Oh my, this book went on and on. The parts I liked: Michael Gates Gill trying to fit in with his new life. What I didn't: everything else. Basically,...moreOh my, this book went on and on. The parts I liked: Michael Gates Gill trying to fit in with his new life. What I didn't: everything else. Basically, the flaws are these: Gill repeats himself ad nauseum, as if I can't remember the role that a barista plays in a Starbucks. Each chapter involves a recap where he re-explains how to weigh the cash, or that he has to pour coffee and take money. Ugh. I found the repeated explanations kind of insulting, to tell the truth. Also, the entire thing reads like a Starbucks commercial. In his store, the customer is the most important person in the world, and the workers exist only to serve them. I don't think I've ever been in this kind of Starbucks. Their little faces do not brighten when I walk into the store. They just seem vaguely bored, and take my cash and give me a latte. Perhaps I am doing something wrong, or else Gill's whole "Starbucks experience" is a load of crap. Finally, I got really tired of Gill's self-aggrandizing monologue about how rich and privileged he really was as a child. The name dropping was out of control, and out of place. He described his vacation homes, and gave conflicting messages about his parents. They were so wonderful! They loved him! He never felt good enough or accepted. Awww....If I didn't listen to it on my commute in the car, I never would have finished it. (less)
When their former owner dies, two girls should be free. The heir, however, decides to sell them to a cruel Loyalist couple in New York. There, Isobel...moreWhen their former owner dies, two girls should be free. The heir, however, decides to sell them to a cruel Loyalist couple in New York. There, Isobel (the older and responsible sister) struggles to protect her younger epileptic sister. This book does a good job of explaining the confusion surrounding slavery during the American Revolution, and ties historical events to a character that we grow to care about.(less)
**spoiler alert** This book started out promising, but really went down in flames for me. This next part is a spoiler. Basically, you find out that Le...more**spoiler alert** This book started out promising, but really went down in flames for me. This next part is a spoiler. Basically, you find out that Leah has been being raped and sexually abused by her husband for much of her marriage, and to be fair, she (through therapy, we find out) allows it to happen because he takes such good control over the rest of her life too, allowing her to get drunk and be helpless. However, to me, sexual abuse is a big issue, and the author takes you through this couple's story, never really addressing the issue adequately. At the end (because divorce isn't what good Christians do), Leah is still willing to "work it out" with Carl, and the sexual abuse is just swished under the rug. I was disgusted. I could see that kind of story arc if the issue was addressed, but even though the theme was so prevalent, at the end, it was treated as a non-issue. Also, the end over all? It was as if the author suddenly died, and the book had to be hustled to a conclusion (which wasn't really conclusive of anything). (less)
Most of this book was a good read, but the ending was lame, confusing, and unrealistic. Everything that made the character interesting evaporated in a...moreMost of this book was a good read, but the ending was lame, confusing, and unrealistic. Everything that made the character interesting evaporated in an overly ambitious conversion.(less)
Eh. The writing is pretty lackluster, relying heavily on I, I, I, we, we, we. Martin tries to speak for all women, using sweeping generalizations, try...moreEh. The writing is pretty lackluster, relying heavily on I, I, I, we, we, we. Martin tries to speak for all women, using sweeping generalizations, trying to show us how good, and how bad she is. She had Hispanic boyfriends in high school (oh my!), but of course, she still got straight As. She was smart AND drank Forties. Oh boy. Overall, I think she was embarking on an interesting project in this book, but it was just a whirlwind rampage through the low self-esteem of women, and didn't offer any analysis or solutions. (less)
I hate to say it, but I think it's high time to put Stephanie Plum out to pasture. She sets cars on fire (funny the first 10 times it happened, but no...moreI hate to say it, but I think it's high time to put Stephanie Plum out to pasture. She sets cars on fire (funny the first 10 times it happened, but no longer), Lula eats too much (but honestly, since when does my chick-lit fiction include FART jokes?) and Morelli and Ranger are still hot after Stephanie, for some undisclosed reason. Another thing? Why does Ranger always say "Babe."? That, in this series these days, seems to pass for dialogue. Honestly, I haven't heard "babe" so much, well, since the movie Babe. Baaahhh---raammm-ewe.
If you've never read this series, do it. The first 10 or so are hilarious, original, and pure mind-candy. After that, pretend that no more were ever written, so that your enjoyment of Plum's capers will continue unabated.(less)
Willow is driving her drunken parents home during a storm, when she gets into an accident and both of her parents are killed. To deal with the pain, s...moreWillow is driving her drunken parents home during a storm, when she gets into an accident and both of her parents are killed. To deal with the pain, she becomes a cutter. That story line made sense, and was interesting, but somewhere along the line, the music swells and it becomes a romance, which turns downright Harlequin-esque towards the end. It was really too much to bear. I like romances, but this plot turned entirely wooden and the characters turned into little paper dolls being pushed around the pages with declarations of love. If Hoban wanted to turn it into that kind of book, she really should have stayed away from so much dialogue. It's not her strength. (less)
Political intrigue, a bit of murder, and the usual realistic and entertaining patter from Lucas Davenport. What I really love about these books is tha...morePolitical intrigue, a bit of murder, and the usual realistic and entertaining patter from Lucas Davenport. What I really love about these books is that the conversations and internal thoughts of the characters always ring true, even if the mystery itself sometimes drags a little. This novel was a bit more of a suspense book, since the guilty parties were obvious to Davenport (and therefore, to us), but proving it all took a while, but it was fun all the same. (less)
(Mild Spoilers) My goodness, nearly every teen vampire lover's dream...If I were 15 again, this book would have gotten a resounding 5 stars. Being well...more(Mild Spoilers) My goodness, nearly every teen vampire lover's dream...If I were 15 again, this book would have gotten a resounding 5 stars. Being well over double that age though, it appeals to me just as a 3. My main beef with the book? I got a little tired of the girl not actually walking anywhere on her own two feet. It seemed that not a page would go by without her being carried somewhere. The other thing is that Bella seems so insecure. What is fun about loving a man with lightning fast mood changes? She is constantly on her toes, guessing how he will react to things. However, she is a teenager, and I guess stability isn't sexy until you hit on the flip side of 30. I think for its target audience, this book is dead-on brilliant. For adults, not so much. All the same though, I will probably check out the sequel.(less)
Mother and daughter relationships can be complicated, and Marta and her daughter Hildemara's stories show it well. Marta is a tough woman who clawed h...moreMother and daughter relationships can be complicated, and Marta and her daughter Hildemara's stories show it well. Marta is a tough woman who clawed her way up into a good living. When she has a daughter that she perceives as being weak, she tries to toughen her up too. Even though love is the motivator, Marta only succeeds in driving her daughter away. The first half of the book is dedicated to Marta, whose story launches in the the first decade of the 20th century. The story switches to Hildemara halfway through, and finishes up post WWII. It was well done, with realistic characters, and used letter writing as a natural way to get alternate character viewpoints. (less)
I heard the writer on NPR, and she sounded really interesting, but when I got the book, the sections seemed like sidebar articles that you might read...moreI heard the writer on NPR, and she sounded really interesting, but when I got the book, the sections seemed like sidebar articles that you might read in a pop magazine (like Shape, or Women's Day). It wasn't really riveting, or surprising. I felt like I'd seen all this information before. (less)
A great, no-nonsense approach to discipline. Fay boils it down into a few simple steps that work for any occasion, and manages to press the importance...moreA great, no-nonsense approach to discipline. Fay boils it down into a few simple steps that work for any occasion, and manages to press the importance of teaching your young ones early, before you have a real problem on your hands. The only draw-backs? The writing was very simplistic and kind of tedious, and I have a hard time understanding how a parent can give a canned response with genuine empathy every time. (less)
A book has no business being this darn long without any character development to speak of. For those who enjoy long, meandering, time-jumping plots, y...moreA book has no business being this darn long without any character development to speak of. For those who enjoy long, meandering, time-jumping plots, you will be enthralled. After the first 200 pages, the story loses cohesion, abandons all original characters, only to resurrect them briefly at another point in the book. The people were dull, and our main heroine--incomprehensible. The worst news is that the end has no pay-off, because Cronin is planning on milking this story for another TWO books. The set up was good. Government intrigue, viral monsters, a few good characters to keep it all moving...but then he takes a foray into attempting an epic, and the entire thing left me cold. (less)
A brilliant book that shows that not all nuns are alike. The writer takes us through inner city communities, where the pope is "poo-poohed" all the wa...moreA brilliant book that shows that not all nuns are alike. The writer takes us through inner city communities, where the pope is "poo-poohed" all the way to cloistered convents. (less)
Normally, a book told in letters wouldn't appeal much to me, but the cleverness and the style of each of the "writers" was brilliant; a mixture of sna...moreNormally, a book told in letters wouldn't appeal much to me, but the cleverness and the style of each of the "writers" was brilliant; a mixture of snappy wit and bitter tragedy. This book takes place in post WWII Guernsey, an island which had been annexed by Nazi Germany during the war. It started out slow, but I became captivated. The only shame is that the writer and the writing style shifted drastically for the last portion of the book, and while it mimicked the style of the rest of the book, the feeling was not the same. (less)
This book was cheesy, sure, but it seemed okay until toward the end, then all the mob plus werewolf dynamics got out of control. The worst thing? Exce...moreThis book was cheesy, sure, but it seemed okay until toward the end, then all the mob plus werewolf dynamics got out of control. The worst thing? Excessive descriptions of smell. Honestly, how many times did I have to read that the hero smelled "the clove burst of pride" or "the smell of happy tangerines" emanating from our hapless and wimpy heroine? I got it, I got it. He smells emotions. Okay. The other thing? Also, their whole mind-linking thing was a bit overdone too. I think maybe the authors considered doing his part/her part, and then decided it was too complicated, so they made the mind-meld sequences instead. I think I'll try another one of these. It was amateurish, but it held promise. (less)
**spoiler alert** This book was intriguing, but the middle took a very unexpected turn. Initially, the narrator is just unreliable, and you think that...more**spoiler alert** This book was intriguing, but the middle took a very unexpected turn. Initially, the narrator is just unreliable, and you think that perhaps she did kill her boyfriend, and the story is fascinating. Once the "truth" erupts however, my sympathy and interest in the story diminished quite a lot. It was still interesting, and I still read the entire thing, but I didn't like it quite as well. Honestly--the werewolf thing? That came out of left field. (less)
I enjoyed this book, but not in a fun "can't put it down" kind of way, but in a "wow, I should really try to eat more healthful real foods" way. The m...moreI enjoyed this book, but not in a fun "can't put it down" kind of way, but in a "wow, I should really try to eat more healthful real foods" way. The main point that I found really fascinating is that when scientists try to isolate compounds in foods to fortify vitamins or fake foods, it just doesn't react in the body the same way as eating a whole food. I went grocery shopping today, and removed at least 3 fake foods from my cart because of this book, so only read it if you are open to making some changes. (less)
This was an interesting novel that addressed the helpless feelings of women during the 1950's-1960's, when all one could hope for is to become a wife...moreThis was an interesting novel that addressed the helpless feelings of women during the 1950's-1960's, when all one could hope for is to become a wife of someone successful. Our heroine is a product of her time, and while she is intelligent, her real sense of value comes from her looks. It is grieviously important to her to know that men find her attractive. She finds that slipping into the ascribed roles of wife, and later mother don't make her any more secure. The anxiety then surrounds a kind of frustrated fulfillment (which is to say, not fulfilled at all), and a fear of doing the right thing and maintaining her security. While younger budding feminists may not appreciate this novel, older ones will be able to relate. Although her predicament seems ridiculous in some aspects, there are residual bits of that thinking still embedded into our society.(less)
The subject matter was very interesting (maybe not for men, but fascinating for women, anyway). The primary source materials scattered throughout the...moreThe subject matter was very interesting (maybe not for men, but fascinating for women, anyway). The primary source materials scattered throughout the book (chiefly advertisements for tampax and douches of yore) did a great job at expressing the attitudes of the advertisement industry throughout modern times.
However, the writing style was wretched. An interesting topic was degraded through an excessive attempt to be humorous, and it constantly jerked me back to the recollection that I was reading. The tone was overly intimate and scattered with annoying phraseology. Whenever the writers were trying to point out something incongruent or nonsensical, they led with the phrase "funnily enough", which irked me to no end. This is only one of many repetitious phrases. There were many more.
Another matter of small point: they listed Gary Null as a respected authority in the area of alternative medicine. Gary Null? Really? Would that be Gary Null of infomercial fame?
A great idea, fun graphics, craptastic writing.(less)
Calliope is the best story in this volume, for sure. Calliope is a muse that is kidnapped and tortured by aspiring writers so that they will become su...moreCalliope is the best story in this volume, for sure. Calliope is a muse that is kidnapped and tortured by aspiring writers so that they will become successful and famous. Eventually, the Dream King comes to her aid, with dramatic results. The other stories were okay; one for the cat fancier, a Shakespearean story, and a super-woman that can't die. Had the others had the eeriness that Calliope had, this volume would have gotten a 5 from me, but the other stories were just okay. (less)
This book really starts out with a bang, in that the majority of it is written about Queen Catherine, whom the author really seems to enjoy writing ab...moreThis book really starts out with a bang, in that the majority of it is written about Queen Catherine, whom the author really seems to enjoy writing about. Over 1/2 of the book is dedicated to her (nearly 500 pages, I think!), with the next substantial portion addressing Anne Boleyn, and then the next 4 wives divide up the remainder of the work. I really enjoyed the section on Catherine, but I didn't enjoy the timeline in Boleyn's section. (You go through Catherine's history, then start over on Anne's). I think it would have been more effective to address their crossover time simultaneously, at least in my opinion (while Catherine was doing x, Anne was...). By the time Jane Seymour entered the picture, I was thoroughly tired of the book, and only skimmed the remainder. That said though, the first half is great. If the rest could have kept the momentum, I probably would have given it 4, maybe 5 stars.(less)
Generally, I don't care for memoirs about tragic upbringings...but this one was different. It was humorous, in a wry kind of way (not really a laugh o...moreGenerally, I don't care for memoirs about tragic upbringings...but this one was different. It was humorous, in a wry kind of way (not really a laugh out loud kind of way), and in spite of the lunacy of the parents, they were still kind of endearing. I didn't feel repulsed or angry, just amazed. What I thought was really amazing is that the writer still loved them, in spite of everything. A lot of the family's experiences were terrible, but some of them seemed like even though they were inappropriate, they were romantic in their lack of practicality. Parts that I found endearing? Demon-hunting, the rose quartz, and the paper bag of money.(less)
Val Frankel shares pretty much all her dirty laundry, and how it relates to her negative body image. As someone that has had a lifelong struggle with...moreVal Frankel shares pretty much all her dirty laundry, and how it relates to her negative body image. As someone that has had a lifelong struggle with weight, I related to her stories of yo-yo dieting, and the rush you get when you start a new plan (the plan that will change your life, of course). Ultimately, she discovers that dieting is a curse in itself, and works her way toward self-realization. Some readers may not like her descriptive depictions of her constant drug use and promiscuity, or her convoluted relationship with her mother (but, honestly, who has a simple relationship with their mother?!?), but it didn't bother me a bit. (less)
**spoiler alert** This suspense/horror novel started out promising, and yes indeedy, very creepy. The problem occurred halfway through where it just b...more**spoiler alert** This suspense/horror novel started out promising, and yes indeedy, very creepy. The problem occurred halfway through where it just became super complicated, where unnecessary and unfathomable plot twists started to arise. There were too many elements of horror, when frankly, one was enough. The inbreds! The killer! The house! The killing house! The doppelgangers! The inbred doppelgangers! Honestly, it was truly all too much. I skimmed through to the end for a mediocre conclusion which was meant to be touching, but with all the other hoop-lah running around, it was a bit deflated. (less)
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