2024 the best fiction books ever review

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(as of Nov 13, 2024 01:21:09 UTC - Details)

A Good Morning America Book Club Pick and New York Times Bestseller!
 
From debut author Asha Lemmie, “a lovely, heartrending story about love and loss, prejudice and pain, and the sometimes dangerous, always durable ties that link a family together.” —Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Nightingale

Kyoto, Japan, 1948. “Do not question. Do not fight. Do not resist.”

Such is eight-year-old Noriko “Nori” Kamiza’s first lesson. She will not question why her mother abandoned her with only these final words. She will not fight her confinement to the attic of her grandparents’ imperial estate. And she will not resist the scalding chemical baths she receives daily to lighten her skin.

The child of a married Japanese aristocrat and her African American GI lover, Nori is an outsider from birth. Her grandparents take her in, only to conceal her, fearful of a stain on the royal pedigree that they are desperate to uphold in a changing Japan. Obedient to a fault, Nori accepts her solitary life, despite her natural intellect and curiosity. But when chance brings her older half-brother, Akira, to the estate that is his inheritance and destiny, Nori finds in him an unlikely ally with whom she forms a powerful bond—a bond their formidable grandparents cannot allow and that will irrevocably change the lives they were always meant to lead. Because now that Nori has glimpsed a world in which perhaps there is a place for her after all, she is ready to fight to be a part of it—a battle that just might cost her everything.

Spanning decades and continents, Fifty Words for Rain is a dazzling epic about the ties that bind, the ties that give you strength, and what it means to be free.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dutton; Reprint edition (June 8, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 152474638X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1524746384
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 0.95 x 8.19 inches
Reviewer: Tyleena Gloekler
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: It's a good book
Review: I absolutely hated the ending, I can't give spoilers but I wanted more for Noriko, she deserves more but she became corrupted in a way I can't say without giving things away. It's a really, tremendously, great book, still worth the read for sure, but the ending is garbage. I don't crack the spine, I don't fold pages, I tossed the book in the air as I shrugged a big wtf at the end. Couldn't pick up another book for like TWO DAYS grieving over Noriko. Had to go through all seven stages of grief with that one 😂

Reviewer: Tonya
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Amazing!!
Review: This is insight into Japanese culture from a bygone time and how racism and hatred played such a big part in this girl's life. I loved the relationship she had with her brother and the role he played in her life. I had difficulty with the ending, but it fit for the time. The writing is excellent and I was absorbed from the first paragraph. This was a fantastic read! I highly recommend it!

Reviewer: suzanne a schenck
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A very good read.
Review: Liked it a lot and highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Natasha Hinkson
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Riveting story full of intrigue.
Review: ***Spoiler Alert*** THIS REVIEW CONTAINS COMMENTS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS.I read this book because it was picked by Amazon Editors as one of this year’s most essential reads, and the blurb was incredibly intriguing. In the end however, I struggle to give it 4 stars, and will have to settle at 3....maybe 3.5.So much of this book seemed ‘borrowed’ to me. Starting with the title, which was reminiscent of 50 Shades of Grey. After reading the book though, and being able to appreciate the choice of title, I can forgive the author for this similarity.The first part of the book was far too reminiscent of Flowers in the Attic. Down to the description of the magnificent house, polished floors and grand staircase. Next, was the almost replication of Memoirs of a Geisha, again including some of the imagery it conjured.In the second half of the book, the story flowed on it’s own steam, but began to lack the substance that it provided in the first two parts. The characters became a bit more stereotyped, which was a big disappointment for me as I felt like so much had gone into the character development in the first two parts of the book. There was so much more to draw upon for these characters in the second half of the book, which was not fully exploited, and at times actions contradicted the earlier character development. Furthermore, the story became far too dramatic and took on a “Danielle Steele” element in the second half of the book.My biggest problem with this book was the overburden of grief and misfortune that took place in one storyline. While I know that this theme of grief / being cursed was central to the story, it was in my opinion really overdone to the point of being unbelievable. How many times can a person cheat death? There were huge chunks of the book (especially in the first section) which just relayed tragedy after tragedy without any real story development. The author seemed to be simply going for shock value.Despite this harsh criticism that I’ve launched, I did enjoy reading this story and read all 400+ pages in 3 days. The pacing was spot on. I was never quite sure what turn the story would take, and that kept me wanting more, reading late into the night to see what happened next. The story itself was riveting and full of intrigue. I loved the exploration of the theme of abandonment and how this ripples through one’s life, never quite ending. The writing itself was easy to digest and with some very nice imagery and use of vocabulary. Even if concepts seemed ‘borrowed’, the words were not.A lot of readers did not seem to like the ending, but I actually found it very fitting to the story itself. It also set up nicely for a sequel, which I might read in the hope that the author’s writing matures with her second book.

Reviewer: Kay
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Unimaginable
Review: Noriko's mother leaves her outside the huge house of her Grandmother when she is 8 years old. Grandmother is a member of the royal family of Japan. It's 1948 and there is no more royalty in Japan. However the family is very rich and still has much prestige.Nori is kept captive on the third floor of this old house and only allowed to go to the second floor to use the bathroom. Because she is illegitimate her grandfather would have had her killed. Her grandmother shows her no love and beats her with a wooden spoon regularly.One day her half brother comes to live at the house. He insists to her Grandmother that Nori be allowed to go wherever she likes in the house and garden. Life gets better but Nori is afraid to wish for too much.At age 13 her grandmother sells Nori to a man who places her in a Geisha house of prostitution. She is being trained in conversation, English, flower arranging, and tea ceremony. For the time being she only has to play her violin for the geisha and guests.She does get out of that house and is reunited with her brother. Every time she seems on the brink of happiness her spirit is squashed again. And again.

Reviewer: Gabi_A
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great story but I wish the ending was different
Review: "Fifty Words for Rain" by Asha Lemmie is a captivating novel that delves into the complexities of identity, family, and societal expectations. The story follows Nori, a biracial girl in post-WWII Japan, as she navigates her way through a world filled with prejudice and discrimination. Lemmie's writing is poignant and evocative, drawing readers into Nori's tumultuous journey toward self-discovery and acceptance. With lyrical prose and vivid imagery, the author skillfully explores love, loss, and resilience themes. "Fifty Words for Rain" is a thought-provoking and emotional read that will linger in readers' hearts long after they turn the final page. I took one star away because of the ending. 🙄

Reviewer: Barbara Stamatelos
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great summer read!
Review: Liked the style of the writers writing. I didn’t think it would end the way it did but it makes since. It’s traumatic to be born into a situation that you have no control over. I liked that no matter what the next event would be she always rose above everyone else.

Reviewer: rebecca z. mccauley
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A truly epic novel. Recommend it to two book clubs and both thought it the best book ever!

Reviewer: walli
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Sie ist erst acht Jahre als ihre Mutter sie an der Tür ihrer Großmutter absetzt. Noriko ist beinahe starr vor Angst. Sie soll still sein und gehorchen, aber sie ist doch erst acht. Noriko wird im Haushalt ihrer Großmutter aufgenommen. Im Jahr 1948 in einem Haushalt einer reichen Familie mit Beziehungen zum Königshaus, was macht man da mit einem kleinen Mädchen, dass anders ist. Man versteckt es. Noriko bekommt eine gewisse Erziehung und eine Art Bildung, aber nach draußen darf sie nicht. Niemand soll wissen, dass es sie gibt. Doch eines Tages steht wieder ein junger Mensch vor der Tür, ihr ehelicher Halbbruder Akira.Mit diesem Romandebüt besucht man die Jahre nach dem zweiten Weltkrieg in Japan. Auch dieses Traditionen verhaftete Land kommt nicht umhin, sich zu verändern. Doch die obere Klasse sträubt sich gegen Änderungen. Sich zu ändern kann schließlich auch bedeuten, Macht einzubüßen. Norikos Großmutter handelt fast wie ein Kerkermeister, sie sperrt das Kind ein, versteckt es und misshandelt es. Erst Akiras Auftauchen ändert etwas. Der vier Jahre älter Junge, ein begnadeter Violinist, öffnet Noriko die Welt. Er führt sie zur Musik, er spricht mit ihr, er sieht sie. Für Noriko, die von ihrer Mutter verlassen und von ihrer Großmutter gequält wurde, ist er die Welt und auch die Öffnung zur Welt.Das kaiserliche Japan ist wie eine fremde Welt, die in den 1950er Jahren traditionell und rückwärtsgerichtet erscheint. Die herrschende Klasse will ihren Einfluss nicht verlieren und ein uneheliches Kind einer Tochter aus sogenanntem guten Haus, bei dessen Vater es sich dazu noch um einen farbigen Amerikaner handelt, ist nicht gerade dienlich. Im einigem Entsetzen liest man von den Verhaltensweisen, die Norikos Großmutter an den Tag legt, um mit noch größerem Widerwillen festzustellen, dass der Großvater noch fürchterlicher ist. Und die verstehen sich als Noble. Akira wirkt als sei er Norikos Rettung. Man wünscht den Geschwistern nur Gutes, auch wenn sie manchmal etwas zu eng sind. Vielleicht ist es so, wenn sich Geschwister, die befürchteten Alllein zu sein, später finden. Fast schon zu viel hat Noriko zu erleiden. Es wirkt so, als geschehe immer eine Katastrophe, wenn gerade mal alles gut ist. Und so ist gerade die emotionsgeladene Dramatik, die den Roman vorantreibt und packend macht, die man mitunter als etwas überladen empfindet. Besonders zum Ende hin, sind Norikos Entscheidungen nicht immer nachvollziehbar. Und auch den Gang der Dinge würde man sich anders wünschen. Dennoch ein fesselnder Einblick in eine ferne Kultur zu einer vergangenen Zeit.

Reviewer: Barb Leisle
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Overall i enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged enough to read to the end but i found it quite slow moving.

Reviewer: Farida
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I liked the book- though found the end very disappointing.. very contrary to the story. Was as if the beginning was by one author & the end another... unless there is a sequel planned!!

Reviewer: Stephanie W
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Fifty Words for Rain is a strong debut novel, telling the story of Nori, a young biracial girl in post-WWII Japan, born to a Japanese aristocratic mother and her lover, an African-American soldier. Nori is abandoned by her mother and sent to live with her Japanese grandmother who cannot abide a granddaughter who is illegitimate and part black, and neither can the traditional rules-bound Japanese society in which they live. Nori’s life is difficult and bleak as she is hidden away by her grandmother in the attic, treated harshly and forced to take chemical baths to lighten her skin. Nori’s life changes with the arrival of her Japanese half-brother, Akira, who tries to help her build a life within the confines of the regimented, discriminatory and anti-American post-WWII Japanese society.The plot is generally well-paced, although the middle part does drag a little, the writing is excellent, and the characters are fascinating. Themes of self-acceptance, the challenges of being a woman in a traditionally patriarchal society, resilience and strength are woven throughout the novel. I could not believe that this is the author’s first novel. Very well-done and well-deserving of being the September GMA book club pick!