I have never read Poe's story, The Fall of the House of Usher. But What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher grabbed me from the opening descriptions of fuI have never read Poe's story, The Fall of the House of Usher. But What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher grabbed me from the opening descriptions of fungus. It's so odd to say, but wow -- this book bowled me over with how much I loved it.
It's not a long book, but the sheer gothic feel, the horror, the unexplained, the descriptiveness, it all led to something beautiful to read. This is the first book I've read of Kingfishers but I will most definitely be seeking out more.
Merged review:
I have never read Poe's story, The Fall of the House of Usher. But What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher grabbed me from the opening descriptions of fungus. It's so odd to say, but wow -- this book bowled me over with how much I loved it.
It's not a long book, but the sheer gothic feel, the horror, the unexplained, the descriptiveness, it all led to something beautiful to read. This is the first book I've read of Kingfishers but I will most definitely be seeking out more....more
100% I was down for this book when I picked it up last night. I ended up going to sleep an hour and a half after I'd planned to because I just needed 100% I was down for this book when I picked it up last night. I ended up going to sleep an hour and a half after I'd planned to because I just needed to know who died.
One of the Girls is the story of six women, all with various life histories and backgrounds who end up connected through one of them, Lexi, a woman who is about to get married. While the backgrounds weren't fleshed out as much as I normally like them to be, the back and forth of just who is killed and who did the killing kept me going until the end.
The only issue I had with this book (and this happens with books that use this style for me) were the interludes in italics. They just do nothing for me. I think the book would have been fine without them....more
Okay, I thoroughly enjoyed this romp and love letter to book stores, hot authors, and the state of Colorado. Because that's what it was. Think You've Okay, I thoroughly enjoyed this romp and love letter to book stores, hot authors, and the state of Colorado. Because that's what it was. Think You've Got Mail but set in Denver instead of New York City.
While Drew, the main character and owner of the bookstore, didn't quite have the charm of Meg Ryan and Jackson was a bit too handsome for our Tom Hanks character, there were a lot of similarities that had me smiling my way through this story.
I'm still not completely sold on these contemporary romance novels, but they have been nice, light reading during some of the most stressful, difficult times of my life as of late so I welcome them with open arms. This was one of the better ones. Definitely give it a go.
P.S. Shout out to those groups of nosy, elder women in our lives that just have to get up in our business....more
I enjoyed Beyond Any Experience, both as a fictional story as well as a lesson in sexuality. Anne Terpstra describes herself as writing sex-positive sI enjoyed Beyond Any Experience, both as a fictional story as well as a lesson in sexuality. Anne Terpstra describes herself as writing sex-positive stories and I really found that to be the case here.
I thoroughly enjoyed the character growth and introspection from both Olivia and Ellie. Both characters were flawed and interesting and the relationship that forms, as a result, is one of give and take in a lot of beautiful ways (emotionally, sexually, mentally).
The only real issue I found with the book was how heavy-handed it felt as if the dialogue with Ben (Olivia's son) felt. It seemed as if it were more there to serve the story of Ellie and Olivia than serve Ben's story. This made me feel uncomfortable, as it felt as if disability here was used as a pawn rather than thoughtfully engaged with.
I still really enjoyed the book, don't get me wrong. I found it to be an enlightening, beautiful way to learn about romance in a way that is still quite new to me....more
I had no idea that this was the tenth book in the series when I picked it up, but holy moly, I'll have to check it out more.
This book put me through mI had no idea that this was the tenth book in the series when I picked it up, but holy moly, I'll have to check it out more.
This book put me through more twists and turns than I thought would be possible. A whodunit of incredible proportions -- until about 3/4ths of the way through the book at which point I had a fairly good idea of who it was (and I was right).
The only drawback of the book was that it felt just really long to read. I worked on it for three nights and an entire plane trip back from Europe and I just felt like I should have been nearing the end by about 50% in. Still, it kept me coming back and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey....more
I've been dipping my toes into romance again this year. I have friends who thoroughly enjoy books similar to The Boy With the Bookstore and I've had sI've been dipping my toes into romance again this year. I have friends who thoroughly enjoy books similar to The Boy With the Bookstore and I've had success with some of them. Unfortunately, this one was middle of the road for me.
I appreciated the setting -- I mean, bakery + bookstore seemed like it was a perfect, made-for-me story. However, as much as I wanted to get into the romance between Joelle and Max, Max's "bad boy" and hot-tempered personality was just too much for me. There was a lot of abusive elements between these two and the "happy ending" that is common in this style of story just didn't resolve those elements for me. ...more
I loved this book. I'm not really surprised at loving it because Reid is an engaging, powerful writer who seems to take characters, no matter their inI loved this book. I'm not really surprised at loving it because Reid is an engaging, powerful writer who seems to take characters, no matter their interests, and bring them to life off of the pages.
I've never been a tennis fan, but this book made me want to be one. The only other book that has engaged me this thoroughly in the realm of sports is Richard Wagamese's "Indian Horse."
Like Reid's other books, this one features strong storytelling, powerful, flawed characters, heart-racing tension and mystery, and so much more. ...more
I love retellings of classic novels. I don't think there's an American alive who hasn't at least heard of The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne. WI love retellings of classic novels. I don't think there's an American alive who hasn't at least heard of The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne. While it isn't one of my favorite classics, I do love reading modern author's takes on potential inspiration (real or imagined) that closely tie into these stories.
Hester was one of those books that reeled me in. In fact, after reading Chris Bohjalian's book "The Hour of the Witch," I feel like I was primed to find this book and devour it, and devour it I did.
Isobel's story moved back and forth through generations. Nat Hathorne was presented as a character version of my imagined real Hawthorne--dark, broody, and conflicted. I found the story to move quickly and to be thoroughly engrossing. In fact, I found it hard to put down (something I definitely didn't struggle with in the original). ...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this fun, romantic, hot & steamy, romp through Lizzie Blake's life. Just when I thought that the book was going to be a series ofI thoroughly enjoyed this fun, romantic, hot & steamy, romp through Lizzie Blake's life. Just when I thought that the book was going to be a series of pornographic pastries and hot Australian men (aptly named Rake), I found that Lizzie's story was going a bit more deep than all of that.
I didn't read the first book in the series so I missed out on the romance that affected Lizzie's friend group, but I was able to quickly catch up and feel some sympathy for Lizzie and her ADHD issues. She was a very sympathetic and interesting character but Rake was a bit harder to get a read on.
The book contains a lot of the standard romance tropes, but it was fun and lively and kept me occupied on my trip to Scotland over the weekend....more
I loved the hell out of this book. It is smart, witty, engrossing, and steamy hot. I read this on a really long, boring journey from the US to the UK I loved the hell out of this book. It is smart, witty, engrossing, and steamy hot. I read this on a really long, boring journey from the US to the UK and I was distracted from my aching back and tired eyes enough to help the time pass. I haven't been a romance reader for a while and I tried the Bridgerton hype but those books just didn't pull me in. This one, though, made me feel as if I was being challenged and really placed my mind in a good spot.
Highly recommend, especially if you are trying to get into or interested in reading romance (again)....more
I enjoyed this first voyage of Toni Morretti quite a bit. From the first paragraph I was sucked into the story and it just kept on moving at a nice clI enjoyed this first voyage of Toni Morretti quite a bit. From the first paragraph I was sucked into the story and it just kept on moving at a nice clip. I think this book kind of has everything that a mystery/suspense novel should have: a dark and gritty backstory for the main character, a loveable cat, a quirky mysterious mentor, lots of disguises and tension filled scenarios . . . you get my point.
While not as outwardly funny as Evanovich's books, I definitely got the same sort of vibe from this book. It didn't quite have the comedy or romance tension, but it was like it took the more serious elements of Evanovich's storylines and actually turned them into something a bit more literary. I think I'll be checking out more of the series as it comes out. My interest is definitely piqued and I am excited to see where Toni goes....more
It's been a while since I read a romance novel. Granted, my choices back in the day were more recency romance novels so, on a whim (and motivated by oIt's been a while since I read a romance novel. Granted, my choices back in the day were more recency romance novels so, on a whim (and motivated by one of my favorite stories in You've Got Mail), I decided to request this advanced copy and see what the fuss was all about.
I am not so much invested in the lovey parts of romance and, to be honest, I had to keep reminding myself that the continued references to how hot and steamy the character's feelings towards each other were forefront in all of our minds, but in spite of all of that, I was completely and totally charmed.
Plus, it centers around the love of books! How could I not be?
I think Booked on a Feeling successfully got me interested in picking up a contemporary romance here and there. I never thought I'd go back to the genre, but I needed something that was stress free, easy to read, feel-good, and just fun and this one definitely hit the mark....more
Well, this was an unexpectedly fun book to pick up last minute. I wasn't sure what I was getting into because I am a bit of a cover snob, but I couldnWell, this was an unexpectedly fun book to pick up last minute. I wasn't sure what I was getting into because I am a bit of a cover snob, but I couldn't resist the title as watching scam baiters on YouTube is a really fun hobby my husband has and I get sucked into watching with him more often than not.
So this book mirrors a lot of what I see on those channels. Recordings of people scamming the scammers. But there's an added mystery involved and the result is a mix of Janet Evanovich fun and chaos, John Scalzi nerdiness and wit, and just plain old-fashioned chaos.
I really hope Campbell writes more books like this. It was a very quick read and I didn't put it down from start to finish. Highly recommend if, like me, you enjoy zany, hilarious, nerdy reads....more
I'm a big fan of Angie Thomas. The Hate U Give was a book I assigned to my women's literature class when it came out and it was extremely popular. ThoI'm a big fan of Angie Thomas. The Hate U Give was a book I assigned to my women's literature class when it came out and it was extremely popular. Thomas writes with honest, thought-provoking punches to the gut for those of us who have not experienced what her characters live and it is such a great way to branch out and learn a worldview that may be unknown to the reader.
I've also always been a big fan of any sort of music battle, so I knew I was hooked right from the start and was just excited as Bri at the thought of a big showdown. From there, it was straight on to the finish for me.
The thing I love most about Thomas's right is that it is so accessible to a wide variety of ages. It's not young adult literature because the themes and the sophistication are 100% adult and hard-hitting. It's not purely adult literature because it's written to be accessible to younger readers.
Highly recommend this second book of Thomas's and I can't wait to get my hands on Concrete Rose.
This book rocked me. It's written as a series of journal entries/letters to the main character's son and the sheer amount of raw emotion, vulnerabilitThis book rocked me. It's written as a series of journal entries/letters to the main character's son and the sheer amount of raw emotion, vulnerability, and lack of pulling punches just sucked me right into the story.
I wanted to put a lgbtqia+ label on this book, but I ultimately decided not to because there is trauma happening within these pages. This is the story written from a perspective of a man who isn't similar to the author, from the biography I looked at. But that doesn't mean the author cannot write from this perspective without authority. The result is that there are moments that are rough to read, even as someone who has not experienced the rejection and abuse that comes through this story. But the story is worth it, oh boy, is it worth it.
One of my favorite things, as an educator, is to see my students grow through their final journal reflections in class. I got a similar feeling from reading this book. The story of Abraham, Esau and Jacob, his sons, and finally Isaiah, is the story of times changing and wrongs being brought to the forefront.
I received this as a Book of the Month and I chose it on a gut feeling. It's nice to know that it was a good feeling....more
Well, that was a terrifying journey. I admit, I'm a relative newcomer to the world of horror writing and this is my first Sarah Gailey title but WOW, Well, that was a terrifying journey. I admit, I'm a relative newcomer to the world of horror writing and this is my first Sarah Gailey title but WOW, I feel like I have whiplash from all the DARK and SCARY things that emerge through this story.
I see that in some reviews, people are spoiling some of the important details of the story. Here's what I did to go on the trip of all trips through this scary, trauma-filled carnival ride of a story. I didn't read a damn thing about it. I just opened it up after seeing the pretty pink cover and thought, hey! this could be fun. A single, sleepless night with the lights on later, I finished the book and I have been eating Tums and shoving things into all the dark corners of my room in the hope that I stay safe tonight.
I scare easily, so I don't know how this book will affect those of you veterans of the genre but for me -- this one did a number. Wow....more
Well then, that was a ride through some serious emotions. Night of the Living Rez is a series of short stories that move back and forth between characWell then, that was a ride through some serious emotions. Night of the Living Rez is a series of short stories that move back and forth between characters' lives. At first, I thought I was diving into a series of short stories with unrelated characters, but the more I read the more I understood the setup between stories/lives.
The dry humor and seemingly impossible situations contained in each story really hit home for me. Each year I teach an Intro to Native American literature class and, as a white woman, I'm always very conscious of the perspectives I teach in that class. I can see this book very easily making it onto a future syllabus. The importance of not only discussing the periphery services provided to the characters but also the overwhelming oppression of whiteness that hides just outside of the edges of these stories is an important one to note.
Again, this one blew me away. What a strong series of stories. ...more
It feels somewhat sacrilegious to give a Trigiani book 3 stars in a rating. I usually go off a few factors for rating: whether or not the book refusesIt feels somewhat sacrilegious to give a Trigiani book 3 stars in a rating. I usually go off a few factors for rating: whether or not the book refuses to let me put it down, if I would recommend the book, and if I would read the book again (or consider it even).
Of those three criteria, only the second counted here. I don't mean to say that this book it's a beautiful piece of writing, because Trigiani doesn't disappoint there. Her prose is beautifully done--and maybe it's just that I'm done with historical fiction right now, but I just couldn't get into the story. I think the style of intertwining generations and "coincidence" has just gotten to me. I want to read real stories where the ending (happy or sad) happens because life happens. We don't get those often enough in books like this and I think that's where I leaned more toward three stars instead of four.
Is the book worth reading? Absolutely yes if you are a lover of all things historical fiction. As always, when I read a well-done historical novel I learned some things. But, quite frankly, I'm relieved to be done with this one and I'm ready to move on....more
Hm, at best this was a "meh" from me. I read it in an evening, but I wouldn't classify it as "unputdownable." Mostly, I just wanted to get it read. BuHm, at best this was a "meh" from me. I read it in an evening, but I wouldn't classify it as "unputdownable." Mostly, I just wanted to get it read. But it wasn't bad enough to be a DNF either? So it falls in that category of eh, okay well I bought the book, read it, and now I cam move on.
With that said, I do have a few pros and cons. I really appreciated seeing the struggle of a parent dealing with neurodivergence for the first time. I appreciated the general vagueness all the way through about a diagnosis and behavior as well.
With that said, all of the crytic entries, the attempts at suspense, and the like were just too over the top for me. I thought that the book might have worked better as just a contemporary fiction novel dealing with a bunch of gossiping women and a secret, but then again -- we have an abundance of those out there.
There's not a lot to discuss on this one, so I don't recommend book club. But who knows, it might suit some others out there!...more
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