a welcome reunion with the beloved Characters.
It'll definitely make you happy! Klune continues to spin the heart-warming tale and this book is just as beautiful to read and as captivating as the first volume!
Who wouldn't love to be part of this magical family?

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Easily the bible of the 21st Century - judging by our sales numbers, roughly every fifth person in the world has bought this book. And no wonder - there's no better book to teach us about clear thinking and making up our own minds in an ever evolving world.

Nineteen Eighty-Four

Whoa. What a devastating read! A dystopia in the darkest sense of the word - without a happy ending whatsoever (that's how I interpret it at least).
A must-read classic.

You'll never think of rats the same way again!

James

Everett's new novel arrives so highly accoladed that the expectations are through the roof, which can be a disadvantage. Having never really read Twain, I kind of feel like "James" isn't for me and I disagree with other critics proclaiming that this retelling is fully enjoyable on its own. You might not have any troubles following the plot, but you will miss some of the more subtle hints and literary tricks. Having said that, I still had a great time reading it - Everett is a terrific storyteller, and he smoothly jumps between humour and the darker themes. Compared to his other novels that tend to be rather cynical in tone, with this one he really leans into a warmer, more human and ultimately life-affirming direction. For me, "James" works as a heartfelt adventure story that effortlessly tackles some very important topics (and I could not shake off Moon River for weeks).

The Fraud

For some reason, Zadie Smith's writing style has never quite resonated with me until "The Fraud" came along. Set in Victorian London, the story revolves round the Tichborne Case and the many shapes and forms fraudulence may take, spanning decades of connections between people and events. Even though it is palpable how meticulously researched her endeavour is, Smith immerses the reader in history not through a lavish display of detail, but rather through the purposeful use of wit and irony (beautifully exemplified by Mrs Touchet's contempt for her lover's notorious literary rival, Charles). What I probably loved most about The Fraud is the way it treats its characters and history itself in a similar way: the aim is not to impose judgement concerning true or false and good or evil, but to interrogate the very foundations of these concepts. The protagonists are constantly moving between layered shades of grey, all frauds in one way or another, but the narrative handles them very tenderly, never portraying them as anything different than entirely loveable. "The Fraud" is a funny read that somehow manages to be deadly serious at the same time, effortlessly entwining many different subjects into a singularly delightful story.

Collide

Summer Preston has to write her final thesis on ice hockey, of all things, and is confronted with the arrogant but irresistible team captain Aiden Crawford - a challenge that leaves neither of them able to give up.

"Collide" shines with authentic protagonists who breathe life into the story and captivate the reader from the very first page. Summer Preston is an ambitious young woman who, despite her dislike of ice hockey players, is forced to take a close look at the sport. Her development and how she overcomes her prejudices is inspiring and shows her strong will and determination to achieve her goals.

Aiden Crawford, the charismatic and self-confident captain of the ice hockey team, brings a refreshing dynamic to the story with his "golden retriever" attitude. Despite his initial arrogance, it's hard not to fall for him. He not only wins Summer's heart, also the reader's with his charm and friendliness.

The interactions between Summer and Aiden are characterized by the Grumpy x Sunshine and Haters to Lovers tropes. These contrasts provide plenty of tension and humorous moments. The slow rapprochement between the two characters, which develops over the course of their time together, is particularly successful. Summer succumbs to Aiden's charm over time, which underlines the authenticity of their relationship.

One minor criticism is that the scientific component, which is originally the main reason for their collaboration, is somewhat neglected. More insight into the research and testing could have added more depth to the tensions and the development of their relationship.

Overall, "Collide" is a sweet story without the typical third act drama. If you love hockey romances, you will definitely get your money's worth with this book. The perfect balance of romance, humor and authentic character development makes "Collide" a recommended reading experience.

The Midnight Library

This book is all about regrets. Do you also sometimes catch yourself thinking: "I wish I had done that differently"? Nora thinks that about almost every decision she's ever made. So after a suicide attempt, she finds herself in a space between life and death; in her case: the Midnight Library. There she can pick any book containing an alternative life.
Though sometimes a little too cheesy and conventional for my taste this book made me consider my own life choices and whether it really would be a good idea to make changes - even if I could!
No matter which of Matt Haig's books takes your fancy, you'll always be taken on an emotional journey full of original ideas and valuable life advice.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

A story about a lifelong friendship and the making of computer games.
I very much liked Zevin's previous novel "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry" already, but in "Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow" she really upped her game (pun intended)!
I recommend it to everyone who's interested in the interconnectedness of relationships in a millennial setting.
P.S.: No knowledge of gaming, IT or computers whatsoever required! ;)

Twisted Love

First things first: Please note, that the relationship in this book is kind of toxic and shouldn't be seen as a normal relationship narrative. This book contains trigger warnings, one can find in the book itself.
So Tik Tok made me buy it and I wasn't disappointed. Twisted Love is one of those books, you can't stop reading. Drama, secrets, hot main characters... To be honest best friend's sister - one could say enemies - to lovers is that kind of plot Ana Huang writes best. And damn, the main love interests background history is way to sad and cruel to be not romanticized. A romance of a lifetime.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation

James

Finally James gets his own voice, even better if you still remember Huckleberry Finn (or do read it before) - what a twist and highly recommended!

Invisible Women

This book on the gender data gap has opened my eyes. They were already half-open, but this gave me so much profound scientific research to back up my personal perception of gender bias. I highly recommend it!

The Bee Sting

I loved getting to see things from each family member´s perspective and getting all their backstories - bleak and funny, complex, heartbreaking and wonderful!
This is one of my favourites for the Booker 2023!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

I did not know what to expect reading a novel about video games, but I can say that this book was a perfect book about coming of age, friendship and love, cooperation and competition. This is a must read!

Lessons in Chemistry

Meet Elizabeth Zott, a 1960s woman who loves being a chemist during a time when women were expected to be housewives. If you love watching The marvelous Mrs. Maisel, this is the book for you!

Talking at Night

I can´t even begin to describe how much I loved these characters. This is a stunning, emotional novel and I absolutely loved it!
And it might fill a Rooney shaped hole in your reading life ;-)

The Burnout

Kinsella once more delivers the perfect mix of quirky, touching and relatable. Read this book now before you do have one more day of being overworked and under appreciated.

Lucy by the Sea

When the world comes to a standstill, we need great authors to make sense of what we are going through. And here she is: Elizabeth Stout.

Fourth Wing

Fesselnd. Spannend. Eine atemberaubende Liebesgeschichte!

Um gleich eins vorwegzusagen: Wenn Sie dieses Buch "Fourth Wing Flammengeküsst" von Rebecca Yarros lesen wollen, dann sollten Sie sich drei Tage Urlaub nehmen, die Kinder und Partner/in ausquartieren oder sich selbst eine abgeschiedene Unterkunft suchen. Denn wenn Sie erst anfangen zu lesen, können Sie nicht mehr aufhören und jede Störung wird als Zumutung empfunden. So zumindest ist es mir ergangen... ;o)

Zur Handlung: Violet Sorrengail, die gebrechliche Tochter der kaltherzigen und gesetzestreuen Generalin Sorrengail wird gezwungen, am Auswahlverfahren der Drachenreiter teilzunehmen. Das ist in sofern ungünstig, da sich Violet ihr Leben lang auf ein Leben als Schriftgelehrte vorbereitet hatte. Ihr schwächlicher Körper bringt keine Sympathiepunkte in der Staffel und als Tochter der Generalin ist sie insbesondere durch die mit Rebellionsmalen gekennzeichneten Seperatisten-Kinder bedroht, einschließlich des gefährlichen und überaus attraktiven Geschwaderführers Xaden.
Aber selbst, wenn sie sich im Reiterquadranten des Basgiath War College behaupten kann, wird sich überhaupt ein Drache an sie binden? Oder wird sie als kleines Häufchen Elend in Flammen aufgehen?
Das Buch beinhaltet beides: nervenaufreibende Kämpfe zwischen glaubhaften Figuren und eine überaus romantische Liebesgeschichte. Die Spannung wird von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite durchweg aufrechterhalten und endet in einem überraschenden Ende, das Lust auf Teil 2 macht.

Zu guter Letzt gefiel mir natürlich auch das Buch an sich. Es kommt in einem goldenen Schutzumschlag mit schwarzer Schrift daher. Der Schnitt der Seiten ist mystisch in dunklem Blau und Gold bedruckt. Auf dem Vorsatz sind künstlerisch Karten des Kontinentes und des Basgiath War College gedruckt, die sowohl in der Illustration als auch für das Verfolgen der Handlung voll überzeugen. Eher zufällig habe ich dann noch den Schutzumschlag abgenommen und war völlig von dem schönen Einband beeindruckt. Was zu sehen ist, will ich hier nicht verraten. Nur so viel: das ist sicherlich eins der wenigen Bücher, die ich mir ins Regal stelle und in Kürze noch ein zweites Mal lesen werde.

Für die Geschichte hinter "Fourth Wing Flammengeküsst" von Rebecca Yarros, für die Beschreibung der Charaktere und Orte, den Plot und Spannungsbogen, auch für das Buch an sich würde ich glatt 6 Sterne geben, wenn das möglich wäre. Einzig die doch nicht seltenen Tipp- und Grammatikfehler störten mich persönlich etwas, wofür es einen Stern Abzug gibt. Wer das nicht mag, sollte auf die 2. Auflage warten, die es ganz bestimmt geben wird. Denn alles in allem ist "Fourth Wing" aus meiner Sicht ein absolut klasse Meisterwerk der Fantasy und ich warte jetzt schon hibbelig auf Band 2, der noch dieses Jahr erscheinen soll.

Unbedingt lesen!!!!!

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