A Ladder to the Sky | 
#temptingtitles #withnew
I did it! I managed to use all owned tbr books for this months photo challenge. I had to dip into my nook for one but otherwise all others are on my physical pile and the tagged book is one of the newest books I‘ve recently purchased. Thanks for hosting @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
A lovely beach weekend of pups, books and gelato.
pickWhat a read to start the year with. Brilliant writing as always with Boyne; quite a dark novel but I loved the humour within it, the way each section focused on a different character viewpoint all in relation to Maurice, the ending…there wasn‘t much about it I didn‘t like. A rollercoaster read of a book with a despicable main character. Couldn‘t put it down.
“I want to be a success…It‘s all that matters to me. I‘ll do whatever it takes to succeed”.
Oh Maurice! What an unforgettable protagonist Boyne has created. I loved this book.
#AlphabetGame #letterL
pickThis is an amazing book about ambition that only John Boyne could write. He made me hate Maurice Swift as much as he made me love Cyril Avery. I loved the unique narrative style. Perfect. #highlyrecommend
pickThis is the third Boyne I‘ve read, and the second that I really loved. Maurice Swift is such an interesting, repulsive character.
My one criticism is that, as he seems to identify as aromatic and asexual, it‘s portrayed as just another negative aspect of his profile. Those of us on the ace spectrum get so much erasure, flack, or judgment that it seems like low-hanging fruit to pick with Maurice. He‘s terrible all on his own; leave us out of it!
so-soI have some questions about this. For the author. Couldn't the narcissist be a total psycho without being on the LGBTQ+ spectrum or making such a big deal about it? What is the real Gore Vidal even doing in this book? I think that's it.
I love this author. This book was fine. But I expected next level. No idea what order this came out in. Feeling judgemental.
#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
so-so#audiowalked this #aam book, and have to say it wasn‘t a total success for me, although it did make me think more about issues of plot ownership and how much the talent of the writer stands on its own when asserting ownership of a story than did the fairly similar The Plot.
so-soThis is my first Boyne so-so, and idk if it‘s because of the negative representation of the asexual/aromantic MC (see last post) or if I just prefer it when he does the arc of a single character‘s life like in Hearts or Loneliness (tagged ⬇️).
Maurice Swift is a thief. He always wanted to be a writer, but can‘t imagine a plot to save his life. And he will stop at nothing to get ideas to gain the acclaim he thinks he deserves! #AuthorAMonth
As an aroace person, I‘m finding Boyne‘s MC problematic. There are jokes that aromantic people are psychopaths, especially those that are allosexual or sex positive/indifferent asexuals (like the MC). I don‘t know what Boyne identifies as, but this is really hitting me as perpetuating a negative stereotype that some readers might not realize they‘re consuming because asexual themes aren‘t as often explored as allosexual ones. Thoughts?
bailedI've already read one book by the #AuthorAMonth previously, and I think I am good. This was not for me. @Soubhiville
The books and the bookends are new! Three more for #NewReleaseTuesday 😎 Tagging the books ⬇️
Link to the handmade bookends: https://getarchd.com/collections/whitney-winkler 🤩
pickMaurice Swift makes a great villain. One you love to hate. And his downfall was both predictable and exactly what you wanted to happen. At the beginning I thought the dialogue was weak, but perhaps he just couldn‘t grasp Erich‘s voice, because it got better.
I read this for both #doublespin and #authoramonth.
@Soubhiville @TheAromaofBooks
My #roll100 picks for March! A ladder to the Sky and Aberystwyth Mon Amor. Two Kindle selections that have been sitting waiting to be read for a while! I love how the dice Gods are stretch my reading in all different directions already this year 😊 @PuddleJumper
My #roll100 picks for March! A ladder to the Sky and Aberystwyth Mon Amor. Two Kindle selections that have been sitting waiting to be read for a while! I love how the dice Gods are stretch my reading in all different directions already this year 😊 @PuddleJumper
pickI am a big fan of John Boyne‘s books. When I read them I am unable to think of anything else. The Hearts Invisible Furies is on my Top 10 list!
I‘ve just finished A Ladder to the Sky…it is such a dark novel, the main protagonist is horrid..but I wanted to keep reading..horror and dread one page…laughter the next ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I‘m on a roll..I‘m reading The Absolutist next😊
#irishwriters #literature #fiction
@Soubhiville, thank you so much for your generous gifts for #Authoramonth2022! I'm so excited to get to these when the time comes. And look at that cute #LitsyBookMail sticker! 😁 Thank you again for your kindness! ♥
pickI finished this book and headed outside to walk in silence so I could wrap my head around my emotions on this one. Maurice Swift is a fascinating character. The book is so well written and the way the plot unfolds is perfection. I loved hating Maurice.
pickNot my favourite Boyne but still a great read. I love that there were changes in the narrator and you weren‘t sure straight away who they were or what their relationship to Maurice was - the question was always ‘Oh no, what‘s he doing now?‘
Maurice is, weirdly, one of the most likeable but obnoxious villains in literature. Can I also just say that we‘re not all like that in Harrogate, his and my home town! 🤣
pickI loved this book. I couldn't put it down and was always wondering what was going to happen next. It isn't actually a thriller but I'd say it has some psychological thriller aspects to it. The characters were fascinating - and many of them villainous in one way or another. Even though some of the events were predictable once you figure out who Maurice is, it was a great read. John Boyne is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
It is brutally hot here so what better than a beer and a book in the backyard while dad plays with the kiddos. I really enjoyed A History of Loneliness by John Boyne so I'm hoping this book is just as good.
#BackyardReading #BookAndBeer #CraftBeer #Heatwave #SummerReading
#MayCharacters
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
Even if I loved him, Maurice Swift is definitely #mercyless 💔
Day 26
pickDark, but phenomenal. John Boyne has become a must read for me. He never disappoints. I seem to have a thing for Irish authors.
pickFor sure a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. His writing is impeccable and I was completely sucked into this story. A definite recommend.
John Boyne is one of my favourite authors. In this book, he has given us Maurice Swift, an #unforgettable protagonist...an irresistible character but a sociopath who will stop at nothing to become a famous writer. I loved this book and the ending made me chuckle. Oh Maurice!
#wordsofoctober
pickWork has been crazy and fairly terrible lately. I am trying hard for balance and self-care. So stepping off into a John Boyne novel feels indulgent. This took me s but to get into but holy cow what a character! Boyne never disappoints.
pickI‘m fairly certain that John Boyne is an author that I will read no matter the plot. I picked this up because I loved The Heart‘s Invisible Furies...and I loved this one, too. Maurice Swift is a wonderful character to hate!
Up next (and will be a bingo!) The Heart‘s Invisible Furies was my favorite book of 2019. Excited to start another one by John Boyne. 📚
#bookspinbingo
so-soThe writing is this novel is amazing. You read through 3 different characters and how their lives are effected while being involved with Maurice.Two characters that stick out to me are Erik&Dash,both know they are being used and allow it to continue in some hope that Maurice will fall in love with them.this was the saddest section of the book, because you could tell how lonely they were.They were so desperate for someone to share their lives with
pickI finally finished my #doublespin pick for May, and it was EXCELLENT. This is my first book by Boyne, but it won‘t be my last. His character development is incredible and his writing sublime. Highly recommend ⭐️
@TheAromaofBooks
pickThis is a book about ambition, vanity and complete lack of empathy. It also explores the borders of plagiarism. Our main character is a guy, who wants to become a writer, despite being unable to write a proper story, so he uses other people's ideas in a very cruel way to climb the so called “ladder“ to fame. The narration style was unique and very captivating! I especially admired the way John Boyne is able to write dialogue. Definitely recommend!
It‘s been a bumper April for me! I never manage to read this many books but due to the lockdown, maternity leave & sitting up at night trying to get my 2 week old to sleep, I‘ve whizzed through 11 books! I‘d only read 13 books in the 1st 3 months.
After a slow start where the COVID crisis meant I was finding it hard to concentrate on books, I‘ve completely changed and am really started using them as a means of escapism.
pickOooo, Mr Boyne, you‘ve created another character who will stick in my head for a while!
This is the twisted tale of Maurice Swift, a man with a talent for the mechanics of writing a good book but who is incapable of thinking of a good plot. So what does he do? Why he acquires them from others....by any means necessary.
This had me hooked from the get go and kept me riveted right to the end as I waited to see what fate had in store for Maurice!
pickI am such a fan of John Boyne. This book was utterly dark, and the main character is pretty much completely unlikeable, but Boyne nails the storytelling perfectly.
pickI liked it, but it's not nearly in the same ballpark as The Heart's Invisible Furies. The protagonist was a horrible person, and I always struggle with that. Also, the changing narrators, all writing in different PoV was frustrating. I will call it a pick, but barely.
🌈 Wrap-up! 🌈
Well, February was fantastic!
•
Lethal White- Galbraith- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Ladder to the Sky- Boyne- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Becoming- Obama- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Sign of Four- Conan Doyle- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Song of Achilles- Miller- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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What was your favorite read this month?!
Started this last night. One of my favorite writers. Off to an excellent start. Engaging. It‘s going to be hard to put down. Luckily I have today off.
pickI wasn't sure how I felt about the book for a while, but I'll be honest, the last 1/4 is really what made the book for me. I'm glad I stuck with it because the ending was worth it. Lots of interesting characters and not-so-black-and-white situations that make you think.
I only got one book for Christmas this year, so I decided to play Santa for myself with a little post-Christmas shopping at Half-Price Books 🎄📚
