Rhonda

read with Lucas

Welp, I won't call it a good read, but it's certainly an example of providential history.

Holds true from the time it was written in 1959 to today.

This was really not my favorite short story collection I ever read. I still gave it three stars, because I enjoyed some stories throughout. Honestly, I found a lot of them kind of forgettable. The final story, which the collection is named for I didn't enjoy at all. In fact, by the time I got there I was just trying to power through to the finish.
When I started the book I felt really enthusiastic, a book about women making it through situations, coming out on top, discovering themselves... but it really got tedious... “The Woman Who...” such and such. Over, and over, and over. And, in the end, it was entirely forgettable. Still, it wasn't bad enough I cast it aside. Nor did I rush to pick it up and complete it in one or two sittings. So, there we have it. A thoroughly average book.

I really don't like this book. I'm over half through and still considering DNF. It is really dated, which usually I'm okay with. It was a struggle to get through the first quarter simply because for some reason there has to be space boning and orgies every night. Women, even in command, are basically cannon fodder and I KNOW it was written in 1975 but dude, you could have done better. Poor little Marygay can barely manage to get a suit on ffs.

I loved this book for the first half, but the longer it went on the more I needed it to just end. It got... rushed? Convolute... I didn't like the characters in the second half.

I really enjoyed this book. It was metoo, without being very preachy... Interesting twist that wasn't fully telegraphed with the Holly character. Solid writing.

I really had to slog through this. Parts were interesting but sometimes it felt like I was just reading a long grocery list. Hakken (I listened on audio so forgive the spelling) had literally everything happen to him. From being whored to somehow getting mixed up in basically Mountain Meadows, to then being Broke Back.

Surprisingly quite good.

This book is about a community of Punjabi women who are trying to learn to read/write/story tell, but also involves a murder mystery and yes, plenty of erotic stories.

Decent read.

I would give it a 2.5. The dialog is kind of kind a really bad Lifetime movie, but I still wanted to see the children found. All of the love interest was a bit lame. Okay yeah, Jerome. But this lady rolls into town and people just get crushes automatically or try to set her up with dudes at church. The dialog was painful at times. The main character basically speaks in bumper sticker.

Read with Lucas. Hit my 9 year old and myself in the feels throughout.

DNF

Dnf.

I wanted to like it but I find it really repetitive, I don't love the writing style, and honestly I don't even care if Elle and McCall get it on.

While you must consider most of this an attempt to clear his own name right before execution, it's still a valuable source. I have no doubts John D. Lee helped in the killing, but it's nice to read his full account any way.

A few stories left an impression on me... a few I could have taken or left. Overall, a solid collection.

Bit of a slow book, but well worth sticking it out.

Quick, solid read.

read with Lucas

Not one of my favorite short story collections. I suppose I did like the story of the wife in the penthouse. I thought all of the “you” stuff was super blah. The Tampax story was okay. The book club story was not my favorite.

I disliked this enough I didn't actually finish it. I'm still counting it because the little bit I read was painful enough that I feel I deserve it in my goodreads count.

good book, though I suspect like all of her others I'll forget the entire plot within a year.

dnf - 25%

Jumps around too damn much. Did not enjoy.

Best book I've read this year, I think. Great historical meets science fiction. The various negative reviews I read on this website are a bit silly to me now, but at first almost kept me from reading this book.

This book has a bit of humor–people so focused on one task or thought or idea that they seem completely oblivious to the conditions surrounding them. There is a fair amount of tragedy, characters who are easy to love such as young Agnes and Father Roche and Kivrin herself.

Those looking for a straight science fiction will be disappointed. Those who appreciate a good historical fiction should be delighted with it, and those (like me) who are annoyed with how many historical fictions turn into historical romance will be pleased to know it will not turn into a romance novel. I was very sad to have read the last page.

Additionally, like many well written historical fictions, this book prompted me to do a bit of research on the side concerning the Black Death, which is always a bonus.

5 stars.

If I had any criticism it would be that it was a but too long.

That being said, solid book. Beautiful writing.