Andrea
Part of me was annoyed that it seemed Hank was using this novel as a way to complain about how very hard it is to be obscenely rich and famous. An annoying problem only famous people have. ;)
But there was so much more to this book. I was completely hooked... I'll admit I was pleasantly surprised to find Hank is a great writer in his own right. I really really enjoyed the ride.
Utterly delightful. I'm so glad I listened to the audiobook. It was amazing to listen to her sing parts of her songs before each chapter. And the end bloopers made me laugh. My only two complaints are that she added a section where she wrote letters to her younger self. I found them hard to listen to. They were too personal and too specific for me to find myself in them. As such, I felt like an outsider listening in and it made me uncomfortable–not the intended effect. My other problem was that she spent the whole of the book humanizing herself and discussing her flaws really driving home that we are all unique people with flaws, yet she never extended this life lesson to anyone else she mentions in the book–or hardly ever. She spoke of everyone in her life as amazing, wonderful people. She spent paragraphs praising them and building them up on a pedestal but constantly putting herself in her place. It had the effect of making her life lessons about herself feel like put downs rather than personal growth because everyone around her was amazing and she was constantly in the wrong. I often wished I could just hug her. Of course, this is all an over simplification of my thoughts on the book. There are exceptions to both gripes. But all this to say that it took a little away from the positive vibe she was trying to uphold.
Well worth a read, though. Sara is a brilliant song writer and singer. She's soulful, introspective, and humble. It was a wonderful insight into a her world.
Trigger warning: rape and animal death/cruelty
3.75 rating for me because of above but otherwise really great book. First half is slow and slice of life-y. But second half things get going and it pulled me in quickly.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEED THIS! It speaks to my soul. It evokes the kind of laughter that just bubbles up uncontrollably
Good fun. The writing is basic but unobtrusive which is really all I ask for. World building was simple but more in-depth than I expected. Things progressed pretty fast. I thought that a lot of the outlandish decision making was explained well enough to make me accept why they were done. One of my biggest complaints SPOILERS is that she gets pregnant pretty dmn fast! And it's one of my biggest dislikes in books is the unexpected pregnancy trope. And I wasn't a big fan of the symbiont plotline. I felt is was a deus ex machina type of situation. A quick way to make the world as easy for the humans as possible. The language machine too was way too convenient that it just made it cringy. But overall it was fun.
I really wanted to give this book a two star rating but I bumped it up to three because I think the premise is really interesting and the main character's sexual orientation was like me which I haven't seen in books before so I was pleasantly surprised by that. But I feel like it was such a waste of a great idea. The book felt forced in a lot of ways. All the characters sounded the same. The mystery was just... not. I knew right away who did it and why and some of the clues were poorly executed. The writing was good though. Obviously, McGuire knows how to write. I just think this wasn't as good as it could have been and I'm sad about that. 2/5 = 3/5
I would have given this book a 3 star if he'd tone down the crassness a little. But this book should be given a 1 star for the complete and utter disrespect he flippantly throws around of not only his fans, his friends, and his family but most especially to women in general. I'm not someone who usually gets bent out of shape about this topic. I notice it but it's not my soapbox. However, David would just. not. let it. go. I GET it! Women are objects who threaten your ego... lay off a little. Jesus. He even mentions that half his followers/fans are female. Not sure he knows what that means when it comes to who will be reading his book. No tact whatsoever. I was a fan of his before this. Not a huge fan, but I liked him. Now... he's just so unsavory to me. He talks about social media being the worst for him because it was so much easier for him to be caught cheating and lying. He plays it off like the fact that he's an unfaithful lowlife is not his problem but the fact that he gets caught doing it that is the real issue. Which is all just such a shame because if it wasn't for his complete lack of personality and kindness there was a lot of interesting parts to his book. I was fascinated by a lot of his struggles and goals, his up and downs, I even laughed a few times. But it's completely undercut by his disregard for the people around him–unless its someone he is intimidated by (which he confuses for respect). Then he's pretty careful to mention how great they are.
Overall, I really wanted to like this but by the end I put the audiobook on 2X the speed desperately ready to put this book, and Dave, forever out of my life.
It was good. But I don't recommend bingeing it all in one go. I would suggest reading chapter by chapter in small doses when the mood arises. Otherwise, you'll notice pretty quick how often she says things like, “the most,” “for the first time,” “never in my life.” It felt like everything was a superlative. Everything was one extreme or another. Every person she mentioned was her “best friend in the world” or “the most amazing person she's every come across.” There was also a lot of screaming which was hard to listen to in audiobook form. I kept having to turn the volume down during several of her war cries. As a memoir-style book I felt some of it came across as disingenuous. (Granted she does mention it's not really meant to be a memoir.) She only talked about all the good times in her life; or if she did talk about the bad times it was only to say how it related to how one of the best things in her life came out of it. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but the level of positivity and optimism was just too much. Almost sickly sweet. And her love letters to her kids just didn't interest me. It felt too personal and something she should have written out and given her kids when they're older. Not put it in a book for the public.
There were some great parts. I really enjoyed when she talked about getting emancipated and how hard she worked to self-educate herself. How she taught herself to do laundry. Her love of books. And her never-ending drive to be the best version of herself even when it's hard. All of that was incredibly fascinating and inspiring. But it was bogged down by all the rest I mentioned. By the time I reached the end it was a slogged to get through the rest and I had to push myself to finish it.
I love her as a person, I love her movies, and I'll continue to do both. But I probably won't read anything else she produces (if she ever does).
SPOILERS....
This book was back to front one giant battle. I usually glaze over during battle scenes so that meant his book was definitely not for me. I was SUPER upset Karrin died after her and Dresden were only together for ONE book. That felt really cheap and contrived. I was pretty shocked by Justine being possessed by Nemesis. But overall... by no means a fave in the series.
I have no idea how I slept on this for so long. I LOVED it. New favourite for sure. I can't wait to get to the next one.
Also, I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook version.
Next to no plot but the characters are amazing! I love them so much. I feel like I know them and I can't stop thinking about them. This whole book was one long hug.
FANTASTIC! AMAZING! SO GREAT!!!!!
Before I get into this review, I just have to say that this is in my top list of most emotional, meaningful reads I've ever had. 10/10. Five stars. A++
To anyone who knows me, it comes as no surprise when I say that Princess Bride is my favourite movie of ALL time and I'm 100% certain it will never be dethroned. My love for this movie cannot be broken, not with a thousand swords (wink). So when I heard that Cary Elwes, the enigmatic and dashing lead actor who plays Westley in the movie was writing a memoir of his time making the film I flipped out. I was beside myself. And I eyed it on the shelves of bookstores, taunting me with its daunting price tag, yet beckoning me like a siren's call. Needless to say, this book was going to make it to my bookshelves no matter what. And it did. Even so, I was nervous after bringing it home. Would it be all I was hoping it would be? Would it be an interesting read? Is he a good enough writer to pull this off? The answer is a resounding yes. Yes, yes, yes.
I was immediately pulled into his hilarious anecdotes and the incredible antics of an amazing cast of characters. This memoir is as enchanting and sweet as the movie is, and I loved every second of it.
The book had such a huge impact on me for many reasons. One of which was sharing it with my best friend and brother, David. We read the book out loud together, alternating chapters and bringing our own uniqueness to each reading. I'd bring my uncontrollable giggles and commentary to certain passages, while he brought spot on accents when necessary. We laughed, we cried, we loved this damn book. I got particularly teary-eyed when we read the last chapter and I put on the movie theme song in the background.
If you love The Princess Bride as much as I do... if you can quote the movie's best lines with a grin on your face and if you can hum the theme song with all the joy in your heart then pick up this book and don't ever look back.
If all the warmth and feeling of summer could be turned into a book it would be Anne of Avonlea. I went into this novel with the firm understanding that to equal Anne of Green Gables was an impossible feat and so I should just enjoy the book for what it was and not compare it to its triumphant sibling. Boy, was I wrong. Anne of Avonlea was as charming and delightful as its predecessor. Genuine, endearing, and heartwarming to the very last syllable. L. M Montgomery is a masterful story writer and her words sing with poetry that makes your heart ache. One of my favourite lines–that still sticks with me–is, “...over which the wind was harping an old lyric learned when the world was young.”
I loved the first two books with all my heart but I will not be finishing this book. I just can't.
And trigger warning to anyone who has trouble with animal cruelty... there are two horrific scenes in this book. There might be more. I just couldn't keep reading.
What can I say about this series? I could say that the writing is beautiful in its simplicity; I could say that the characters are so well developed and unique that each voice is distinct and strong; I could say that the world is as lush and detailed as stepping out my front door and I could even say that with the addition of each new character to this cast of lovable misfits I grow more and more in love with every single one of them. But I can't describe how every chapter has me on edge. Every turn of events gets my heart racing and my mind spinning. Every word is an adrenaline rush until I finally reached the end feeling like I just ran a marathon of emotions. This series has me so captivated–Enthralled, Enchanted! Spellbound! Mesmerized! Pick your synonym–that I just want the whole world to read it and love it as much as I do.
Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic!!! I want more!!! Not for people who don't want nudity and course language but a really great, strong storyline and feisty characters! I'm hooked in 48 pages.
I felt like this was one of those books where you know there is something meaningful you're supposed to grasp from it (or some personal revelation you're supposed to glean from the pages) but you don't know what it is. This book gave me that feeling. I felt like it had an almost pointless feel to it.
Having said that, there were so many touching moments that really just took my breath away or left me feeling warmed by humanities ability towards kindness amidst all the pain, brutality and chaos. There were some scenes that I know I will carry with me always and revisit often in quiet moments of contemplation. And maybe that's what the book was supposed to do.
I should also admit that I found the first 100 pages slow and they didn't really grab me right off. I think this was largely due to the jumbled, incoherent beginning when the narrator introduces so many things out of sequence. It was a little difficult to keep track. But after the first 100 pages things start to flow much better.
All in all, I thought it was a good read (wink) and worth the trouble to read at least once. I'm not sure I would read it again though. It was really depressing.
I hated this. I feel so betrayed by booktok! I thought this would be an amazing read but I had to force myself to finish it. It would get a two star purely because the writing is decent but I can't make myself put a second star.
UPDATE (WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS)
Okay.. I've had a few days of distance and I'm no longer too annoyed to write this. Here are my gripes:
Ove is an ahole. I know that's the point of the book. An angry old man who is in the throes of grief pushes everyone away and wants to end his life. But he was a jerk long before his wife died and we are just supposed to find it endearing? I'm sorry, no. Screaming, and literally exploding with rage at random times is frightening. I can't imagine anyone actually being in that situation and not being terrified he'd become physical. There are even a few times when he does take his anger out physically. I don't find it cute or funny to see someone have explosive anger. My next biggest issue is the animal abuse. He is violent, mean, and often dismissive of the animals in this book. He went so far as to set up a torture situation for the dog. Um.. excuse me? And we're suppose to sympathize with him? Parvaneh had to bully him into actually doing anything to help the dying cat. He pushes, shoves, and yells at the cat. This was really hard for me to handle. It made me seriously dislike him. Okay, now probably one of my biggest problems with the book... how unrealistic all the connections were. I'm sorry but if an angry man starts yelling at me, calling me names, being utterly rude and insufferable, I sure as hell am not going to befriend him. And most people wouldn't. Everyone literally pushed their way into his life and that just doesn't happen. I know it sounds jaded but seriously! Imagine someone being rude and mean to you.. would you go to them for help? And Parvaneh was terrible. When Anita first comes to Ove's door to ask for help with the radiator he says no. Parvaneh gets upset and says he WILL do it. Just no. Ove does not owe anyone his time and labor. If he said no, he said no. There's no reason she should have been shaming him into helping. Same with getting a ride to the hospital. This was a way to intervene with his suicide but it was sloppy. She could have asked literally ANYONE else in their area but she went to the one guy who is constantly saying to leave him alone? And AGAIN, he did not owe her his help. She could have gotten a cab, asked another neighbour, or even... wait for it, ASKED Ove?? Instead of demanding?? What a novel idea. There are so many different ways the author could have nurtured the connections between Ove and his neighbours but he chose ways that promote ignoring consent, bullying, and ways that felt contrived. People were made to look like imbeciles. Patrick was constantly ridiculed for not knowing how to do things; Adrian (a barista) has never encountered someone wanting black coffee before? Like, what?; The journalist was trapped in shed and passed off as an idiot as she talks calmly through the door (as if any woman getting trapped somewhere wouldn't immediately panic); Ove goes on and on about how he hates change and yet he's changed his car more times than just about anyone i've ever heard of. I didn't laugh once during this book. I never started to feel good about Ove. He was an a right until the bitter end while sprinkling in a few decent actions (which don't negate the other things he does/says). He is mean to everyone. He yells at everyone. He calls his neighbours idiots, blubberous (to which I took personal offense), hits people (the clown), cruel to animals, a nuisance to the people around him. He held a gun against two KIDS. Even after he realized who they were, he held them at gunpoint for way longer than necessary and then we're just supposed to accept that the kid he held the gun to felt comfortable staying in Ove's house??? I couldn't wait to be finished this book. It was awful.
I'm sorry to anyone who loves this book. I know it sucks when someone hates the book you love. I just couldn't find much redeeming about it. And I wish it had been done differently because I loved the premise. It was basically the old man of UP and I was super excited to read this. But I wish I could go back and never read it.
I actually want to give it a 3.5 but it was good enough to warrant rounding up rather than rounding down.