flyingfox02's reviews
248 reviews

I'm extremely apathetic and incredibly dispassionate about this book.

Nooo!! This is why I hate reading unfinished series 😭😭 This is an amazing sequel that's left me begging on my hands AND knees for more. 

Initially I was quite underwhelmed by the quality of writing, as it felt rigid and the dialogue unorganic. It felt as though the narrator (Eddie) and other characters were 'aware' that somebody (the reader) was watching, so they'd talk about the world and events from previous book as if we didn't understand. I reckon Fforde was trying to compensate for the fact that this came out 15 years after Shades of Grey, and therefore wanted to remind his readers before continuing with the plot. He probably should've skipped that and trusted us to work it out.

I digress. Weak beginnings aside, I was quickly hooked back into the Chromatacia world. Eddie and Jane are 'woke' now, they know for sure there's something insidious going on, and are ramping up their efforts to learn more. The last 100 pages were so intense. Where Book 1 had a lot more whimsy, this book had me on the edge of my seat. 

Character development was absolutely top notch chef's kiss. Not just Ed and Jane, the first book did such a good job introducing side characters, who we see again here and whose arcs compelled me to love them too.

Final thing. In my review of Book 1 I wrote how I was in awe of Fforde's wit to include a 'coming soon' page at the end of the book that I could only understand upon completion. It happened again ladies and gents!

And it wasn't just a single isolated page, this time it was sprinkled throughout the book.

It didn't register until I was writing this review, and it was even a source of gripe for me until the light bulb turned on. Oh Jasper Fforde how massive your brain is.

I'm torn between a 4 or 4.5 star rating. The ending did feel a little rushed, but overall it was such a riveting read. I cannot wait for Book 3 and I hope I won't have to wait 15 years for it.

Picture this scene: a grown adult fumbling with the keys to their home, carrying bags of groceries, as tears are running down their face.

Yeah that was me while listening to this book (ch. 60).

Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone to Brighton! Because that's where a majority of the book is set and I listened to the audio, which includes the aforementioned pair as narrators. I don't have a lot of thoughts about this one. It was enjoyable, though not as charming as the first book. I kind of don't agree that this is a mystery novel, because a lot of it is pretty mundane slice-of-life stuff. 😂 Gary eating battenberg, Gary sorting out the pantry, Gary watching Border Patrol. Though the charm is how this book doesn't take itself seriously at all.

The mystery is also not very mysterious, basically just a consequence of what happens in the first novel. Gary got into a bit of a predicament - granted it is blackmail and threat of murder - but there's no sense of trying to catch the bad guys or what have you. We do get more insight into other characters, like Grace and Emily, who each had their own pov. Plus an unnamed character, which I have a sneaking suspicion Bob added in for an excuse to be narrated by his mate Paul.

I picked this book up to entertain myself as I sharpened my knives, certainly didn't think I'd finish it less than 12 hours later. Fiona Shaw is a fantastic narrator, and I only realised halfway that she was Aunt Petunia! Anyway, the book was great. The gang is still alive and kicking and causing havoc in criminals' lives. I like how Elizabeth and Steven's story develops, Bogdan and Donna's too. The ending feels somewhat unresolved, that's why I can't rate it higher. Also I don't think we've seen the last of Connie Johnson? She'll probably feature again in the next book.

I didn't realise this book was comprehensively about the Sackler family, not just the opioid epidemic in America. It's very detailed and well researched, but unfortunately I wasn't all that interested in the whole family history. Not the book's fault. Also I nodded off a couple times while listening to the audiobook (not for long I promise, like an hour max) but that's simply because I am God's sleepiest soldier.

What vastly different worlds Ann Patchett and I live in. She is constantly surrounded by people who own and can fly planes! I'm not jealous at all.

Because of this memoir I now want to read Kate DiCamillo. I also now know the painting of Maeve from The Dutch House that I had pictured is miles from what it's supposed to be.

It was nice just listening to her talk about her life. The Worthless Servant and the two essays about her father(s) were very touching. The way she speaks about and to the people she loves is heartwarming, so open and unabashed. What's stopping me from loving like that?

I'm not a Manc nor a second-generation immigrant but I am a fellow football fanatic and also religious, so I could relate to a lot of things in this memoir. It's funny and searingly honest. I never thought listening to someone talk about playing the balalaika as a kid could be so captivating. Some people's lives could be so uniquely memorable. It does mostly focus on Noz's childhood (pre-A levels) and I'm just curious how he's changed in adulthood (as someone in their early 20s, insight into other people's experience at that age can be valuable), but I guess that's why this is a memoir not autobiography.

Glad they had a Northerner voice the audiobook, even though his Arabic pronunciation sounded a bit awkward (to me).

Not quite the strong start I was hoping for the new year. I adored the first book, The House in the Cerulean Sea. It had so much whimsy, charm, and warmth. This book exhibits some of those things too, but in a much lesser degree. 

In this sequel, we follow Arthur's perspective instead of Linus. I was expecting the story to revolve mostly around Arthur's past (as the blurb makes it out to be) but that only serves as an opening. A big chunk of the story is taken up by an inspector who comes to the island to check on the 'wellbeing' of the children. Much like the first book, if not a carbon copy. I felt it was longer than it needed to be. I couldn't make out the inspector character (can't remember her name, Marylebone or something). What even was the point of her? Like the author was making her do stupid stuff just to prolong the story.

I think this book was trying to do too much. The pacing and plotline felt a little clunky. The social commentaries were way too on the nose. (Sal being black and Talia having a beard... come on now). Some of the dialogue felt unnatural. I prefer more nuance, though I guess I'm older than the target audience.

There were things I liked. Themes of found family, inclusivity, acceptance of self and others. There's a new kid on the block and the children were so welcoming. They're still their bright, mischievous, joyful selves. (Theodore and his buttons still my favourite, of course).

There will probably be a third book. I will probably read it just to be with the characters again, even if I felt this sequel wasn't needed in the first place. If that happens, I just hope it'll somehow live up to the magic of book one.