Marjorie
I read this for Vaginal Fantasy Hangout reading group/book club.
This book is not a cheesy romance but a witty, murder mystery. The characters where well developed. Julia jumped to conclusions rather quickly which Almost confused me at times. Like I missed something reading. Brisbane was hard to get a hold of which seems proper after the reader finds out about his past.
Some of his actions I think I'm still confused about.
You may guess who the murder is before the book ends but the motives did surprise me.
Amazing storyteller. Martin makes this medieval fantasy world believable. There will be no doubt from description this world is false.
Martin makes it is easy to get emotionally involved with the characters and he seems to find ease in putting the characters into great danger. His has a wonderful handle over the intricate plot and never seems to lose his way. He has eliminated clique story lines making it a complete mystery what will happen next. Very few portions of the book dragged on but overall pace was well planned out. A very exciting read. Recommended.
Katniss is a strong character. She's independent and self-sufficient, and she'll do anything for the people she loves. All of a sudden she can't do anything. It takes some reading to find that maybe The Hunger Games had more of an effect on her. I think this should have been focused on in the beginning screw the impeding love triangle. We are smart readers. From the first book I know Kitniss is going to have a lot of feeling searching. Book is rushed in the wrong places.
The book still has great concept, scenes, and characters that keep me reading.
I liked it!
The stories and art have a hint of edginess were the best tiny stories. The less profound stories and art I think took away from the book's quality. Generally it is clever, funny, insightful and very creative. If the next volume can find the deeper, and more thought provoking I think it will be a hit.
There was a few points the book can be considered slow but I liked the development of the characters in these parts and I thought had perfect pacing. I was a little shocked by the ending. Doesn't seem there is much to go on to get to the next book. I would have never thought to make this a three book series on so little. It may be enough to peak my curiosity and read the next book to see where the author and characters go from here.
I believe Katniss' blindness about Peeta and Gale. Before The Hunger Games she was a 16 year old with a lot of responsibility than most and is more focus on feeding her family so they don't starve.
The writing could have been better but the storyline wins out.
I did have some trouble getting into the novel in the beginning. The writing didn't seem smooth. It seemed repetitive and bumpy. When I finally was being pulled into the novel I was soon pulled back out with the whole romance between Katsa and Po. It turned me off since, to me, it seemed forced. I didn't care about the anti(?)-marriage or anti(?)-child message I just didn't like how much of the novel it ended up in. It is character development but pages and pages of her thoughts about marriage and children, I get it. I was missing the connection to the storyline, and the journey.
I lemmed it. Maybe one day I can go back to it and enjoy it. I want to! So many people I know liked it but right now, it's not for me.
The book is about an emotional affair a husband had with another woman. Is it less meaningful then a physical affair? With all the news on the tv about every one having physical affairs it really struck me as a different concept. Shumas characters where well developed but I felt the book dragged in the middle. There comes a point in the book where the main character is not moving from the beginning and the reader just wants to skip ahead and see how it ends.
I haven't seen the movie in its entirety but I found the story insightful and intriguing. The relationship between the narrator and Holly is deep and realistic. Holly is free spirited, complex and naive. The character never faltered in the story. Capote's writing seems effortless and is not to be ignored. “House of Flowers,” “A Diamond Guitar,” and “ A Christmas Memory” should not be overlooked.
I thought it was a little slow in the middle but the book quickly picks back up again. For a “self help” book I found it interesting. I normally can't get through help books but this wasn't a book that felt as if the author told you what to do, just what she did, which maybe can be really inspiring for some.
That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.
Very well written and the dialog is witty and sharp. It is not some chick lit novel where everything is predictable. The premise kept me reading until the end. Around the end I just kept thinking, “Well, this must be the end” over and over again. The ending dragged on and (I won't give away any spoilers) disappointed me. I felt like the author was pulling for some sort of heartbreaking ending but it was lack luster for me.
This book would be great for people going into college just as much as coming out of college. You can read this to feel better about yourself and what path you are thinking to go down. It may help quiet the negative outside voices. (Parents, relatives, friends, strangers.) Help you stick to your passion, and beliefs. If you are looking for getting a job advice this is not the book.
Love the language. Now, I don't want to say it was boring. I did find the story interesting but there were some scenes I struggled through. I found I liked the scenes between Jane Eyre and another character. I liked reading the character in action but some of her surrounding descriptions were long winded. I do love Jane Eyre, the character. I do think Orson Wells did an excellent job in the movie though. He hit the male character head on. I could hear him reading the book.
Maybe Because I have worked in Retail I really loved this book. He didn't cling to cliques, the book was in a very organized manner, and he made me laugh. He didn't make the book sound complaining in situations which made all the difference.
It was a quick read but very enjoyable. I didn't feel alone in the retail world.
“Someday My Prince Will Come” is a true-life story about a girl who has the courage to purse her childhood dreams.
Jerramy Fine grew up wanting to be a princess. Born in Colorado to hippie parents that named her a boy's name, she takes the reader through her hippie, farm town childhood. She feeds chickens and never really fits in at school for her royal ways. At the age of six she picks her husband, Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips. She even writes letters to Peters in care of Buckingham Palace.
Fine grows up planning her life around going to England and fitting in among royalty. While most girls grow out of Disney fairy tales (her parents never allowed her to watch) she holds on to her dreams. She travels to London for grad-school, meets Princess Anne, and Earl Spencer. She spends a holiday in India has struggles with flat-mates, expenses of London, and dating.
Fine's insensitivity to her parents and small town did become a little tiresome half way through the book. At times she sounded a little naïve in romance and men but she kept the story flowing with her humorist voice and dramatic adventures.
Jerramy Fine's memoir is a very light and funny read. I found it refreshing to read a memoir that wasn't all doom and gloom. She is witty and entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud many times. I admire Fine for her determination and endurance setting out and staying true to her goals.
A crash course for new travelers to Italy. Learn culture and very basic language to help travel with confidence through a foreign country.
“Italian Survival Guide: The Language and Culture You Need to Travel with Confidence in Italy” is Elizabeth Bingham, Ph.D. second published book, the first book being “German Survival Guide.” Bingham's “Italian Survival Guild” intentions are to help the reader learn the basics of travel, language, and culture in a little amount of time.
This is not a travel guide for landmarks to see or restaurants to eat at. This is a travel guide for language and culture. Bingham's book is in seven sections each one on an important topic of traveling. The topics are sorted well and in a useful order. Bingham separates the proper vocabulary in the accurate sections.
The vocabulary is bare basics and all of it essentials. Bingham doesn't riddle the book with “the dog is on the chair” examples. The terminology is what a person would use when traveling. If you are fluent in Italian, you may find this book ineffective. This book doesn't come with a CD and I don't think it needs one. Every term comes with the meaning and the phonetics so there is no question on how a word should be pronounce.
The end of every lesson, chapter, and the book is a review test to help keep what was just read in the head. Short on time Bingham says you can skip the quizzes but I feel you can't really learn and retain the words without proper time on the subject.
It doesn't look like this book would be hard to use in Italy either. On the front and back covers is a survival summary of all the vocabulary, meaning, and phonetics all neatly characterize in labeled columns. Located in the back of the book it also a small Italian-English and English-Italian dictionary.
I did skim over some of the sections when I felt they didn't apply to me and I didn't feel I really missed anything. If there is anything she had mention in an early section Bingham feels you should review she does tell the reader where to refer back.
The Italian culture was also separated into each section under the appropriate terms. Bingham has made the culture sections easy to read throughout the book and made the tips very practical. She talks about the differences that may be experienced between American and Italian culture. She teaches woman not to be shocked at hollering men, differences in coffee, and money. She gives safety tips to help the traveler stay aware of crime. Sometimes I wish she would have elaborated on certain subjects. For me the currency only made me more confused and worried about what I may face in Italy or what attire is suitable for travel since I cannot change what is in my closet. Also I didn't feel confident on the directions given on church attire.
Bingham's book set out to give confidence to a new traveler with limited time to learn language and culture of a foreign country. I think you do need at least a month's time of everyday study to be confident in a foreign language completely. I do feel see taught a different culture with understanding and ease. I do feel a little bit better traveling to Italy with some of the knowledge and words I have grasp from this book.
Personal Effects: Dark Art
J.C. Hutchins tries a new form of storytelling in this Supernatural thriller.
“Personal Effects: Dark Art” is by J.C. Hutchins and Jordan Weisman. This is Hutchins second novel, the first being the “7th Son.” Weisman is known for creating marketing campaigns for such famous franchises like “The Dark Knight” and “Halo.”
The story follows an art therapist, Zackary Taylor, and his new patient, Martin Grace. Grace is a blind psychic serial killer convicted of twelve murders. Grace claims he has not killed but takes responsibility for the victim's deaths. Acting difficult, Taylor has to learn to match wits with Grace. Taylor discovers not only Grace's secret path but also his own families filled with conspiracies, love triangles, and ghost.
The novel comes with items used and described throughout the book called “Personal Effects.” License, photographs, birth and death certificates were included. The reader can call the phone numbers and search the websites.
The story and writing was engaging. Hutchins does not waste time introducing characters. The narrative is fast paced and action is always present. Character interaction troubled me like with Zack and his brother. The author took to much time explaining the brother's way of speech and I found myself wishing he would just start speaking normal.
The reason I bought the books was for The “Personal Effects.” I ended up being very disappointed, distracted, and found the items useless. Hutchins does an excellent job of describing objects, events, and characters so there was no need for the interactive substance. Besides, the need to use the material dropped off in the middle of the novel. Calling the phone number threw off my imagination. The character's tone didn't match the character's voice in the book. Zack Taylor's father did not sound as tough over the phone as he did on the page. The website's wasted time on useless topics which had no importance with the book.
The novel is a good read. It was appealing and kept my interest. The mystery, murder, and secrets keep the reader wondering to the end. The extra elements didn't enhance the read like I anticipated. It took me out of the story instead of dragging me in.
