Book Nook Cafe discussion

Samanta wrote: "47- Translated into English

by Karl-Markus Gauß
Date: 21.2.2024.
Ra..."

Interesting comments, Samanta. One thing i really like is that Gauß visited Zagreb four times before publishing the piece. He gave himself time to experience it in several different moods, which is a great approach.

Thank you for sharing about this book. What a neat way to complete prompt #47!

Yes, he got to see it from different perspectives before forming his general opinion of us.


Hahaha...I was looking through the prompts to see if I could place this book somewhere and when this popped out, I had the light bulb over my head. :D

madrano wrote: "Samanta wrote: "I never expect for historical FICTION to be a real history book...."

It may sound as though i do think historical fiction is real fiction but i really don't. What i dislike, that w..."

It really is somewhere in between, but as fiction it permits certain, lets say, embellishment of facts. I do not like when it diverges too far from the truth, either. It makes me respect the author less. If I'm really interested in the topic, I will also do my own research.

Samanta wrote: "47- Translated into English

by Karl-Markus Gauß
Date: 21.2.2024.
Ra..."

Very well done on the prompt, Samanta !

Thank you, Alias! :)

Samanta wrote: "I do not like when it diverges too far from the truth, either. It makes me respect the author less. If I'm really interested in the topic, I will also do my own research..."

True, i often end up researching plenty after reading an historical novel.

I really like your point about less respect for authors who feel they must diverge far from the truth of historic characters. Thanks for sharing that.

1- Biography, autobiography or memoir

by Ana Estefania Scheuren de Gil
Date: 24.2.2024.
Rating: C
Genre: Memoir, History, Croatia, Venezuela
Review: Zagreb: One History, One Family is a history and memoir of a family of German origin who "was born" in Bosnia and Herzegovina, found its way to Croatia, and finally made Venezuela its final safe harbour.

The author first gives an historical overview of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina from the last decades of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy to modern times. She also places her family within the contexts of what was going on there.

Her German great-grandfather was sent by the Habsburg emperor to Dobrinj in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the representative of the crown. There he met his future wife (also German) and had a daughter, who would be the author's grandmother. And so starts the saga of this family. The author was born a few year before WWII in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the family was forced to move to Croatia at the end of the war. Her uncle was, for some reason that wasn't precisely disclosed, holding a very important position in the fascist regime in Croatia, during the time of the Nazi puppet state, The Independent State of Croatia. For that reason, when the war was coming to an end and the Communists started gaining power, and prosecuting and murdering the supporters, functionaries and soldiers of the old regime, the men of her family escaped. Although they were in terrible danger and were once almost executed by the partisans, they manged to arrive to Austria, and from there on a whim decided to take the ship to Venezuela. Some eight years after the war ended, the women of the family, who stayed in, what was by then, Yugoslavia, finally managed to go to Venezuela, and the family was reunited.

I like the story of this family, because of its Croatian origin. Even though the originators were German, with marriages they became a Croatian family. I am not quite sure if the family was a supporter of the fascist regime, or if they were just naturally given (forced) to take a position due to their German origin. The author smoothly avoids that detail, and it's a very important detail. Don't get me wrong, I do not support the Communist regime in Yugoslavia, it was a murderous dictatorship which cost many people's lives and livelihoods (and is costing us today because of its heritage), but the fascist regime was a genocidal regime and is a blot on Croatian history (although many Croatians today deny that).

This a chronicle of a family. it is divided in titled chapters, but apart from the historical overview of the area, it's as if the author just threw her thoughts on the paper, and made a text of them. If felt as if it was all over the place.

Good job, Samanta. Would you mind sharing the title?

Here it is, madrano. I was writing the review, but saved the spot before.

Samanta wrote: "Here it is, madrano. I was writing the review, but saved the spot before."

Is there an English version of the book?

Your review was terrific.

Thank you, Alias!

I am not sure, but I can check.

I couldn't find anything on the internet.

Samanta wrote: "Here it is, madrano. I was writing the review, but saved the spot before."

Thank you, Samanta. This sounds like a good story that might have been better served by another storyteller. On the other hand, readers probably get more details when a family member tells the story. It must be difficult to share one's own history. The vague parts seem to stick out bigger.

Thank you for sharing this one, Samanta.

20- The Arts: Music, art, theater, acting, dance or poetry.

by Dragutin Tadijanović
Date: 27.2.2024.
Rating: A
Genre: Poetry, Classic Croatian Literature
Review: Silver fifes is a poetry collection written by one of the most important Croatian poets. It was first published in 1960, but it was renewed many times with new poems that span from 1920s to 2004. I was reading the 20th edition published in 2004.

Dragutin Tadijanović belonged to modernism and postmodernism, and his poetry is easy, written in free verse, with everyday topics especially focused on romantic love, love for one's birthplace, patriotism, remembrance of past events, and social injustices.

FUN FACT: Tadijanović lived to be 102 years old (1905 - 2007), and was in a relationship with his wife for 71 years, until her death in 2004. He wrote more than 500 poems, won many rewards, and is an honorary citizen of various Croatian cities and towns.

He must mean much to Croatian communities everywhere. Thanks for sharing about him, his work and his marriage. What a long, fruitful life.

Congratulations on achieving this prompt, Samanta.

Thank you, madrano! :)

Even if you've never read poetry, or don't like it, you know who Dragutin Tijardović is. He is general knowledge here.

Samanta wrote: FUN FACT: Tadijanović lived to be 102 years old (1905 - 2007),."

Wow! As long as one is in reasonable good health that's wonderful. Just imagine the changes one sees in a lifetime like that.

Well done on the prompt, Samanta !

He definitely lived through so many changes in Croatia in his lifetime. He lived through all six types of states Croatia was part of in the 20th century. He was born in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, lived through the "State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs", "Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes", "Kingdom of Yugoslavia", "Independent State of Croatia", "Socialist Federation of Yugoslavia", and in the end the "Republic of Croatia", which we have been for the past 35 years. And all different types of political thought and regimes. Not to mention the two World Wars.

Samanta wrote: "He definitely lived through so many changes in Croatia in his lifetime. He lived through all six types of states Croatia was part of in the 20th century. He was born in the Austro-Hungarian Monarch..."

That is a amazing amount of change, both good and bad. Never mind all the innovations.

Samanta wrote: "He definitely lived through so many changes in Croatia in his lifetime. He lived through all six types of states Croatia was part of in the 20th century. He was born in the Austro-Hungarian Monarch..."

Remarkable history in one country, in one century. Here is a sample of Dragutin Tadijanovic's work--

The Ice-Wolf

Who doesn’t know I come from Rastušje
And went to school in Podvinje?…

A winter’s morning. Frost.
I’m walking alone from the village.
Passing beside the frozen Glogóvica
Suddenly I hear
Crackling, crunching, crashing… Someone’s crossing in my direction?

I immediately think of the last night’s talk
Of wolves coming out of Bosnia.
In fear
My feet
Begin to run,
Without a backward glance
Nearly to Podvinje
Where, in tears, I meet the milkmen.
The milkmen asked me: What’s up?
Nothing, nothing, I said;
And off I go.

That evening my mother happened to mention
That the ice on the Glogóvica was cracking with the cold.

I heard it too! I said;
And laughed.

Thank you, madrano, for finding his work in English. :)

I'm pleased i could find and share it, Samanta.

5 - Historical Fiction

by Madeline Miller
Date: 21.3.2024.
Rating: A
Genre: Historical Fiction, Greek Mythology
Review: Song of Achilles tells the story of the famous Greek hero Achilles and his lover Patroclus.

The story is written in first person POV with Patroclus' voice. it starts with his life from early age and ends after his death. Patroclus was a young prince of a very small Greek kingdom. His father was a brute to him, because he was of a weaker constitution, and his mother, who probably had some kind of a mental disorder. At age 9, Patroclus' father forces him to offer for the future Helen of Sparta's hand, but she chooses Menelaus, and this is the first glimpse of the historical even that will take place in 10 years, the Trojan war. Soon after, Patroclus accidentally kills a young boy who was bullying him and he is exiled to the court of king Peleus where he meets Achilles. At first, Achilles seemingly takes no notice of him, being "the best of all Greeks" and all that, but soon they realise they have strong feelings for each other and so starts the beautiful relationship that will last until their deaths and beyond.

I honestly knew very little of this topic, given that I successfully avoided reading Iliad in school (I basically skimmed through it). I was glad to read a bit about Achilles, since he is not such a popular subject of books. I was positively surprised that the book was more about Patroclus because I liked him a great deal. I found him to be a good, honest and loving person until the very end, while Achilles was too absorbed in his status of "the best of all Greeks" and his immortal glory.

In the afterword, Madeline Miller mentions that in ancient Greek literature, Achilles' and Patroclus' relationship is described as romantic, but the subsequent developments in history decided to erase that part and show them "only" as the best of friends. She decide to go against the official teachings that denied that part of their relationship and write a story about it.

Samanta wrote: "5- Historical fiction

by Madeline Miller
Date: 21.3.2024.
Rating: A
Genre: Historical Fiction, Greek ..."

Samanta, I enjoyed The Song Of Achilles very much as well, and if you haven't read it, I highly recommend Madeline Miller's take on The Odyssey and Greek mythology,
Circe

I'm torn on Miller's work. While i've only read Circe, i kinda liked it but also kinda didn't. But the negative outweighed the positive, evidently, because i removed Achilles from my TBR afterward. Looking back on Circe, it was a fine retelling, i just felt it was windy, more than i wanted to know about her initial time on the island.

All this has me rethinking Achilles, because i so liked The Iliad. This is probably why it was on my TBR in the first place.

ANYway, Samanta, thank you for sharing your latest reading adventure. As you can see, it has me thinking. :-)

Glad to hear it, madrano! To like one book and dislike the other one is perfectly normal. For example, I read and liked The Tale of Two Cities and Christmas Carol by Dickens, but I am struggling with The Old Curiosity Shop. I have almost given up many times, but I'm stubborn and I don't like to drop books.
.

James wrote: "Samanta wrote: "5- Historical fiction

by Madeline Miller
Date: 21.3.2024.
Rating: A
Genre: Historical..."

Thank you for the recommendation, James!
I will try Circe, too, at some point. Good thing I love Greek mythology.

Samanta wrote: "For example, I read and liked The Tale of Two Cities and Christmas Carol by Dickens, but I am struggling with The Old Curiosity Shop..."

I haven't read Shop, yet. Which is odd, as i like curiosities and such shopping. I've enjoyed reading his books over the years. I think Bleak House was the roughest for me but i was reading it with a group, which helped motivate me.

Good luck with Shop. Remember, there is never a rush.

2- Business, economics, finance (personal, business or home) F or NF

by George S. Clason
Date: 17.4.2024.
Rating: A+
Genre: Short Stories, Classic, Personal Finance
Review: I am completely in love with this book!!

I will admit that before seeing it on my brother's bookshelf, I had no idea this book existed, much less that it was a classic. I was, of course, drawn to the title, being the history nerd and all that. I was surprised, but quite taken with the topic, as well as with the format and the writing style.

In short, George S. Clason, a very successful American entrepreneur who lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th century, and who managed to survive the Great Depression, started writing short stories with advice on how to earn money and multiply it. He decided to place them in ancient Babylon, as it was an example of a enormously rich city that based its economy on trade. To better get into the stories, he decided to write them in archaic English, which was a bit of a task, but still enjoyable.

All of his stories are based on a principle or a financial plan that he calls "The Five Laws of Gold". The main idea is to always put aside one tenth of your earnings, no matter how much you earn in a day, week, month into what we nowadays call the emergency fund. The other nine tenths you spend as you see fit. He also advised to use the next two tenths to pay your debts (if you have them), and to use the rest for life expenses. Now, this might sound impossible today, when we have bank debts with fixed monthly allotments and similar fixed expenses, but the principle is still very good. Another one of his "laws" is to invest a part of your earned money so that it continues to work for you and eventually multiplies, but never to invest into something you know nothing about, or with people who are not experts in the area you want to invest in.

This particular edition comes with a foreword and comments by Dave Ramsey, a popular financial expert in the USA, if I understand correctly.

Well done, Samanta !

I'm happy to see you found a 5 star book to fill the prompt !

Samanta wrote: "2- Business, economics, finance (personal, business or home) F or NF

by George S. Clason
Date: 17.4...."

Like you, Samanta, i had not heard of the author or book. What an interesting approach. I will keep this in mind for my own prompt, as well. Business reading is not something that draws me.

Congratulations on finding a book you really liked from a family member. Cool!

I am not big on business reading, either, madrano. That is why I loved that he wrote his financial advice as fictional stories set in the Antiquity. For a history nerd, it felt like being transferred to ancient Babylon. I loved it. I am also a big saver, so the idea really resonated with me. While before I saved where and when I could, I have now decided to follow the 10% rule.

Samanta, your last sentence makes sense to me. My husband & i have tried to do that throughout our married life, as well as investing. (We are pretty conservative investors, though.) As a result, my husband could retire before he turned 60 and we've been able to travel to many places, both in the US & overseas, as a result.

Of course, it helps that i came from a thrifty family and my husband has an MBA. We also managed to put both our children through University, with money we also set aside. And we still lived very comfortably. It was challenging at times but now it is oh, so rewarding!

I look forward to reading this book now. Thanks.

7- Legal or lawyer character F / NF

by Charles Dickens
Date: 19. 5. 2024.
Rating: C
Genre: Classic British Literature
Review: It took me so long to finish this book that I do not know what to write about it.

Having already read some of Dickens' work, I started this one mainly because I considered it to be an acquirement of basic cultural literacy and general knowledge. I have to admit this one was hard to go through.

Firstly, Dickens' writing style (at least in this book) is very flowery. I am not sure if it was done on purpose, but I had to read 570 pages of a story that could be told in, let's say, 300 pages. Paragraphs and paragraphs of saying a lot without saying anything. I would usually lose track of the storyline at some point. Secondly, there were just too many different characters introduced into the story, and I could not follow their stories or how they intertwined with the story of the main characters. The saving grace is the ending, which was very well done. Every single thread of the story got a conclusion, in general satisfying. It's a usual trope of destitute people, angel-like in disposition, who are being "tortured" by terrible characters. But, all ends well in the end, well almost. Good wins over evil, but not all the good ones survive to see it.

Samanta wrote: "I had to read 570 pages of a story that could be told in, let's say, 300 pages. Paragraphs and paragraphs of saying a lot without saying anything...."

LOL--this defines Dickens perfectly, imo, Samanta. I really enjoy his writing but, my gosh!, he apparently never understood the term "brevity"! Still, i think the prose works for me because i liked all i was learning about those times, particularly items with which i have no familiarity. And, if i recall correctly, this book is full of items like that.

Congratulations on completing the prompt, of course, but more so because you stayed with a challenging book to achieve it. I'm not sure i would have had the patience.

Samanta wrote: Firstly, Dickens' writing style (at least in this book) is very flowery. I am not sure if it was done on purpose, but I had to read 570 pages of a story that could be told in, let's say, 300 pages..."

Well done on your book challenge, Samanta !

I believe Dickens works were published serially in magazines. According to Google, contrary to popular belief, he was not paid by the word but per installment.

Just a guess, but I think perhaps that is just the writing style of the times. There were no other distractions, so people preferred longer pieces. Also attention spans were better back in the day according to Professor Neil Postman in his book Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

I didn't realize there were advertisements in these instalments. I found that out from this Duke University webpage.
"Dickens's Serialized Novels
Most of Dickens’s novels were first published a few chapters at a time in inexpensive monthly installments, a format known as the “book in parts.” Much Victorian fiction was published serially in periodicals, but Dickens was unusual in that he did not complete his works before publishing began, allowing him to alter his plans based on current events and audience reaction to earlier parts. The format, and Dickens’s popularity, encouraged the inclusion of advertisements in the parts, an innovation in the development of mass-market advertising. "
https://exhibits.library.duke.edu/exh...

I've enjoyed the Dickens that I've read but I've not read The Old Curiosity Shop. Though since you mentioning it being too wordy and having a large cast of characters, I think I won't be rushing to read it any time soon. ;)

Again, thanks for sharing and well done on the prompt !

Thank you madrano and Alias! :)

I might have had more patience for "wordiness" when I was younger. I adored and devoured classics. But that has changed with time. I do not know why. I enjoyed parts of this book and I wanted to know the ending. Goodreads said I started to read it in 2022! I don't remember that. I started again at the beginning of this year, and it took me 5 months to finish 570 pages. :/

As for the "installment format", I am familiar with it. Our novelists of the 19th century did the same thing. One of our most famous writers of that time, Marija Jurić Zagorka, published her novels the same way. By the way, look her up! She was a force to be reckoned with and a fierce fighter for women's rights.

She sounds fierce ! Love it.

Wikipedia
Marija Jurić, known by her pen name Zagorka, was a Croatian journalist, writer and women's rights activist. She was the first female journalist in Croatia and is among the most read Croatian writers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marija_...


A statue of Zagorka in Zagreb, Croatia

Samanta wrote: "Thank you madrano and Alias! :)

I might have had more patience for "wordiness" when I was younger. I adored and devoured classics. But that has changed with time. I do not know why. I enjoyed part..."

Yes, i feel the same way now, Samanta. It's not that i'm impatient when i read them now, but that i don't want to take the time to devote. I want to savor them.

Thank you for the introduction to Zagorka. I appeciate learning about writers and activists from other nations with which i am not very familiar.

21- Banned book or Challenged book

by Harper Lee
Date: 5. 6. 2024.
Rating: A-
Genre: Classic American Literature
Review: When you finish a book like this one, you should be able to write a long review, but my mind is mostly blank.

I would say that almost everyone knows the plot of this book, two white children trying to live their lives normally, looking at everything through rather innocent eyes, until they are hit with the reality of the world they live in. A black man, Tom Robinson, is falsely accused of sexually assaulting a white woman, and found guilty all the same just because he is a black person living in the south of USA in 1935. The whole situation, that goes against everything their father taught them, will be an eye-opener for them that will mark the end of their innocence.

There isn't much I did not love about this book; the writing style is superb, the story flows beautifully and there author uses a local dialect. I loved that the whole story is told from the point of two children, and their innocent way of thinking makes you stop and think about all that is wrong with our society. I love the upbringing Scout and Jem received. There weren't many parents at that time that would educate their children to be accepting of everyone. There aren't many today, either. And, finally, I was glad Scout finally met the illusive Arthur (Boo) Radley. Scout needed that closure. :D

As for the things I did not like... I expected Tom Robinson to be found guilty, because, frankly, at that time, there was no other possible outcome, but I did not like how the author ended his story. I really thought he would get a chance for a second trial (I know, I know!, almost impossible at that time). I would have liked to know what was going on in his head when he made the decision that cost him his life.

Samanta wrote: "21- Banned book or Challenged book

by Harper Lee
Date: 5. 6. 2024.
Rating: A-
Genre: Classic American Literat..."

Nice review, Samanta.

If you haven't seen the movie, that also is excellent.

Samanta wrote: "21- Banned book or Challenged book

by Harper Lee
Date: 5. 6. 2024.
Rating: A-
Genre: Classic American Literat..."

Samanta, i appreciate your observations about the book. I agree with what you wrote. Your thoughts on Tom Robinson's trial make sense. Thanks for that consideration.

This is one of my favorite novels, and it's always a pleasure to hear what other people think of it. Thanks for sharing.

deb

After posting the review for Mockingbird, I went on to read the review for Go set the Watchman. I was left speechless, but I never envisioned Atticus as a racist. I just didn't see it.

I am now perplexed. I know Watchman was written before Mockingbird and it was never supposed to be published, but it got me thinking about Harper Lee's real stance on the issue. Was the POV in Watchman her POV about Black people, and did she have an epiphany a few years later, or, did she write a story that's, well, a lie?

Samanta wrote: "After posting the review for Mockingbird, I went on to read the review for Go set the Watchman. I was left speechless, but I never envisioned Atticus as a racist. I just didn't see it.

I am now p..."

When I read Watchman, to me, it was clear this was a rough draft and not something meant to be published. I would think, for many authors, a great deal can change before they feel they get a story or character correct. I don't think this should have been published.

I think I read this first draft was rejected then reworked to become Mockingbird.

According to Wiki:
"Written before her only other published novel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), Go Set a Watchman was initially promoted as a sequel by its publishers. It is now accepted that it was a first draft of To Kill a Mockingbird, with many passages in that book being used again."

Personally, I wouldn't ascribe a fictional characters views to an author.

I don't know if there is an adult bio for her. I do see a children's bio, I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee

I read it back in 2016. This was my month end review. Of course many may disagree. This is just my opinion.

Rate: 2/5
This is the first draft of To Kill a Mockingbird. The publisher rejected it. The book was totally reworked and became Mockingbird. This first attempt reads like a first draft. It's a bit disjointed and doesn't flow well. It take the first 100 pages for the story to even begin. I don't know if the author wanted this published. If not, I think her estate did her a disservice.

Samanta wrote: "After posting the review for Mockingbird, I went on to read the review for Go set the Watchman. I was left speechless, but I never envisioned Atticus as a racist. I just didn't see it. ..."

As far as i know there has only been one adult biography of Harper Lee. Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee--Charles J. Shields. As Lee was a Very Private person, he was working with little material, so i found the bio weak. His approach was via acquaintances and facts about the movie/filming/actors. At that point, she was still alive, btw.

How much about her father is true is unclear. As a politician (Alabama state representative), he may well have had friends who were racist, and maybe even joined a racist group. I don't recall the bio mentioning that, but Watchman hadn't been printed by then, either.

Mr. Lee, an attorney, certainly enjoyed the fame Harper's novel brought him. Apparently, at times he signed copies of the book, using the name "Atticus Finch".

As Alias wrote, i do not think that any character in a novel, even those based on real people, should be considered true. Maybe if the author says it was, but who knows?

12- romance, relationships or love. F/NF

by Krešimir Butković
Date: 5. 8. 2024.
Rating: B
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Croatian Literature
Review: Žana (Zhana) is a divorced nurse in her 40s and a single mother to a teenager, who constantly works to be able to support her family, and doesn't have time for anything else. She is also secretly in love with her colleague, the handsome and happily married with children, doctor Mislav. One day she runs into Marin, who starts to flirt with her, but she doesn't take it well.

Marin is a handsome man in his 40s, a chef, and an owner of a very successful fish restaurant. He notices a woman with a tired step and sad eyes walking down the street, and falls madly in love with her. In his bedazzlement, he will embark on a quest to find out who the woman is and win her heart.

Another novel by my good acquaintance, but this one in a totally different (and for me unexpected) genre. At the beginning of the book, I laughed out loud at almost every page, but eventually the story turned a bit more serious, and I did not expect the ending the story had. But it was quite good. It was a lighthearted read with twists and turns, and a good and educational ending.

22- Debut novel

by Scott Hutchins
Date: 6. 8. 2024.
Rating: B
Genre: Fiction, Romance, A bit of science and IT or AI
Review: Neill Jr. is a 35-year-old divorced man who can't seem to find his way. He grew up in the South in a loving, but a bit distant family. His father, a respected local doctor, suddenly and unexpectedly killed himself when Neill was in college, and he's been drifting ever since. In the present he is living in San Francisco, avoiding any deeper relationship, thinking he is incapable of deep feelings. He is working on creating the first sentient computer based on his father, using his detailed journals. In the process, he is learning about his father, mother, and about himself. At the same time he meets Rachel, a much younger woman, to whom he is strongly attracted, but is afraid to move things further.

I have mixed feelings about this book. At the same time, it's lovely, humorous, interesting, boring and too long. I found the parts involving his past, and his present existential crisis interesting, but I wanted to kick him every time he bungled things up with Rachel. On the other hand, I could understand him because he is a typical human being, scared, lost, sometimes irrational, but more than anything, a being that wants to be loved.

Despite my misgivings, this book is a fun read, and deserves to be read, if for nothing else than for it being a debut novel. Everyone deserves a chance.

Samanta wrote: "12- romance, relationships or love. F/NF

."

Well done on the prompt, Samanta ! I happy it turned out to be a good one.

Samanta wrote: "22- Debut novel
..."


Well done on the prompt, Samanta.

Samanta wrote: "12- romance, relationships or love. F/NF

by Krešimir Butković
Date: 5. 8. 2024.
Rating: B
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Croatian Literature
Review: Ža..."

What a nice review, Samanta. I'm sorry the novel isn't available in English, as it sounds appealing. It's a pleasure when we learn authors write well in a number of genres, as Butkovic apparently does. And how neat that you are acquainted with him.

Thanks for sharing about the book.

Samanta wrote: "22- Debut novel

by Scott Hutchins
Date: 6. 8. 2024.
Rating: B
Genre: Fiction, Romance, A bit of ..."

I can see why you have the mixed feelings, Samanta. Still, your rating reflects that you were fine with it, overall. I'm glad you shared about it here. The title is a neat one, imo.