Beautiful. Achingly beautiful. It certainly wasn't what I expected from a YA novel about an 8th grade boy, or from the cover art. It was a book I c...moreBeautiful. Achingly beautiful. It certainly wasn't what I expected from a YA novel about an 8th grade boy, or from the cover art. It was a book I could barely put down and not because there was action. No, it was story about a boy's life. His day to day experiences. His relationships. But that's what did it. You want to know what's happening because he seems so real. Because you see the possibilities. You see the potential and you can't wait for everyone else to see it too. I read this purely on the strength of how much I enjoyed Schmidt's previous book, "The Wednesday Wars," which was also amazing. Clearly, Schmidt is a writer to be reckoned with. Breathtaking and simple, this book is worth every minute you spend with it, and it won't be many because you'll read through it so quickly because you won't be able to turn it down.(less)
This was one of the best whodunits I have read in some time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not graphic but plenty of description. Set in a fascinating h...moreThis was one of the best whodunits I have read in some time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not graphic but plenty of description. Set in a fascinating historical context. And I'm always a sucker for books that deal with the upstairs, downstairs nature of British culture. The actual mystery was well done and the murderer and their methods were quite fascinating. I can only say that I'm off to find more Dandy Gilver books to entertain myself with.(less)
Always an excellent foray into the world of Jane Austen. I thought this had an exceptionally intriguing mystery and was well-written. Although I sti...moreAlways an excellent foray into the world of Jane Austen. I thought this had an exceptionally intriguing mystery and was well-written. Although I still miss the Gentleman Rogue, Barron has continued on this series well, keeping her readers engaged and entertained. I can only wonder how many more in the series we will have since historically speaking we are drawing near the end of Jane's life. If you've never read a Jane Austen Mystery, this is a good one to read and doesn't need others in the series to keep it from being enjoyed.(less)
Excellent book! Hale never fails to please. Her writing is clear and engaging. I am a sucker for remade fairy tales but this was a tale I was unfam...moreExcellent book! Hale never fails to please. Her writing is clear and engaging. I am a sucker for remade fairy tales but this was a tale I was unfamiliar with and so enjoyed it without any presuppositions. The Mongolian-type setting was very interesting and helped set this apart yet again from the typical European fairy tale. The fact that the narrative was the pages of a journal was a very interesting way to tell the tale. (less)
A highly admirable fairy-tale retelling. Perhaps not as uniquely original as Ella Enchanted or ethereal and thickly woven as a Robin McKinley book bu...moreA highly admirable fairy-tale retelling. Perhaps not as uniquely original as Ella Enchanted or ethereal and thickly woven as a Robin McKinley book but still very enjoyable. The characters were well done, the story interesting and not overly gruesome (as some fairy tales can be) and the co-main character, Galen the soldier, a different point of view than always looking at things from the tragic princesses point of view. I was feeling indifferent towards the book when I began to read (partly due to the cover - I couldn't help wondering how cheesy of a teenage drama this would be) but I was sucked in instantly and read it in a day, thanks to Hurrican Irene. Very well done and gives me another author to look into some more.(less)
I love Bauermeister's writing! I don't know how she manages to do it. Every word is perfect, every description tangible, every moment striking. The...moreI love Bauermeister's writing! I don't know how she manages to do it. Every word is perfect, every description tangible, every moment striking. There are many books I have given 5 stars too - usually because the story is fun or enjoyable, not necessarily because the writing itself is so incredible. I loved Bauermeister's first book and am equally enthralled with her second.
Now that's not to say that this book is easy. Far from it, for me anyway. The author explores all manner of loss and betrayal and sadness. I don't like sad books but these I can handle because the sadness is always tempered with love, friendship, joy, and hope. You aren't left feeling desolate, and it's not that every story has a happy ending either, but the reality of life continuing on and that one can get through is always present. Just like in School of Essential Ingredients, the book is broken into sections by character, with each section its own miniature novel. Bauermeister's writing always leaves me with the desire to hold my husband and children, wanting to cherish them against the inevitability of life.
Bauermeister's writing is fluid and effortless, her descriptions magical. It might not be the kind of book everyone would enjoy but I would recommend it for its sheer excellence. It's a book that leaves me breathless and wishing I could write like Bauermeister, knowing I never could, and yet not saddened by that thought at all.(less)
I had a difficult time getting into this book, mostly due to the constant bickering and teasing of the sisters. I thought, I have two sisters and we ...moreI had a difficult time getting into this book, mostly due to the constant bickering and teasing of the sisters. I thought, I have two sisters and we don't argue this much and we're not the best of friends either. But perseverance pays off because as the book progresses, so do the characters and your able to deal with any bickering in order to enjoy the rest of the story. And when the big thing you've been waiting for happens (I won't give it away) the pleasure and shock is just so sweet.
The reality of the book, that Little Women wasn't a novel but real women with descendants, is very easy to accept, especially if you're a fan of Alcott's books and the subsequent movies. If you've ever wished Jo and her sisters were real, then this book definitely pleases. The author does an excellent job of emulating Alcott's writing in Jo's letters.
A great book reusing great literature and set in London, which always entices me. Highly enjoyable read.(less)
Nothing surprising as it follows the series but what was interesting was that I had never read Daddy Long-Legs, the book the club reads, nor had I eve...moreNothing surprising as it follows the series but what was interesting was that I had never read Daddy Long-Legs, the book the club reads, nor had I ever heard of it. It gave me another book to add to my to read list.(less)
This was a difficult book to rate. For writing style and being well-written, I would give it five stars but the actual story saddened me so that it's...moreThis was a difficult book to rate. For writing style and being well-written, I would give it five stars but the actual story saddened me so that it's hard to give it a high recommendation. I like happy endings; I like satisfactory stories; I like to see fairness in the world and true love win out and last. And while I don't want to give anything away, there was too much sadness, loss of love and hope. There were sacrifices made that were heartbreakingly beautiful. The author did a wonderful job presenting the story in an interesting present and past fashion and painted such a clear picture of the life of the characters that one couldn't help but be drawn into the story and the people's lives and you just don't want them to experience any pain and hurt. Of course, life is full of pain and hurt, but that's why I like to read - to escape that and fall into an adventure that takes me away. (less)
Interesting read. I couldn't help comparing it to The Hunger Games as I read through it though (which probably puts it at a disadvantage). It certai...moreInteresting read. I couldn't help comparing it to The Hunger Games as I read through it though (which probably puts it at a disadvantage). It certainly was suspenseful. It helps that the character we're following is completely at a loss as to what is going on in this new world he finds himself in, so we learn about the world as he does. It had a grittier, distasteful feel than Hunger Games did, to me. Although the boys in the Glade were orderly and responsible, I always had a feeling that Lord of the Flies could break out at any moment. It didn't help that the world outside seemed to be in chaos and catastrophe, sort of like Terminator. The plot moved along and the mystery of what is going on is intriguing but it doesn't have the emotional intensity for me that Hunger Games did. I'm ready to read the others in this series to find out what is going on but I don't have the connection that I did with HG. I think most of that has to do with the characters. The characters in Maze Runner just didn't engage me the way Katniss and Peta and the others in HG did. I am looking forward to finding out what is going on and if WICKED really is good.(less)
This was a quick read and fun (although young teenage angst always makes me cringe!) I very much enjoyed the growth of the girls friendship and even ...moreThis was a quick read and fun (although young teenage angst always makes me cringe!) I very much enjoyed the growth of the girls friendship and even the way they crept toward a closer relationships with their moms. It's good for young readers to read about the importance of friends (especially in the world of school when its important to have a support group) and its important for them to read about how their parents are their support too. I was surprised by how little of the bookgroup book was discussed but I'll admit it did make me want to run out and re-read Little Women. (less)
Excellent! I loved this book. I am always drawn to books about birds, particularly people's experiences with wild birds. This was such a wonderful ...moreExcellent! I loved this book. I am always drawn to books about birds, particularly people's experiences with wild birds. This was such a wonderful read - part entertainment, part education. Gilbert's five years experience as a rehabber out of her home provides and amazing amount of stories and experiences, some of which seem so outrageous as to wonder how it could possibly be true. The stories made me anxious for the day when we will live in a less populated area and can enjoy seeing birds in our yard again, to watch them up close and their habits and activities. The story was humorous, insightful, as well as sad, the wrench Gilbert felt with each loss was tangible, as was the joy and thrill. The tension built at the end and I wondered anxiously at whether Gilbert was going to hold onto her sanity or lose it all. A wonderful account of her five years as a rehabber, even with the difficulties they held, I hope Gilbert finds worth in them, as I certainly did.(less)
I really enjoyed this book. A very interesting story that provides fun historical insight perfect for young readers. It starts just before the Great...moreI really enjoyed this book. A very interesting story that provides fun historical insight perfect for young readers. It starts just before the Great Depression and you see how it affects the life of an average boy. Then we jump to 1941 and Hollywood. And throughout it all we have trains - model and real - or are they? A fun fantasy with interesting twists and tensions and a unique plotline. I also want to commend the author for her excellent use of dialogue and the vernacular. It really made the story come alive for me. An excellent light sci fi read.(less)
Robin McKinley is one of the first authors I remember reading as a child, who I still read today. She was a favorite author for a long time and while...moreRobin McKinley is one of the first authors I remember reading as a child, who I still read today. She was a favorite author for a long time and while I still consider her a favorite, I haven't enjoyed her more recent work as consistently as I have her older books. In looking around for new things to read, I thought I'd check and see if McKinley had anything new out and she did. This and Pegasus (still to be read) had been published in the last few years and I hadn't read them yet, so it seemed fitting to give them a go.
I enjoyed this book although it falls into a very McKinley-esque pattern: heroine is subdued, particularly around others and doesn't seem to be able to make her wishes known thus living in frustration, the book is mostly descriptive text and very little dialogue, parenthetical thoughts that go on for pages, and a love interest that comes across as reluctant. I certainly don't want to dissuade anyone from reading McKinley as I think she is a gifted and interesting writer whose books are very different from the typical out there (particularly in the sci fi/fantasy realm) but after a while, when book after book fall into similar patterns, there can be here-we-go-again feeling in reading it through - although I will say this (in parenthetical thought in honor of McKinley), two recent books that were very different from her tragic heroine saves the kingdom books, Dragonhaven and Sunshine - Dragonhaven, couldn't finish, just too weird, different and so not McKinley; Sunshine, begun reluctantly and without much hope for enjoying but found myself sucked in, satisfied, wanting more. Just goes to show, you never can tell.
But back to Chalice. This was good, certainly as a McKinley tale goes although it took some time to work through the organization of the land/world of the story. Some intriguing concepts and I enjoyed the honey aspect to this story as I've enjoyed her roses in others. One has to wonder if McKinley immerses herself in these things (roses, honey) before writing the tale to give such intriguing insight into these items and how they reflect on their world and vice versa. If you're a fan of McKinley, you'll enjoy Chalice for the good tale that is woven, if you're new to McKinley, perhaps start with Beauty or Hero and the Crown and work your way up to these later books. I'm interested to read Pegasus which came out closely to Chalice and see how it compares to my recent musings of McKinley since their close proximity in publication is unusual in itself for McKinley who usually takes years between books. i think this is less of a review of Chalice and more a musing on its author so I'll finish this in saying, this was good but if you really want to read a good fantasy novel, go for Beauty, it's amazing.(less)
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