What a wonderful, raw book. Alice Sebold spares no details and this memoir is a brutally honest recap of her rape and its implications, both legal and...moreWhat a wonderful, raw book. Alice Sebold spares no details and this memoir is a brutally honest recap of her rape and its implications, both legal and mental, for her and those around her. Some may be turned off by just how real the book is but I think its quality would have suffered had Sebold attempted to brush over any of the most "gory" details of her ordeal and I applaud her bravery in putting it all out there.(less)
I really enjoyed this book! I felt the characters were extremely genuine and the "twist" about 3/4 of the way through took me by surprise and was a re...moreI really enjoyed this book! I felt the characters were extremely genuine and the "twist" about 3/4 of the way through took me by surprise and was a real game changer for the main character. I enjoyed watching his development and the development of his siblings and definitely want to read Strout's other books now.(less)
I read this book as part of my first month as a member of From Left To Write, an online book club which entails reading a book and doing a blog post i...moreI read this book as part of my first month as a member of From Left To Write, an online book club which entails reading a book and doing a blog post inspired by the book: http://caitplusate.com/2013/03/from-l... I really liked the book - though as it continued it seemed to reach a slow point when we got to the point of Cubby being investigated for the chemistry experiments he'd been doing. I felt like that portion went on for way too long and lost me, but it picked back up again when we got to the trial portion.(less)
What a fascinating read! The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is because some of the more fact-based reporting portions were a bit dry and I found my...moreWhat a fascinating read! The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is because some of the more fact-based reporting portions were a bit dry and I found my attention waning. But I loved how most of this book was based on first hand experiences, not just a compilation of secondary research and a recapitulation of information already out there in books/articles/etc. Tracie really put herself out there for her work and the insights I gained from it are so valuable! I recommend the book to anyone with an interest in the food we buy and make!(less)
I like to think I have an open mind when it comes to bizarre novels, but not when the author doesn't really make an attempt to offer up any sort of ex...moreI like to think I have an open mind when it comes to bizarre novels, but not when the author doesn't really make an attempt to offer up any sort of explanation for said bizarre storyline. I liked the first 50% of this novel a lot more than the second because I was intrigued and excited to get to the end and find out WHY the phenomena was occurring among the children. Then as the pages kept turning and I got not a hint of explanation, I realized I wasn't going to get any. Then it just became a chore to finish the book. Good writing but next time I hope Liz Jensen develops a story she can actually explain at the end.(less)
**spoiler alert** I liked this book in the beginning and it definitely kept me turning pages, though as it went on I was doing so after only skimming...more**spoiler alert** I liked this book in the beginning and it definitely kept me turning pages, though as it went on I was doing so after only skimming them, not reading. I feel like the whole mad scientist subplot and explanation for the main character's infertility was, while shocking and a cool twist, also very random! I was quite surprised the one to kill Linda Sue in the end was Paul, but the whole sleepwalking part of the story really had me annoyed sometimes. It seemed there was no rhyme or reason to when the sleepwalking would happen and it could either be used for or against Betsy depending on what the author needed to do to move the story along. Definitely a page turner but more so to know what happened, not because I was enjoying the reading itself a great deal.(less)
I'm a self-proclaimed marketing nerd so perhaps my review is a bit biased. But I think anyone who is interested in the advertising world at all, or an...moreI'm a self-proclaimed marketing nerd so perhaps my review is a bit biased. But I think anyone who is interested in the advertising world at all, or anyone who thinks it's BS, will really love this book. Kenney has created a delightfully snarky narrator, though not to the point where he comes across as pretentious. In fact the reader empathizes with him and his own confusion - Finbar is truly lost and doesn't know what to make of the world around him, the world he works in. Some portions of the book toward the end could have come out very cheesy but Kenney makes them work and fit well with the earlier satirical portions of the novel. A must read with laugh out loud moments!(less)
I was so excited to read this book when I saw it on my library shelf, but it (mostly) disappointed me. I feel like Druckman spent way too much time go...moreI was so excited to read this book when I saw it on my library shelf, but it (mostly) disappointed me. I feel like Druckman spent way too much time going off on little side thought tangents (very evident in the extremely distracting, goofy footnotes) and didn't take advantage of the valuable insight she got from her many interviews with female chefs. The book came across as too feminist to me, just too much intentional use of "witty" dialogue and snappy, short sentences that seemed way too forced. I felt like Druckman was trying to hard the entire time I read this book. I am giving it 2 stars because some portions did catch my eye and keep me reading...but really, I wouldn't give this book more than a quick skim if I were you.(less)
What a great book! I kinda saw the ending's twist coming, but not completely and I still enjoyed it and was satisfied by the story's conclusion. I rea...moreWhat a great book! I kinda saw the ending's twist coming, but not completely and I still enjoyed it and was satisfied by the story's conclusion. I really enjoyed reading the back and forth between the two narrators, a therapist and her client. As someone who has a great interest in mental health, it was interesting to me to see that dynamic especially since people often consider therapists to be perfectly rational people who have their emotions under control. This novel was very real and raw. I definitely loved it.(less)
As far as textbooks go I enjoyed this book! I'm a marketing nerd and though it didn't offer anything groundbreaking to me, it provided great fundament...moreAs far as textbooks go I enjoyed this book! I'm a marketing nerd and though it didn't offer anything groundbreaking to me, it provided great fundamentals about marketing in general and then the specific channels and strategic operations that are a part of it. (less)
What a great book; it follows three women from before their men leave for WW2 and continues on in the years following. I actually anticipated a book m...moreWhat a great book; it follows three women from before their men leave for WW2 and continues on in the years following. I actually anticipated a book mostly about WW2, but it moves on from that time period fairly early on and follows other events of historical significance like the Korean War, Civil Rights movement, and more. The very last chapter is an extremely fitting way to end, with all the characters coming together in one way or another. We are never certain what is to come of these women and their families after the last page, but the conclusion is satisfying and the entire book extremely realistic and telling of how just one or two years can change a lifetime.(less)
My first book by Joyce and I am excited to read more! Such a unique style of writing and I love how she makes the reader feel as if he or she is reall...moreMy first book by Joyce and I am excited to read more! Such a unique style of writing and I love how she makes the reader feel as if he or she is really inside the mind of each character, hearing his or her unfiltered thoughts. The use of no punctuation where it would be "technically" appropriate emphasizes this because it's as if thoughts are pouring out of the mind, no filter, so raw. Some portions of the book had me drifting but most of it had me quite captivated; the whole plot and situations of all the characters were very screwed up at times but isn't that life? Especially interesting to read about these plots happening in this particular era. The Communist fear in the US played an interesting role in the book. The ending was ambiguous which sometimes annoys me but seemed fitting for a book like this.(less)
Despite the fact that during some portions of this memoir I found my eyes glazing over as endless names were dropped that I could not keep track of an...moreDespite the fact that during some portions of this memoir I found my eyes glazing over as endless names were dropped that I could not keep track of and that eventually all seemed the same to me, I still enjoyed this book and it did not let me down. Grace writes in a way that really makes the reader feel like he or she is simply listening to her thoughts poured straight onto the page. She throws in little fun tidbits, like how someone she knows is connected with someone very famous, and then quickly moves on from the tidbit and doesn't dwell on it, bragging or anything like that. She just states it all as a fact. Each chapter is organized by a topic but each paragraph within the chapters jumps around from subtopic to subtopic which again made feel like I really was just sitting in a room with Grace listening to her chat about her life and whatever popped into her mind. And I was especially glad that a whole chapter was devoted to Anna Wintour - I was hoping for an inside look into this private woman, and that was quite fascinating.(less)
This was a great book that ended up being about so much more than the one night that starts it all. The father (the main character) is a very well-dev...moreThis was a great book that ended up being about so much more than the one night that starts it all. The father (the main character) is a very well-developed character and despite the fact that I am a 23 year old female, I could really understand what he went through and empathize with his situation and emotions. I was tuned into this book almost the entire time - I only found myself skimming during a couple of very descriptive portions. I felt my emotions stirred at the appropriate times - when I was supposed to be sad, concerned, angry, etc. It was all there! Stephen is a skilled writer and I'll be seeking out more of his books.(less)
I was so excited when I saw this book at the library, and my excitement continued when I started the first chapter. I was enthralled and ready to read...moreI was so excited when I saw this book at the library, and my excitement continued when I started the first chapter. I was enthralled and ready to read about history from a foodie perspective. And parts of this book WERE fascinating. However, more prominent were parts that completely lost me in long historical descriptions that just seemed too wordily written. I felt like the author was trying a little bit too hard during the book and as a result my attention waned and my mind wandered during about 75%. The other 25% I have to say I really enjoyed and almost gave this book 3 stars, but I just couldn't given how long it took me to get through it. I wanted to just stop reading at times but I can't NOT finish a book, so that wasn't an option.(less)
A lot of the reviews of this book criticize Duane as pompous so I was wary going into the book but I really, really liked it! I don't cook a lot (more...moreA lot of the reviews of this book criticize Duane as pompous so I was wary going into the book but I really, really liked it! I don't cook a lot (more of a restaurant fanatic) so the trials and tribulations of the kitchen were new and entertaining to me. And anything about a man getting into local, gourmet foods is a bit foreign to me and therefore kept me quite entertained. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Duane's foray to Vegas to try all the steakhouse steaks. My friend and I do those kinds of foodie trips whenever we can and I was intrigued by the interesting steak facts!(less)
I'm fascinated by any media empire so I was really excited to come across this book on my library's new non-fiction shelf! I was not too interested in...moreI'm fascinated by any media empire so I was really excited to come across this book on my library's new non-fiction shelf! I was not too interested in the brief chapters on BC Forbes's childhood, but I really enjoyed reading about Malcolm Forbes's eccentric personality and excessive lifestyle. I also loved reading about Forbes.com vs its print and the utter failure at integrating the two, and the Forbes brothers' blindness to how web can REALLY be leveraged. The history of the Forbes list and how it became legendary was cool too! A great read for anyone interested in media.(less)
**spoiler alert** I flew through this book and really wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery. I also want to give it 5 stars but I feel like littl...more**spoiler alert** I flew through this book and really wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery. I also want to give it 5 stars but I feel like little lazy bits of writing warrant a 4 star rating. Some portions were just so brushed over or far too convenient; it was as if Jio didn't want to deal with solving those parts of the story or having to explain anything further that would delay her getting to an important revelation in the mystery. For example, Claire wants to talk to a woman about the mystery she is trying to solve and the woman just so happens to be all ready to go because she's a librarian and supports research. Call me cynical but it is not as easy as Claire found to get information! Her marriage resolution isn't even much of a resolution. It's more like a completely unexplained 180 in feelings for both she and Ethan. THAT all being said this was a page turner and I was extremely anxious to find out the whole story. I love how information was slowly revealed during the back and forth switch between the two narrators and thought Vera's story was tragic and her fate fitting. I definitely didn't see the last twist coming!(less)
I love that this book was written specifically for those who are in recovery from an eating disorder. Girls looking for reassurance that the body burn...moreI love that this book was written specifically for those who are in recovery from an eating disorder. Girls looking for reassurance that the body burns more calories than they think, that carbs are OK, etc - girls who may be just entering recovery or have not reached that point - will not get that out of this book. But girls who are fighting the battle of recovery WILL get hope, inspiration, and understanding from the book's author (who has recovered from an ED herself), Naomi. I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to mark certain quotes/passages so that I could reflect more on them later or share them with others. Some of the chapters did not resonate as much as others (such as the one about coping with other traumas while in recovery), but I think that's just because they aren't relevant to me at this time. Most of this book was really fantastic though, I felt like Naomi was reading my mind at times. I definitely think any girl in recovery from an ED should read this book.(less)
As far as textbooks go, this one was pretty good! Lots of interesting real life examples broke up the descriptive text and the articles and cases at t...moreAs far as textbooks go, this one was pretty good! Lots of interesting real life examples broke up the descriptive text and the articles and cases at the end of each chapter were helpful too.(less)
I had high hopes for this book, but never was really able to get into it. The story of the genocide in Cambodia is extremely tragic - especially since...moreI had high hopes for this book, but never was really able to get into it. The story of the genocide in Cambodia is extremely tragic - especially since so few seemed to be aware of it - especially when told through the eyes of a child, as in this novel. The narrator is made to grow up very quickly as she and her family lose everything. Plenty happens in the book, but I had trouble staying focused on the descriptions and I often found myself getting lost on where the narrator and her family were at each point in the book, and how they even got there, or why they were taken there. I was relieved when I finished the book so that I could start something new.(less)
I enjoyed reading this book to find out details I didn't know about the Casey Anthony case and her history, but unfortunately that wasn't a big part o...moreI enjoyed reading this book to find out details I didn't know about the Casey Anthony case and her history, but unfortunately that wasn't a big part of the book because the whole thing seemed like a giant, presumptive theory on the part of the author, Dr. Ablow. I have to say I wasn't surprised when I finished the book and read on the back cover that he's a contributor on Fox News. He seems very extreme and was also very snarky and annoying while I read. I disliked how he would butt in while recounting interviews with Casey and her parents. I was looking for an objective look at her psychological history, but I didn't get that from this book. Dr. Ablow is far from objective.(less)
**spoiler alert** Some parts of this book were way too cheesy romance novel for me. I was also not impressed by the "historical" parts of the book and...more**spoiler alert** Some parts of this book were way too cheesy romance novel for me. I was also not impressed by the "historical" parts of the book and the portions that showed the story Wade was writing inspired by the "ghosts" of Heartbreak Hotel's past. I was more so just interested in the relationship between the two main characters, as well as her relationship with her children. I was going to give this 4 stars and look past the cheesy love scenes until the murderer/stalker scenario came into play at the end. I was literally aghast at how random this was! Still, the book did entertain me.(less)
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