This book had a lot of detail, it was well informed and well written. In the end I didn't love it because there just wasn't that much emotion in it, I...moreThis book had a lot of detail, it was well informed and well written. In the end I didn't love it because there just wasn't that much emotion in it, I could tell it was written by a man, as if love were a light switch. Also I refuse to believe that she had a happy ending, but that's for the individual to decide I guess.(less)
So this is a "Best Seller" with "buzz" and I don't always like those books. Sometimes I think that as books strive to be meaningful and adult they los...moreSo this is a "Best Seller" with "buzz" and I don't always like those books. Sometimes I think that as books strive to be meaningful and adult they lose the story in pursuit of a moral. This book may or may not have done that, but it was hard to tell because it was so well written. It reminded me of The Poisonwood Bible because it was told from the perspectives of three different women and had a literary feel. Also The Poisonwood Bible is sort of about the Father's downfall and how the women around him cope or add to that, The Help does the same thing with a character called Hilly W. Holbrook. My only complaint with the book is the ending, but I can't explain without giving it away and it really isn't a reason not to read what turned out to be a very compelling book.(less)
Alrighty, wooo. This book is a love story between a regular girl and a guy who time travels. The novel is soaring and evocative touching on the very h...moreAlrighty, wooo. This book is a love story between a regular girl and a guy who time travels. The novel is soaring and evocative touching on the very highest and lowest points of emotion and making the reader experience everything at the same time, which is the hope for any story. The good things about the book: it's very literary, artsy, and punk rocky which I like. The setting is very intense and so are the relationships, Clare and Henry's is the only relationship fully understood, but the comparison with the other half formed connections makes it very poignant. Even though the book is based on a sci-fi premise it is very realistic and even believable, down to earth really. I like the intense nature of the writing, the idea, and the way the pieces of the story fit together. The other things about the book: Don't even THINK about picking up this book if you have ever had a miscarriage or a stillbirth. It was way too real for me and all my children have been born healthy. Also in order to describe the intense passion the main characters have for each other the author describes the intense physical passion between them, and sometimes failing that, just uses the "f" word. Even though Niffenegger does successfully write the love between Clare and Henry as more than a physical thing, she tends to dwell on it more than necessary giving the physical side of love more weight. Niffenegger even makes Clare, as a character, deal with that fixation, so it is a valid theme of the book. However, I do think it's a shame because the novel is really a beautiful window into the depth of longing and happiness in the face tragedy, but it is slightly overshadowed by a couple of words I never really wanted to see in print. So, should you read this book or not? Well, I'm not sorry I read it, the majority of the book, the themes, and the emotion evoked was top notch. It really is the depth of the book that is going to stick with me. I also am a pretty curious person and could not have stayed about from the book if I'd wanted to. If you've read Bridget Jones' Diary or Water For Elephants you'll like this book or if you are okay with curse words in print which my brain sort of edits out anyway. Don't go audio book, that would be a mistake for anyone. I also am really fascinated with any literature that begins to shape popular culture, which this might be one of those books that begins to get referenced by everything.(less)
Quick and full of British humor, I had a good time reading this. It would have got 5 stars except for that weird excuse for an ending, but then the wh...moreQuick and full of British humor, I had a good time reading this. It would have got 5 stars except for that weird excuse for an ending, but then the whole book was so silly that when I got to the end I just thought "of course."(less)
So I liked this book, was a little slow at first before he got on the boat, but then it did pick up. I'm glad I knew he was going to survive the whole...moreSo I liked this book, was a little slow at first before he got on the boat, but then it did pick up. I'm glad I knew he was going to survive the whole time or I might not have kept reading. I genuinely liked the main character and the chapters at the very end are hilarious in an unexpected way. There were some reviews that compared this The Old Man and the Sea but I didn't think it was like that book at all in intent, only similar in circumstance. I felt it was more like Robinson Crusoe using ingenuity to survive against all odds and not losing your faith.(less)
I don't think Stephenie Meyer could write anything that I wouldn't like. I've never come across another author that has quite the same impact on me. T...moreI don't think Stephenie Meyer could write anything that I wouldn't like. I've never come across another author that has quite the same impact on me. That said, this wasn't as obsession inducing as her Twilight series, I could still sleep after I read it. However it was still fascinating and the themes were very deep this time. I can tell as I read this book that the author is LDS, but I don't think you could tell if you weren't a member of the church. One of the currents of the book was opposition in all things and how you cannot gain the best things in life without the worst also being present. I felt uplifted when I'd read this book, Twilight was a little too much of a guilty pleasure to be truly uplifting so this was a good change.(less)
I really enjoyed this book, even though I've seen the movies and I'm pretty sure it follows the book. The writing was precise and evocative, the pacin...moreI really enjoyed this book, even though I've seen the movies and I'm pretty sure it follows the book. The writing was precise and evocative, the pacing was excellent, and there were plenty of surprises. Just about perfect for a best selling science thriller. This book is especially well written after reading anything of Dan Brown. Crichton doesn't jump to any conclusions that aren't set up by the book and the science seems very plausible in context. When I was in the middle of the book, I felt like checking out the window to see if there were dinosaurs...spooky.(less)
I love this movie and in my mind the book is not quite as good. I liked nearly everything Goldman wrote as S. Morgenstern, but I didn't like the parts...moreI love this movie and in my mind the book is not quite as good. I liked nearly everything Goldman wrote as S. Morgenstern, but I didn't like the parts that Goldman wrote as 'himself' as much-he is kind of a downer. Anyway, love love Fezzik and Inigo, but Buttercup is better in the movie.(less)
Okay, I'm with Natalie, I would have liked this book more if I did not know an actual shopaholic. That said the writing style is very fun, the heroine...moreOkay, I'm with Natalie, I would have liked this book more if I did not know an actual shopaholic. That said the writing style is very fun, the heroine is bright and engaging-I really did like her throughout the book even if she never took responsibility for her actions. After reading Bridget Jones Diary and Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging and this book it makes me think all single British women are super funny and I want to hang out with them.(less)
I really like books told by letters or journal entries so this was right up my alley. I also really appreciated that even though the book dealt with s...moreI really like books told by letters or journal entries so this was right up my alley. I also really appreciated that even though the book dealt with some of the horrors from WWII it never wallowed. I would recommend this book to anyone.(less)
This book was written so well you could almost ignore the crap story. Once I got to reading I couldn't put it down, but even at the end I couldn't fig...moreThis book was written so well you could almost ignore the crap story. Once I got to reading I couldn't put it down, but even at the end I couldn't figure out the reason I had read the book. Setterfield references Jane Eyre a lot throughout the novel to draw comparisons and such which kept giving me hope since I like Jane Eyre a lot. All I can figure is that she missed the ENTIRE point of Jane Eyre. I finally read the author questions at the end where she confessed that she only read Jane Eyre up to the part where her friend dies at school, she tried to go back to reading the rest later, but never liked it. Well that explains the crap book. I consider this a form of false advertising and am disgusted. I had to give the book at least two stars on account really incredible writing style and character consciousness. I found out too late that it all led to crap. I read the book for this paragraph:
"Anything, he says, may happen in a month, and by the end of it he thinks it possible that we may have thought of some way out of the dilemma that suits us all. I cannot help but think Shadow will get his happy ending yet. And that is all."
This was a really well written book and it tells a compelling story. However, even though it was gripping I found myself not wanting to read what new...moreThis was a really well written book and it tells a compelling story. However, even though it was gripping I found myself not wanting to read what new horrors the author had in store for me just when it should have been getting to the "can't put down moment."
Also, some of the theories about marriage in the book I just didn't buy. It was kind of a minor point, so I'm being a little nit-picky, but I don't think the reason "our temperaments were too similar" was a reason to have an affair.
The nexus of the book, the scene on the beach is very well done and I think the book is worth a read.(less)
Oh man, it was just nice to read a Sookie Stackhouse book again. I can't wait until the next one is in paperback. I probably like this series way more...moreOh man, it was just nice to read a Sookie Stackhouse book again. I can't wait until the next one is in paperback. I probably like this series way more than I should since vampires are way too mainstream right now, but I don't really care. Harris writes a good, juicy story that ties in well to the series, but still has a satisfying finale.(less)
Alright, so I think at this point the star rating systems starts to fall apart for me. I liked this book, I thought it was a gas, but it is no way on...moreAlright, so I think at this point the star rating systems starts to fall apart for me. I liked this book, I thought it was a gas, but it is no way on par with Jane Austen although I gave some of Austen's books four stars. This zombie version of Pride and Prejudice stays close to the original story and the author sticks in what he considers are Austen's best lines whenever possible. I like the story of P&P, how can I not? Also it is kind of hilarious how well the zombies fit in all of it. However as you read it, it kind of makes it obvious just how good Austen is, and how not many live up to her writing ability. This is slightly more heavy handed, or a lot more heavy handed. One warning: don't read it while you are trying to eat lunch. Seth Grahme-Smith is not kidding about "ultraviolent zombie mayhem" and it was infrequent enough that I kept getting caught by surprise.(less)
I was not going to read this book because the cover is just TERRIBLE, but then there was a sale on kindle books and here we are. And while this book s...moreI was not going to read this book because the cover is just TERRIBLE, but then there was a sale on kindle books and here we are. And while this book sort of justified my wariness, it also was better than I thought and I am tentatively hopeful for this series. Kim Harrison may not always have the most gripping beginnings, but she really writes an excellent ending, it's what I love best about her Madison Avery series. This particular ending was good, not jaw-dropping, but it seemed to be setting up the rest of the series. Still, a lot of punch and unexpected elements.
If you like the Sookie Stackhouse books, you'll probably like this, it's about the same level of violence and action, but where Charlaine Harris excels at romantic relationships, Harrison excels at killer plot lines. And no romance, despite what the cover is telling you, there is no sex (so far).
The major drawback of the book was the constant description of all the outfits, as far as I can tell, the pixie is a cross between a sheik and a pirate in fashion sense which is not helping anyone out. The real low point of the book came when the main character wore a silk one piece jumpsuit while breaking in to someone's office. Was that really necessary? I don't think so. (less)
This book was good, but half of me wishes that she would have left all the boys behind and just been a strong bold woman on her own. However I always...moreThis book was good, but half of me wishes that she would have left all the boys behind and just been a strong bold woman on her own. However I always kind of wish that.(less)
I can't tell what this book is, I don't really know if I liked it or not. The beginning is slow, but then it picks up, is funny and charming and unexp...moreI can't tell what this book is, I don't really know if I liked it or not. The beginning is slow, but then it picks up, is funny and charming and unexpected, and then it ends. I can't decide anything about it, I don't know if it is really a young adult novel or light adult fiction, but I have a feeling I will be thinking about it for quite awhile. Just getting into the book is disconcerting because it is an unusual time and place. I've never read anything that was 1950 England before, it was fascinating and bizarre all at once. I'm not sure this book is typical of the era, I really couldn't say, perhaps it was peculiar when it was written. The only thing I grasped in a secure way is that the main character grows up and that is done so well that at the end I felt like I had grown as much as Cassandra. It is told in a diary-esque way which did seem like your best friend was telling the story, but I admit I sometimes skiped ahead because she would hint that something big happened before she got around to writing it down.(less)
These are just short stories written around Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels. They were pretty good little stories, especially if you want a quick fix...moreThese are just short stories written around Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels. They were pretty good little stories, especially if you want a quick fix. I didn't love them because I really like short stories for well chosen brevity, but these didn't have that charm because they are part of a larger story.(less)
I think I would have liked this better if a few more of the stories had been upbeat. There was just a lot of people who died in space or on alien plan...moreI think I would have liked this better if a few more of the stories had been upbeat. There was just a lot of people who died in space or on alien planets for me to really relate to the book. Still, very well written. I also wonder if science fiction needs to be updated every 50 years or so because now this book is less about the future and more a snapshot of the past. For instance, thinking that Bram Stoker's Dracula is the only vampire book ever, smoking in a rocket ship, and the fear that our society will eventually ban books and religion. It's all very interesting, lots of thoughts provoked and all that.(less)
I don't think anyone without a reputation like Robin McKinley could have gotten away with writing a book like this. There was so much conversation goi...moreI don't think anyone without a reputation like Robin McKinley could have gotten away with writing a book like this. There was so much conversation going on inside the main character's head hardly anything actually happens. Very annoying. Sure the vampires are creepy for a change, which is good, and I finished the book decently fast which means it does have something going for it. However it felt like a lot of thought vomit on every page instead of the author explaining the story through action. What you get is a pretty ramble-y effort, not tight thorough story telling. It's a shame because a lot of McKinley's books are top notch, which is probably why her publisher would accept about anything she turns in.(less)
What a great story. I can think of no higher praise.
It is possible I knew what was going to happen ultimately, but I stayed up half the night to finis...moreWhat a great story. I can think of no higher praise.
It is possible I knew what was going to happen ultimately, but I stayed up half the night to finish anyway. Also I cannot call this a YA book, it just isn't.(less)
Is there a finer work of fiction? If there is, I haven't found it.
However, you may want to read a few other Jeeves and Wooster books just so you know...moreIs there a finer work of fiction? If there is, I haven't found it.
However, you may want to read a few other Jeeves and Wooster books just so you know all the inside jokes like Life with Jeeves.(less)
I laughed, then I cried until the mascara ran into my eyes and stung, then I was happy. I especially liked the "summer is the season of Becky" bit. Th...moreI laughed, then I cried until the mascara ran into my eyes and stung, then I was happy. I especially liked the "summer is the season of Becky" bit. That is all I find I can say.(less)
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