Overhyped New Releases? | February 2023 Wrap Up

TL;DR

Olive discusses the books she read in February 2023, sharing her thoughts and reviews.

Transcript

hi guys Olive here here today to talk to you about the books that I read in February 2023. February was an interesting month I did get a lot of reading done I'm very happy about that it wasn't nearly as much as I was hoping to get done but weather-wise here in Pittsburgh it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be so I was out and about a lot ... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ "Lost Empress" had a standout character, but the inclusion of unnecessary interconnected characters hindered the reading experience.
• ❓ "The Phantom of the Opera" was melodramatic yet sincere, providing an enjoyable reading experience.
• 😃 "Big Swiss" lacked chemistry between the main characters and portrayed a toxic relationship dynamic.
• ❓ "I Have Some Questions for You" left Olive feeling confused and unsure of the author's message.
• 👻 Revisiting "Sense and Sensibility" allowed Olive to gain a better understanding of the character of Marianne.
• ❣️ "Lakewood" was concept-heavy without substantial storytelling, potentially better suited as a short story.
• 💪 "The Flatshare" had strong side storylines and organic development of the central romance.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were some of the positive aspects of "Lost Empress" by Sergio de la Pava?

The standout aspect of the novel was the character of Nina Gill, who was entertaining, forceful, and hilarious. Her storyline and development made her one of Olive's all-time favorite characters.

Q: How did Olive feel about the chemistry between the main characters in "Big Swiss" by Jen Gann?

Olive felt that there was no chemistry between the main characters, Big Swiss and Greta. Their contrasting personality types and toxic relationship dynamics eroded the positive aspects of the book.

Q: What did Olive think about the writing in "Lakewood" by Megan Giddings?

Olive found the writing in "Lakewood" to be concept-heavy without enough substantial storytelling. She felt that the book would have worked better as a short story and lacked development in terms of plot.

Q: What stood out about "The Flatshare" by Beth O'Leary?

Olive enjoyed the side storylines in "The Flatshare" even more than the central romance. She appreciated how the relationships and character development occurred organically and naturally throughout the book.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Olive read a highly ambitious novel called "Lost Empress" by Sergio de la Pava, featuring a strong and entertaining character named Nina Gill. However, she found the inclusion of unnecessary and complicated interconnected characters to be a downside.

• She read "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux and found it to be melodramatic but sincere, enjoying the campy elements.

• Olive also picked up the hyped book "Big Swiss" by Jen Gann, but felt disappointed in the lack of chemistry between the main characters and the toxic nature of their relationship.

• She had mixed feelings about "I Have Some Questions for You" by Rebecca Makkai, finding it confusing and leaving her with unanswered questions.

• Olive revisited Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" and gained a better appreciation for the character of Marianne.

• She had a negative experience with "Lakewood" by Megan Giddings, finding it to be concept-heavy with a lack of substantial storytelling.

• Olive enjoyed the romance novel "The Flatshare" by Beth O'Leary, highlighting the interesting side storylines and organic development of the central romance.

• She read two science-heavy non-fiction books about the heart, "The Heart" by Bill Schutt and "The Exquisite Machine" by Shahina Harding, noting the different approaches and focus of each book.

• Olive read two memoirs, "Lit" by Mary Karr and "Drinking Games" by Sarah Levy, finding the former to have spectacular writing but not connecting with it personally, and the latter lacking a larger conversation about alcohol and displaying a lack of self-awareness by the author.

• Her favorite book of the month was "Caste" by Isabel Wilkerson, praising its flawless exploration of the caste system in the United States and its impact on society.