Elizabeth
Using the well-known Psalm 23 as his launching point, author Dallas Willard explores what it means to live a life without fear; a life of trust in God; a life without lack. Based on a series of talks given by the author some 20+ years ago, this book was compiled posthumously by a close friend of the author. Willard is an expert at breaking down deep thoughts into digestible bites, and his warmth and true care for the reader is evident in every page. Read this one with pen in hand - lots to ponder and savor.
This review is based on an advance reader copy from the publisher.
I had a lot of reasons to be interested in this book, not in the least being that my grandpa served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. I think the war in Europe often overshadows the war in the Pacific, so whenever I see something set in that area of the world I'm interested. And then, of course, to have this be such an epic true story makes it an even more rewarding read.
I think if I didn't know that this was a true story, I'd pan it a bit for being unbelievable - the sequence of events that make up Zamparini's life just seem incredible, and his ability to survive and ultimately forgive make for compelling reading. I did feel like there were a few points - in the beginning particularly - where the narrative was a bit slow, but I can forgive those small issues in light of an otherwise wonderful book. This was definitely a story I won't soon forget. Highly recommended.
This is just a hard book, in all aspects. It's a challenging read, both thematically and textually. It's hard to define - what genre would you even call this brutal, magical, lyrical novel? It's almost too difficult to rate - did I enjoy reading this? No, not particularly. Do I understand that it is a masterful work of fiction? Absolutely. This feels like the type of novel that I wish I could have read in a college classroom, with a lively discussion to follow. Definitely a memorable read.
Zakaria makes some very striking arguments about the ways in which white feminism (the brand of feminism that centers whiteness) has let down and in many cases hurt women of color throughout the world. As a white women who is attempting to remove “whiteness” from my worldview, there were parts of the book that were uncomfortable to read. I'm not sure all of the author's arguments persuaded me, but she says herself that discussion and dissent are still and must remain an integral part of feminism. Lots to think about in these pages, and I will definitely read more by this author.
I was so captured by this re-imagining of the Gatsby story. Jordan Baker and Nick Carraway come to life and the story becomes so much more through thier eyes. Really good writing - I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
I wanted to love this book but it never felt like it fully delivered on it's promise. I was hoping for a novel full of witchy teen friendships but mostly it was just young girls being kinda awful to each other.
This delightful little fairy tale felt like the perfect story to read as the weather where I live changes to the chill of winter. A short volume that reads almost like a dream, this story of Tobias and Henry, and the lengths they are willing to go to save each other, pulled me fully into its lush, green spell. And Pearl, who became perhaps my favorite cat in all of the fictional world.
Don't miss this lovely, haunting story about love and loss and choosing to move on. It's a beauty.
This book is SO sweet - maybe just a tad too much in that direction? It is also, however, entirely delightful and so refreshing to read a book that has me smiling the whole time. Predictable? Almost entirely. Am I still a sucker for stories about remarkably gifted children who live in weird little communities? Until I die.
This series has my heart. This was a particularly dark installment - pay attention to the author's trigger warnings at the start - and then prepare to fall in love all over again, and meet another scrappy, resourceful child who has the (mis)fortune of opening a Door, and believing they are sure.
In case you were wondering - yes, you do need lesbian while west librarians in your life.
My major quibble - at only 176 pages, this reads more like an extended short story, and I have sooooo many questions. Please let this be the start of many adventures in this world!
#readingwomen #readingwomenchallenge #dmplchallenge #popsugarchallenge
This was not, in fact, a perfect novel - in fact, even as I type this I can think of plot issues and character inconsistencies. What it was, however, was competely delightful through and through, and a wonderful way to round out 2020. I truly enjoyed myself the entire time I was reading The Extraordinaries, and honestly what more could I ask for from a book this year? Pick it up. It's just so dang much fun.
Sarah Gailey is a must-read author for me, and Just Like Home once again proves why - every genre they choose to tackle feels like the one they have been writing in forever. Their prose is gorgeous, their protagonists complicated and unforgettable, and their stories take me places I couldn't imagine.
This particular novel is fully gothic horror, with the creepy house, the potentially dangerous stranger, the mother near death - all the things the genre requires. But because it's Gailey, it's so much more - lonliness, anger, jealousy, and the core question, “Who is the monster”. This is a slow burn, so be prepared to be patient, soak in the atmosphere, and wait for the scares to start.
Very much in my wheelhouse - strong characters, intriguing worldbuilding and magic system, excellent prose.
Strong read about a couple in England wishing but unable to conceive, and the varied consequences their choice to pursue surrogacy brings about. Interesting cast of secondary characters and situations in England and India propels the narrative.
Probably only interesting to people who grew up with The View....entertaining look at the behind the scenes of the iconic show.
Holy cow, what a novel. I would never have been able to predict how this story would end, but I loved every minute of this emotional, crazy, heartbreaking ride. Pretty sure this will be one of my favorites of the year.
Fantastic example of a great mystery combined with truly compelling literary fiction at its best. The relationship between Esa and Rachel is fascinating, and I can't wait to see it play out over (hopefully) many books to come. Highly recommended!!
Delightful read-aloud about a wise old tree, the power of words, and the families we choose for ourselves. Katherine Applegate is my kids' new favorite author.
David rating - 5/5
Sophia rating - 5/5
Mommy rating - 5/5
This was beautiful and frightening and tender and devastating and a really, really, good read. I haven't rooted for a doomed couple this hard in a really long time. Rowell writes the kind of smart, funny teenagers that also manage to feel real, and I fell in love with these two. Warning - quite a bit of profanity, but it makes sense within the circumstances of the story. Definitely more appropriate for older teens, but a worthwhile read in every sense.
Really fascinating account - as I finish reading the book, I feel like I know more about Christopher Knight, but don't truly understand him. Something about the author's reporting style made me a slight bit uncomfortable.....but I couldn't stop reading. Definitely a compelling read.
Really strong fantasy/sci-fi collection. As per usual, not all the stories were to my taste, but discovering so many new authors to dive into makes it a highly worthwhile read.
I'm just going to be honest - Christian romance as a genre is not my jam. The storylines are so predictable - the main characters so sweet and pure I need a trip to the dentist - and the romance? Well, let's just say it's generally as sterile as a bottle of hand sanitizer. Like I said.....not my jam.
So imagine how thrilled I am to discover an author who write romance novels with real romance - like, the kind the gives a girl more than a few butterflies in her stomach - with characters I actually LIKE, stories that surprise me as I turn the pages - and in the Christian genre??? It's almost unbelievable - and yet, it's completely real.
Nor Forsake is the second novel I've read by Julie Presley, and with it she has cemented her spot as my favorite Christian fiction writer. Libby is an absolute delight of a character - warm, funny, smart, but with just enough insecurity and sass to make her feel real and authentic. I am already a sucker for a good novel set in the literary/publishing world, and Nor Forsake adds the romance of New York City as a backdrop for Libby's story. And the romance - yep, it has heat, which is sadly missing in so many Christian romance novels, but it's still a book you don't have to feel bad about recommending to your mom, or your 16-year-old daughter.
I'm such a fan of this author. Her books feel like a breath of fresh air, a cozy blanket on a chilly evening, a good conversation with a trusted friend. I cannot recommend her work enough.
(I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.)
I am just going to tell you straight up that I did not enjoy this book. My sister and I picked it up based on the jacket description, hoping for a Dean Koontz “Odd Thomas”-esque vibe....unfortunately, it could not have been less what I was actually hoping to read.
I knew almost from the first page that it wasn't going to work for me. By halfway through I was actively disliking the novel, and only kept reading thinking I would be irritated enough to write a review highlighting my issues with the work. By the time I reached the end, however, I just felt defeated. This book was overwhelmingly dark, and my struggles with the way the author chose to portray women throughout left me feeling slightly ill. I find myself eager to be rid of Miriam's world.
That said, there were two reviews that quite perfectly summed up how I felt about the novel - check them out if you are interested.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/526900981?book_show_action=false&page=1
http://thebooksmugglers.com/2012/04/book-review-blackbirds-by-chuck-wendig.html