Audrey
I wasn't aware of the magnitude of the tragedy at the time, however, I vividly remember the loss of the Columbia crew back in 2003. Despite having memories of the tributes and magazine covers, I've never actually read about the accident in my adult life.
Less about the space mission itself or the lives of the crew members, Bringing Home Columbia focuses mostly on the recovery of the craft and, sadly, the bodies of the deceased astronauts. As can be expected, great efforts went into this devastating task — not only by officials but also by civilian volunteers in the search area. While the logistics are sad, the example of a community banding together is inspiring.
Oddly, this was a super quick read (listen) for me. The pace is slow and I struggled to keep attention consistently due to long-winded passages. Yet, before I knew it I'd reached the end. It's not the most exciting space-related book I've read, but it was quite interesting.
The summary of this book gave me Daphne Du Maurier vibes right off the bat. A gothic mansion secluded when the tide comes in and wives dying under suspicious circumstances? Yes, please! Fearing she's on the verge of a scandal, Emeline is sent away by her guardians to wed the twice-widowed Captain Graves. Though reluctant, she devises a plan to leave Halifax for good to be with her true love Frederick, a lieutenant in the Navy. Captain Graves' private peninsula will be the perfect place to watch and wait for Frederick's ship. To her surprise, she arrives at the mansion to discover that the second Mrs. Graves has not yet passed, nor is she ailing from what she'd been told. She's relieved to have some more time to wait for her rescue but soon grows suspicious of Georgina's illness and wonders if she's in danger herself. The tone of this book lies somewhere between gothic and cozy mystery. Emeline's personality grated on me, though still found her likable. That's pretty much how I feel about the book as a whole. I liked a lot of it and had an enjoyable time reading it, but what I enjoyed didn't fully make up for where it lacked. There was not a lot of characterization, in turn, Emeline's relationships with the other characters fell flat. I was particularly confused by the ending. She sets out a plan for her future in one scene and then abandons it in the next with no further reference. The element of romance also felt forced. The mystery was intriguing enough that love interests did more interrupting than building upon the plot. My issues aside, I did have a good time reading and often lost track of time when I picked it up. I'm not a fan of supernatural elements in books, but for some reason, I didn't mind it so much in the context of this plot. I'm curious to read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a free digital ARC of the book!
I started this installment immediately following the previous book. I just had to know what was going on with Alain!
This book has a much different vibe than the first two in the series. The setup is a bit different and there are other things going on. Though the murders are always intriguing, the highlight for me, perhaps unsurprisingly, is Alain's existence. He added a new layer to Q'Bita's ongoing story.
Once again, this book ends on something of a cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to the series picking up again. After pretty much reading the three books currently published in this series back to back, I'm feeling a bit sentimental. I'm going to miss the antics, humor, mystery, and food Red Herring Inn has to offer!
I've read a few espionage novels and though it's not my go-to genre, the descriptions always seem to draw me in. Fortunes of War stood out in particular in this instance as I'm always looking for a new perspective on the times surrounding World War II.
Focusing largely on economics and politics, the book follows six friends as they try to stop a Nazi financial scheme. It's a complex mission with high stakes combining the financial devastation of the Great Depression and the early days of World War II.
The plot was interesting, but I would have enjoyed it a lot more with more polished writing. Nothing that can't be improved upon, but the showing vs. telling left me feeling disconnected with the plot and characters. The addition of romance was more of a distraction than anything else. The plot does carry a lot of promise and it was not without some interesting moments. I'm curious how the subsequent books read, however, I wasn't left with much drive to continue.
A huge thanks to the publisher for reading out and sending me a free copy of the book to read and review!
I somehow enjoyed the graphic novel adaption more than the original novel? Not sure why it hit so differently, but I'm glad I got to experience it again.
Full of suspense, heart, and intrigue, Kick Ball Slay is the perfect murder mystery with charming characters and a strong start to a new series.
A gifted detective, Evann Myrick is tasked with solving a series of murders connected to the West Coast Swing competition. The murders don't stop because someone is on the case. The killer seems to be one step ahead of Evann no matter what. His work is cut out for him with so many possible suspects.
This is the second book by Doug Dorsey I've read and I enjoyed it as much as The Betrayal despite the different genres. It's a testament to the quality of the writing. I love mysteries that make me think and can only come up with a hunch as to who's done it at best. The dance element also added a lot of character. Top-notch!
I've seen the Disney movie, I've seen two different productions of the musical, I've watched Peter PanGoes Wrong, and I've watched/read other movies and books that retold the story, yet until now, I'd never actually read the source material. I have to admit, I've liked many of the other versions/adaptions better.
I feel as though a book like this needs no recap, so I'll go right into it.
I never expected the pacing to be so fast even though it's a children's book. Maybe being familiar with the plot is part of the reason, but I felt like whenever I blinked I was on a new scene. A lot of the material hasn't aged well, either, which being a classic comes to little surprise yet never fails to catch me off guard. Still, I adore the premise and always have, so I'm glad to have finally read the original novel.
Though set on a different planet, Who Writes the Rules? is as relevant as ever in this day and age. Covering topics such as the environment, spirituality, and society as a whole, this book makes for a thought-provoking read.
The book follows Mosse and Heelia's relationship and their life on the planet of Thera. Through their conversations and experiences, we learn about their home and the planet's history. Several chapters cover different topics from the Big Bang to climate change and everything in between.
I find the draw of this book is the discourse more than the story. Though I'm inclined to disagree with some of the arguments being made here, I'm someone who enjoys hearing opposing opinions in a civil manner. However, I personally don't look for this often in fiction. I did expect a great deal of conversations of this nature given the book's description, but it ultimately overshadowed the story itself. Because of this, I also struggled to connect with the characters.
My highest compliment goes to the writing. I enjoyed the style and everything flowed together exquisitely. The world-building was also fantastic. Right away I got a feel for the setting. Though descriptive, the details also didn't ramble on for pages and pages. In my experience, I struggle to find a happy medium with dystopian novels either giving too much or too little information. This book hit the sweet spot.
In the end, I was left feeling indifferent. I would have liked more focus on the characters themselves rather than a laundry list of social issues, which in fairness, is advertised quite plainly. As someone who prefers dystopia more for the psychology and action of the plots, I found it okay. Readers who enjoy heavy debates and have a deep interest in current events will enjoy the book immensely.
A huge thanks to the author and Discovery for sending me a free digital copy of the book to read and review!
“The Most Famous Unknown Conductor.”
Right from the subtitle I wanted to learn more about Stephen Gunzenhauser. In this memoir, he discusses his life, career, and background in music. I consider myself a casual fan of classical music and I attend the symphony on occasion so I was curious to learn more from an inside point of view. Complete with pictures, the structure of the book is a chronological timeline of Stephen Gunzenhauser's life. He offers a unique look at the music industry, specifically live orchestras. Though I already had an interest in this topic to begin with, I believe others who are less inclined would also find the subject interesting as it is presented in a way that isn't at all intimidating. There are many recognizable names as well, which for me, added to my curiosity. As interesting as I found the book to be, I also found the pacing to be quicker than I would have liked. In a way, most of the sections felt like shorthand. I would have enjoyed spending more time on some of the stories. At the same time, I was grateful that everything stayed on track and that the narration was cohesive. Aside from taking a look at Stephen Gunzenhauser's life, the book also serves as a glimpse at the era of the mid-20th century. This includes letter scans from people such as Robert F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Fred Rogers, etc. as well as general moments of history mentioned in passing. I found these to be intriguing additions. But, of course, nothing tops the discussion of music — be it the industry itself or different pieces of music. It was difficult not to set the book down and build a playlist. Perhaps needless to say, Stephen Gunzenhauser has had an impressive career and has led an interesting life. I'm glad he took the time to share his stories.
Thanks to Discovery for inviting me to receive a free digital copy to read and review!
There's something about Adriana Trigiani's writing I really love. This book was pretty fun, too, because in a strange way, it was giving me similar vibes as Daisy Jones and the Six only a different era.
Chi Chi and Tony are on their way to stardom in the 1940s. Newly married, they also have to face the questions surrounding starting a family. Can they balance a career and home life? We follow them through the decades through their professional and personal ups and downs.
While I can't say I enjoyed this as much as The Good Left Undone, it had a similar heart to the writing. It runs long though. I would have enjoyed it more if it'd been a slightly faster pace. I have mixed feelings about Chi Chi and Tony's relationship, too. However, I do love getting to see the plot span such a long period of time, so there was a lot of give and take for me.
Inseparable is the sixth and final installment in the Shards of Sevia series. I have read two other books in the series (Wrong Place, Right Time and For Better and Worse) and can confirm that the books can be read as a standalone. However, I would recommend reading the first book Wrong Place, Right Time first for the most context although it is not necessary. This book is very family-oriented, focusing on Dunya, Rado, and their adopted son Mosin. When they discover that Mosin's grandparents are alive, the couple is faced with a difficult decision. This leads to doubts and questions about their relationship. As has been the backdrop throughout the series, there is an emphasis on war as well as maintaining faith in God when things are falling apart. This was portrayed exceptionally through Dunya and Rado. I'm sad to hear that this is the last book in the series, but I am glad that I still have three others to go back and read. I look forward to seeing whatever E.B. Roshan creates next! A huge thanks to the author for reaching out and sending me a free digital ARC to read and leave my honest review!
This was an experimental read for me if there ever was one. Absolutely intriguing and wild, but also confusing. However, I believe that's the point.
Given how chaotic I found both the plot and the narration (told by the narrator with comments from the editor in the footnotes (both fictional, by the way)) insanely hard to follow, I'll leave descriptions up to the Goodreads summary. Perhaps this is something I would absorb more audibly rather than reading with my eyes. I would have trouble putting it all into words given I'm not quite sure what to mark as spoilers. It's quite intricate. There is also a website with a detailed FAQ on the book and characters which I think is a nice touch.
Ultimately, I'm not sure how I feel about all of this. It was interesting, that I can say with confidence. Whether or not I enjoyed it is still up for debate. It's stuck with me though, so I suppose that's what counts. My biggest issue was how unclear the chapters were marked. I'm somebody who has trouble stopping mid-chapter, so I read this faster than I might have not knowing where to put it down. That can be a good or bad thing depending on who's reading. For me, I think I would have taken in more with clear pauses so I could digest each section.
Readers super into mythology and detailed presentations will eat this up. I'm mostly left baffled, but I do like branching out of my comfort zone.
A huge thanks to the publisher for sending me a free copy of the book to read and review!
I see a lot of people comparing this book to Where the Crawdads Sing. Though I've been curious about that book, I've yet to read it. I was kind of glad about this as I didn't have a comparison in mind. Dr. Erin Landry's body is found on Elijah Leith's property. The death is eerily similar to one of Elijah's novels, making him the prime suspect. Neighbors and residents of the town think him guilty and Elijah has to prove his innocence. This book had a calm intrigue. I didn't find it particularly gripping, making it difficult to endure the slow pace. I also found the characters unremarkable, treading on the path of irritating at times. In general, a lot of the story and situations felt unrealistic. What I did enjoy was the writing itself, particularly how well the author captures the tone and atmosphere.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a free digital ARC of the book to read and review!
A lovely and emotional story of a Jewish girl in hiding during World War II accompanied by beautiful illustrations. It's a story of growth and courage as well as acceptance. Totally won my heart!
I could barely get through this book, unfortunately. Despite being based on a true story, both the story and the writing felt romanticized. I've struggled in the past with similarly toned books and have regretted my attempts to overlook the uneasiness I've felt about them due to a high rating average. This kind of World War II fiction just isn't for me.
I almost didn't pick up this book because typically I can take or leave romcoms. Just for the Summer was nominated for The Global Book Nook's group read at the beginning of the summer and I only picked it up in the last day or two of that month because I was waiting for a library hold to come through. Three or four chapters in, I ditched the library book and purchased my own copy because there was no way I wasn't going to pour my emotions into the pages. What begins as a comical ploy to break a ‘curse' when their internet presence and sorry dating records align, Emma and Justin agree to date for a little while, check some boxes, and then break up so they can move on to meet their soul mates. It seems foolproof, at least in the beginning. If nothing else, a bit of fun and a story to laugh about later. What they didn't anticipate were genuine feelings. This wouldn't be as much of a problem if not for Justin's life being uprooted by a family emergency. Emma, too, finds herself dealing with family drama as well. Even a couple of months later as I'm finally writing my review, I still cannot believe how much I fell in love with this book. I only wish I had picked up one of Abby Jimenez's books sooner! I felt so connected to both Emma and Justin despite not sharing the same life circumstances as them. Before even finishing the book, I shared it with one of my best friends because I knew she would love it as well (and she did). I'm so looking forward to backtracking in the series and (hopefully) reliving these emotions all over again.
A very sweet companion/continuation of Murder on the Flying Scotsman! I'm glad we got to delve deeper into Molly's story and get her perspective of the events in the first book. Her character is a great contrast to Lady Thea. I hope we'll get to here how things work out for her down the road!
This is the second graphic novel I've read based on Anne Frank's life and her diary. This one has been authorized by The Anne Frank House and follows the diary closely while also exploring what her life might have looked like after being discovered in the Secret Annex. It was straightforward and a good option for people who may be intimidated by reading her full diary.
Happy Publication Day!
It's always a treat getting to visit Lady Thea's world. Each book has been more charming than the last. We return now to Fletcher's, now owned by Molly, and in true Lady Thea fashion, things go amiss. At least this time she's got a team behind her.
I love the friendships and relationships in this series, particularly James and Thea's. Their connection is built upon more in this book. And then there's Thea's somewhat vague relationship with Thayne that's been a treat to watch evolve since this first book. The chemistry of all of them is superb.
It was interesting to finally see Thea at home. This is the first of her books to be featured in London. Being home doesn't ground her at all, which makes this mystery as fascinating as the others she's investigated. An added bonus in these stories are the fashions of the time, and with Fletcher's involved, this book surpasses the others in this category.
As always, such a wonderful story. I look forward to whatever Jessica Baker writes next.
A sweet, short compilation centering on friendship. Some overused lines and cliches are my biggest quip, but I ultimately feel with poetry it's the thought that counts. (And the cover is gorgeous!)
Thank you to NetGalley and Books to Hook Publishing for this free copy in exchange for my honest review.
We're back for week two of our favorite writing group! We're still early on in the competition. Two down, fourteen to go.
Most of the names are familiar from the first book, however, we do meet a new face. Once again we are treated to a sampling of the students' writing in their rawest forms. The pace feels faster this time around with the contestants having been established in the first book.
I'd say this book has a better flow than the previous with a lot of timestamps placed throughout. The narration maintains a dark comedic voice and remains relevant and relatable to anyone who's ever picked up a pencil. I have high hopes for the remainder of the series.
I had some apprehensions beginning this book knowing there would likely be content I wouldn't normally want to read, and I was right, but I don't regret it for a moment. There were some lines in there that really struck me and I have thought over a number of times since starting the book. It captures the rawness of this decade and scene. I admit I was let down by the ending. Not in the sense of that the story was ruined or anything drastic, just that it didn't need to be so tied up. Still, I enjoyed the book very much.