Sunday, January 29, 2017

A Man Called Ove and The Woman in Cabin 10

Have you read these books?  If not, I highly suggest you add them to your I Need To Read list.



Gah!  This book had me in tears, and then I outright bawled at the end.  In some ways we've become a society of instant gratification and while there's nothing wrong with a good page turner now and then, I sometimes think every new book is trying to top the others in terms of OMG! What's next?!?  A Man Called Ove is simply a heartfelt read that will make you think about life.  It's not a terribly long book so please don't skim through it.

You meet a man called Ove and then you learn why he is the way he is and how and why he does what he does.  I don't want to say too much and give away any of the book but I could relate to Ove.  I understood Ove.  He seems like a grumpy, older man when really, there's so much more there beneath his cover.

Not only do I enjoy reading books but I also like discussing and reading about books.  Naturally, I read book reviews on blogs, etc. and for the most part, I agree with the reviewer.  Occasionally there's a dissenting opinion and I can see where that person is coming from.  Okay, okay.  It's impossible for everyone to agree on everything - even a well-crafted, highly-rated novel.  But I read a review of this book in which the reviewer stated that Ove was her least favorite character.  I was blown away by this.  I actually feel protective of Ove.  (Yes, a feel protective of a character in a book.)  So that is one review I absolutely do not agree with at all.  (Plus, he's not really "a character."  The book is about him.)




The Woman in Cabin 10 had just the right amount of suspense without being over the top.

In this tightly wound, enthralling story reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…

So while this was an interesting read, the main character had some annoyances about her and didn't always make the smartest decisions.  The way in which the book was written (especially those jumps to the future) and the fact that it wasn't lengthy somewhat made up for that flaw, in my opinion.  I've seen this book compared to The Girl on the Train (different author) and I have to say that I liked The Woman in Cabin 10 sooooooooo much more than The Girl on the Train.  



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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The Woman in Cabin 10" looks interesting. I read Ruth Ware's other book "In a Dark, Dark Wood" a while back. It was enjoyable to read...sort of annoying in the same way you mentioned. I loved the mystery aspect of it until the very end.

Christi said...

I really loved A Man Called Ove. I have always had a soft spot for curmudgeons. I think of him every time I see a Saab. LOL.

Last month I read My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry. It was not nearly as good as Ove. It really dragged.

I'm on the library waiting list for Woman in Cabin 10. I just might buy it instead. It's been a long time!