** 2 stars
An okay "read" (listened to the audio book version). I'm really not an auditory person and sometimes listening to a book is hard for me; my mind wanders a bit and I probably need a fairly simple story with a straightforward narrative. This book was fairly complicated with multiple viewpoints and a timeline that jumped back and forth. I think I followed the story okay but was not as engaged with it as I would have been had I been reading it. I think the revelations had less of an impact on me as a result. Still, it was a well-crafted mystery and I enjoyed it.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian
* 1 star
Giving up on this one; the premise was interesting to me but I found I did not like the scatter shot narrative nor the main character. I just didn't really care much about her or what was happening to her. Moving on...
Giving up on this one; the premise was interesting to me but I found I did not like the scatter shot narrative nor the main character. I just didn't really care much about her or what was happening to her. Moving on...
Landline by Rainbow Rowell
** 2 stars
A little disappointed to find this as a 2 star read given how much I've loved Rowell's other books. This one was just a little flat to me. The premise was kind of goofy but I would have been okay with that. I just didn't really understand the characters; I failed to see the husband's redeeming qualities. He just seemed angry and not very interesting, even in the "flashbacks". I didn't understand what Georgie saw in him. But it was entertaining enough; the author has a way with words that makes her stuff fun to read.
A little disappointed to find this as a 2 star read given how much I've loved Rowell's other books. This one was just a little flat to me. The premise was kind of goofy but I would have been okay with that. I just didn't really understand the characters; I failed to see the husband's redeeming qualities. He just seemed angry and not very interesting, even in the "flashbacks". I didn't understand what Georgie saw in him. But it was entertaining enough; the author has a way with words that makes her stuff fun to read.
Angelina's Bachelors: A Novel with Food by Brian O'Reilly
*** 3 stars
A perfectly delightful and charming book. Listened to the audio version on a car trip. Loved the food descriptions (yum!) and the setting in south Philly. A lot of fun (even with the sadness and tears) and I know I literally chuckled out loud in a couple places. I wish the author would write another book!
A perfectly delightful and charming book. Listened to the audio version on a car trip. Loved the food descriptions (yum!) and the setting in south Philly. A lot of fun (even with the sadness and tears) and I know I literally chuckled out loud in a couple places. I wish the author would write another book!
Everyone Wants to Be Me or Do Me: Tom and Lorenzo's Fabulous and Opinionated Guide to Celebrity Life and Style by Tom Fitzgerald and Lorenzo Marquez
* 1 star
Boy, is this Bitter Kitten ever bitter! Ugh! I consider myself quite the devote of TLo's fashion blog where their incredible wit and insight is consistent. This book was just dull. It was almost stunning in how distinctly different in tone and interest the book is from their blog. Perhaps because the book deals in generalities rather than having a specific celebrity target to praise or skewer, they lacked a focus. Bitter disappoint.
Boy, is this Bitter Kitten ever bitter! Ugh! I consider myself quite the devote of TLo's fashion blog where their incredible wit and insight is consistent. This book was just dull. It was almost stunning in how distinctly different in tone and interest the book is from their blog. Perhaps because the book deals in generalities rather than having a specific celebrity target to praise or skewer, they lacked a focus. Bitter disappoint.
Save Yourself by Kelly Braffet
* 1 star
Gave up on this one; got quite a long ways into it, too, before I did. I was interested initially in the characters and the situations but when it seemed nothing was really going on, the book got quite tedious. Interesting bit of trivia, the author is Stephen King's daughter-in-law. I'm assuming he read this as he's as prolific a reader as he is a writer. I'm also assuming he had kind things to say about it, but I'm afraid I don't. Just kind of bleak and boring. I don't mind bleak and interesting...it's the boring part I have a problem with!
Gave up on this one; got quite a long ways into it, too, before I did. I was interested initially in the characters and the situations but when it seemed nothing was really going on, the book got quite tedious. Interesting bit of trivia, the author is Stephen King's daughter-in-law. I'm assuming he read this as he's as prolific a reader as he is a writer. I'm also assuming he had kind things to say about it, but I'm afraid I don't. Just kind of bleak and boring. I don't mind bleak and interesting...it's the boring part I have a problem with!
Honeymoon in Paris by Jojo Moyes
*** 3 stars
Really a short story, I think, which took me far to long to get through! I guess I kept forgetting I had it on my Kindle. Which says something about its compelling-ness! It was an okay read; I much preferred the modern-day story; the one about the artist was similar to The Girl You Left Behind which I didn't really love.
I've loved Jojo's two latest books, One Plus One and Me Before You (of course); her earlier stuff is certainly okay but somewhat run of the mill. I'm currently struggling a little bit to get through Silver Bay; it's a slow starter for me but I'll probably stick with it.
Really a short story, I think, which took me far to long to get through! I guess I kept forgetting I had it on my Kindle. Which says something about its compelling-ness! It was an okay read; I much preferred the modern-day story; the one about the artist was similar to The Girl You Left Behind which I didn't really love.
I've loved Jojo's two latest books, One Plus One and Me Before You (of course); her earlier stuff is certainly okay but somewhat run of the mill. I'm currently struggling a little bit to get through Silver Bay; it's a slow starter for me but I'll probably stick with it.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Winter Bloom by Tara Heavey
*** 3 stars
This month's book club choice. I really enjoyed this gentle read, although I do think it had some problems. The pacing was rather weird; we shift to other characters' perspectives quite late in the book. I found myself distracted by the age of one of the characters; I think Uri was supposed to be Seth's father but he would have been old enough to be his grandfather! I'm sure this isn't at all important but it did distract me and make me think I missed something.
But that's a minor thing! It was an interesting read with a bit of mystery and a sweet message. I'm sorry that I will miss the book club discussion about it!
This month's book club choice. I really enjoyed this gentle read, although I do think it had some problems. The pacing was rather weird; we shift to other characters' perspectives quite late in the book. I found myself distracted by the age of one of the characters; I think Uri was supposed to be Seth's father but he would have been old enough to be his grandfather! I'm sure this isn't at all important but it did distract me and make me think I missed something.
But that's a minor thing! It was an interesting read with a bit of mystery and a sweet message. I'm sorry that I will miss the book club discussion about it!
What We See When We Read by Peter Mendelsund
** 2 stars
Just okay; sort of an interesting premise but a little too faux-intellectual for me. Probably should have been a blog post or magazine article rather than a book. Very padded.
Just okay; sort of an interesting premise but a little too faux-intellectual for me. Probably should have been a blog post or magazine article rather than a book. Very padded.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
***** 5 stars
Every bit as good as The Husband's Secret! Loved this tricky book that kept me guessing.
Every bit as good as The Husband's Secret! Loved this tricky book that kept me guessing.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
** 2 stars
Definitely just an "okay" read for me. I really liked the characters and the setting; I found the interactions of everyone in the household to be really interesting. But the central motif and premise of the doll house didn't really hold up for me. That whole theme seemed a little contrived and obscure to me. Was happy to be done with it as my interest really dropped off once I realized where it was going....
Definitely just an "okay" read for me. I really liked the characters and the setting; I found the interactions of everyone in the household to be really interesting. But the central motif and premise of the doll house didn't really hold up for me. That whole theme seemed a little contrived and obscure to me. Was happy to be done with it as my interest really dropped off once I realized where it was going....
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