This is another one of those good, casual reads that you do actually need to devote a bit of focus to. Not really to follow the story itself, but more...moreThis is another one of those good, casual reads that you do actually need to devote a bit of focus to. Not really to follow the story itself, but more to keep track of the characters. The basic gist of The Forgotten Garden is that you're following three different characters, in three different times, down one storyline.
As fun, genuine, and engrossing as the book was there was nothing super remarkable about it. The characters, quite frankly, are typical and nothing special. The story, a bit different from what's currently out there, bordered on predictability - things meant to come as a surprise weren't very surprising. Morton's writing was actually really good at transporting you to the various locations we venture too. I felt she gave more life to the places and things rather than the people. There was also a certain fluidity that keeps the reader engaged.
I think The Forgotten Garden is a vacation book. Something to take along and read on your downtime to relax even further. It's fascinating that you will be transported even further away than you already are on your trip, to different times and places. A vacation within a vacation.(less)
If you were to take The Heretic's Daughter and combine it with The Da Vinci Code then up the writing quality by at least 75% you would have The Physic...moreIf you were to take The Heretic's Daughter and combine it with The Da Vinci Code then up the writing quality by at least 75% you would have The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. It combines the story of families affected by the Salem witch trials, with a historical, research-type mystery and just comes out with a fantastic, hard-to-put-down, fun read.
The Salem witch trials have been told again and again and again, and as fascinating as I find them, a unique story about them is hard to come by. But Katherine Howe proved it can be done and takes the trials in a completely different direction. What if there were actual witches being persecuted? What if witchcraft is real? What if science and religion are both right? Katherine explores all of these questions and gives interesting, if not slightly far-fetched but fun, answers.
The only slight flaw with the book was that it was slow to develop and then everything suddenly happens all at once and is finished really fast. I guess I felt there should have been a bit more from the end because we were given so much in the beginning. I also found that the supposedly mysterious antagonist was not a mystery and was easily found out before the big reveal. But other than that I found Howe's writing very enjoyable. Her characters were fairly well developed, her descriptions beautiful, the story well thought out and interesting, and her research and attention to detail very impeccable.
Overall a fun and interesting read. There will be moments where you find it very difficult to put it down.(less)
I'm reading Gladwell's books out of order. I first read Outliers (his 3rd book), now I've read Blink (his 2nd), next I'm going to try and get my hands...moreI'm reading Gladwell's books out of order. I first read Outliers (his 3rd book), now I've read Blink (his 2nd), next I'm going to try and get my hands on The Tipping Point and then finally his latest- What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures. But let's focus on Blink now, shall we?
I've never really thought about our unconscious thinking process before reading Blink. I always knew it existed, but I never knew it went as far as Gladwell was able to explore in this book. Now I'm going to be constantly aware of my involuntary choices and judgements. The explanations about our subconscious choices and subliminal messages are going to be everywhere to me now. There's no way I'm going to be able to walk down a supermarket aisle and look at everything the same way again. This isn't one of those life-changing books, it's more of a life-awareness book.
The one thing that disappointed me about Blink vs. Outliers was that when Gladwell veered into fact-heavy portions, the book lost steam and my attention started to lag. The fact portions tended to be lengthy and drawn out, taking slightly from the overall flow of the book. Really, though, the book was extremely informative and engaging. I'd challenge anyone to read this book and not see the world even a little bit differently.(less)
True stories are always hard to review. Stories about animals? Even harder. Wesley the Owl is going to be a tough one.
One thing I'm beginning to notic...moreTrue stories are always hard to review. Stories about animals? Even harder. Wesley the Owl is going to be a tough one.
From the moment O'Brien writes about looking down on the tiny, fluffy Wesley and immediately falling in love with him the reader falls in love too. Being both a scientist and an owl mom O'Brien highlights all of Wesley's unique quirks and traits in astonishing detail so we begin to know him intimately. She also doesn't hesitate to talk about the gross stuff either, thank God books don't smell or I would have been gagging at a lot of parts.
Throughout Wesley's story Stacey also talks about owl facts and various animal behaviors, taking advantage of informing and educating involved readers. A couple of times she does reiterate herself, but thankfully not to the point of redundancy. Also, given the fact that most people reading the book are completely uninformed about owls, the tidbits given are really fascinating. For me at least, I loved when she would discuss various owl and animal info, but for others not as interested in animal behavior and more interested in Wesley's tale, those small parts may bore you a bit.
Any animal lover will love this book and it continues to prove what most of us already know: every animal is a unique individual with their own seperate personalities and feelings. Most of them have been on this planet longer than us and we need to take better care of sharing it with them. Animals are not here for us to own and dominate, they're here as friends and neighbors and we need to start treating them as such. (less)
I hope people understand what I mean when I say "embellished non-fiction." It basically means what it says, a non-fiction book has descriptions and na...moreI hope people understand what I mean when I say "embellished non-fiction." It basically means what it says, a non-fiction book has descriptions and narrative added in that no one could say really happened or not, it's been added in to make it more of a story, to make it more of a novel-type read rather than a straight through monologue on what happened during a period of change in America's history. Karen Abbot did say in her author's note, "I want to stress that this is a work of nonfiction; every character I describe lived and breathed, if not necessarily thrived...Anything that appears in quotation marks, dialogue or otherwise, comes from a book, archival collection, article, journal, or government report." Clearly Abbott did extensive research to maintain historical accuracy in this book, but it's also apparent she added her own flair to help make it a good story. Thankfully it never was in sacrifice of the truth.
Sin in the Second City was totally enthralling from page one. It's a subject I'm not familiar with (the 19th-20th century brothel/prostitution system), nor the history and changes that were made in our laws because of it. Therefore all these people, places and events had me hooked and I wanted to know more. I, personally, was most interested in the life of the Everleigh sisters and I had hoped that the book would focus mostly on them with the reformers and politicians and laws staying on the periferary. It was an even split actually and as everything and everyone effected everything and everyone else it made sense to do it that way. But it did get a little dry and a bit boring when it came to the talk of politicians and laws.
The book lost steam near the end, only one thing (which I will not disclose as it will spoil the read) really keeping it going. That, and the dryness in the political sections, were what I found to be the only downfalls of the book. Abbot's writing was fantastic, every character that came to the page came to life. She managed to find the drama and intrigue in all her research and share it with the reader, which will keep the reader hooked. If you're interested in the lesser known, "darker" and "seedier" side of American history and you also want a good read, Sin in the Second City would be a good choice for you. (less)
There are a couple reasons I had to read this book. 1) I love historical fiction. 2) I love books. 3) My mother is a librarian, so any book revolving...moreThere are a couple reasons I had to read this book. 1) I love historical fiction. 2) I love books. 3) My mother is a librarian, so any book revolving around the book-trade (librarians, bookshops, book collectors, etc.) is a must read in my family. 4) I like Geraldine Brooks.
So far Geraldine Brooks has scored a 3/3 with me. I read Year of Wonders way back when and fell in love with it. I enjoyed March a lot, but not quite as much as Year of wonders (for a review of March go here). People of the Book falls right in between the two.
What Brooks really had going for her is her attention to detail and character. Her words bring you in and wrap you up in imagery, but at no point are you overwhelmed and smothered in it. Hanna is an endearing character who is great at linking all the mini-stories together, and gives you someone to bond and share the experience with. And speaking of the mini-stories, they're kind of hit-or-miss. Two of the stories I just didn't get in to as much, but the rest held my attention.
Honestly though, I think the whole mystery/situation/whatever you want to call it that crops up at the end (trying to say this without giving anything away) was completely unneccessary. The journey of the book itself was enough to carry the overall story, and it seemed that the "situation" was just something haphazardly thrown in there to jazz it up a bit. Even though in Brooks's world haphazardly is still pretty well done. Perhaps it was just a way to help her end the book? Who knows.
If and when Brooks comes out with another book, I'm there. She's an extremely unique author, who's writing style is like a fresh of breath air in all the shit other books that are floating around out there right now. I'm tempted to re-read Year of Wonders and see if it was just as good as I remembered it.
Short review because there's not a lot to cover with it. I read this book because I had been hearing portions while my roommate listened to her audio...moreShort review because there's not a lot to cover with it. I read this book because I had been hearing portions while my roommate listened to her audio version of it. While not one for "self-help" books or "how-to-be successful" guides, this one struck me as interesting because it's not really either of those. Outliers just really talks about how success is luck and how it isn't luck.
Gladwell is a true storyteller holding your attention with each example he gives, and even when he gets into more fact heavy portions his writing style still keeps you engaged. At no point did I find the book getting really dry and boring, which is often the case with a lot of non-fiction books. Obviously the subject matter is something fascinating, but the presentation could easily have gone bad.
Everyone is going to get something different out of this book. Some may get life-altering information, others just a good read, and then people who leave with the fact that while in the end you can make your own success, in almost all situations it's what you're dealt with in life that can really make or break you. Success is luck you shape.(less)
It may seem like I've finally failed on my mission of 2010 to read a book a week, but I haven't. I finished this one in plenty of time, just didn't re...moreIt may seem like I've finally failed on my mission of 2010 to read a book a week, but I haven't. I finished this one in plenty of time, just didn't review it in plenty of time.
The Nature of Monsters is definitely not your typical historical fiction novel. Clark does not gloss anything over or romanticize any bit of the era she is writing about. Everything is raw, gritty, bawdy and described down to the most mundane, and often disgusting, detail. Completely different from any other historical fiction novel I've read. There is no romance, so if that's the only reason you read a historical fiction, put this book down right now.
Every character, setting and situation is flawed to perfection. It's an odd thing to say and probably even harder to imagine but it's very true and upon reading the book you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. None of the characters are sympathetic, even Mary, yet somehow I found myself drawn to them and hyponotized by their story.
I think the best way to describe this book is like a beautiful trainwreck. It is terrible, horrible and ugly, you know you should look away but you just can't. There's something drawing you in and keeping you there. I'm going to leave it at that. There's something I liked about this book, but I really can't put my finger on it because I don't think I should have liked this book. In the end it's something you'll just have to try out for yourself.(less)
So this is going to be a tougher book to review because it's not really a book. It's someone's diary edited down and put into book form. How do you re...moreSo this is going to be a tougher book to review because it's not really a book. It's someone's diary edited down and put into book form. How do you review someone's personal thoughts and daily life? Honestly, you don't.
This is something you read based on personal taste. If you are a Monty Python fan or a Michael Palin fan (in terms of his writings, career and travel books and documentaries) you should read this. He does write a lot about Monty Python because in the ten years his diary spans Monty Python takes up the bulk of his time, replaced only by family and writing really and even then those things tended to go hand in hand. It's fascinating to suddenly have this insiders perspective on something I'm absolutely in love with. Palin doesn't cover bits and sketches we look on now as genius and hilarious, and Holy Grail was only a fast couple of weeks in these pages literally spanning a decade. It shows how all of these things became important after the fact. It's also fascinating to watch fame creep up on him and the rest of the members of Python and how they all deal with it. For the most part Michael remains humble, something hard to cover up in your own diary.
The editing was very well done. Obviously in a personal diary things are going to be said that you don't want people seeing. There were a couple parts things were obviously edited out, marked by the classic "..." after certain points, but nothing was abruptly cut, allowing everything to continue on smoothly. It looks like most of the diary was kept intact, certain things popping up I'm sure Palin debated heavily on keeping or not.
At first I thought reading this (I don't really know what to call it: a book? Novel? Diary?) would make me feel extremely voyeuristic, but after the first couple of pages I didn't at all. Michael is often reflective, but keeps his words light and fun. It's not as silly as his sketch writing, and is much more flowing and detailed. It's clear why he is so good at writing travel books because his attention to detail is fascinating. His descriptions of the places he goes and the people he meets are so clear that it was those moments when I forgot I was reading about someone's actual day!
There are a couple parts where it gets heavy in British politics and sporting events that lost my interest just a little bit, but Palin tries his best with footnotes to help readers unfamiliar with those to follow along. Really it was a fascinating and really good read for me, a huge Monty Python fan. I feel like I have a completely new perspective on one of my favorite comedy groups ever, I think from now on the movies and TV show are going to be viewed a little differently by me. I think this could also be a very good read for non-Python fans or people not so familiar with Python. He speaks fondly and emotionally of his father, who we are introduced to in his older and failing years. I was brought to tears a couple of times when he spoke of his father, because I'm going through similar things Michael was going through, the fact that the age difference between him and his father is the same as me and my dad just drove it even closer to home. His relationship with his wife and kids and friends are all sweet and he tries to do his best to please everyone. And like I said before, just the way he writes with such detail, yet light and funny would keep you reading even if you aren't a Python fan.
I'm excited to read the latest diary set Palin has come out with, the ones chronicling the 80s. This has also given me a bit more of a drive to be more regular with my own diary. I highly doubt mine will ever be published though.
P.S. Keep your eye out for frequent cameo appearances by famous celebrities, especially George Harrison who at one point near the end starts being referred to as the 7th Python.(less)
**spoiler alert** I was told I was going to enjoy this book from several different people and that worried me. I find that when a book is hyped to me...more**spoiler alert** I was told I was going to enjoy this book from several different people and that worried me. I find that when a book is hyped to me I become a bit more critical and cautious of it because if it doesn't live up to that hype than I am obviously disappointed. In the Woods though? Not disappointing. Tana French definitely earned her Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author.
French has an interesting writing style that I immediately fell in love with. Her descriptions are gorgeous, but she uses them only when neccessary. Where some authors may describe in full every setting, every character, every sight and sound and smell, French holds out those descriptions for the important places and situations. The most perfect place she waited to use her beautiful descriptions for? The woods of course.
The entire book is written like a tapestry on so many levels, with the storyline itself woven so intricately and every word chosen and placed perfectly so. Even though it stays true to your classic "whodunnit?" mystery, it bordered more on thrilling and intriguing rather than cliche and boring as a lot of mystery stories are tending to stray towards lately. French also didn't try and take the story to soem sort of crazy extreme in an effort to make it different and "surprising" which usually reads as confusing and unbelievable. There's layers of mystery scattered throughout, from the law enforcement solving a crime, to the haunting hidden somethings of the wood.
Definitely keeping the whole book alive, fun and interesting are Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox. Every character we get the chance to meet is written out, even if only appearing on one page, to be a fully fleshed out real person. That's again something that seperates French from the overwhelming group of new mystery writers. Even if she needs a character to serve one purpose, she still writes them as if they have been in the story the entire time and if you were to ask her I'm sure she could give you a full background on those background characters. Rob Ryan especially has background, and his entire character is so flawed that at times it edges precariously on being unsympathetic, a daring risk French took and succeeded at. The fact that the reader is suddenly invested in such real characters heightens the excitement in the entire story and brings it up to that final level that makes it a true thriller.
Please do not read the following if you do not want to be spoiled. Seriously. Stop right here.
Okay. Spoiler time: The only disappointment I had with the book was that Detective Ryan's case from when he was twelve was never solved. I thought we would have the solution of both murders/disappearances. And while it could be argued that then it would have just made for a cookie cutter ending, I still felt it left the book slightly incomplete. One of the things we as readers had become invested in is just left completely unresolved. Still, French manages to do that in a way that you don't feel all that ripped off. I don't know how she did it either. Yet another talent leaving me wanting more from Tana French. Thank God I already have The Likeness in my hands!(less)
When I told people the basic premise for this book they got a confused look upon their face and then commented on how sad that sounded. What I told th...moreWhen I told people the basic premise for this book they got a confused look upon their face and then commented on how sad that sounded. What I told them and what I shall tell you are the same thing: this book is not sad. It is witty and joyful. It was just what I personally needed to help me continue coping with my dad's current struggle with lung cancer.
Yes, the book is littered with dark humor, the man's dying it's bound to happen. But there is so much clever, biting humor that decorates what could come across as bitterness you're unable to groan or cringe. He faces the issues people try to skirt about with bold-faced openess and then points out how uncomfortable people are with it. He's basically saying, "It's here. Deal with it."
It's a fitting style of autobiography for a humorist. And I'm sure it was cathartic for him to write it in his final days. As his wife points out in the afterword, he died doing what he loved. By just the way he writes you can tell writing brought him the most joy. To me, it reiterated the point that I don't know what's going to happen with my dad, and it doesn't matter. What matters is finding joy wherever you can and enjoying life for all the little things it has to offer. Life is short, don't take it so seriously.
I was surprised by just how immersed in this book I became. Maybe it's because I headed into it with a bit of trepidation because after the last histo...moreI was surprised by just how immersed in this book I became. Maybe it's because I headed into it with a bit of trepidation because after the last historical, Christian novel I read I was very disappointed. Fire by Night was a completely different creature.
The thing I appreciated most was that at no point did I ever feel like I was being preached at. The presence of God throughout the novel was there and touched upon frequently, but it wasn't forced upon the reader as something they should have to relate to, rather it was part of who the characters were and in that way the reader could either take it to heart or just let it stay in the character's lives. For me, the sharing of God should not be forced on anyone, it should be there for people to take as they will. When they do it that way, I think the message is felt so much stronger, and much less resented.
Of course the story became cliche at times, it's a fun, historical romance novel, it's to be expected, but for me it never hit cheesey. I found Austin's handling of the two main characters beautifully done, they both evolved wonderfully and neither of them made huge, saint-like changes. They stayed raw and real and fully developed throughout the whole novel.
Austin also didn't hold back in telling it like it is. She of course stayed away from any kind of shock factor, but did acknowledge the fact that this was a real war, a real, violent and unbelievably deadly war that affected everyone in the United States. People on the front lines saw awful things and Austin shares that with the reader. Also it was clear she tried her best to stay historically accurate, I don't know how accurate seeing as I'm not an expert of the Civil War, but accurate enough to not take the reader out of the book by going, "I highly doubt that could ever have happened."
Fire by Night is a good read. I don't want the idea that it is classified as Christian Lit to deter anyone because like I said the Christian message that's in the book was never EVER preached to the reader. If you like a good and fun historical romance you've got to give Fire by Night a try. You may find yourself just as unable to put the book down as I was.(less)
This book is currently being presented in a slightly misleading fashion. At least, for my mother (who got me the book) and me it was. Both of us thoug...moreThis book is currently being presented in a slightly misleading fashion. At least, for my mother (who got me the book) and me it was. Both of us thought this was a historical romance-type book. It's not. And while I wasn't disappointed upon starting to read the book, I was slightly caught off guard because I found myself having to quickly shift gears. So if you're like me (and Mom) don't be fooled, it's a biography- not the historical romance you may have been expecting. On that note...
This biography was still very good. Foreman clearly spent an exhaustive amount of time researching for the biography (which she stated in her author's note that she never actually chose to do, the life of the Duchess chose her) and that research definitely payed off for a well planned out and very informative book. The thing I appreciated most, besides Foreman backing up all her research, was the fact that she clearly stuck to the solid details, rarely, if at all, adding a couple creative flairs here and there. At times the foray into British politics became a little dry and boring, the ins-and-outs being a little difficult to understand despite Foreman's clear and easy explanations of it all.
The most remarkable and best achieved thing about the book was that Amanda Foreman brought Georgianna back to life for everyone of today and tomorrow to get to know this remarkable woman. Her carefully reconstructed life and words combine to allow you to know the real Duchess, the woman who was often riddled with insecurities and anxieties that only a few of her closest friends knew about. There is also a lot of drama, romance and intrigue throughout Georgianna's life so despite those lulls in the political sections the book is enthralling and exciting, made even more so by the fact that this all really did happen.
Foreman has a clear gift for detail, research and a clear, concise yet beautiful way with words. Her next book A World on Fire is due out at the end of this year/beginning of next year and I will definitely be getting a copy.(less)
Animals Make Us Human is kind of another version of Animals in Translation. Many facts and topics that were brought up in her first book are addressed...moreAnimals Make Us Human is kind of another version of Animals in Translation. Many facts and topics that were brought up in her first book are addressed and referred to again in this book. Therefore I feel that this book needs to be reviewed as a companion book to Animals in Translation rather than a completely new and different book.
The book is divided into sections focusing on specific species and then analyzes their behavior in order to allow us as humans to better understand them, thus better their welfare. Again, Grandin does her best to simplify the super-scientific stuff, but at times I felt it almost about to go over my head. Even still, the majority of the book was fascinating and informative. She doesn't anthropomorphize the animals at all, but she does make very clear that animals have feelings, though processes, anxieties, pretty much everything humans go through, they just go about it a different way. We need to stop thinking about animals as just dumb things out there to serve us, Animals Make Us Human gives us valid reasons why.
For all you pet owners out there, this book is a must-read, if not a must-own. It's better than a training manual because it will help you understand your pet on a completely different level. When you understand your pet and why they do the things they do, training them will become so much easier. Also, understanding what will get them to do certain things is what can turn an hour of training into a minute. Plus, better understanding will lead to a better and happier life for you and your beloved pet.(less)
This book turned ou to be just what I had expected. Interesting storyline, with some cliche plot points, characters not quite fully developed, and wri...moreThis book turned ou to be just what I had expected. Interesting storyline, with some cliche plot points, characters not quite fully developed, and writing that was just descriptive enough and just good enough to pull you in... just enough.
Garden Spells is a book you can half read but still get the full jist of. It gets a little dramatic and cheesey at times, but it's still a good place for a first novel to be. It's something that Allen can improve upon, and seeing as she's already at a good spot, her future novels will just go from better to excellent.
The thing the book has going most for it, is that it takes the story of family relationships and history that has been told time and time again and makes it new. It's a unique twist on an old story, but is told with a timeless quality so if you were to pick the book up 20 years from now you're not tackily transported to the past as a lot of popular fiction can do.
If you want a light and entertaining read than I'd advise picking up Garden Spells.(less)
Interesting. Unique. Holds it's own in such a full library of World War II historical fiction. It really is different from a lot of other WWII stories...moreInteresting. Unique. Holds it's own in such a full library of World War II historical fiction. It really is different from a lot of other WWII stories out there, which I really appreciated and kept me reading. It was also his writing that kept me truly engaged. I can't even put my finger on it, but something sucked me into this book and kept me there until suddenly I turned the last page, looked up and wondered where the time had gone.
A couple of times I think Davies lost control of his novel. A few too many story lines that didn't really add to the big picture, that of Esther and Karsten's relationship, or even they're seperate stories. Take out the extra characters that apparently had backgrounds we needed to address, Davies could have focused on Esther and Karsten more and given their individual and combined tales richer layers that the reader could further fall into.
I did enjoy the few running themes that occured. That of Esther, Karsten and Rotherham all being of single-parent households and being bilingual. Both of which caused them to struggle with their identities and places in the world.
The main thing that I just keep thinking about with the book is Davies's writing. It's descriptive enough to allow you to picture everything the way you want to picture it and set you in the story, but not overly so that you're continuously taken out of the story itself. It's a delicate balance not a lot of authors can pull off, but Davies's does it superbly.
In the end, if you love WWII historical fiction, this is definitely a new one to add to your library. It'll give you a breath of fresh, Welsh air. And I promise you, with the way Davies writes you will smell that air, and feel the cool crispness fill your lungs.(less)
I don't think Brown will be able to out-do The Da Vinci Code. The Lost Symbol definitely falls short compared to the sensation of it's predecessor. An...moreI don't think Brown will be able to out-do The Da Vinci Code. The Lost Symbol definitely falls short compared to the sensation of it's predecessor. And I didn't even have high expectations to begin with to be honest. I think Dan Brown put so much heart and soul into The Da Vinci Code there wasn't a lot left to put into this one.
The main problem I had with the book was unlike The Da Vinci Code and even Angels & Demons where information and clues were doled out while on the run and in the middle of action, The Lost Symbol paused to feed us what we needed to know, which dragged the book down severly. At the end of one short chapter you have something exploding and the next you're casually sitting in an office without a care in the world hearing a dry explanation on an order of symbols. I felt like it wasn't until I was almost halfway through the novel that things started picking up and it became a page turner.
The ending (without giving anything away) was also a bit disappointing for me. You get your answer, but it's a bit of a letdown and you still kind of feel like there should be something more. And I'm talking the ending ending (because there are a couple), the ones before it were actually exciting and worthwhile.
There are many interesting situations and nail-biting moments scattered throughout the slow beginning of the book that keep you reading. And Langdon remains entertaining, along with his partners in crime, so don't think I'm saying the novel's a total bust. Neccessary character background is put in during appropriate times and doesn't come across as an awkward nuisance or glaringly obvious hints to what's coming that can so easily happen in other mystery novels. Plus, our main bad guy in the book... creepy and evil as hell. Especially because this time we know who it is which makes it even scarier when we see our good guys continuously walk into his traps.
In the end it's a mediocre, bordering on good, pop-fiction mystery, with enough scientific, philosophical, historical and religious jargon thrown in there to make you feel kinda smart. Like always don't let my negatives or positives throw you from a book you may have been anticipating. As my friends and family read my copy that's being passed around I'm very curious to see if they found it to be better, the same or worse than The Da Vinci Code. If and when you've read it, I'd like to know what you think as well.(less)
Yeah, I enjoyed this book, but when I think back on it not a lot sticks with me. I found it an interesting tale of a first lady we've heard of so much...moreYeah, I enjoyed this book, but when I think back on it not a lot sticks with me. I found it an interesting tale of a first lady we've heard of so much due to being wife to one of the most influential and great president's the U.S. has seen today, but yet we don't know much about. There are many things that made this book a unique and fun read.
One thing was that we got a new view on the Civil War. Many books are written about either soldiers or slaves, occasionally family members of those fighting. Not many are written through the eyes of a politician, let alone one directly in the White House, and let alone the First Lady. The way Mary Lincoln is written she would definitely be considered a politician.
That was another thing that made this book such a good read. Mary not only supported her husband in all of his political ambitions, but often discussed and planned with him the various actions he was hoping to take on. She was often outside that box women were constantly shoved into back then. Yet at the same time, in contrast to doing things not suitable for a woman, she did things that were quintessentially feminine. Decorating, shopping, cooking, cleaning, hosting, mothering, etc. She was almost a walking contradiction to herself, and it could have gotten very tricky to write at times, but Newman pulls it off flawlessly and smoothly.
Of course the book was not without it's flaws as a whole. At times it became long and dry, parts popped up that didn't neccessarily need to be there. Also, I was occasionally uncomfortable by the overt sexuality of Mary Lincoln, especially with her husband, Mr. Lincoln. Possibly it's because I couldn't shake the image of the older, noble president and his wife that appears in pictures not looking all that young. It's almost like reading about your parents or grandparents having sex. The romance is sweet, and it gives the Lincoln's a side rarely seen, but it often came off as something Newman desperately wanted to write. I think if she had such a desire to write a historical romance she should have saved it for some different characters, I'm positive she could pull it off without trouble.
In the end, one of the main reasons I liked this book was because of dear Robert Todd. Such a misunderstood man that was written more on the two demensional side amongst a cast of fully developed characters, still succeeded in frustrating me beyond reason with his inability to understand and sympathize with his mother. I'm pretty positive anyone else who reads this book will also find themselves scoffing and dropping their jaws at the moments of pure thick-headedness Robert constantly displays.
So if you're looking for something new in Civil War era historical fiction I would say try out Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln and see how that works out for you. I highly doubt you've read something like it before. And if you have definitely let me know and tell me if it was even better.(less)
Really more of a watered down mystery-thriller. A light, entertaining read that shouldn't challenge you much but will still engage you. A warning thou...moreReally more of a watered down mystery-thriller. A light, entertaining read that shouldn't challenge you much but will still engage you. A warning though: if just the idea of animal and/or child abuse disturbs you greatly to read or hear about you may want to avoid this book seeing as it's full of it.
This is going to be one of my short reviews because I don't have really anything to criticize, nor do I have anything to praise. I found it noble of Koontz was addressing the issue of the need to rescue animals, the perils of shelter life, and the horrors and evils of puppy mills. All of those issues are very important to me so anybody else helping spread the word about them constantly gets brownie points from me.
The Darkest Evening of the Year is more a book to be enjoyed by animal lovers rather than mystery enthusiasts. What little mystery there was even I was able to quickly figure out. Also, prepare yourself for a pretty abrupt ending. It felt rushed compared to the build up of the rest of the book. Even so... nice writing, nice characters, nice story. Overall? Nice.(less)
I really did enjoy this novel. It was a fun historical romance (which, as you can tell by my book list, is one of my guilty pleasures), not one of the...moreI really did enjoy this novel. It was a fun historical romance (which, as you can tell by my book list, is one of my guilty pleasures), not one of the best ever, but still good.
I applaud Anne Easter Smith for not worrying too much about being a stickler for historical accuracy. It felt like she wrote with the knowledge of all the facts, but where facts fell away she didn't feel it wrong to put a bit of imagination in there, aka fiction! In some historical fictions the author worries too much about playing with history and the story starts to fall away and not nearly be as interesting. She added characters where she needed characters (namely Fortunata), and she added the romance which may or may not have been there.
At the end of the novel she made a note saying that Anthony Woodville did exist and that there is the remote possibility that he and Margaret of York could have had a relationship (romantic or otherwise) due to their many shared interests. The ending, she also noted, could blend cleanly into what really did happen in history.
Another thing I enjoyed was the fact that the politics flowed smoothly throughout the book and rarely ever dragged the story down or stopped it completely. An accomplishment in any novel dealing with the old European courts. Of course there are a few moments that drag but they are few and far between. Also, parts of the book didn't feel neccessary to the story at all.
Overall, though, the book was good. A decent historical fiction for those of you who like them. If you're looking for another Philippa Gregory-type novel, this probably isn't on par, but you should really give it a try.(less)
Apparently this book is the first in a series of medieval mystery novels. While I enjoyed this book, I think it's best read as a stand alone, I'm not...moreApparently this book is the first in a series of medieval mystery novels. While I enjoyed this book, I think it's best read as a stand alone, I'm not at all interested in reading the sequels. Though if any of you have, please let me know how they compare to this one.
Once again I fell in love with this book due to it being held up by a strong female character during a time where women were frowned upon when doing something besides cleaning, cooking, or having babies. Adelia is not written unrealistically though. The challenges she faces as a woman make it all very clear that people dislike her actions and are suspicious of her, it makes what she's doing all the more interesting. It was also funny to read how people would trust her manservant Mansur, a Muslim, before they would trust a woman.
While so much of the movel seemed historically accurate (or at least was written in that way), I was constantly wondering if the different investigation techniques Adelia was using would have actually been used back then. I guess it seemed sort of a stretch because some of the techniques are still used today. I chose to trust Franklin though, and believed they actually were ahead of the times in more ways than others.
The only problems I had with the book was that while the ending slightly surprising, I did kind of predict a few things. I also wasn't pleased at the sudden huge romantic turn the book took. I mean I was expecting there to be a little bit, but not nearly as much that came up in the end, it didn't feel to fit with the overall tone of the story. Those were little peeves. Overall I really liked the book.
One last note: Henry II. Only occasionally mentioned and seen just about twice, but I loved him and I bet you do too. If he pops up in the other novels, than maybe I'll check them out.(less)
Before you immediately discard this book because it's about zombies, hear me out. I'm not big into the zombie phenomenon so I was a little unsure abou...moreBefore you immediately discard this book because it's about zombies, hear me out. I'm not big into the zombie phenomenon so I was a little unsure about starting the book. I am big into dystopian novels and some dystopian movies, there's something fascinating about them. Certain ones hold messages that if we don't change our ways, bad things will happen, others are just plain fun. World War Z falls into the latter category.
There's a realistic tone that hangs over the whole novel and that's what really creeped me out a lot of the time. I would read a certain passage and find myself looking up to make sure a door was shut or wondering what that sound was. The creepiest part for me was every time they started describing the zombies in the water... I'm shuddering just thinking about it.
Brooks presents the story in a unique style, through multiple voices. Sometimes one character just speaking one time, other times returning to someone more than once to continue their story. In that form the book was a little slow to start, especially trying to follow the same story from different perspectives. But after a short while you start getting into a flow and the story begins to go along at a quicker pace and you find yourself caught up in this zombie war. Brooks also has a very interesting way of telling the story primarily through dialogue because each section is basically an interview with a person. And that's the other thing I found fascinating, every person, no matter how briefly we see them for seems fully developed. I have a feeling that if you ask Max Brooks some random thing about a random character he could probably end up telling you their whole life story.
Basically this is a very fun, unique and chilling read. Don't think of it solely as a zombie novel because that may turn you off from reading it. Think of it as a dystopian novel with a zombie twist to it. Mind you, I may not be the best critic about a zombie book since I'm not really into that whole zombie-craze, but I found it to be a unique take on the whole thing. We get to see the beginning, the middle, and the end. If you're a zombie "expert" though, read this and I would love to hear your take on it. Perhaps you'll think it's absolute crap. Who knows. At least I enjoyed it and in the end, I'm all that really matters... me and the zombies, because they're going to get us in the end.(less)
This book was exactly as I expected it to be. Cliched, light, fluffy and fun, and that's exactly what I wanted. I never read Ella Enchanted but I expe...moreThis book was exactly as I expected it to be. Cliched, light, fluffy and fun, and that's exactly what I wanted. I never read Ella Enchanted but I expect it was written in the exact same style.
Fairest is obviously a new and very unique take on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. I can't really criticize about the book really because I don't feel there's enough to actually pick apart. It's definitely recommended for younger readers, and I don't mean teen, I mean tween and below. It carries your typical "be true to who you are" "and it's what's on the inside that counts" message, which in the end is the important aspect of the book.
If you have grown past the tweenage years like I have but want to drift back to childhood and read a feel good adventurous fantasy you haven't read yet, here's your book. Don't expect deep philosophical spoutings, or an indepth world like Lord of the Rings. It also might be a good bed time reader for you parents out there looking for a new book to read with your kids. I'm probably going to pass this along to my niece so she can start in on it and tell me what she thinks.
There are a couple portions that may go over her head, odd made-up words to fit into this magical world, but you either adjust or skim over them entirely but still follow the story. It may get a bit wordy for her as well but still, it'll be a "big girl" book that will introduce her to the art of escapism. How much more can you escape than to a magical land with dashing princes, magic mirrors and an evil queen?(less)
**spoiler alert** This book could have easily fallen into the "same old, same old" category, but it didn't and that's why it's so good. There are cert...more**spoiler alert** This book could have easily fallen into the "same old, same old" category, but it didn't and that's why it's so good. There are certain things that I'm going to pick apart and point out that could be considered spoilers so this is your warning. Don't continue reading if you don't want to be spoiled. If you continue reading, don't bitch at me that I gave something away because I warned you. If you want to know in brief what I thought (because I know you so desperately value my opinion) here it is: beautifully written and unique novel with engaging, fully developed characters. Really, what more could you want in a novel?
Okay, now down to the nitty gritty. At first I thought that this was going to be a sort of mystery novel. We know that Susie is dead, but I bet we're going to have to figure out who killed her and why! Nope. Straight off the bat Susie tells us who, what, when, where, why and how. Then I'm thinking, okay, so what's going to keep this novel going? In any other novel you pick up that has someone murdered you usually keep reading only to find out who, what, when, where, why and how. Now why am I reading this?
Despite being curious about how heaven was going to be portrayed, it was the fact that I held the knowledge of Susie's death that none of the other characters held. It's the feeling of omniscience that kept me reading. So many times, along with Susie, I wanted to scream at characters, tell them to wake up! Tell them that Susie was still there, to not be sad. The novel ends up not being so plot driven as it is character driven. To have book being pushed along by characters is always a risky thing, but Sebold pulls it off beautifully.
It's Susie watching them all that makes it so beautiful. She doesn't age as everyone else does. She watches her sister and can only grow up through her. She can only have experiences such as a serious boyfriend, finishing school, losing her virginity, through her sister. You feel pity for Susie during these moments. You know that she has been robbed, and you feel so angry about that.
The only part that I found strange was when Susie suddenly becomes Ruth and has sex with Ray. It didn't seem to fit with the style of the novel and would have fit better in a fantasy style book or ghost story rather than what Sebold had been giving us the entire time. I wonder if Sebold didn't really know how to end it or she felt bad for Susie and wanted her to have that one moment for herself. As much as you want to give Susie that moment, I think it would have made the novel so much deeper and touching if she never got it. She's dead! She was murdered! Really, she'll never get that moment. How much more would that have meant to the reader? Of course you would be left feeling bad for Susie, but it's reality. The rest of the novel had been steeped in reality, why was this one part written to be not so?
That was the only part that bothered me. Over all though, this novel was touching and an awesome read. I like books with a unique take on old stories... this is one of those. What happens when we know how the murder occured? What happens afterwards? Find out.(less)
I don't think you can really go wrong with David Sedaris. Unless you attempt a David Sedaris-style book and aren't David Sedaris. Why does it only wor...moreI don't think you can really go wrong with David Sedaris. Unless you attempt a David Sedaris-style book and aren't David Sedaris. Why does it only work for David Sedaris? Because he writes about David Sedaris and there is only one... David Sedaris.
That all being said, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, while still a hysterical read, just didn't quite hold a candle to the humor and quality of Me Talk Pretty One Day. It seemed like all the best material was used for Me Talk Pretty... and the stuff that was cut-out or never put in landed in this book. It was still worth the read, though, and I still found myself laughing out loud more than once.
Sedaris just has this way of highlighting the mundane and making it absurd and hilarious. He captures his family and those around him in a light we can all relate to with our own families no matter how different they are from his. The experience he goes through and the emotions he brings back are all ones we have have experienced at least once. David Sedaris writes so we can all relate, and it's why we all keep reading.
A lot of people think they can do what Sedaris does. But it's not something you can learn, it's truly a gift. It's not just the stories that are funny, it's not just the probable exaggerations or the way he describes things, it's an underlying wit that comes out in every word. So subtle and quiet you don't even notice it, but it's there and it's something that gives life and laughter to the whole story. It's something that will have me reading more and more Sedaris everytime I can get my hands (or my ears) on it. (less)
So I found Prince Caspian to be much better than The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. The writing was much more fluid, the characters more developed...moreSo I found Prince Caspian to be much better than The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. The writing was much more fluid, the characters more developed, and the story richer. I'm thinking that with the success of Wardrobe Lewis gained a certain confidence as a writer that allowed him a little more freedom with his next book.
There was still that story book quality to the book, but I think it was much less condescending than in the first one. Perhaps Lewis decided to trust his readers a little more and rather than spelling every litle thing out like he did in Wardrobe decided to focus more on story and let the reader put two and two together. That alone made Caspian an even more enjoyable read.
The book is longer, but still can be a quick and enjoyable read. New characters introduced add extra flavor that will make you gasp, cheer, frown and laugh. Hopefully you'll be as fond of my new favorite mouse (Reepicheep) as I am. He's probably the best example of the fantastic style of Caspian a small mouse you expect one sort of a personality and attitude from and instead you get something completely different. That's exactly what I got from Prince Caspian.(less)
There's an ever flowing debate about the true order to read these books in, either by the fictional timeline, or in the order in which they were writt...moreThere's an ever flowing debate about the true order to read these books in, either by the fictional timeline, or in the order in which they were written. I decided to read them in the way they were written. I could go into long explanations on why, but, this is supposed to be a book review, not a "why I'm reading this" review.
It has to be said first-off that these books are written with younger readers in mind. With that out of the way, older readers should not turn their back on it at all because they're still fun and entertaining reads. It's a classic good versus evil story set in a magical kingdom, how much more fun could you get?
The simplicity of the story adds to the charm of it. It allows you to let go a little more and not fight the urge to scoff at certain happenings. while reading I often felt like a little kid again, escaping with a "grown-up chapter book." There's not a lot of character development and the story telling is more tell not show, even so... I enjoyed it.
I think Lewis also had a hard time writing certain portions, or was trying to figure out how to write certain portions, because at times things where either summarized quickly, hurriedly written, or altogether passed over. The best example of all that is in the huge battle... where was it? Pretty much just a picture at the bottom of the page.
Yet at the same time I can argue that Lewis also allows us the liberty to create our own events taking place in this world. Maybe he didn't spell it out for us as he did with so much more, but that doesn't mean it didn't take place. It's up to us to figure out exactly how it took place.
Really, though, you don't need my review to tell you whether or not to read this book. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a classic. Give it a try. Besides, it's short and easy enough that if you don't like it you won't have wasted a lot of time and energy, ha ha.(less)
"I more than likely will go and read the other Artemis Fowl books... but, I probably won't rush out to get them like I am for Harry Potter and the Hal...more"I more than likely will go and read the other Artemis Fowl books... but, I probably won't rush out to get them like I am for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."
That's what I wrote over two years and a month ago about the first Artemis Fowl book. As you can see I stayed true to my word and didn't rush out to get the other books, yet I still read them. If you would like to read that review in full you can do so here: [http://samiambooks.livejournal.com/37...]. I wouldn't say you have to though because this review will probably be pretty much the same.
Once again it's a fun story about fairies with a twist. I was a bit confused at first trying to remember the characters outside of Butler, Foaly, Artemis and Holly due to that two year gap in between readings, but I was able to quickly grasp the plot and previous incidents again. Colfer was kind in that sense, reminding us of key details we should remember, but doing it subtly enough you felt like it was just something along for the ride.
I still felt the book was more geared towards children, but I could sense a little more adult humor coming through, making this a fun book to read aloud to your kids... or pets if you don't like kids but enjoy reading to your furbabies. I did find myself chuckling at different parts and I don't think that's just because I have a slightly juvenile humor.
And to those of you who read the last book and didn't like that Artemis didn't change, that's something that does change in this book. We see our dear criminal teen actually start growing a heart and fondness towards those around him. Perhaps that was awakened by the hope of his beloved father coming back to him and knowing that to achieve that he would have to work in a team, and be nice about it.
Yeah, a good, fun, quick read. I think I'll try a little harder to get the next book because I did like this book a little better than the last. Is the next book even better? Share your thoughts!(less)
Okay, before I say what I need to say let me just say that I really loved this series, it was inventive and original, I've never really read anything...moreOkay, before I say what I need to say let me just say that I really loved this series, it was inventive and original, I've never really read anything like it. The only disappointment was that it seemed anti-climactic. I was expecting a little more to the ending, going out with a bang, not the relatively quiet exit that it actually had. It didn't kill the novel for me, but it did disappoint me a bit. I'm wondering if Pullman chickened out with a big ending he originally intended or someone stepped in and made him change it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter because the book does deal with some pretty controversial issues. Either way everything was tied up very nicely and all my questions were answered. But he also ended it in a way that sort of left it so you can also make your own decisions on what happened or what else will happen, I liked that a lot because I felt that it meant Pullman had a lot of trust in his readers.
Once again Pullman's writing did not disappoint, he explained things without spelling them out but also so even those not well versed in religion, science or fantasy could understand what he was talking about. His vivid descriptions still survived well into the last page of this last book. And even though there was a lot of jumping around from character to character it was done smoothly so the reader wasn't annoyed or left feeling jarred out of place. All of his characters grew and became even more demensional, though it did make Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter a little more confusing... were they good or were they bad? I kind of enjoyed that delicate line they balanced on.
I think one of the most wonderful parts in the story was Will and Lyra's relationship. It had to be treated so carefully because while they were still kids on the cusp of becoming adults, they had just been through so much that shaped them and had them grow. The relationship just didn't happen, there were hints scattered throughout so when they finally did get together you weren't seeing it as unbelievable, you were seeing it as something you knew was coming. It also wasn't too adult, it was perfect for them. Children that weren't quite children due to what they had just been through, but not quite adults due to their age. It was heartbreaking when they wouldn't be able to be together anymore because you knew it just wasn't a young first love, it was a true and deep love they more than likely won't find again. It was because their love was so raw and undying that they were able to change the Dust and help the worlds. It was honest, true love, the love that Mary explained to them, the "forbidden fruit" if you will.
Overall I loved this series, every character was a joy unless they were specifically supposed to be cruel and unliked, and even then they weren't annoying and I wasn't finding myself wanting to skip past the pages they were in. The fact that Pullman was able to address so many issues (especially the ones about religion) without getting preachy or dry was another thing I think made the novels truly enjoyable. As a Christian I didn't feel the need to get defensive about how he represented God and religion altogether because he presented it in a fashion that while you believed it to be true in the world of the novels, you knew it wasn't an outright attack on the beliefs of many.
In the end this was a fantastic series that was very much a worthwhile and enjoyable read. I don't think it's a series that's aimed towards a specific group of people because it encompasses so much. There is bound to be something within the novel you find and bond to that keeps you reading. And, personally, as much as they say it's a children's book, I think it's totally an adult read as well. Maybe even moreso than a kid's read, you think?(less)
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