Book Review: All the Beauty in the World
January 2, 2025
I shall never look at another work of art (or the quiet, self-effacing museum and gallery guards) with quite the same eyes.
I shall never look at another work of art (or the quiet, self-effacing museum and gallery guards) with quite the same eyes.
Unpicking the misconceptions that are held about her job, Doughty snuffs out myths & shines light on a necessary but nebulous industry.
Neil does an excellent job of balancing the true toil of raiding and slaving with interesting cultural stories.
Nora’s sharp wit and realistic character make this novel a standout, celebrating the complexities of love and self-discovery.
With such a flair for drama, Hari somehow manages to make research feel utterly gripping. A thought provoking read, full of good reminders.
There is darkness in this story, but it’s leavened by Smith’s ever-playful storytelling, and her characters’ capacity for resistance & hope.
Timelines and characters are bound together through an ancient text that changes their lives in incredible and unexpected ways.
Delving deeper into the redemption arc of characters left behind, this novel offers a compelling tale of sacrifice and redemption.
While relying on its predecessor’s world-building, it offers a fresh perspective, expanding on familiar settings.
This subverted all of my expectations in new and unique ways and introduced one of my favourite literary universes of all time.
Tension builds and feelings deepen in this slow burn, sporty, Brother’s best friend romance. I’m counting the days until her next release!
McCracken delights in human absurdity and the slippery art of writing about your family – be it fiction or memoir, or both at once.
Rebanks makes quiet communion with ancient ways feel electrifying, and his beautifully evocative language makes for transporting reading.
This is a spare, affecting picture of a young man trying to pin his fragile sobriety to a version of self and future that he can believe in.
The story’s climax is breathtaking, filled with intensity and emotion, and the ending is simultaneously satisfying and bittersweet.
The slow build, the beautiful gut-wrenching ending, and the profound exploration of love and sacrifice make this novel an absolute must-read.
The writing is so courageously honest while sneakily feeding you an NZ history lesson through a series of intimate experiences.
The plot moves quickly, keeping the reader engaged. Twists and turns abound, all wrapped up with a fun bunch of characters.
Faintly sinister worlds, detached domesticity, and oddly compelling food writing all combine to produce that indefinable Murakami magic.
Told in a series of short stories, poems, quotes and vignettes, Maggie Smith mosaics together moments from the most trying time of her life.
With a captivating blend of political intrigue, fierce determination, & the unbreakable bond between dragon riders, it’s a phenomenal read.
A second-chance romance between the teenage leaders of two rival gangs, plus an interesting cast of side characters you’ll fall in love with.
It’s like a collection of newspaper clippings. Each text is short enough to whet your appetite but leaves you hungry for more.
The perfect book to pick up and put down – every time you flip to a new page, you’re sure to learn something new.
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