Review: A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean

A Golden Doodle is lying on a bed with a softcover book to the left. The book is Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean.

A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A STORM OF INFINITE BEAUTY by Julianne MacLean left me with mixed feelings. While the premise of Scarlett Fontaine's mysterious life and the connection to Gwen Hollingsworth promised intrigue, the execution fell short. The dual timelines, spanning from Valdez, Alaska in 1963 to Nova Scotia in 2017, lacked a seamless transition, leaving me more captivated by the historical narrative. The portrayal of Gwen and Peter's relationship felt awkward, particularly in discussing Gwen's past with Eric. The narrative, resembling women's fiction, could have thrived as a focused exploration of the Valdez earthquake, bypassing the disjointed present-day plot. Despite its shortcomings, Maclean's descriptive prose crafts vivid settings, from a lush vineyard to a rustic Alaska lodge, making it a worthwhile read for those seeking a scenic journey with a touch of family mystery.

✏ Favourite quote: "I mean, when you think about it, when a relationship ends, there's always disappointment for both people, and we tend to focus on our own heartache or anger. It's easier to believe that none of it is your fault and that you're the victim, instead of taking responsibility for the mistakes you made too."

#bookstadog #poodlesofinstagram #doodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #AStormOfInfiniteBeauty #JulianneMaclean #lakeunionpublishing #WomensFiction #bookreview

View all my reviews

Comments

Review: The Last Love Note by Emma Grey

The Last Love Note by Emma Grey My rating: 3 of 5 stars In THE LAST LOVE NOTE by Emma Grey, I embarked on a journey filled with conflicting emotions. Despite my initial eagerness to delve deeper into the narrative, the unexpected weightiness of the prose caught me off guard. The narrative's frequent jumps in timeline, especially in audiobook format, proved disorienting and challenging to follow. However, Leeanna Walsman's narration was outstanding, rescuing the experience with her excellent delivery. The novel grapples with poignant themes, exploring the profound ideas of seizing life's moments and nurturing hope amid pain. Yet, occasional forced dialogue and slapstick humor felt incongruent with the somber tone. Nevertheless, the commendable growth of the characters and the author's skill in infusing joy and hope into a challenging narrative make it a worthwhile read. While my personal experience may differ, many readers have found this book highly enjoyable, so I e...

The Memory Clinic: Stories of Hope and Healing for Alzheimer's Patients and Their Families by Tiffany Chow

The Memory Clinic: Stories of Hope and Healing for Alzheimer's Patients and Their Families by Tiffany Chow My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow!! What an appropriate book for this time in my life!! I entered a giveaway to win this book and I kept my finger crossed, hoping to be selected. What a joy when I found out I was one of the winners. Let me explained why this book was so important to me. My mom has been diagnosed with Alzheimer two years ago. When I found out I was devastated. My mom's dad (my grandfather) died of complications of dementia and suffered from Alzheimer too. I have horrible memories of his last days and I could only imagine my mother going through the same and it scared me. There is no cure for Alzheimer... yet!! When I read the book synopsis, I knew I needed to read it. I want to know what I can do to reduce my chance to get Alzheimer. Let's be honest here.. my grand-father had it, my mom has it... I don't want to be an ostrich and ignore the risks by...

Review: Every Note Played

Every Note Played by Lisa Genova My rating: 5 of 5 stars I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for granting me an advanced copy of the Every Note Played book by Lisa Genova. Lisa Genova, author of "Still Alice" and "Inside the O'Briens", delivers yet another masterpiece. Every Note Played is a novel which addresses the devastating effect of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) on a celebrated pianist and his family. ALS (a.k.a. motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease) causes the death of neurons controlling voluntary muscles. Over time, as the muscles of the body break down, someone living with ALS loses the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe. At 45, Richard is diagnosed with ALS. His career is over and he has no one to turn to for help. Karina, his ex-wife, driven by guilt, becomes his reluctant caretaker. This endeavour is more than she bargains for, and both she and Richard are faced w...

Two Dogs and a Book

Search This Blog