I know Christmas is already a month away, so it's not a very good timing for this review, though if I'm being honest I have to warn all to-be-readers of this book: 'Christmas by the Lighthouse' has very little to do with either Christmas or Lighthouses. I do see where this title comes from, but it still somehow seems to be a bit of a false advertisement. Anyway, let's talk about the book itself!
A book that made me want to sit out in the sun, watching the sea and drinking my coffee in complete peace and satisfaction. Well, too bad that while reading it (a couple of weeks before this post is airing) I was in the middle of a move from a temporarily very grey and rainy middle European country to...well, another temporarily very grey and rainy European country. And unfortunately, as I was very busy, I had to read this book taking small parts at a time, over more than a week. I have to admit that it didn't help a lot with completely enjoying the story... I still found it very interesting, atmospheric, and I found myself drawn in again and again - and that probably means a lot. Let's see what 'The Greek Persuasion' is about!
I know a lot of you have already read this book (especially since in Australia - where it's also set - it was published earlier this year) and if I can believe Goodreads, many of you want to read it in the (near?) future. I only saw very few bad ratings/reviews, everybody seems to be liking it, so I was very excited to get to it myself!
I've recently read a couple of books labelled as 'women's fiction' and it got me thinking. What makes a book one in the women's fiction category? Why does this genre exist? Does it have a right to? And if yes, why isn't there a genre for 'men's fiction'? Because...it would be logical, wouldn't it?
It's been a while since the last time I read historical fiction, and I love them, so I decided 'Blackberry and Wild Rose' was going to be my next read. And I loved it! This is a wonderful and promising debut novel, and I loved the journey to another time, another place. Oh, I'd missed time-traveling by books so much! It's good to be back. This time, in 18th century London.
After reading several mysteries and Christmas themed books (for some reason I read more of the first ones when I feel like wrapping myself up in a blanket and just watch the cold and dark weather from the inside), I decided to mix it up a little, and I chose the next book from my NetGalley pile that gets published. It seemed like a nice change, yet it sounded like one that would still not be too much during the rest of the holidays. Well, I was wrong. This book had nothing to do with that cozy tea drinking holiday feel I imagined myself to be reading. I caught up, though, so after the first couple of pages it didn't bother me anymore. I have many thoughts on this one, they have created a complete chaos in my head, but I do my best to conduct them to you. Maybe a cup of coffee would make you good while reading this.
This is the second Christmas-themed book I've read just a bit before the holiday. I don't remember ever reading Christmas themed book on purpose around this time of year, I thought it would be just as cheesy as the over-repeated Christmas sings playing everywhere since the beginning of November (!!)... but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked to read these.
Swift Coffee 