Elizabeth
I had to read to the kids for 1.5 hours last night because they HAD to find out how the book ends! “Mom, I don't care what you say, we HAVE to start book four tomorrow!” I think I can officially call them Potter-heads now. ;)
David rating - 4.5/5
Sophia rating - 5/5
Mommy rating - 5/5
Happy to note how well this novel holds up as a re-read. Katniss' journey is as compelling as ever, and if possible, even more emotionally intense since I know what is to come. I love this series, with its cast of rag tag characters, and can't wait to read it to my own kids.
“She knew very well how she looked and sounded on her worst days, and to hell with them if they didn't like it. Life was not always pretty and cheerful, with hair curled and teeth whitened and supper waiting on the table. Life was sometimes a bitter harpy perched on the bedpost.” (page 13)
“Love was complicated, that was all. Or was love simple, and marriage was complicated? In seventeen years of marriage, David had often left her feeling frustrated, and furious, and disgusted, yes - but he had also made her feel beautiful, and protected, and loved. And oh, what she would give to feel loved right now.” (page 25)
Alternately quite funny and nearly heartbreaking, this unique nonfiction graphic novel memoir should be required reading. Somehow, trying to explain racism to a child makes it even more unsettling. Mira Jacob does the best work I've seen drawing her reader into an experience that is potentially completely foreign. Definitely highly recommended.
My grandpa loved trees. He cared for many during his lifetime. He planted trees for his children and grandchildren when they were born. He saved quotes about trees - jotted on note cards and stashed inside books, to be found years later. As I read this book, I couldn't help but think how much he would have loved it.
The Overstory begins with a cast of characters that seem to have no connection, and proceeds to weave them together in a fascinating and beautiful canopy. We know that people are connected in ways we don't always understand. Apparently, so are trees - and the tragedy of the loss of these magnificent creatures is only beginning to be understood. This book becomes a thing much greater than the sum of its parts - a masterpiece.
This novel felt like it couldn't decide what tone it wanted to use, so the novel overall felt disjointed.
This is a fantastic novel. The author allows each of her characters so much space - to love, to regret, to make bad decisions, to pick themselves up - I grew to care about each one and absolutely loved spending a year in their lives with them.
You will not convince me this book was not AI generated because I do not believe a human would put this many ridiculous plot points together.
It's just magical.
This novel won't be for everyone. Erin Morgenstern has a specific writing style - if you need lots of plot, she might not be for you. For me, Erin Morgenstern is one of our modern-day fairytale tellers - and I believe we need new fairytales as adults just as much as our children do.
This novel is a love letter to stories. It's about the way a story takes us on a journey; teaches us how to be brave; reminds us of the importance of friendship; allows us to fall in love; breaks our heart and then heals it again.
This will be my favorite book of 2019. It's magic, pure and simple.
Ian McEwan can write some of the most gorgeous prose, but sometimes it seems like the emotion behind those words is somehow missing. I felt like this novel specifically was building to some sort of climax that was never quite realized - we had the big, emotional moment, and then the book was just done. There were events that should have made me feel all sorts of things, but I felt held apart from them, and couldn't ever quite engage completely. Of course, as always, the writing itself is beautiful, and the story was interesting, although I would have liked to feel more connection.
Who knew John Grisham could get me to care about baseball? This novel made me actually interested in the game, which is ia feat. I found Joe's story quite compelling, and thought this was the best Grisham I've read in years.
I found this book to be completely compelling from start to finish. Grann weaves his dual narratives seamlessly together, and each story beautifully compliments the other. Fawcett is such a larger-than-life persona, almost mythological in nature, and yet Grann is able to prod beyond the surface to give readers a glimpse of the real man behind the myths. There are not many people in the world today with the same spirit of adventure and thirst for knowledge that Fawcett embodied, and reading about him was a fascinating experience.
I definitely recommend this book - it will appeal to a wide range of readers, and a little escape into the jungle might be just what you need to warm your chilly winter night!
I very much enjoyed this funny, clever, and interesting collection of short (some VERY short) stories. Novak has a somewhat specific sense of humor, so it's not completely surprising to me to see that some readers are not “getting” the collection - the humor is sly, and sometimes on the edge of cutting, and it's not going to be for everyone. Standouts from the collection for me include No One Goes to Heaven to See Dan Fogleberg, about the quality of the musical offerings in Heaven; The Something by John Grisham, about a big surprise for the prolific author; Sophia, about a sex robot who falls in love; and Welcome to Camp Fantastic for Gifted Teens, about a very unusual summer camp opportunity. These were MY particular favorites - I would bet each reader would come up with a different list, because each story in the collection is a sarcastic gift waiting to be opened. This collection does include lots of strong language and adult situations, so parents should beware. I'm already looking forward to Novak's next collection.
Complicated book with complicated situations and relationships. The writing has lots of substance, and made the reading experience very satisfying
I almost didn't read this book. I never would have picked it up on my own, and as it was it had been sitting on my shelf for a LONG time, on loan from my mom, who promised it would be worth my while. But it's just so unassuming, and I'd skipped over it so many times that I was starting to feel a little guilty....oh, all right, let's just get this over with.
But, as usual, Mom was right. This book is an absolute gem. Konrad has no reason to help Ursula - Ursula has no reason to trust Konrad - and yet they both do, and what results is a piece of beautiful, melancholy literary perfection. It is quiet and intelligent and masterful. It proves that you truly cannot judge a book by it's cover. Highly recommended.
I read this book purely for the novelty of it - a famous actor writing poetry? Who doesn't want to know what THAT sounds like? And let's be honest - I don't expect him to be a contender for Poet Laureate any time soon. But the poems are sweet and heartfelt, and each carries with it a snapshot of what has been a fantastically complex and interesting life. My only real complaint is that I wish the book had been longer - Douglas comes across as warm and funny, and I would have enjoyed hearing more stories from his 97 years. Recommended for Kirk Douglas fans or Hollywood fans.
(I received a copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)
I thought this was a fun, fast-paced romance from a debut author to watch. Marcus and Pamela have an electric relationship - the sparks can be felt from the very beginning, and it's impossible not to root for a happy ending. Each has baggage from the past that could derail their happiness, and the author allows her reader to understand the motives behind their sometimes seemingly poor decisions. The author is clearly a fan and student of contemporary romance, and this fits well in the genre. I thought the big “reveal” about the relationship between Pamela and her ex was a bit anticlimactic, and would love to see a more polished title, but overall was very entertained by the novel.
(I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.)
Thick, dense, deeply ambitious and richly layered, this is one of the more rewarding reads I have experienced in a long time. The plot unfolds slowly, requiring patience, and the characters are extremely flawed and, frankly, not very likable. This novel will not be for everyone, but I found it to be a fantastic read.
Interesting premise, and I think the author is a good writer, but unfortunately I found the main character to be a bit shallow and irritating. I was much more interested in the secondary characters - they seemed more vital and full of life. Nice idea, but somewhat disappointing in execution.
This was a fun and steamy romance that hooked me right from the get-go. I thought Mae and Alastair had great chemistry and a believable story, and it was fun to root for them throughout. Full of action and an interesting plotline that made this a great read. There were a few weird grammar/punctuation errors, but I would guess those will be edited out before the final version is published.
All in all, this was lots of fun, and I'd happily read more in this series.
(I received an advanced copy from the author - all opinions are my own.)
Big-L literary, with excellent writing craft but not always the most accessible style. Great collection for book clubs/seminars/anyplace where lots of discussion is a prerequisite.
This was a charming story of two mice and a cat learning to become family while hiding from the humans inhabiting a circus museum. My kids and I read this one aloud together, and they both enjoyed it very much. David's favorite part was when Finnigan made a daring rescue. Sophia's favorite part was when the mouse said, “If I was any more bored I'd have a heart attack!” Both are excited to read the next story about Finnigan, Max, and Leroy. Recommended.