1 star
Read the first few stories, skipped on to the story by my beloved Marian Keyes and read the one after that (the twist on the Gift of the Magi). I expected something a little different than what this book was. These mostly read like self-absorbed memoirs with little to no point or redemption. The whole collection came off as sour and not a holiday tale turned on it head (like I thought...like a spooky story or something). Give this one a big pass....
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
**** 4 stars
I found this to be a compelling and quick read. It didn't quite live up to the hype I've already heard about it but it was pretty good. I pretty much raced through to the end; I felt the portrayal of the thre women involved was really well done.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the First to Read program! Thank you!
I found this to be a compelling and quick read. It didn't quite live up to the hype I've already heard about it but it was pretty good. I pretty much raced through to the end; I felt the portrayal of the thre women involved was really well done.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the First to Read program! Thank you!
The Tucci Cookbook by Stanley Tucci
*** 3 stars
Another lovely cookbook with lots of family stories.
Another lovely cookbook with lots of family stories.
Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past:A Ballad Novella by Sharyn McCrumb
**** 4 stars
Just loved this sweet and charming read; a perfect quick read for Christmastime. Ghosts? Angels? Who knows? A cute little book and a fun reminder of the folks who inhabit this fictional world.
Just loved this sweet and charming read; a perfect quick read for Christmastime. Ghosts? Angels? Who knows? A cute little book and a fun reminder of the folks who inhabit this fictional world.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
**** 4 stars
Oh, I really liked this super-creepy book. It took a little bit to get into the structure of the story and the shifting timelines but I quickly got to a point where I couldn't put it down. Except when I was so spooked out, I had to calm down before I could go to sleep! I have several more McMahon books on deck now and very much looking forward to reading more by this author.
Oh, I really liked this super-creepy book. It took a little bit to get into the structure of the story and the shifting timelines but I quickly got to a point where I couldn't put it down. Except when I was so spooked out, I had to calm down before I could go to sleep! I have several more McMahon books on deck now and very much looking forward to reading more by this author.
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
**** 4 stars
Fun memoir which makes me want to not only see the movie again but read the book again, too. I had caught on to the book in college before the movie ever came out, so I think I can consider myself a long time fan. Very much enjoyed the insights of the making of the movie and glimpses into the personalities involved.
Fun memoir which makes me want to not only see the movie again but read the book again, too. I had caught on to the book in college before the movie ever came out, so I think I can consider myself a long time fan. Very much enjoyed the insights of the making of the movie and glimpses into the personalities involved.
The Bookstore by Deborah Meyer
** 2 stars
Boy, I had to just slog through this one; took me forever to get through it. Should have been just my cup of tea but I found I never really connected with any of the characters. Our main character is a bit of an idiot and her merry band of cohorts just blurred into one blob. Nothing very compelling in the read; just glad to be done with it.
Boy, I had to just slog through this one; took me forever to get through it. Should have been just my cup of tea but I found I never really connected with any of the characters. Our main character is a bit of an idiot and her merry band of cohorts just blurred into one blob. Nothing very compelling in the read; just glad to be done with it.
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
**** 4 stars
I really liked this strange and unusual novel; I really didn't know what to expect. Sometimes that's the most fun of reading a new novel before it gets discussed in the media and before I've read much about it. Anyway, this was a fast read for me and a lot of fun! Written as though the author had an eye to an eventual movie treatment but that didn't detract for me. Weird and fun!
The Tucci Table: Cooking with Family and Friends by Stanley Tucci
**** 4 stars
I do love cookbooks, especially ones with lots of photos and "stories". I have always really liked Stanley Tucci, the actor, and it was really fun to learn a bit about him as a person. The recipes are all very lovely; there were a couple I noted as ones I might actually make. I hadn't realized he also wrote a previous cookbook so I am currently reading that one as well!
I do love cookbooks, especially ones with lots of photos and "stories". I have always really liked Stanley Tucci, the actor, and it was really fun to learn a bit about him as a person. The recipes are all very lovely; there were a couple I noted as ones I might actually make. I hadn't realized he also wrote a previous cookbook so I am currently reading that one as well!
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich
0 stars
Nope, just not going to do it. I thought I could hate-read this one but nope. I think I'm officially done with this series; you win, Janet. You outlasted me.
Nope, just not going to do it. I thought I could hate-read this one but nope. I think I'm officially done with this series; you win, Janet. You outlasted me.
Revival by Stephen King
**** 4 stars
Took me a bit to get into this book due to time constraints but once I did, I really raced through it. King's writing has really tightened up; I've appreciated that his most recent books are of a manageable size. This was a good story with some interesting themes. I did feel like the characters were a little bit remote to me; I'm not sure I totally embraced the main character and his relationship with Jacobs. But the story was compelling enough and I liked the trademark King-esque ending! Fun read!
Took me a bit to get into this book due to time constraints but once I did, I really raced through it. King's writing has really tightened up; I've appreciated that his most recent books are of a manageable size. This was a good story with some interesting themes. I did feel like the characters were a little bit remote to me; I'm not sure I totally embraced the main character and his relationship with Jacobs. But the story was compelling enough and I liked the trademark King-esque ending! Fun read!
Saturday, December 6, 2014
NIghtmares! by Jason Segel
* star
Gave up on this one. I had seen it at the store and it just looked so cute. I like Jason Segel as an actor but I'm finding more and more that I have little patience for children's books anymore.
Gave up on this one. I had seen it at the store and it just looked so cute. I like Jason Segel as an actor but I'm finding more and more that I have little patience for children's books anymore.
Out of the Black by John Rector
*** 3 stars
Rector is an under-appreciated author; I've enjoyed his previous books. This one was not quite as strong but it was fast-paced and fun to read His books are quick reads and always entertaining.
Rector is an under-appreciated author; I've enjoyed his previous books. This one was not quite as strong but it was fast-paced and fun to read His books are quick reads and always entertaining.
Sweet Masterpiece by Connie Shelton
** 2 stars
I listened to the audio of this book on a car trip. It was amusing enough and kept me entertained but it wasn't great. It seemed a little bit unfocused with some odd elements of magical realism (?), which is never my favorite thing anyway. I may continue with the series; the next two books are only available as audio books at my library anyway, so maybe the next car trip!
I listened to the audio of this book on a car trip. It was amusing enough and kept me entertained but it wasn't great. It seemed a little bit unfocused with some odd elements of magical realism (?), which is never my favorite thing anyway. I may continue with the series; the next two books are only available as audio books at my library anyway, so maybe the next car trip!
The B.T.C. Old-Fashioned Grocery Cookbook by Alexe van Beuren
**** 4 stars
Can't say I'd ever heard of the B.T.C. Grocery in a small town in Mississippi; just saw this book on the new books shelf at the library. I really enjoyed the recipes as well as the stories of how a young family moved to this town and opened the grocery/restaurant. It was fun to read the stories of the folks in town and how the recipes came about. Nice photos, too.
Can't say I'd ever heard of the B.T.C. Grocery in a small town in Mississippi; just saw this book on the new books shelf at the library. I really enjoyed the recipes as well as the stories of how a young family moved to this town and opened the grocery/restaurant. It was fun to read the stories of the folks in town and how the recipes came about. Nice photos, too.
Malice by Keigo Higashino
*** 3 stars
Seems Higashino's backlist is being translated and made available in the US. I'm glad I waited for the library copy and didn't buy it like I had originally planned. It was good and twisty and clever like his more recent books (Salvation of a Saint and The Devotion of Suspect X, both of which I loved!) but it wasn't quite as "crisp" and elegant. He's definitely matured as an author, so while I might go out of my way to read his new stuff, the backlist, if it becomes available in English, is definitely candidates for the library list!
Seems Higashino's backlist is being translated and made available in the US. I'm glad I waited for the library copy and didn't buy it like I had originally planned. It was good and twisty and clever like his more recent books (Salvation of a Saint and The Devotion of Suspect X, both of which I loved!) but it wasn't quite as "crisp" and elegant. He's definitely matured as an author, so while I might go out of my way to read his new stuff, the backlist, if it becomes available in English, is definitely candidates for the library list!
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
*** 3 stars
I keep seeing this book over and over again on various "Best of 2014" lists but I'm not feeling it. It was an okay read but rather uneven. It did really jump around a lot and some parts of the story were more interesting to me than others. I really liked the stories of life in the airport and how the people there adapted it and themselves to their new home. Other parts were a little weird. I'm glad I read it but it won't be on my "best of" list.
I keep seeing this book over and over again on various "Best of 2014" lists but I'm not feeling it. It was an okay read but rather uneven. It did really jump around a lot and some parts of the story were more interesting to me than others. I really liked the stories of life in the airport and how the people there adapted it and themselves to their new home. Other parts were a little weird. I'm glad I read it but it won't be on my "best of" list.
The Language of Food: A Linguist Reads the Menu by Dan Jurafsky
*** 3 stars
A fun book to skim. Some sections were more interesting than others. The author inserted himself into the book a little bit too much and I found the book to be less about language and more about history. I know that is what linguistics is, but the focus was a little different than I expected. But it was diverting enough for a light read.
A fun book to skim. Some sections were more interesting than others. The author inserted himself into the book a little bit too much and I found the book to be less about language and more about history. I know that is what linguistics is, but the focus was a little different than I expected. But it was diverting enough for a light read.
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