Short and useful. Not much here I haven't heard before, but all good reminders. Short and useful. Not much here I haven't heard before, but all good reminders. ...more
This was a surprisingly happy read! Most of O'Farrell's books gut me, but this one, while dark around the edges, was sweet and hopeful. It wa4.5 stars
This was a surprisingly happy read! Most of O'Farrell's books gut me, but this one, while dark around the edges, was sweet and hopeful. It was a nice change! Not totally my favorite by her, but a lovely read nonetheless. ...more
This was going to be a four-star read. Overall, I think it was a more interesting installment than the first two. Why wasn't Manon always present?? ShThis was going to be a four-star read. Overall, I think it was a more interesting installment than the first two. Why wasn't Manon always present?? She's the coolest character SJM has introduced to this world. I loved her chapters. I wanted more. I wanted just her, tbh.
I'm fine with Rowan. I think he's got potential. I think the pacing of their "bonding" was too rushed. After complaining about all the Celaena internal angst, I wanted more romance-y angst and I got, like, none.
Seeing Celaena come out of her Sad Girl Era was cool. That was one of the best scenes in the book.
Given all that, this book had been shaping up to be 4 stars. A first for SJM from me!
AND THEN >>>>SPOILERS<<<
Did we introduce Sorscha, a cool rebel girly who had potential, but on the page in this book had nothing much outside of being a love interest for Dorian, and then TURN HER INTO A DISPOSABLE WOMAN TROPE!? HOW DARE YOU, MRS MAAS?
I'm going to keep reading this series but this is one grudge I will hold. ...more
I picked this book up as a caregiver to teens who are placed out-of-home, as a way of helping them process their troubled relationships with their parI picked this book up as a caregiver to teens who are placed out-of-home, as a way of helping them process their troubled relationships with their parents, many of whom are highly emotionally immature. I honestly think everyone should read this book to help exercise their self-awareness. I feel more educated and more able to show empathy in my interactions with all emotionally immature people....more
All around good time. The audiobook with a full cast and excellent performances, really added to the experience I think. It was interesting, funny, anAll around good time. The audiobook with a full cast and excellent performances, really added to the experience I think. It was interesting, funny, and a bit addictive. I'm not totally sure I would have felt the same way just reading the physical book. The audiobook is the way to go....more
"'In this way the pursuit of science leads to a religious feeling of a special sort.' For some people miracles serve as evidence for God's existence. "'In this way the pursuit of science leads to a religious feeling of a special sort.' For some people miracles serve as evidence for God's existence. For Einstein, it was the absence of miracles that reflected divine providence. The fact that the cosmos is comprehensible, that it follows laws, is worthy of awe. This is the defining quality of a God who reveals himself in the harmony of all that exists."
I really liked this biography. It did a lot to humanize the man whose name is now synonymous with genius. The writing had that narrative quality that I enjoy in non-fiction. I have wanted to read several of Walter Issacson's books, but this is my first. Definitely keen to read more....more
This was a really fun read. 4 stars. I appreciated the historical notes she included in the back, explaining the truths we know about the Ripper and wThis was a really fun read. 4 stars. I appreciated the historical notes she included in the back, explaining the truths we know about the Ripper and where she took liberties. It's definitely a YA novel, though it doesn't shy away from the gore, so the plot and mystery are pretty straight forward, but it was still enjoyable, especially if you like Victorian era London as a setting....more
I love the message and the first half of the book had me enraptured, I found the time travel element to be so sudden and random, then the ongoing romaI love the message and the first half of the book had me enraptured, I found the time travel element to be so sudden and random, then the ongoing romance to be so strange....I don't know. I liked the historical elements! I just didn't understand why that's the direction the book took. It was even stranger that the crazy father also time traveled. Like, I was willing to say Mia was a "witch" since the Salem setting and all really leaned that way. But it didn't feel really thought out to me. ...more
This wasn't the all-around strongest collection of his essays I've read, but it had a couple of great ones. Also a couple or few that were just meh. NThis wasn't the all-around strongest collection of his essays I've read, but it had a couple of great ones. Also a couple or few that were just meh. Not timely, not interesting. The best ones, imo, were "The Weight of Glory," "Transposition," "Is Theology Poetry", and "Membership."...more
Beautifully written and hard to put down. I wasn't prepared for the ride this book was.Beautifully written and hard to put down. I wasn't prepared for the ride this book was....more
I enjoy the world here and Ranji was a compelling main character. But the heavy plot-focused narrative and the omniscient-third POV (head-hop3.5 stars
I enjoy the world here and Ranji was a compelling main character. But the heavy plot-focused narrative and the omniscient-third POV (head-hopping) makes me unable to rate this much higher.
Two life-long friends walk into the woods for a five-day hunting trip. When they emerge, the world around them is burned to the ground and th4.5 stars
Two life-long friends walk into the woods for a five-day hunting trip. When they emerge, the world around them is burned to the ground and the people are gone.
This was a beautifully written and emotional journey. I love how masterfully Heller creates a sense of place. I love how elegant and poignant his characters' dialogue is. His portrayal of the friendship was sweet and beautiful.
A lot of questions were left unanswered, but being literary fiction, the plot was not the point. We were just here in this moment with these characters and seeing a snippet of humans reacting to disaster, a disaster that feels all too plausible and real. ...more
It's like if Catcher in the Rye was actually funny and a little bit speculative and had a bit of "A Christmas Carol" undWhat to say about this book...
It's like if Catcher in the Rye was actually funny and a little bit speculative and had a bit of "A Christmas Carol" undercurrent to the plotline. I don't know if that makes sense, but it's the best I got.
I was swept away in the absurdity of this book. The unnamed narrator was hateable and relatable (unlike Holden, imo). I enjoyed the ride. ...more
It's annoying to me that I can't give these books 5 stars because I LOVE several things about them...but then several things about them grate on me, tIt's annoying to me that I can't give these books 5 stars because I LOVE several things about them...but then several things about them grate on me, too.
I love the plot and the relationships and the world. These will keep me coming back and give me the will to binge read these rather hefty books every time.
I do not love the writing...which is weird. I've read quite a bit of Klune's stuff at this point and I can say that while he has a couple distinct narrative voices, he does not excel in giving non-POV characters a distinct voice. It feels like all the side characters have the same sense of humor and the same characters make the same jokes repeatedly. Does this happen in real life? Sure. Should it happen in a novel? Nope.
I also could do without the general horniness of the characters, but I knew what I was getting into with that one at least.
Overall, I love these books but they aren't without fault. ...more
Loading...
