Bronwyn
This is a good one. I remembered some of it (whether from a previous read or the adaptation, I don't know), but not enough to know where all it was going. I like the use of Poirot for other ends, the useage of names, the reveal. Very good.
I get why this is considered good, but man did I struggle, even with the audiobook. I'd tried reading this a couple times before and just couldn't get into it; having made it through the audiobook, I get why I couldn't. It sounds like such a good story, but it's just executed so dryly and, at times, confusingly. There's a kernel of a good story/book here, but this just isn't it. The overall premise of the war-time poet, killed in action, possibly gay (it's clear in the first section, but it's left unknown for the people in following sections trying to figure things out), and the poem he left in an autograph book, starts well, if a little slow. Then each section jumps about 10-20 years, and you're left trying to figure out who's who and why we're following them. We follow the owner of the autograph book, a young man that wants to write about the poet, and then, I'm not exactly sure the point of the person we follow in the last section other than that he's interested in these people too. Like I said, there are bits of a good story here, I just wish it was told better.
Another one that was an early Christie for me. Such a good set up and so well done. You have the closed system where the murderer could be anyone, and everyone is getting picked off one by one. The reveal at the very end is really well done.
Really interesting look at the Washington's years surrounding when they were First Family, as well as Ona Judge and her family. I can't imagine what it was like for her to do what she did. Amazing.
It took me a little while to figure out what was going on, but once I did I enjoyed this. I liked the weird family dynamics and the ‘curse' on the family. I had planned on reading this before my trip to Salem, but I think I'm glad I waited; having been to the house allowed me to see and understand things a bit better than I think I would've without having the house for reference.
This is such a beautiful, simple (deceptively so), quiet book, that packs such an emotional punch. Definitely want to read more Whipple in the future.
This was really interesting. The Worsleys were fascinating and kind of horrible people. At the beginning, I sort of felt for them, these difficult situations they're born into (for rich people, of course). As the book went on they just got worse and worse, though still fascinating. Richard especially got a bit hard to read about at times; Seymour was mostly just frivolous. Fascinating stuff!
I read this a bunch last year but never logged it apparently! It's a cute book, good rhymes. The end bit is a little inappropriate but overall cute.
Cute book about being thankful. My son likes Daniel Tiger so it's popular here. (Don't know when we first read it, so setting it to today.)
This was a lot of fun. I didn't love the Q&A format, but that's my only complaint. The information was all really interesting. Some I knew, some I didn't. But all wild. Who doesn't love hearing about the “weird” things people used to do?
We have the board book of this and it doesn't even include the wocket! Otherwise it's cute and silly.
Nice little introduction to art and artists. I was surprised how few were pre-1900 though.
This is a cute little collection of Halloween poems. The illustrations are really sweet.
What a weird, good book. The progression of Rachel's character is fascinating and very uncomfortable, but so well done. I really felt for her and wanted things to work out in the end.
This is a cute little book. The illustrations are really nice. Some of the rhymes aren't great, but overall it's cute.
To be honest, the blurb makes this sound more interesting than I think it was, but this was still a really interesting book. I liked the beginning and end, but it slowed a bit in the middle for me. The concept is super interesting though and I'm glad to have read it.
This was pretty interesting overall. Some parts were crazy and fascinating, while other parts got a bit bogged down in details. These 19th century communities are interesting.
