Wulf's Book Reviews

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah My rating: 4 of 5 stars “ The Great Alone ” by Kristin Hannah is a heart-wrenching and breathtaking novel that took me on an emotional roller coaster from start to finish. Once again, Kristin Hannah has written a remarkable story that is both hauntingly beautiful and unforgettable. My personal introduction to Hannah was her brilliant novel “ The Nightingale ” (which is still my favourite book of hers) and both this novel as well as the later “ The Four Winds ” firmly cemented her position as one of my favourite authors. The story follows the Allbright family as they move to the remote wilderness of Alaska in search of a better life. They are a family struggling with inner demons, and the isolation of Alaska proves to be both a refuge and a danger to them. I was fascinated by the way Hannah portrayed the beauty and the harshness of Alaska through her descriptions. She made me feel like I was right there, experiencing the cold, the snow, and the rugged...

A Dark Lure by Loreth Anne White My rating: 5 of 5 stars “ Survival is a journey. It is the quest that underlies all stories. No matter the geography, or culture, or era, in one form or another, the story of survival is the same story we listen to, riveted, around the flames of the hunter’s fire. Or hear from the mouth of the astronaut returned from a burning spaceship, or from the woman who trumped cancer. We listen in the hopes of learning what magic they used to conquer a great beast, to deliver a decisive victory, to make it alone down the peaks of Everest alive . . . ” Wow, what a ride! This was probably the most suspenseful novel I’ve read this year so far. Basically, it’s a story about survival: Olivia West, sole survivor of the “Watt Lake Killer” who died in prison, works anonymously on Broken Bar Ranch as its manager when a body is discovered. The victim’s remains have been put on display in the same way the dead killer used to do and weird things – coincidences? – begin to...

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens My rating: 5 of 5 stars "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens tells the story of Kya Clark, a young girl growing up alone in the marshes of North Carolina. Abandoned by her family at a young age, Kya learns to survive on her own, relying on her wits and the natural world around her. The story follows Kya's journey as she navigates the complexities of relationships, love, and loss, all while grappling with the secrets and traumas of her past. What I loved most about this novel was the way Owens brought the marshes to life. Her descriptions of the landscape were so vivid that I felt like I was right there with Kya, wading through the marshes and feeling the mud between my toes (yuck!). Owens' writing truly transported me to another world, and I found myself completely immersed in Kya's story. But what truly made this novel stand out for me was the way Owens explored themes of isolation and belonging. Kya's loneliness an...

The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence My rating: 5 of 5 stars I don’t even remember how I came to read Gavin Extence's debut novel "The Universe Versus Alex Woods" in the first place but while having forgotten over lots of books since, “Alex” has stayed with me because this is more than a coming-of-age story. The main character, Alex Woods, was struck by a meteorite as a young boy and left with a permanent scar on his head. From this moment on, Alex's life takes an unexpected turn as he becomes an outcast in his small town and develops an interest in science and philosophy. His journey is heartwarming and inspiring, as he navigates the challenges of growing up and finding his place in the world. The characters are all incredibly well-developed, and their struggles and triumphs feel real and relatable. I found myself rooting for Alex and his unlikely friendship with Mr. Peterson, an elderly man with a passion for Kurt Vonnegut and a terminal illness. Their b...

Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer by Michael Stockham My rating: 3 of 5 stars Yet another hyped and totally overrated novel… Daniel “Bear” Simmons is a freshly graduated lawyer with no courtroom experience and 150.000 US-$ in college debt. His wife, Hannah “Buzz” Simmons used to be a teacher who has now moved on to almost fanatically follow her path to mother of four. The novel starts with Hannah in hospital after giving birth to their first child, Lilly. Something has gone wrong postpartum, though, and Hannah is suffering from bleeding and infections. Shortly after, Daniel is handed the pro bono case of a prisoner who sues his prison for not properly supplying him with his required medicines. These double premises are the fundamental problem of “Confessions”: It can’t really decide what it wants to be - courtroom drama or pregnancy drama. Consequently, it miserably fails on both levels. The courtroom drama is short-lived, undramatic and its resolution, both in court and beyond, obv...

Stardust by Neil Gaiman My rating: 5 of 5 stars I think the first of Neil Gaiman's novels I ever read was "Stardust" which I absolutely loved (whereas newer novels are more hit-and-miss for me, sadly). I was surprised to like it so much because it strongly felt like a fairy tale and I’m not exactly a fan of those. At its core, "Stardust" is a classic adventure tale, full of magic and wonder. The story follows the protagonist, Tristran Thorn, as he embarks on a journey to find a fallen star in order to win the heart of his beloved. Along the way, he encounters a host of fantastical characters, from witches and pirates to talking animals and ghosts. Each encounter brings new challenges and surprises, and I found myself fully immersed in Tristran's world, eagerly anticipating what lay around each new corner. What truly sets "Stardust" apart from other adventure stories, though, is Gaiman's masterful storytelling. His writing is both enchanting an...

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss My rating: 5 of 5 stars First things first: I’d like to discourage you from reading this novel because the trilogy as planned by Rothfuss is still unfinished and Kvothe’s amazing story remains untold in large parts. I got this book as a gift from a colleague and despite having been similarly warned by him, I devoured it! Rothfuss has masterfully crafted a world that is both rich in detail and vivid in imagination, making it impossible for me to put down. The story centres around the life of Kvothe, an almost legendary wizard, musician and Kingkiller who is now living in obscurity as an innkeeper. The plot weaves together Kvothe's past and present, with each chapter revealing more about his past and how it has shaped the person he has become. The characters in the book are beautifully crafted, with each one having their own unique personality that adds depth and colour to the story. One of the things I loved most about "The Name of the ...

Der SS-Staat. Das System der deutschen Konzentrationslager von Eugen Kogon "Der SS-Staat" von Eugen Kogon ist wahrscheinlich das erschütterndste Buch, das ich je gelesen habe. Es ist ein absolut außergewöhnlich detailliertes und eindringliches Werk, das einen tiefen Einblick in das Horror-Regime des nationalsozialistischen Deutschlands gewährt. Kogon, der selbst sechs Jahre im Konzentrationslager Buchenwald gefangen gehalten wurde, beschreibt das System der Konzentrationslager in all seinen Schrecken und zeigt, wie die SS die Konzentrationslager als Instrument der Unterdrückung und Vernichtung einsetzte. Eine der beeindruckendsten Eigenschaften des Buches ist seine Sachlichkeit: Kogon verzichtet darauf, in pathetischen Ausdrücken zu schreiben oder seine Meinung zu bestimmten Ereignissen kundzutun. Stattdessen lässt er die Fakten für sich sprechen, und genau das macht das Buch so erschütternd. Kogon dokumentiert die Gräueltaten der SS und stellt dabei auch ihre Ideologie und ...

The New York Trilogy: City of Glass, Ghosts, the Locked Room by Paul Auster My rating: 5 of 5 stars I think I must have been about 18 when my older brother gave me Paul Auster's “ The New York Trilogy ” as a gift for my birthday. I started reading it - and hated it! I couldn’t get into it, couldn’t get a grip on it. I put it back into my bookshelf and forgot about it for a few years. It fell again into my hands (quite literally!) when I reorganised my shelves and I decided to give it another chance. This time around, though, I just read and suspended judgement. I won’t lie to you: I had similar difficulties as before but this time I kept reading. And, somehow, things started falling into place… With accepting that Auster employs a unique kind of storytelling came understanding and respect for his masterful writing. Ultimately, I became completely engrossed in the three interconnected novels that make up this trilogy. The first novel, "City of Glass", sets the tone for t...

Grooks 1 by Piet Hein My rating: 5 of 5 stars " Grooks 1 " by Piet Hein was both a thoroughly impressive as well as hilarious read. This book is a collection of short poems, each only a few lines long, but they pack a powerful punch. The poems are witty, clever, and often thought-provoking. What I really enjoyed about these poems is that they are easy to read and understand, yet they convey deep meaning and insight - and some are just plain amazingly funny! They are the perfect blend of simplicity in form and complexity in style. Each poem can be read and appreciated on its own, but when read together, they form a larger picture of the human experience. The humour and playfulness are pretty much unmatched. Overall, "Grooks" is a delightful and engaging book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a quick read that is both intellectually stimulating and entertaining. Whether you are a poetry lover or simply looking for some witty and insightful musings,...

A Killing of Innocents by Deborah Crombie My rating: 4 of 5 stars For ten years, I’ve been reading this great series by Deborah Crombie of novels about British police detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, first colleagues, now married with children and a glorious, complex patchwork family. The series follows the personal and professional lives of Duncan and Gemma as they solve complex murder cases in London and sometimes beyond. The novels explore the rich culture and history of England, incorporating elements of mystery, suspense, and romance to create a captivating and engrossing reading experience. I really liked the believable personal interactions… » Taking a sip, he closed his eyes for a moment as the warmth spread through him. When he blinked, he saw that Gemma was watching him, her expression concerned. “Start from the beginning,” she said. « … as well as the wholesome (despite not trouble-free) family life: » “He says maybe I can come up for a couple of days over the C...

Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood My rating: 2 of 5 stars Mara inherits half of a house from her late mentor. When she visits said house, she meets Liam with whom she proceeds to live “ Under One Roof ”. They have great first impressions of each other, then enmity ensues, the inevitable mutual crushes come up - and then both Mara and Liam who eat, play and talk together entirely forget to talk about said crushes… That alone would have been annoying enough but additionally, the story isn’t very interestingly told either: Everything that happens beyond the interactions between Mara and Liam is boring and sometimes even their interactions are. Two out of five stars. Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam View all my reviews https://turing.mailstation.de/under-one-roof-the-steminist-novellas-1-by-ali-hazelwood/?feed_id=1762&_unique_id=63efb2ebc8972

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve recently reread Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" and it exceeded my expectations from when I read it first years ago. It took me on a thrilling and rather surreal journey through the fictitious underworld of London. From the very beginning, Gaiman drew me in with his vivid descriptions of the bustling city and the mundane world of Richard Mayhew, the protagonist. The storyline takes an unexpected turn when Richard helps an injured young woman and becomes immersed in a dangerous and supernatural world. The plot is full of twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. The world-building in "Neverwhere" is nothing short of remarkable. Gaiman's imagination brings to life the vivid and fantastical setting of “London Below”, a parallel universe that exists beneath the streets of London. He creates a fascinating and complex society of outcasts who are living in the shadows and forgotten co...

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve recently reread Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" and it exceeded my expectations from when I read it first years ago. It took me on a thrilling and rather surreal journey through the fictitious underworld of London. From the very beginning, Gaiman drew me in with his vivid descriptions of the bustling city and the mundane world of Richard Mayhew, the protagonist. The storyline takes an unexpected turn when Richard helps an injured young woman and becomes immersed in a dangerous and supernatural world. The plot is full of twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. The world-building in "Neverwhere" is nothing short of remarkable. Gaiman's imagination brings to life the vivid and fantastical setting of “London Below”, a parallel universe that exists beneath the streets of London. He creates a fascinating and complex society of outcasts who are living in the shadows and forgotten co...

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline My rating: 1 of 5 stars This was the worst disappointment in years… I loved “ Ready Player One ” and was eagerly awaiting this second instalment. After all, a sequel to an instant classic? What could possibly go wrong?! Turns out the answer is “everything”: Wade Watts was an underdog; orphaned, hunted but optimistic and positive with a great group of friends. In this book, though, he has turned into a vengeful spoiled brat: » I gleefully zeroed out hundreds of trolls in this fashion. If someone talked shit about me, I found them and killed their avatar. « And that’s not the only instance in which Wade is completely unrecognizable. Our young hero has turned into a complete idiot. Even his one-week-girlfriend Art3mis has understood what a douchebag Wade has become and left him. His friends are mostly avoiding him but Wade doesn’t really act upon any of that - apart from stalking (!) Art3mis, invading the others’ privacy, etc. etc. We get told all that d...

My rating: 2 of 5 stars This was very different from what I expected. I expected a regular trashy romance but what I actually got was some kind of teeny romance… I wrote quite a bit more, originally, but decided not to elaborate because I’d very likely do this book an injustice. 14-year-old me probably would have liked this. Thirty-one years later, I simply found a book I’m too old for. View all my reviews https://turing.mailstation.de/it-only-happens-in-the-movies-by-holly-bourne/?feed_id=1730&_unique_id=63ebbe9c652f8

Book Lovers by Emily Henry My rating: 3 of 5 stars Some books are confusing and “ Book Lovers ” by Emily Henry is definitely one of those: Literary agent Nora, a big city shark, meets big city editor Charlie and inevitably falls in love with him. In a rural small town of all places to which she retreated with her sister Libby to try and fix their strained relationship. For a romance, a rom-com, this is a good premise. Sadly, the execution was of varying quality: First of all, the characters are so-so at best. Nora, characterised as a workaholic and a “shark” dominated by bloodlust in favour of her authors, doesn’t ever feel like a shark. From very early on we get to know that she’s always trying to “fix” things around Libby. Everything Nora does is dominated by her almost obsessive and possessive behaviour towards Libby: Nora didn’t pursue her dream career to make more money for Libby (and herself). Nora never goes beyond the first date because she’s only interested in acquiring foo...

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo My rating: 5 of 5 stars It must have been around 2014 when I was at Mannheim’s (south-western Germany) Paradeplatz (the former parade grounds near Mannheim Palace). I was smoking and watching people when a young woman approached another nearby male smoker - only to be shouted at aggressively. I, in turn, shouted at the guy, went there and he left whereas I proceeded to offer the woman a cigarette which was what she had asked that other guy for. I asked her what that guy’s problem had been. She looked at me curiously and told me to take a good look at her. Somewhat embarrassed I did - had I missed something about her?! I didn’t notice anything - to me, she looked just like you and me. I apologised for obviously being daft to which she deadpan replied “I’m black”. Yes, I can be a bit on the naïve side but I honestly hadn’t consciously noticed and I had hoped that especially in my country, Germany, with its history, in a major city and in moder...

Planetside by Michael Mammay My rating: 2 of 5 stars This is going to be yet another difficult review. There’s no doubt: “ Planetside ” is suspenseful and exciting military science fiction. There’s also no doubt there are plot holes, loose ends and an ending that’s extremely problematic. Let’s start at the beginning, though, at which Colonel Carl Butler, semi-retired of Space Command, is sent to the Cappa system by his superior and old acquaintance General Serata. This is where the trouble starts: Michael Mammay keeps hinting at the tour(s?) of duty, Butler completed in Cappa but we never learn what happened, why Butler drinks habitually, how he lost his daughter on planet Cappy and so much more. We get to know that Butler is supposed to find out about the fate of the son of some SPACECOM hotshot but that’s it. Early on in his investigation, Butler realises there's a lot of weird business going on both “planetside” on Cappa and on the Cappa Base in its orbit. Since Butler’s prima...

Agnes von Peter Stamm Meine Bewertung: 4 of 5 stars “ Agnes ” von Peter Stamm war eine eher ungewöhnliche Lektüre, obschon der Inhalt wenig überrascht: Der namenlose Ich-Erzähler, ein Schriftsteller, trifft bei Recherchen zu einem Buch auf Agnes, eine Physikerin. Nach einer kurzen Zeit der Annäherung finden beide zusammen. Fasziniert vom Geschichtenerzählen bittet Agnes ihren Partner um eine Erzählung, die sich fortan als roter Faden durch das gesamte Buch zieht. Dabei kommt es immer wieder zwischen wechselseitigen Beeinflussungen der semi-fiktionalen Geschichte und den im Buch behandelten Erlebnissen. Genau diese Verflechtungen bilden einen Teil des Reizes dieser kurzen, lakonisch-distanziert erzählten Novelle. Es ist keine wirklich außergewöhnliche Geschichte, die hier erzählt wird und ihr Ende wird bereits mit dem ersten Satz des Buches vorweggenommen. Dennoch gelang es Stamm, mein Interesse dauerhaft aufrecht zu erhalten. Zweifellos hilfreich dabei waren die kurzen, prägnant...

Persepolis: The Story of an Iranian Childhood by Marjane Satrapi My rating: 4 of 5 stars Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis is a powerful and moving graphic novel that tells the story of the author growing up in Iran. I was pleasantly surprised the graphic novel form succeeded at telling complex and nuanced stories in a highly accessible way. For readers like myself with limited prior knowledge of Iran, the book provides a valuable and accessible window into the complexities of life during this historical period in a country that I for one only associate with the "Axis of Evil" and the brutal oppression of any kind of opposition to the regime. One of the strengths of Persepolis is the way that it makes the experience of living through the revolution and the war tangible. It presented me with a sense of the everyday challenges and fears that people faced, as well as the more profound philosophical questions about identity and beliefs. The book feels so real, so true to lif...

Gardens by Benedict Jacka My rating: 3 of 5 stars Hm… This was the grimdark version of an Alex Verus novella, I’d say. There were some rather brutal scenes and the protagonists became ever more unlikeable with the lacklustre story progressing. Worst of all, though, one major character from the series becomes less likeable due to their actions in this novella. That actually made me slightly sad and I will pretend this novella doesn’t exist and this series really ended with “ Risen ”. Still, my Stockholm syndrome says I have to award three stars out of five. ;) Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam View all my reviews https://turing.mailstation.de/gardens-alex-verus-12-1-by-benedict-jacka/?feed_id=1682&_unique_id=63dfd17c19d09

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn My rating: 3 of 5 stars Georgie, 28 years old, in spite of being highly successful at her job as a personal assistant has recently been let go by her latest employer. She takes a break and comes home to her rural hometown due to feeling like huge parts of her are simply “blank”. She finds an old notebook she created when she was 13, shortly before entering high school. So what’s a successful 28 year old to do? She decides to do what her thirteen year old self considered great ideas: Like jumping into a river from a dock that was probably “safe enough” some 15 years ago but has been neglected since… What could possibly go wrong, eh? In the process, Georgie meets Levi and proceeds in her teenage rampage with him - including heavy petting and extensive dry-humping on her parents’ couch… I could certainly relate to that - not at 28, though. Then there’s Levi. For most of the book, Levi “ who is very nearly in [his] midthirties ” is brooding, angsty...

The Egg by Andy Weir My rating: 1 of 5 stars I'm not exactly into faith and even less into "intelligent design" which is pretty much the premise of this short story. Moreover, the idea of humanity (and the universe) being "created" to mature a new "god" is, in fact, abhorrent to me: The protagonist is supposed to be both Hitler and the millions he murdered? Maybe I’m overly critical but using the suffering of millions to “mature” a single individual - what kind of “god” would that be? And what kind of author is it who stoops so low? Altruism - rare enough under “normal” circumstances - becomes a weird kind of egoism if you’re the only true individual, if you’re everyone. Initially, I was about to award three stars but the longer I think about it, the more uncomfortable I become. One star. View all my reviews https://turing.mailstation.de/the-egg-ebook-by-andy-weir/?feed_id=1667&_unique_id=63dbed0385b01

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders by L. David Marquet My rating: 5 of 5 stars I rarely read this kind of “professional career guide” type of book. They’re all too often fairly dry, are strongly dependant on the cultural and social environment they’re based upon (e. g. US/Europe) and, honestly, range from “difficult to apply” to “impossible to adapt”. Luckily, this book is completely different! David Marquet tells us in plain words how he metaphorically “turned the ship around” from one of the worst to one of the top performers. I would never have believed that the military of all organisations was actually able to apply a culture of “thinking out loud”, (constructively) questioning orders and, generally, turn a culture of classic “command & control” into something much more open and productive. Marquet doesn’t ever preach, though, but expertly demonstrates each of his already simple-to-grasp (but not necessarily easy-to-implement!) points b...