Admittedly this isn’t my preferred genre, although I’ve been thoroughly pulled into dark, gothic, witchy stories before. I liked but didn’t love this.Admittedly this isn’t my preferred genre, although I’ve been thoroughly pulled into dark, gothic, witchy stories before. I liked but didn’t love this. Started strong but I didn’t like the main character all that much. And then it started to fizzle for me. I had many moments of “just get on with it” where it felt like nothing significant was really happening.
The audiobook was well narrated, although I think if I had read the actual book I could have skimmed over the fluff and focused on depth, and it would have been better. ...more
I loved the movie but never read the book. I’m glad it did! This was hard to put down. Not perfect, but very good. The movie made changes but I enjoyeI loved the movie but never read the book. I’m glad it did! This was hard to put down. Not perfect, but very good. The movie made changes but I enjoyed both.
Audiobook narrated by Cassandra Campbell. I know her narrations are loved by many but I am not a fan of hers. Therefore, I thought the narration was tolerable but not great. ...more
I always learn something new when I read historical fiction. This book taught me about decoy girls during WWII. I liked the main character. I wish theI always learn something new when I read historical fiction. This book taught me about decoy girls during WWII. I liked the main character. I wish the book had delved deeper into the stories of the men she met but the book was really about her and not the men she tested and expose. Still enjoyable. The audiobook was very well narrated. ...more
I loved the writing. The story started strong but a little more than halfway through I struggled to stay interested. There are definite anti tech themI loved the writing. The story started strong but a little more than halfway through I struggled to stay interested. There are definite anti tech themes, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I loved the descriptions of the Santa Cruz area - took me right there!
Audiobook was well narrated by the author. ...more
Sadly this book made me like John less. There were some parts that were touching - about the loss of Bob Saget and the love of his new family. Those pSadly this book made me like John less. There were some parts that were touching - about the loss of Bob Saget and the love of his new family. Those parts raised my rating to 3 stars. Everything else just left me wishing he’d have gone deeper. Very little about feelings, struggles, and effort. We got a taste of a drinking problem in the first chapter and recovering from drinking was glossed over. A lot of attempted humor that didn’t work for me. Overall this felt superficial and immature. 2 1/2 stars rounded up....more
I loved this. An inside look at the restaurant industry, mental health, FOOD!, being a chef, taking chances, brutal self honesty, being famous, and inI loved this. An inside look at the restaurant industry, mental health, FOOD!, being a chef, taking chances, brutal self honesty, being famous, and incredible self reflection and growth. Audiobook read by the author. ...more
JP is great at social issue books. This one really ticked me off at times. The book kept me engrossed and had a realistic “villain”. The book was writJP is great at social issue books. This one really ticked me off at times. The book kept me engrossed and had a realistic “villain”. The book was written 13 years ago and I’m glad society has progressed a bit more since then.
The audiobook was well narrated except the singing. I had to fast forward through that part because her voice was just…not good. There was also one character whose story was left open ended. Overall a very good book. ...more
What a lovely book of short stories, most symbolic. Written from the point of view of an Iranian now living in San Francisco. Overall message of love,What a lovely book of short stories, most symbolic. Written from the point of view of an Iranian now living in San Francisco. Overall message of love, told through different perspectives. The writing was choppy at times - due to a possible language barrier? But overall very, very good. I feel enriched.
Merged review:
What a lovely book of short stories, most symbolic. Written from the point of view of an Iranian now living in San Francisco. Overall message of love, told through different perspectives. The writing was choppy at times - due to a possible language barrier? But overall very, very good. I feel enriched....more
I love Tana French’s writing and ability to put a story together, layer by layer. Interesting characters pulled me in and I was totally invested. I haI love Tana French’s writing and ability to put a story together, layer by layer. Interesting characters pulled me in and I was totally invested. I had not guessed the outcome and I’m not really sure how I feel about it! But I loved the complexity of it all and this was really original. At times the story felt too long but overall I really enjoyed it. Audiobook was very well narrated. ...more
2 1/2 stars rounded to 3. I listened to the audiobook and it was really hard to differentiate between stories/POVs at times. Several stories come toge2 1/2 stars rounded to 3. I listened to the audiobook and it was really hard to differentiate between stories/POVs at times. Several stories come together but I found myself only interested in one. At times the plot seemed all over the place.
The audiobook attempted to be an audio-movie, with several narrators and sound effects. But it came across so cheesy. Lots of oofs and ughs during fight scenes but not done well. Made me laugh at times.
I felt this book had a promising premise but didn’t deliver. ...more
Not my genre but I read this on a recommendation by someone I share books with. I listened to the audiobook and really disliked the narration so unforNot my genre but I read this on a recommendation by someone I share books with. I listened to the audiobook and really disliked the narration so unfortunately that may have taken away from the story for me. The narration was almost comical at times - her sound effects for throat clearing and “click click click” actually made me laugh after awhile.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the story but got lost a few times.
Solid writing except for a repeated characterization of an “oily voice”. This definitely would have been better as an actual book. ...more
What was that? I don’t know what I just listened to (audiobook). Most of the time I didn’t know who was narrating or what they there doing. So many chWhat was that? I don’t know what I just listened to (audiobook). Most of the time I didn’t know who was narrating or what they there doing. So many characters and so many narrators. Sometimes narrators would change in the middle of a sentence. I enjoyed Abe & Mary’s POVs but they were surprisingly rare.
This writing style is just not for me. It didn’t make sense. ...more
Definitely an interesting read about how poverty has been created and fed in this country, and what to do about it. It opened my eyes to some of my owDefinitely an interesting read about how poverty has been created and fed in this country, and what to do about it. It opened my eyes to some of my own ways of thinking and living.
But it didn’t feel balanced. This book came across as a preachy rant to see what he sees and to do what he says, with no room for argument. And even as a pretty far lefty, his presentation made me skeptical. Give me both sides of the argument. Give me various perspectives. And if you want to reach people to solve a problem, meet them where they are and have a conversation, rather than lecture from a pulpit. And an angry lecture at that.
Yes, I agree with much of what he says. I question other ideas of his. He made me think. He made me self reflect. But he also rubbed me wrong and made me question him, while reading.
What an entertaining ride, filled with publishing agency drama, racism, plagiarism, social media bullying, suspense, and a glimpse at the history of CWhat an entertaining ride, filled with publishing agency drama, racism, plagiarism, social media bullying, suspense, and a glimpse at the history of Chinese labor workers in WWI. The main character is completely a unlikeable train wreck that you can’t turn away from.
I enjoyed this. The audiobook narration was good, not great, and moved the story along well. ...more
I hadn’t heard of this author. A memoir about a travel writer sounded fascinating. This wasn’t, unfortunately. It was more about a young woman making I hadn’t heard of this author. A memoir about a travel writer sounded fascinating. This wasn’t, unfortunately. It was more about a young woman making young/dumb decisions and dealing with the aftermath. An unfulfilling relationship she cheats on. Jobs that don’t work out and not understanding how layoffs work. A business she started that failed due to lack of business skills. A new boyfriend.
The writing kept this moving, the audiobook narration was good. ...more
3 1/3 stars. Started out edge of your seat - a mass shooting at a mall. The story then follows some of the characters in the aftermath, 10 years into 3 1/3 stars. Started out edge of your seat - a mass shooting at a mall. The story then follows some of the characters in the aftermath, 10 years into the future. It also follows the mastermind behind the shootings and her serial-killing revenge, which just felt over the top and ridiculous after awhile.
I loved the hero, liked the heroine, loved her grandmother. The romance was ok, the ending was ok, the audiobook narration was annoying. ...more
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