Oh, YES. What a funny and poignant read about a writer who spends his life wanting to be a novelist and the fascinating, talented, larger-than-life fr...moreOh, YES. What a funny and poignant read about a writer who spends his life wanting to be a novelist and the fascinating, talented, larger-than-life friends he surrounds himself with. (less)
Neil Gaiman is great. American Gods is only the second novel I've read by him and it's this great mix of dark, peculiar, funny, violent, and poignant....moreNeil Gaiman is great. American Gods is only the second novel I've read by him and it's this great mix of dark, peculiar, funny, violent, and poignant. (less)
The Good House is hilarious. I enjoyed the main character, even as I cringed for her and some of her decisions.
Too, it made me want to drink a glass...moreThe Good House is hilarious. I enjoyed the main character, even as I cringed for her and some of her decisions.
Too, it made me want to drink a glass of wine. (less)
This novel was different from most mysteries I've read, and I can't say why without giving away spoilers.
It was a compelling read, and I'll want to r...moreThis novel was different from most mysteries I've read, and I can't say why without giving away spoilers.
It was a compelling read, and I'll want to read more by the author. (less)
Ugh, the title. It does this book such a disservice. Doesn't it sound like some kind of fad-diet, custom-made for the talk show circuit?
It's anything...moreUgh, the title. It does this book such a disservice. Doesn't it sound like some kind of fad-diet, custom-made for the talk show circuit?
It's anything but and believe me, I know about trends in food and health and fitness. I've read so many magazine articles and blog posts and books that seem to have all the answers about becoming healthy and fit and staying that way.
I'm an emotional eater. I'm also a creative, and there's little I love more than a juicy, self-help book. Anything I can dive into, another plan to follow, exercises to adopt, I'm all about it. It doesn't stick, of course, this all-new course of activity, the "This time will be different!" promises I make to myself.
This one, though, struck me differently - the concepts resonated with me in a way nothing else has. I can apply them to creating, to eating, to living well. Two thumbs way up. (less)
Qualify everything I'm about to say with this first: I rarely read historical fiction because I don't care much for it. I read The Secret Keeper becau...moreQualify everything I'm about to say with this first: I rarely read historical fiction because I don't care much for it. I read The Secret Keeper because it's our book club read for this month. I have a lot of respect and genuine fondness for the friend who chose the book, so I read it with an open mind. I wanted to like it.
But sheesh, I did not.
I think fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book, and rightly so; its rich in a lot of great period detail.
***SPOILERS***
The opening scene was wonderful. It was my favorite part of the book. The ending had a nice twist that I enjoyed but I was literally at 95% of the book when I got there. It seemed like a lot of effort to get to that point.
Then again, to me historical novels often feel overdone. Like the time period is a character on its own. A lot of readers and writers talk about how a setting becomes a character in itself - like Paris or New Orleans, and those observations almost seem a bit precious to me. With a time period, it's like the author has to drop in all the hallmarks of the era - in the 60s there is going to be a reference to Woodstock and Vietnam and Kennedy. In the 20s, bootleg liquor and bobbed haircuts. I understand those things took place during that time period - it usually seems so forced, though. I don't think I'm articulating this well. Something about setting the scene in historical novels takes me out of the story. (less)
I liked this story a lot better until I got to the end. The Keep is one of those stories within a story novels, and I don't care meta-fiction. It feel...moreI liked this story a lot better until I got to the end. The Keep is one of those stories within a story novels, and I don't care meta-fiction. It feels like trying too hard.
This is YA, which I don't read that often. (Although maybe I should read YA more often; I loved Thirteen Reasons and The Hunger Games series.) I reall...moreThis is YA, which I don't read that often. (Although maybe I should read YA more often; I loved Thirteen Reasons and The Hunger Games series.) I really enjoyed it - it was fanciful and creative and fun. Probably, I won't see the movie because I watched the trailer and I think the casting is off. I'll keep the characters in my mind where I can see them the way I imagine them. (less)
Loading...
