This wasn't a phenomenal YA book (like Speak) but it was enjoyable. Some of the characters were more sympathetic than others and I wish it had been mo...moreThis wasn't a phenomenal YA book (like Speak) but it was enjoyable. Some of the characters were more sympathetic than others and I wish it had been more tied up at the end. Not that every story has to end perfectly but I felt like the ambiguous ending was more because the author didn't know how to end it instead of just being open-ended on purpose.(less)
A very cute sequel to The Tale of the Wide Awake Princess. I love catching all of the other fairytale characters appearing throughout the story. Like...moreA very cute sequel to The Tale of the Wide Awake Princess. I love catching all of the other fairytale characters appearing throughout the story. Like a Disney movie in book format. Mindless fun.(less)
This was not my favorite of the Emily Giffin books. I think mainly because of the husband. I really don't get what both women saw in him. He seemed ki...moreThis was not my favorite of the Emily Giffin books. I think mainly because of the husband. I really don't get what both women saw in him. He seemed kind of like an egotistic snob. I didn't mind the split narratives though and thought that it was an interesting look at both women.(less)
Another enjoyable book by Marian Keyes - anything about the Walsh family is good with me. Now I just hope she does a prequel with Mamie Walsh's youth....moreAnother enjoyable book by Marian Keyes - anything about the Walsh family is good with me. Now I just hope she does a prequel with Mamie Walsh's youth. (less)
For what it is, I can't judge too harshly I guess. It's 100 pages and it cost $2 so I wasn't expecting to be blown away. That being said, this just is...moreFor what it is, I can't judge too harshly I guess. It's 100 pages and it cost $2 so I wasn't expecting to be blown away. That being said, this just isn't nearly as much fun as Sweet Valley Confidential was. And Sweet Valley Confidential wasn't exactly pulitzer worthy - it was just fun and silly. This was at least a quick read, just not a very good read. At least I am comforted in knowing that no matter what changes in life, Todd is still a douche.(less)
This wasn't a terrible book at all. It was cute. Kind of seemed like it one day might be made into an ABC Family movie or something. It just wasn't as...moreThis wasn't a terrible book at all. It was cute. Kind of seemed like it one day might be made into an ABC Family movie or something. It just wasn't as funny as I thought it would be. Kind of a one note joke that goes on and on.(less)
After reading Gone Girl, I saw this book mentioned on one of those "If you liked Gone Girl, you'll love Dare Me" lists. I think my expectations were a...moreAfter reading Gone Girl, I saw this book mentioned on one of those "If you liked Gone Girl, you'll love Dare Me" lists. I think my expectations were a bit too high. This is not like Gone Girl. Whereas that didn't have likeable characters but still had a riveting storyline - this one just had unlikeable characters and a rather boring situation of cheerleader power that turned into a boring mystery about halfway through. Nothing was particularly interesting about any of the people or the situations.(less)
I bought this after reading Gone Girl and I loved it! Usually when I read two books by the same author so close in a row, I start to become aware of t...moreI bought this after reading Gone Girl and I loved it! Usually when I read two books by the same author so close in a row, I start to become aware of the formula and can guess where the story is headed. In a way, some of this was true. Like Gone Girl, this one had the same dark twisted type of story, same unlikeable characters and yet it still works. I couldn't put it down. I thought I had guessed the ending about halfway through but I hadn't - not even close.
I shouldn't have looked up that this is a Meryl Streep/Jack Nicholson movie before I started reading it because I pictured them in the roles throughou...moreI shouldn't have looked up that this is a Meryl Streep/Jack Nicholson movie before I started reading it because I pictured them in the roles throughout the whole book. Now I want to see the movie. You can tell this is heavily autobiographical - the plot is not very detailed: Pregnant woman discovers her husband is cheating on her. Then it's very much about the emotions she's going through during the experience. Knowing this also happened to Nora Ephron, you can tell that it was very likely cathartic for her to write this. It's very much "of the time it's written" but overall a good book and a good way to jump into Ephron.(less)
This is a really cute little story - nothing groundbreaking but a fun summer read about Sleeping Beauty's younger sister and how she goes off to help...moreThis is a really cute little story - nothing groundbreaking but a fun summer read about Sleeping Beauty's younger sister and how she goes off to help save her sister and the rest of her kingdom after the sleeping curse takes hold. I could totally see this being a Disney cartoon one day. (less)
This is a roller coaster of a book - you think you've got things figured out and you don't. Even in hearing that there were twists I thought "Oh I kno...moreThis is a roller coaster of a book - you think you've got things figured out and you don't. Even in hearing that there were twists I thought "Oh I know how this will play out" and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a tremendously fun summer beach read. I read it hoping it will be made into a movie one day and yet I realize how hard that would be just based on how the story plays out. Just a good fun mystery.(less)
I don't know why I'm doing this to myself. Terrible.
The first one was terrible and this one was a step worse than terrible. Ana appears to be mentally...moreI don't know why I'm doing this to myself. Terrible.
The first one was terrible and this one was a step worse than terrible. Ana appears to be mentally challenged in some weird undiagnosed way. There's simply no way for a woman to be this . . . off. I'd almost think that she was raised in the woods by a troupe of demented squirrels if she didn't frequently mention her mother and step-father (perhaps they are squirrels that she imagines can talk?). It's like she's just been let out and allowed to exist with other people and doesn't quite understand how normal humans communicate. And her inner goddess. What is up with this inner goddess? I hope the third book ends with the sentence "My inner goddess is smiling with devilish intent as she stabs me in the head and ends everyone's misery."
So I really have no idea why I'm going to read the third one. I suppose I like to finish what I've started.(less)
I read this after receiving it as a gift from a friend and hearing all of the buzz about how this is the hottest new book to sweep the nation. I weep...moreI read this after receiving it as a gift from a friend and hearing all of the buzz about how this is the hottest new book to sweep the nation. I weep for the nation. This is a terrible book. Like most of my friends back in high school, we went through a phase of reading really terrible graphic romance novels so the language or topic wasn't shocking to me but man was this book ever boring. Who thought that much smut could be boring? But it was. So so so boring. Knowing that it began as Twilight fan-fic makes a lot of sense because Ana is as boring and unlikeable as Bella ever was. At more than 380 pages the book badly needed an editor - someone who could possibly explain to the author that Ana doesn't need to yell "Holy Crap!" or "Holy cow!" every time she's caught up in the passion of a moment.
Note: The book doesn't actually tie anything up - it simply ends and let's you know that Part 1 is over assuming you'll race to the bookstore for Parts 2 & 3. (less)
I know nothing about baseball. The very few times I've had to go to a baseball game I've hated it. I think the sport is boring and far too much attent...moreI know nothing about baseball. The very few times I've had to go to a baseball game I've hated it. I think the sport is boring and far too much attention gets paid to it.
So you wouldn't think that this would be a book I'd enjoy but I did! First of all, it's about baseball but it's not. Baseball is the setting but honestly it's about failure and dreams and figuring out your own path.
Edward gets a chance to play for the major leagues and then (as you can guess by the title) it doesn't quite work out the way he'd hoped. He tries his way in the "real world" with a non-baseball job and a family and a little house and well, it might have been a nice little life for someone but not for him. So he drifts through the lower ranks of baseball and in his 60s looks back on his life.
It's a great book with beautifully well-defined characters. Even if I don't understand the draw of baseball, I understand wanting to live a life true to yourself even if it's not the life that makes the most sense. A wonderful book. (less)
I enjoyed this book but it wasn't a quick read - there are a ton of characters and it jumps back and forth between them so I felt like I had to take a...moreI enjoyed this book but it wasn't a quick read - there are a ton of characters and it jumps back and forth between them so I felt like I had to take a lot of breaks to just digest what was happening. That being said, it was a good book - it was kind of frighteningly plausible reading the future that Albert Brooks outlines for us all in this world and I think he did a great job of putting everything out there and was as impartial as he could be. I sympathized with the younger folks but also felt bad for the older ones - I mean, who wouldn't want to live as long as possible? There were a bunch of lose-lose situations presented - but that's how life is so it was realistic in that sense.(less)
I really enjoyed this book. It captured slices of life in a few friends as they made it through their 30s. The problems were on par with problems that...moreI really enjoyed this book. It captured slices of life in a few friends as they made it through their 30s. The problems were on par with problems that my friends and I actually dealt with: layoffs, dating, family, jobs. It was funny and sweet - one of the few books about life in New York in your 20s that doesn't have unrealistic apartments and clothing allowances. (less)
While there was a whole book series looking at what would happen if you were "left behind" after the rapture, I avoided them. This one takes a look at...moreWhile there was a whole book series looking at what would happen if you were "left behind" after the rapture, I avoided them. This one takes a look at a similar type of phenomenom but yet, it wasn't just the good folks who were raptured (or disappeared, there doesn't seem to be a good consensus of what really happened). Many good folks were left on earth and now have to pick up the pieces and mourn and figure out what it all means and where they go from here. This followed one family and the various people they touch. I do recommend it. The author does a good job of changing the voice of the characters so you really feel like you're inside their minds. (less)
This was just not a very good book. Charlie does not seem like a normal 15 year old - and I know he's not based on the fact that he's witness to every...moreThis was just not a very good book. Charlie does not seem like a normal 15 year old - and I know he's not based on the fact that he's witness to every single Lifetime Movie nightmare of teenaged life - but he reads like he's 12 years old. He's beyond socially awkward in ways that made me wonder if the author has spent any time around freshman in high school. And the crying - he cries at everything - all the time. It's a quick read but not a particularly well-written one.(less)
I loved this book! It took me forever to read it since it seemed like everyone was reading it and I told myself after Eat Pray Love & DaVinci Code...moreI loved this book! It took me forever to read it since it seemed like everyone was reading it and I told myself after Eat Pray Love & DaVinci Code that I wasn't going to read something just because everyone else was doing it. But my book snob ways almost prevented me from picking up this fantastic book. I read it in one weekend. Couldn't put it down. Loved the characters - everyone had such a distinct voice in the book and you really felt like you grew to know and love the characters - you feel nervous when they're nervous and happy when they're happy. It's one of those books at the end where you wish you could pick up the phone and find out how they all ended up in their lives.(less)
**spoiler alert** Charlie is a cliched clueless boss - in over his head with very little idea of how badly he is running the office. He's miserable, s...more**spoiler alert** Charlie is a cliched clueless boss - in over his head with very little idea of how badly he is running the office. He's miserable, stressed and knows very little about his wife and son. His whole life is work. So when he's fired it rocks his entire world to the core and after denial wears away and he begins the task of looking for work, he deals with trying to figure out what it is he really wants out of life.
I enjoyed the book - Charlie was both unlikeable and sympathetic at the same time. I would never want to work for him but I was very happy when his family life begins to get back on track.
I think the other thing I enjoyed about this book were the supporting characters at the employment office. Not everyone gets the great job at the end. One man works retail and has given up on the search, another betrays a friend to get where he wants to be and another is implied to have used more than just her intelligence to get another gig. Not everything is tied up in a boy - just the sense that everything works out in a way even if it isn't the way you'd imagined.(less)
I think I'd probably give 3.5 stars if that was an option. The writing isn't stellar - there was just something about the actual writing of the book t...moreI think I'd probably give 3.5 stars if that was an option. The writing isn't stellar - there was just something about the actual writing of the book that was very awkward at times. However, the story was interesting - kind of a really cool idea that could have used a better editor. The book ends and I assume this is just the first in a series because it certainly ended with the idea of more to come.(less)
This is probably one of the best books I've read this summer - interesting, thought-provoking and suspenseful without being melodramatic. Having grown...moreThis is probably one of the best books I've read this summer - interesting, thought-provoking and suspenseful without being melodramatic. Having grown up Catholic, I am familiar with the the pedophilia scandal so it was interesting to read about it from the viewpoint of a family member of the accused priest and how your faith in your family can sometimes be as difficult to struggle with as any sort of spiritual faith.
**spoiler alert** This book bothered me. I knew it wasn't going to be fantastic but it was just so so frustrating!
No one displayed any kind of charact...more**spoiler alert** This book bothered me. I knew it wasn't going to be fantastic but it was just so so frustrating!
No one displayed any kind of character growth. I mean, let's look at Bridget. How many different books can we spend learning that Bee runs from her problems but then learns some sort of lesson and doesn't run anymore . . . only to arrive at this book and yet again, she runs. Or stupid boring Lena and her stupid boring fear of ever being happy. (I also can't help but hate this character because I picture her as Rory Gilmore while I'm reading).
Each of these girls was back to their old frustrating ways. And I shouldn't even call them "girls" - they're like 30. I have no idea why they're all so stunted. And why none of them have ever been able to make a new friend ever.
I was also excessively annoyed with their magical abilities to become maternal at the drop of a hat. What is this even about? All of them are like "Oooh, I'm afraid of children!" and then they put some cheese and apples together and discover that they're better than Mary Poppins.
The long suffering men are by far the most annoying. Men in the Traveling Pants world are not allowed to be happy or voice opinions. They must be willing to drop everything at a moment's notice and never ever get mad when their girlfriend's refuse to answer their calls for like 2 months.
But I think I hate what they did to Tibby most. Really? After all of this she becomes a dying suicidal mommy hermit? Groan.(less)
This was just terrible. It took me forever to get through it - the book is about 200 pointless pages too long. If an editor had done a CTL F & del...moreThis was just terrible. It took me forever to get through it - the book is about 200 pointless pages too long. If an editor had done a CTL F & delete on the following words: tea, loafers, black pants - they could have removed at least 100 pages from that. The descriptions are endless and boring - she's always drinking tea and pulling on her loafers and selecting a pair of black pants. In the middle of drama the author pauses to let you know that the heroine is going to be packing yoga pants to sleep in - umm, OK? Don't care if she wears pajamas or yoga pants since it adds nothing to the plot. But thanks for taking the time to clear that up.
Also, the heroine is another Bella Swan type - very boring, very Mary Sue - no personality at all but we're supposed to root for her because she can clear a plate of breakfast foods before you can count to 10. I admit this is a rare quality in a book heroine but it's not a particularly interesting one.
This is the first of a trilogy and I don't believe I'll be reading the other two. I'm going to imagine that all characters were poisoned by a lethal cup of tea.(less)
This was a page turner but like other readers, I'm disappointed in the ending. If it had ended about 30 pages sooner, I would have been very satisfied...moreThis was a page turner but like other readers, I'm disappointed in the ending. If it had ended about 30 pages sooner, I would have been very satisfied with the book - but as it was it felt like a cheap afterthought. The story moves between past and present so you get both sides of a missing person case - the weeks leading up to it and the years after. Supernatural and logic are at war as you try to figure out what's up. Can't say I'm satisfied with where it ended but overall it was a fun ride.(less)
While I enjoyed this book, I will say that it followed the Pride & Prejudice formula almost right down to the last detail. But dangit, I love that...moreWhile I enjoyed this book, I will say that it followed the Pride & Prejudice formula almost right down to the last detail. But dangit, I love that formula so I was OK with it. I read Little Women when I was younger so it was interesting to see how their lives inspired the book. Overall it was an enjoyable summer read - nothing outstanding but no slow parts either. (less)
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