julia_sedai
Fraser Valley Regional Library
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julia_sedai's rating:
Added Mar 11, 2024
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Mar 10, 2024
Comment:
Light-hearted and a quick read. Overall a good plot that kept me interested. A bit too much telling and not enough showing. The main male lead didn't get enough screen time (there were chapters where he didn't seem to exist). But I enjoyed it and read it in one day and I appreciate a clean Regency romance.Light-hearted and a quick read. Overall a good plot that kept me interested. A bit too much telling and not enough showing. The main male lead didn't get enough screen time (there were chapters where he didn't seem to exist). But I enjoyed it and…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Feb 14, 2024
Comment:
Intriguing plot, setting, and characters, but it was slow-paced, especially at the beginning, and I didn't like the flashbacks that kept interrupting the main story. The main character also spent so much time travelling that it seemed to drag on sometimes.
That being said, I want to know what happens next so I'll probably pick up the next book soon.
Love the cover art.Intriguing plot, setting, and characters, but it was slow-paced, especially at the beginning, and I didn't like the flashbacks that kept interrupting the main story. The main character also spent so much time travelling that it seemed to drag on…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Feb 07, 2024
Comment:
I liked this because it's a local author and took place in Vancouver, so I could picture everything clearly. It was very well-written and even though you could guess what was going to happen, it was interesting. I liked all of the inter-connected stories and characters, although some were really weird. That being said, their worldview is so different than mine that it was hard to relate to them. It just felt like people floating along with no real purpose or direction. So while that's not really a fault of the book, which I think is quite good, it just didn't appeal to me as much.
I'd be interested in reading more by this author.
I should also note that while the protagonist is in her 60s, I'm in my 30s and still found it enjoyable - it's definitely not just for an older crowd.I liked this because it's a local author and took place in Vancouver, so I could picture everything clearly. It was very well-written and even though you could guess what was going to happen, it was interesting. I liked all of the inter-connected…
Added Feb 07, 2024
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Jan 20, 2024
Comment:
So it took me a while to finish this because I was sharing with my husband, but luckily I finished first.
It was surprisingly really good returning to this world! I hadn't read anything in the Eragon world since Inheritance came out and that was in 2011. It didn't matter, though. I knew who Murtagh and Thorn were and most of the general story and there were little reminders everywhere that jogged my memory.
Overall, it's just a good story. Has an exciting plot in a great setting, there's character growth, and it left me wanting to read more. Highly recommended if you've read the series and were a little unsatisfied with the ending of Inheritance.So it took me a while to finish this because I was sharing with my husband, but luckily I finished first.
It was surprisingly really good returning to this world! I hadn't read anything in the Eragon world since Inheritance came out and that was in…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Jan 01, 2024
Comment:
Interesting story that takes place in modern times and during the late 19th century Klondike Gold Rush. The author touches on what it means to make "reparation" for taking over, but it's mostly about several inter-connected families and characters.
Several times throughout I was wondering what the point of the story was. The writing is well-done and the plot mostly absorbing. It was the characters that threw me off of liking it because they're all so unlikeable (which is probably what the point of the story was). They're also real people from history, but since I had no prior knowledge about them (not sure if that's just me, maybe they are famous and I'm just ignorant about extremely wealthy Californians), I would have liked some kind of forward that explained a bit more about their lives. It seems the author used the journals of the main girl, Alice Bush, for the plot, but I didn't know what was real and what the author imagined. Guess it's time for me to brush up on my Klondike history.Interesting story that takes place in modern times and during the late 19th century Klondike Gold Rush. The author touches on what it means to make "reparation" for taking over, but it's mostly about several inter-connected families and…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Dec 23, 2023
Comment:
Good enough that I read it in one afternoon because I didn't want to put it down.
Even though the characters have had some really tragic things happen to them, it's overall a feel-good book that made me happy in the end.
The blurb makes it sound really mysterious but it's not really. Just a good story. And I was not clever enough to figure out any of the riddles so good thing I wasn't in the competition.
Recommended for people who like to read about real adult characters but also have fond memories of books they read as a kid.Good enough that I read it in one afternoon because I didn't want to put it down.
Even though the characters have had some really tragic things happen to them, it's overall a feel-good book that made me happy in the end.
The blurb makes it sound…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Dec 14, 2023
Comment:
I can see why this book is so popular ... it is really good. I already knew Rebecca Ross is a good writer from reading her River Enchanted series and this book did not disappoint. Her writing is a step above.
The characters are great, the plot is compelling, the setting interesting, and the romance cute. A bit too cute for me.
It's really just romance with a bit of fantasy, while I prefer fantasy with a bit of romance.
That being said, I really want to read the sequel to find out what happens after that cliffhanger.
“I am coming to love him, in two different ways. Face to face, and word to word."I can see why this book is so popular ... it is really good. I already knew Rebecca Ross is a good writer from reading her River Enchanted series and this book did not disappoint. Her writing is a step above.
The characters are great, the plot is…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Dec 13, 2023
Comment:
There's a lot in this book! Heavy world-building, lots of characters, many mysterious elements, but an exciting plot that makes you just want to keep reading.
The main character is very smart, and you feel invested in what will happen to him. He's only 17, so sometimes I felt a little disconnected as he's so young. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the book to adults.
Two things I didn't like but not enough to make me knock off a star: 1st person present narration, I can't stand this. It was okay, I got used to it, still would have preferred past tense. And there is more violence/gore than I'm used to.
I expected it to be good and it was! Highly recommended for any fantasy fans or people who just like good stories. I can't wait for the next book!There's a lot in this book! Heavy world-building, lots of characters, many mysterious elements, but an exciting plot that makes you just want to keep reading.
The main character is very smart, and you feel invested in what will happen to him. He's…
Days at the Morisaki BookshopDays at the Morisaki Bookshop, BookA Novel
by Yagisawa, SatoshiBook - 2023Book, 2023
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Nov 05, 2023
Comment:
A short and sweet read. Actually too short. The entire time I was reading it I was thinking how there was only a bit left and it was going to end soon and I didn't want it to.
A book about books and bookshops and reading books, but also about life.
"It's funny. No matter where you go, or how many books you read, you still know nothing, you haven't seen anything. And that's life."
Translated from the Japanese so it's hard to say, but I think the translator captured the mood of the book really well. It's calm and peaceful. Some really good lines in there, too.
"It's important to stand still sometimes. Think of it as a little rest in the long journey of your life. This is your harbor. And your boat is just dropping anchor here for a little while. And after you're well rested, you can set sail again."
And this about couples where one loves bookshops but the other doesn't (which always seems to happen??):
"She didn't seem especially interested in books. Wada would be carefully examining the books with this earnest expression on his face while she was off on her own looking bored. When she finally got tired of waiting for him, she'd get miffed and say, 'Still not done yet?' and he would desperately apologize, 'Sorry, just a little longer!' Sabu used to say, 'Going to a used bookshop as a couple is a preposterous idea,' but watching the back-and-forth between them gave you a sense of how close they were. I thought it was charming."A short and sweet read. Actually too short. The entire time I was reading it I was thinking how there was only a bit left and it was going to end soon and I didn't want it to.
A book about books and bookshops and reading books, but also about…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Oct 02, 2023
Comment:
This is really good! It has an exciting plot with great characters, and I love that it takes place in Canada. It's also really interesting to learn more about Jamaican history, culture, language, and folklore. The author also explores what it's like for someone who has a degree in English but can't find work. The only complaint I really have is that it feels too short.
I'd like to read more by this author!This is really good! It has an exciting plot with great characters, and I love that it takes place in Canada. It's also really interesting to learn more about Jamaican history, culture, language, and folklore. The author also explores what it's like…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Sep 23, 2023
Comment:
11 years later and re-read this book. Still amazing.
There's a lot in this book about Regency customs around marriage and mourning.
The characters are great. Serena, with her lovely name and voice, but sharp temper. Ivo, that dark-haired, grim but secretly kind guy - perfect. The lovable Fanny and Kirkby. The ridiculous Emily (although she's not as bad as some of Heyer's foolish girl characters in other books) and Gerard.
And how the two mains just can't forget about each other no matter all the silly things that happen in between.
My only wish is that Ivo would have more screen time.11 years later and re-read this book. Still amazing.
There's a lot in this book about Regency customs around marriage and mourning.
The characters are great. Serena, with her lovely name and voice, but sharp temper. Ivo, that dark-haired, grim…
Craigdarroch Castle in 21 TreasuresCraigdarroch Castle in 21 Treasures, Book
by Dann, MoiraBook - 2021Book, 2021
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Jul 23, 2023
Comment:
Interesting snippets about certain artifacts in Craigdarroch Castle, the life of the Dunsmuir family who lived there, and Victorian society in Victoria, as well as what happened to the Castle after the family sold it. I really enjoyed learning more. Visiting there again is a must, now that I'm more knowledgeable!Interesting snippets about certain artifacts in Craigdarroch Castle, the life of the Dunsmuir family who lived there, and Victorian society in Victoria, as well as what happened to the Castle after the family sold it. I really enjoyed learning more.…
Following the Curve of TimeFollowing the Curve of Time, BookThe Untold Story of Capi Blanchet
by Converse, CathyBook - 2018Book, 2018
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Jul 17, 2023
Comment:
Biography of Capi Blanchet, who wrote about her travels up and down the BC coast with her 5 children in The Curve of Time. She had an interesting life. Recommended if you've read her book and are curious about what her life was like and what happened to her children. The author also goes into detail about some places she visited.Biography of Capi Blanchet, who wrote about her travels up and down the BC coast with her 5 children in The Curve of Time. She had an interesting life. Recommended if you've read her book and are curious about what her life was like and what…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Jul 13, 2023
Comment:
This is the second in the series and I enjoyed it as much as the first.
There's a mostly different cast of characters and I felt the author stays pretty true to Jane Austen's characters. There are a few new ones introduced and I have to say, even though I am not usually a mystery reader, I guessed who the villain was immediately so I'm not sure that was done very well.
Still, it was a good read and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series!This is the second in the series and I enjoyed it as much as the first.
There's a mostly different cast of characters and I felt the author stays pretty true to Jane Austen's characters. There are a few new ones introduced and I have to say, even…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Jun 22, 2023
Comment:
Interesting book written by a woman who travelled every summer with her 5 kids in their boat up the coast of British Columbia into all the various inlets during the later 1920s and 1930s. It's not written as a chronological story but is just little pieces and vignettes of some of the things they saw and did and people they met. Her husband had died in 1927 so it was pretty remarkable at that time for her to go off on her own. She seems very knowledgeable and the book definitely made me want to jump in a boat and go up there to see what they saw.
At that time, they just anchored their boat and went wherever they wanted, visiting everyone (it seems common for them to just show up at someone's cabin that they had never met before, but are still invited inside), exploring, consulting their charts. Some of their journeys were following in Captain George Vancouver's wake.
There is history and biology and sociology and spirituality and poetry in this book. I found the most fascinating part was when they explored the Indigenous (Blanchet does not use that word, though) winter villages, some of them centuries old.
Some of it is just a lot of words that didn't make much sense to my tired and ignorant-about-boating brain, but it was a nice read. I only wish I had a good map of the place in my head (or at least in the book) and I would have loved to see more pictures. However, I know Cathy Converse wrote a book about Capi and her family, so I will be reading that as a follow-up.Interesting book written by a woman who travelled every summer with her 5 kids in their boat up the coast of British Columbia into all the various inlets during the later 1920s and 1930s. It's not written as a chronological story but is just little…
Skip Beat!Skip Beat!, Graphic NovelVol. 48
by Nakamura, YoshikiGraphic Novel - 2022Graphic Novel, 2022
Added Jun 21, 2023
The Illustrated History of British ColumbiaThe Illustrated History of British Columbia, Book
by Reksten, TerryBook - 2001Book, 2001
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Jun 06, 2023
Comment:
I took this out mostly to read the Gold Rush section but I ended up reading every word. The author writes in a way that makes is really interesting and easy to read. It's separated into chapters that aren't too long so I'd read one every night or so until I made it through the book.
There are a lot of pictures, quotes, maps, and excerpts that makes it not feel like it's bogged down with text.
It's comprehensive as well except for the last 50 years which are summarized pretty briefly (although I didn't mind that).
I'm interested to see how this would be updated over 20 years later. Even though a lot of important topics are addressed, a lot has changed in the last two decades that could add to this book.I took this out mostly to read the Gold Rush section but I ended up reading every word. The author writes in a way that makes is really interesting and easy to read. It's separated into chapters that aren't too long so I'd read one every night or so…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added Jun 06, 2023
Comment:
I don't read a lot of mysteries but this one intrigued me because it has all of Jane Austen's major characters together in one book.
The author used the original dates that the stories were written so the timeline works for the Darcys and Tilneys to have adult children - Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy. The Knightleys are the hosts of a house party at Donwell Abbey with the author using clever contrivances to get all of the characters there and explain how they know each other.
I really liked it for the most part. It's clear the author knows the characters well and I feel they stayed mostly true to character and acted believably. In order to make motives for murder, the characters all had a bit of tragic backstory to make it more plausible, which wasn't that fun. I didn't like Fanny and Edmund but I didn't love them in the original book either. I didn't like that Wentworth was portrayed as quick-tempered. And even though it takes place in 1820, with all of the characters talking and behaving true to the times, we can't forget it's written in 2022 because of the gay subplot. But for another modern addition, I found it interesting that the author portrays one of the main characters as autistic and reveals it in detail, while showing what it might have been like for someone in those times to have to conform to society. I enjoyed the conversations between Emma and Mr. Knightley the most but that's no surprise since Emma is my favourite Austen book (and I suspect the author's as well, judging by how she wrote them).
It captivated me enough that I want to read the next one! Highly recommended for lovers of Jane Austen; anyone else might find it okay but it means a lot more when you understand the characters.I don't read a lot of mysteries but this one intrigued me because it has all of Jane Austen's major characters together in one book.
The author used the original dates that the stories were written so the timeline works for the Darcys and Tilneys…
Skip Beat!Skip Beat!, Graphic NovelVol. 47
by Nakamura, YoshikiGraphic Novel - 2022Graphic Novel, 2022
Added Jun 02, 2023
The Catch Me If You CanThe Catch Me If You Can, BookOne Woman's Journey to Every Country in the World
by Nabongo, JessicaBook - 2022Book, 2022
julia_sedai's rating:
Added May 22, 2023
Comment:
Interesting book about the first Black woman to visit all 195 countries in the world.
She only includes 100 countries, just over half, in the book, and it's already long! Tons of writing about what she did and ate, which is sometimes interesting, but there were a few countries I just skimmed through. I did read most of the Africa ones which I know hardly anything about.
I would have liked some more pictures. Once in a while she described some beautiful views she saw and then didn't include a picture of it. It's like Instagram in a book - the pictures are taken to be beautiful and colourful and she is the focus in almost all of them.
While I enjoyed paging through it for the most part, I just couldn't completely admire the author. She travels mostly in luxury, surrounds herself with friends and constantly parties, and even says at the beginning that she makes a point of living her life without ever doing anything she doesn't want to do.Interesting book about the first Black woman to visit all 195 countries in the world.
She only includes 100 countries, just over half, in the book, and it's already long! Tons of writing about what she did and ate, which is sometimes interesting,…
julia_sedai's rating:
Added May 16, 2023
Comment:
It's been a long time since I read the previous book in this series and I've had this on my to-read list for 6 years. It did not disappoint - I've loved Stengl's Goldstone Wood books in the past and I loved this one!
They're allegorical but also just really good stories. The characters are never what you expect and they are not perfect. The worlds are described in detail and her writing is fun and captivating. I'd say they're geared to YA but I've only read them as an adult and still enjoy them at 33.It's been a long time since I read the previous book in this series and I've had this on my to-read list for 6 years. It did not disappoint - I've loved Stengl's Goldstone Wood books in the past and I loved this one!
They're allegorical but also…
A Lady's Guide to Fortune-huntingA Lady's Guide to Fortune-hunting, Book
by Irwin, SophieBook - 2022Book, 2022
julia_sedai's rating:
Added May 16, 2023
Comment:
I laughed out loud so many times during this book. Just giggled. Was in stitches, as they say. There were a lot of lines that were just gold. For an author's debut, it was so good.
It's my kind of book, though. Regency era, strong-willed heroine, comedic, with a handsome and rich male lead, and clean romance. A lot of the reviews on the back cover and inside compared this to Georgette Heyer - while I do think Heyer is superior (and unattainable), I appreciated this book because the author knows that readers like more male screen time. The POV switches from character to character and I really liked that - not by chapter, but just as the story is unfolding. As I usually prefer no male POV at all, this was well done.
The overall story is great, too. Kitty's background is unusual but it's a good plot point and makes for some thoughtful conversations. I liked her from the beginning and didn't care that she was mercenary. The author really shows that because of her poverty and background, she doesn't have many options in Regency England.
The side characters were good, too, and I liked their own stories. I found myself hoping at the end of the book that we'll see more of all of these characters.
Recommended for anyone who wants a cute and funny read with more in it than just romance.I laughed out loud so many times during this book. Just giggled. Was in stitches, as they say. There were a lot of lines that were just gold. For an author's debut, it was so good.
It's my kind of book, though. Regency era, strong-willed heroine,…
Her Courage RisesHer Courage Rises, Book50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia & the Yukon
by Healey, HaleyBook - 2022Book, 2022
julia_sedai's rating:
Added May 16, 2023
Comment:
Short (one-page) biographies of 50 women, most of whom I'd never heard of before, although there were a few familiar ones. Their stories are interesting and inspiring. I believe it's geared towards teens, but anyone interested in the real lives of strong and smart women would enjoy this book. It would also be appealing to anyone who likes BC and Yukon (and especially gold rush) history.
I appreciate the drawings but I think it would've been nice to also have photographs.Short (one-page) biographies of 50 women, most of whom I'd never heard of before, although there were a few familiar ones. Their stories are interesting and inspiring. I believe it's geared towards teens, but anyone interested in the real lives of…
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