Audrey
Really enjoyed this one. I feel like the civilian aspect of Pearl Harbor often gets overlooked so it's wonderful to have something like this to teach children. Wish it was longer. Really great family dynamic.
This was my first time diving into Amish fiction and it was a treat! ‘The Forbidden Gift' is a story of faith, mystery, honesty, and touching relationships. I found myself rooting for almost all of the characters, each of their plots unique. I especially loved the character of Judah and his growth throughout the story and the friendship he forms with Gideon. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Disclaimer: I have received an ARC from the publisher. The comments and opinions above are entirely my own.
Really wonderful reading St. John Paul II's words. I always always in awe of him as a child and I'm glad to be in a place where I'm able to appreciate his writings. I think this book was written more for those discerning a vocation and wasn't super relatable for me most of the time, but there were some great takeaways.
I think this is my favorite of the Girls Survive series so far. A lot of interesting dynamics and I'm glad it covered beyond the initial outbreak of the Blitz.
I really wanted to enjoy this play. I get it. I get and appreciate the message it's trying to get across. There was just an emptiness to it that didn't pull me in or make it personal. I listened to the audible version as I'm a big fan of Judith Light and while her performance was remarkable, the story itself didn't resonate with me.
A hauntingly beautiful play about coming to terms with mortality, both through Myra as she suffers through terminal cancer as well as her family making peace with their impending loss.
I wish this series had been around when I was a kid. I would have been an avid reader. Someone on a forum brought the Girls Survive books to my attention. A quick read, obviously, since it's written for younger readers, but so well done.
It feels odd to say, but this was an endearing memoir of WWII. Perhaps it's because the author was 98 while recounting this or it could be his overall positive outlook even in the face of mayhem. Whatever the reason, this was a quick and enjoyable read. The depictions of D-Day reminded me of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Now the memories of those exhibits have a more personal story attached to them. I also admired Ray Lambert's reasons for telling his story – so the next generations will remember and continue to learn from this universal tragedy.
3 1/2. The story itself was excellent and horrific. The true magnitude of his suffering is unthinkable. A huge thank you to the author for making sure his story was shared with the world! Unfortunately, I found it to read more like fiction which is unavoidable in a sense as the author is writing it in honor of her uncle, however, it lacked a certain depth. Many people come in an out of the narrative so suddenly some of the impact and empathy is lost. I was was surprised by how quickly Rudy came and went especially. Definitely a quick read that could have marveled with some more detail here and there. What I particularly found distracting was the spelling of God as ‘G-d'. I'm not sure of the reasoning but regardless it didn't sit right with me. (If this was some sort of censorship on Kindle Unlimited I apologize). Overall, I'm glad to have read it and recognize another hero of this era. His survival tale is one to be admired. Truly remarkable.
I really enjoy Mark Shaw's research and I love the addition of Marilyn Monroe and RFK's roles in the Kennedy/Kilgallen story. That being said, I had anticipated this book would talk more about them but most of it was a reorganized version of The Reporter Who Knew Too Much and Denial of Justice. (Not something that would be a problem for new readers, of course, and some repetition is to be expected, but it was a lot of it here.) I hope in the future Marilyn will get a book with the same attention as Dorothy has from this author. Both accounts are so intriguing and Mark Shaw's dedication to the research and justice is admirable.
Aside from the repetition of the first two books, my other major quip is the amount of jabs taken at Trump. I'm not reading a book about him. He has no relevance to these people whatsoever. I don't care if you like or hate the man, I just want to read the subject at hand without distracting comments that disrupt the flow of the words. Something to consider.
It took a while to get into this despite how much I love the art and WWII plot. Having four points of view hundreds of years apart was hectic. I think I would have preferred Cecilia and Leonardo in one part and then Edith and Dominic in a second. The second half of the book definitely hooked me though, and it was a great and well researched story.
Mixed feelings. I enjoyed the concept immensely, and was intrigued enough to wonder how it would end, but the style wasn't for me. I had trouble following at times, but ultimately, the research was solid even in a fictional setting.
Much like the main Lady Thea series, An Invitation To Tea has the same, cozy vibe, this time in the tone of romance. Stella and William have a sweet relationship, though it's not without a great deal of miscommunications and assumptions. Overbearing family members provide plenty of conflict as well. I also loved the rich setting of England in 1908. A spectacular read as always!
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 hear how things work out for her down the road!
Disturbing but interesting. The pacing of both of the stories was good, though I found one more intriguing than the other. I admit it was predictable, at least in Lizzy's case, while Ernie's had twists but were strange and didn't really add up. Nonetheless, I was engrossed.
Despite the fact I've studied the WWII era for the greater portion of my life, I've only now read Anne Frank's diary.
Admittedly, my first attempt to read this last year ended abruptly. Maybe after years of hearing about the infamous Anne Frank it wasn't what I expected? I don't know, but picking it up again, I found hours passing without my realizing because I was so engrossed.
I always assumed the diary was a step by step recount of the war and the trials of hiding. I didn't expect so much ‘normalcy' that comes along with being a teenager. Of course, Anne's situation provided her with much more insight than most. Even in my twenties I could relate to her words whether it reflected thoughts I had at her age or things I'm going through now. At times, her hope was contagious that I was certain there would be a happy ending despite knowing better.
[b:The Picture of Dorian Gray 5297 The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546103428l/5297.SY75.jpg 1858012] is one of the most discussed books I've come across on the internet. What's interesting is that it appeals to a wide range of readers. Personally, I was drawn to it because of its gothic elements. Dorian Gray wishes to sell his soul in an attempt to maintain perpetual youth. The catch: His painting bears the marks of time and the scars of an immoral life. He keeps the portrait hidden away as he continues living a life solely for his own pleasure. I find myself enjoying summaries and the general idea of this book more than the book itself. I also enjoyed a discussion of it that I found on YouTube. As for the actual reading experience? I was bored. There was so much that I could skim and stop whenever the story was being pushed forward.
2.5 I was disappointed given how much I enjoyed the first installment. I started this the same night I finished the first book and while it started off fine, toward the middle of the book it went off the rails. There were way too many things happening at once and some ultimately felt irrelevant in the greater scheme of things. Then the conclusion came all too quickly, which I did anticipate as I've noticed this theme in other books by Rhys Bowen, but this tops the others I've read. I can't say why without having to mark it for spoilers, but I can say where it draws from historical events, the reasons behind the mystery Molly is trying to solve is glossed over all too quickly after monotonous (and frankly improbable) steps getting here. I also found Molly's naivety more endearing in the first book than the second — as though she's learned nothing from her first mystery.
All that said, I'm not discouraged from the series yet. It had disappointing and baffling moments but I'm invested enough there are still ends I'd like to see tied up. I do enjoy Rhys Bowen's stories. Even when they don't sit right with me I continue to come back.
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.
Very cute! I can't remember the last time I read any of the Little Orphan Annie comics at length.
A lovely book! With a whimsical undercurrent, the narrative is fitting for Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and at times had the same tone as his book The Little Prince. However, it also doesn't shy away from the realities of the early age of aviation and later war. The other historical characters showcased were also fascinating, especially once they all came together.
A wonderful collection of photographs and quotes as well as a brief history. His eulogy at the end was a beautiful conclusion.
Splendid as always and, oh, how I adore Julie! It was interesting to get to know her before the days of WWII. I wish I'd read this before The Enigma Game so I could have appreciated Ellen's involvement in that book to the fullest. (All the more reason to go back and reread the series.) This book was like getting to visit with an old friend while at the same time getting to know someone you've just met. And even with the absence of the war, it doesn't lack the gritty tone of the rest of the series even if it is more subdued.
Such a sweet tribute to Laika the dog. I loved the angle with the stars as well. The illustrations were gorgeous as well.