0 stars
A non-starter for me. I started it when I really shouldn't have; too busy in my non-reading life and too many other books on the go. But I found I wasn't compelled to pick it up and the overall impressions from other readers aren't so great. I'll let this one go.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
In the Blood by Lisa Unger
**** 4 stars
My reactions to this book were somewhat all over the place. I found I was quickly engaged in the story, then about 3/4 of the way in it got a little tricky and twisty for its own good and then it was redeemed with a strong ending. Still, I have to admit it was a compelling and entertaining read.
I know I read at least one of Unger's books years and years ago but I remember little of it. I have a specific memory of having Beautiful Lies with me when my daughter was in the hospital (appendicitis) and my mother asking me if it were any good. I remember sort of saying "Uh....." because, obviously, I wasn't attending much to the book! I'll have to catch up on her back list as this was a pretty good book and a decent thriller.
My reactions to this book were somewhat all over the place. I found I was quickly engaged in the story, then about 3/4 of the way in it got a little tricky and twisty for its own good and then it was redeemed with a strong ending. Still, I have to admit it was a compelling and entertaining read.
I know I read at least one of Unger's books years and years ago but I remember little of it. I have a specific memory of having Beautiful Lies with me when my daughter was in the hospital (appendicitis) and my mother asking me if it were any good. I remember sort of saying "Uh....." because, obviously, I wasn't attending much to the book! I'll have to catch up on her back list as this was a pretty good book and a decent thriller.
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
*** 3 stars
I found I mainly liked this book although I'm not sure it ever really got going for me. It had a lot of good elements but they way they were tied together was a little sketchy. It kept me interested and it was certainly full of interesting characters but I'm not sure it really gelled.
I found I mainly liked this book although I'm not sure it ever really got going for me. It had a lot of good elements but they way they were tied together was a little sketchy. It kept me interested and it was certainly full of interesting characters but I'm not sure it really gelled.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
**** 4 stars
A fun and enjoyable read. Very humorous; I did really "laugh out loud" a few times. Fey is a very funny lady.
A fun and enjoyable read. Very humorous; I did really "laugh out loud" a few times. Fey is a very funny lady.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Driving Lessons by Zoe Fishman
*** 3 stars
This was an easy and quick read. It was a lot fluffier than I expected; the cover and the blurbs gave it a literary air that wasn't really deserved. (That's okay with me, sometimes I'm not such a fan of "literary novels".) Just a breezy read about a young couple who leave behind a fast-paced NYC life for a slower pace in a small town. I never felt totally engaged with the characters; they all seemed a bit generic ("Wait, now, which friend is this now?") But it was entertaining enough.
This was an easy and quick read. It was a lot fluffier than I expected; the cover and the blurbs gave it a literary air that wasn't really deserved. (That's okay with me, sometimes I'm not such a fan of "literary novels".) Just a breezy read about a young couple who leave behind a fast-paced NYC life for a slower pace in a small town. I never felt totally engaged with the characters; they all seemed a bit generic ("Wait, now, which friend is this now?") But it was entertaining enough.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
*** 3 stars
Enjoyed reading this although not quite as much as the first two by this author. It seems long, I guess. I'm not sure that the many, many snippets of the story within the story (the Simon Snow stuff) added much. It was kind of a clever but obvious parody of Harry Potter but it mainly seemed to serve to draw out the story.
I thought the characters were so charming and touching. Rowell does such a good job with awkward and quirky people. Cath and her dad were particularly well done and if Levi seemed too good to be true, well, I'm actually okay with that.
Another fun, warmhearted read from Rowell. Looking forward to getting my hands on Landline next!
Enjoyed reading this although not quite as much as the first two by this author. It seems long, I guess. I'm not sure that the many, many snippets of the story within the story (the Simon Snow stuff) added much. It was kind of a clever but obvious parody of Harry Potter but it mainly seemed to serve to draw out the story.
I thought the characters were so charming and touching. Rowell does such a good job with awkward and quirky people. Cath and her dad were particularly well done and if Levi seemed too good to be true, well, I'm actually okay with that.
Another fun, warmhearted read from Rowell. Looking forward to getting my hands on Landline next!
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright
** 2 stars
I found this book to be slow going but interesting enough to stick with it. I admit that I skimmed a lot of it in search of juicy details. Some of the ins and outs of the organization's politics were less interesting to me. But I'm glad I read it; glad to be done with it. I'm not sure I heard anything new beyond what's been available in the popular press.
I found this book to be slow going but interesting enough to stick with it. I admit that I skimmed a lot of it in search of juicy details. Some of the ins and outs of the organization's politics were less interesting to me. But I'm glad I read it; glad to be done with it. I'm not sure I heard anything new beyond what's been available in the popular press.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Behind His Blue Eyes by Kaki Warner
*** 3 stars
I was such a fan of Warner's The Blood Rose trilogy, that I guess I set the bar pretty high. I liked but didn't really love the original Heartbreak Creek trilogy and I feel like this one is a bit disappointing. I felt the romance was a little rushed and I didn't feel any particular connection to the main characters. It was nice to see the continuity of characters from the other books as this is an offshoot series set in the same town.
Some of the plot points and attitudes seemed anachronistic to me, but what do I know? It was an okay diversion but her Blood Rose books are far superior.
I was such a fan of Warner's The Blood Rose trilogy, that I guess I set the bar pretty high. I liked but didn't really love the original Heartbreak Creek trilogy and I feel like this one is a bit disappointing. I felt the romance was a little rushed and I didn't feel any particular connection to the main characters. It was nice to see the continuity of characters from the other books as this is an offshoot series set in the same town.
Some of the plot points and attitudes seemed anachronistic to me, but what do I know? It was an okay diversion but her Blood Rose books are far superior.
The Grapes of Math: How Life Reflects Numbers and Numbers Reflect Life by Alex Bellos
*** 3 stars
This is purported to be a math book for lay people, but I must be sub-lay. I've never been a math person and much of this did go over my head. I didn't make any attempt to "study" the content of this book; rather I skimmed for items that were interesting to me. And there was a lot I found really interesting. The pages of formulas and so on, I moved passed. A great book for dipping in and out!
This is purported to be a math book for lay people, but I must be sub-lay. I've never been a math person and much of this did go over my head. I didn't make any attempt to "study" the content of this book; rather I skimmed for items that were interesting to me. And there was a lot I found really interesting. The pages of formulas and so on, I moved passed. A great book for dipping in and out!
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Changeling by Philippa Gregory
*** 3 stars
I liked but did not love this YA book. I'm not sure it's particularly well written, the characters seem a bit artificial but the plot was interesting enough that I was happy to see where we were going with this. My son enjoyed this and it's fun to share a book with my children, so I'll read on in the series so he and I can discuss.
I liked but did not love this YA book. I'm not sure it's particularly well written, the characters seem a bit artificial but the plot was interesting enough that I was happy to see where we were going with this. My son enjoyed this and it's fun to share a book with my children, so I'll read on in the series so he and I can discuss.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
**** 4 stars
Finally got around to reading this perennially book club favorite! I very much enjoyed this book; it was a quick read with a surprising amount of depth. The themes of family and race and the southern setting, to be honest, all feels so familiar. There have been a million books like that; but this one was so well done. The metaphor with the bees was so lovely and well done. Just a great read!
Finally got around to reading this perennially book club favorite! I very much enjoyed this book; it was a quick read with a surprising amount of depth. The themes of family and race and the southern setting, to be honest, all feels so familiar. There have been a million books like that; but this one was so well done. The metaphor with the bees was so lovely and well done. Just a great read!
Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia
1 stars
What a big disappointment. I didn't even finish this book even though I had about 30 pages left. I asked myself, "Did I feel any happier or fulfilled when I forced myself to finish The Woman Upstairs?" The answer was "no", so I quit this book.
Such great reviews all over the place, such a promising premise. But the story never really got going for me; the characters all sort of blended together into indistinct blobs. Not sure what happened at the end and don't feel a particular need to find out.
What a big disappointment. I didn't even finish this book even though I had about 30 pages left. I asked myself, "Did I feel any happier or fulfilled when I forced myself to finish The Woman Upstairs?" The answer was "no", so I quit this book.
Such great reviews all over the place, such a promising premise. But the story never really got going for me; the characters all sort of blended together into indistinct blobs. Not sure what happened at the end and don't feel a particular need to find out.
The Charm School by Nelson DeMille
0 stars
Not really fair to give this zero stars as I'm sure it's not a "bad" book. Not sure why but I seem to have an allergic reaction to espionage books. Just not my cup of tea, never have been. Still, I thought I'd give this one a try as I have read other DeMille books that I liked a lot. But this one was a non-starter for me.
Not really fair to give this zero stars as I'm sure it's not a "bad" book. Not sure why but I seem to have an allergic reaction to espionage books. Just not my cup of tea, never have been. Still, I thought I'd give this one a try as I have read other DeMille books that I liked a lot. But this one was a non-starter for me.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
**** 4 stars
So adorable. But to call it adorable is quite a disservice since it also has its dark and difficult themes running through it. But it is adorable and cute and charming. It is also heartbreaking, heartfelt and heartwarming. Absolutely loved this book and I read it in two days (which doesn't sound so impressive except that I generally need a week to read a book).
Just a lovely read. Definitely for an older teen. I'm not sure I would recommend it for my young teen son and daughter. The language is pretty rough but it is not gratuitous. If I saw that my daughter picked this up on her own, I'm not sure I would prevent her from reading it, but I'm also not prepared to offer it as a "Mom-endorsed read" quite yet. In a couple years for her.
Becoming quite a fan of Rainbow Rowell, which is kind of funny. I used to read her column when she wrote for the local paper and I felt I didn't really "get" her. Generally her topics were of interest to a younger crowd. But so far her novels are big hits for me. I see that Fangirl is available at the library for me. Yay!
So adorable. But to call it adorable is quite a disservice since it also has its dark and difficult themes running through it. But it is adorable and cute and charming. It is also heartbreaking, heartfelt and heartwarming. Absolutely loved this book and I read it in two days (which doesn't sound so impressive except that I generally need a week to read a book).
Just a lovely read. Definitely for an older teen. I'm not sure I would recommend it for my young teen son and daughter. The language is pretty rough but it is not gratuitous. If I saw that my daughter picked this up on her own, I'm not sure I would prevent her from reading it, but I'm also not prepared to offer it as a "Mom-endorsed read" quite yet. In a couple years for her.
Becoming quite a fan of Rainbow Rowell, which is kind of funny. I used to read her column when she wrote for the local paper and I felt I didn't really "get" her. Generally her topics were of interest to a younger crowd. But so far her novels are big hits for me. I see that Fangirl is available at the library for me. Yay!
Field of Prey by John Sandford
**** 4 stars
I approached the newest Lucas Davenport novel (#24!) with a fair amount of trepidation; I was bitterly disappointed by the last two novels from Sandford. Was he starting to phone it in? Was he hiring ghost-writers?
I don't know about that but I do know this was a fun read. Back to the good ol' formula that has worked for most of the Davenport books. A good mystery with an interesting variation (partners - I don't think this is a spoiler; the reader knows this very early on) and some interesting and creative plot points. Familiar characters, even if only in a cameo (Virgil Flowers). Pretty much what I hope for when I read a favorite author.
I approached the newest Lucas Davenport novel (#24!) with a fair amount of trepidation; I was bitterly disappointed by the last two novels from Sandford. Was he starting to phone it in? Was he hiring ghost-writers?
I don't know about that but I do know this was a fun read. Back to the good ol' formula that has worked for most of the Davenport books. A good mystery with an interesting variation (partners - I don't think this is a spoiler; the reader knows this very early on) and some interesting and creative plot points. Familiar characters, even if only in a cameo (Virgil Flowers). Pretty much what I hope for when I read a favorite author.
The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud
1 star
Tedious. What a tedious and self-indulgent, pointless read this was. Ugh. Not even sure why I bothered to finish it except out of sheer stubbornness. I guess I didn't realize I had read as far into it as I had before I noticed that nothing was really happening.
Tedious. Did I mention tedious? OMG. I guess the ending was supposed to be a twist or whatever but I hated the characters and the book so much I didn't even care. Just awful.
Tedious. What a tedious and self-indulgent, pointless read this was. Ugh. Not even sure why I bothered to finish it except out of sheer stubbornness. I guess I didn't realize I had read as far into it as I had before I noticed that nothing was really happening.
Tedious. Did I mention tedious? OMG. I guess the ending was supposed to be a twist or whatever but I hated the characters and the book so much I didn't even care. Just awful.
The Moon-Spinners by Mary Stewart
0 stars
Read a few chapters into this one but not interested enough to keep going. Seems to be a much-loved novel by many but I'm not sure it has aged well. It seemed very old-fashioned, which was somewhat charming, but the endless description just wore me down. I'm all for a lovely setting (the island of Crete! Nice!) but the plot was just buried under descriptive prose.
We recently watched the old Disney movie with Hayley Mills which was clearly quite different from the book. The main character is a lot more mature, for one thing. So, I did have a sense of the plot and where it was supposed to go, but I just didn't feel compelled to keep going with it.
Read a few chapters into this one but not interested enough to keep going. Seems to be a much-loved novel by many but I'm not sure it has aged well. It seemed very old-fashioned, which was somewhat charming, but the endless description just wore me down. I'm all for a lovely setting (the island of Crete! Nice!) but the plot was just buried under descriptive prose.
We recently watched the old Disney movie with Hayley Mills which was clearly quite different from the book. The main character is a lot more mature, for one thing. So, I did have a sense of the plot and where it was supposed to go, but I just didn't feel compelled to keep going with it.
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