September 2019 Wrap Up

TL;DR

Olive reviews various books she read in September 2019, including a comprehensive history of the Soviet prison camp system and a disappointing book about the publication of Doctor Zhivago in the USSR.

Transcript

hi guys olive here here today to tell you about the books I read in September of 2019 as always I will start off by talking about those books I have not previously discussed and then I'll move on to quickly mention those books that I have previously covered elsewhere at the risk of starting off this wrap-up on a somber note I want to first tell you... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏕️ "Gulag: A History" by Anne Applebaum provides a comprehensive account of the Soviet prison camp system, highlighting its brutality and impact on millions of individuals.
• 🖤 "The Secrets We Kept" by Lara Prescott fails to deliver on its promising premise, with shallow research, lazy writing, and a lack of thrilling moments.
• ✍️ Olive enjoys Diane Setterfield's writing style, which focuses on small aspects of life and draws meaning from them.
• 🫠 "Agnes Grey" by Anne Bronte provides an honest depiction of the challenges faced by governesses, offering a simpler yet thought-provoking read.
• 🖐️ "Hag-Seed" by Margaret Atwood offers a modern and meta take on Shakespeare's "The Tempest," with a director seeking revenge through a prisoner production of the play.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Olive's opinion of "Gulag: A History" by Anne Applebaum?

Olive highly recommends "Gulag: A History," praising the author's extensive research, comprehensive coverage of the topic, and the book's ability to shed light on a lesser-known aspect of history.

Q: How does Olive describe "The Secrets We Kept" by Lara Prescott?

Olive expresses strong disappointment with "The Secrets We Kept," criticizing its poor research, lazy writing, and failure to live up to its promising premise about the publication of Doctor Zhivago in the USSR.

Q: What are some of the other books Olive discusses in her wrap-up?

Olive shares her thoughts on "Bellman and Black" by Diane Setterfield, "Agnes Grey" by Anne Bronte, "Hag-Seed" by Margaret Atwood, and a few others.

Q: Did Olive enjoy reading "Agnes Grey" by Anne Bronte?

Olive states that while she liked "Agnes Grey," she did not love it. She appreciates its honesty about the difficulties of being a governess and finds it to be a simple yet enjoyable read.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Olive reviews "Gulag: A History" by Anne Applebaum, highlighting its comprehensive exploration of the Soviet prison camp system and the brutal conditions prisoners faced.

• Olive expresses disappointment with "The Secrets We Kept" by Lara Prescott, criticizing its shallow research, lazy writing, and failure to deliver on its promising premise.

• Olive shares her thoughts on other books she read, including "Bellman and Black" by Diane Setterfield, "Agnes Grey" by Anne Bronte, "Hag-Seed" by Margaret Atwood, and more.