Showing posts with label Lawrence Osborne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lawrence Osborne. Show all posts

Monday, August 14, 2017

Book Review: Beautiful Animals by Lawrence Osborne

Photo Credit - Amazon
Naomi is the only child of a wealthy British art collector and her family routinely vacations in the Greek island of Hydra. One day, Naomi sets out another part of the island to escape the oppressing force of her father and stepmother. She comes across another young woman, who is also vacationing there. Samantha is a younger American girl who is immediately besotted by Naomi's presence. The pair become quick friends and decide to take a hike together. The stumble upon a refugee named Faoud who looks like he is homeless with barely any belongings. Naomi believes it is their duty to help the less fortunate and convince Sam that they should hatch a plan to help him. While, they beginning to hatch their plan, the friendship between the three begin to deepen. However, an unfortunate accident causes both the plan and the friendship to unravel. Will the girls still be able to be friends? Who is this mysterious man?

The novel was an interesting read but I had a hard time getting into the novel. I have read another one of his books, "Hunters in the Dark" and I don't particularly find his writing style appealing. I found the novel made me crave wanting to know more but the ending left me unsatisfied. I felt like the backstory of Faoud could have been more detailed and even the supporting characters could have more depth.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Monday, January 23, 2017

Book Review - Hunters in the Dark: A Novel by Lawrence Osborne


Photo Credit - Amazon

Robert Grieve is a young 28 year old Englishman teacher from a small town. He escapes to Cambodia to run away from his everyday mundane life.  He crosses the border from Thailand, where his life is taken through a whirlwind of peculiar events. Robert comes across money that is considered to be filled with bad luck along with a suave American who seems to be up to no good. When, Robert loses all his money, he takes on a teaching job and meets Sothea who joins him on his aimless journey. Why is the American so interested in Robert? What is Robert hunting for?

The book had an interesting description but it fails to deliver. The novel begins slowly, drags on through the middle but when you are finally at the end, you keep thinking, "what was the point"? I could care less about the character, their motives, and whatever happened to them. The characters didn't seem believable and sometimes, they made no sense.  Overall, a confusing, boring and tedious book. 

**Disclosure - I receieved a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**