Candy
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Candy
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Candy
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Disengaged
by
Beth Orsoff (Goodreads Author)
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A little over a year ago, I read a wonderful book by this author called How I Learned to Love the Walrus, so when the author asked if I wanted to read her newest one, Disengaged, I immediately said yes. I fully realize it's not fair to compare the tw...more
A little over a year ago, I read a wonderful book by this author called How I Learned to Love the Walrus, so when the author asked if I wanted to read her newest one, Disengaged, I immediately said yes. I fully realize it's not fair to compare the two books, but it's difficult not to. Both are chicklit with some funny parts and a little romance. But that's where the similarities kind of end. Again, it's not fair, but this book falls a little short of my expectations for this author. Walrus had an amazing location which Beth was able to turn into a character in and of itself. This one lacks that extra backdrop. It also kind of goes off the rails a bit towards the predictable end.
Having said that, the book itself is not bad. I enjoyed the storyline. While I didn't like Allie (the main character), I did like most of the supporting cast. The writing is absolutely wonderful, as you would expect and the editing is just as wonderful. I liked the love interest(s) and the humor and quirky nature of the storyline. I felt like the story was perhaps a little over the top at times, but not so much that I rolled my eyes the entire time.
Where this books does really shine is in plot development. The author has a gift to keep the story moving. Unlike so many other chicklit authors that seem to be writing to just simply fill their word quota, Orsoff writes to keep the storyline moving and keep my interest intact.
I'd recommend this for fans of the authors other books and those who enjoy a quirky chicklit book now and then.(less)
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When this book came to me from the author with a request of review I thought he must be brave. A quick look through my reviews and you'll notice that while I love short stories, I also hate when they are done badly. Let's face it, most are done very...more
When this book came to me from the author with a request of review I thought he must be brave. A quick look through my reviews and you'll notice that while I love short stories, I also hate when they are done badly. Let's face it, most are done very badly. It's not enough words to get that deep into the story or the plot and I usually walk away feeling nothing for any of the characters.
Bored one day and in kind of foul mood, I decided to start this "novelette" and hope for the best. Less than hour later, I looked up and realized that I had just read a complete story. A whole one. There was enough information here to have a full story, the author does an amazing job of teaching us about the characters, the place, the situation and the feelings surrounding that with the short amount of writing that he does. It's truly an excellent job.
My problem with vampire stories that have come out recently is that you have either the cuddle-able cute sparkling vampires or we have the ones that are violent to no end, killing everything in it's path with no remorse and no storyline to speak of, just blood and teeth and lots of screaming. Seriously? Tell me something instead of just telling me about the dripping blood. This book has neither of these, really - yet, perhaps a little of both.
The author does an amazing job of getting the story set up and quickly getting some traction going. You feel for nearly everyone in the story, even the horrible horrible vampire and you are left wanting more. But not so much that you feel cheated by the story.
Easily one of the best short story/novelettes I've read in a very long time.(less)
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Candy
is 13% done with Neverwhere: A little odd, but getting better. At least it's a fast read so far! This is my first Gaiman read. My bookclub is making me do it.
Neverwhere
by
Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)
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Candy
is currently reading:
Neverwhere
by
Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)
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I am a huge fan of this author. I read Gods In Alabama not too long after it came out after a suggestion from a friend and I've been following her work since. She's known for her sassy Southern fiction. In that regard, this book does not disappoint....more
I am a huge fan of this author. I read Gods In Alabama not too long after it came out after a suggestion from a friend and I've been following her work since. She's known for her sassy Southern fiction. In that regard, this book does not disappoint. There's quite a bit of Rose May Lolly in this book and she's got the sass.
This book also deals with domestic violence. The author, sadly, captures the spirit of an abused woman pretty well. I make no secret that I grew up seeing part of this and the hiding, the worrying, the secrets... it's captured almost too perfectly by this author. I had more than one moment of chills running down my spine. Hats off to the author for bringing this into her books. I think it's something we turn a blind eye to all too often.
I will admit that parts of this book felt disjointed for me. The different personalities for Rose Mae threw me and the saints got me a little confused, but the overall feeling of the book is fast-moving and very well written. I think the disjointed feeling came from the fact that it was disjointed time in this woman's life. Leaving her husband, meeting her mother, changing her life. It was breakneck pace and the author threw us all over her shoulder and powered through it.
Highly recommended for those of us who like some good Southern fiction. Ms. Jackson doesn't disappoint.(less)
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I was provided a copy of this book and asked to review it. Because it was such a unique topic and one I was very interested in, I read it pretty quickly. I didn't know a whole lot about aneurysms but from what I knew of them, I thought they were pret...more
I was provided a copy of this book and asked to review it. Because it was such a unique topic and one I was very interested in, I read it pretty quickly. I didn't know a whole lot about aneurysms but from what I knew of them, I thought they were pretty much debilitating and were nearly impossible to recover from.
I was surprised by this author's candor and ability to share her journey so openly. She welcomes in to her life, both pre and post aneurysm and walks us through what she felt like. I felt most connected to her when she was talking about what her work life was like after. As a small business owner myself, this is one of my worst nightmares... what happens if something happens to me? What about my family? How will they deal with that? How will I?
I like that she doesn't have all the answers. I like that she got angry. I like that she got sad. I like that she got frustrated. What I liked the most is that she was able to find her way back. Maybe not exactly where she left off, but to a new life. To a new path. I think that's a testament to who she is and who she is to become. My hats off to her.
The book is well edited and formatted. A dream for someone that reads a lot of self-published works. I wish all were as well done.
My only reservation is that I felt we were missing some hole in her story. I don't really know what that hole is or what part of her life, but there did appear to be some gap there. It doesn't take away from the story and, of course, it may be that she chose to leave it out. Not entirely helpful since I can't place it, but it still nags me a bit.
Overall, this is a great book. I love memoirs and they are my favorite genre. This one did not disappoint, but also gave me a lot insight into something I didn't know a whole lot about. I liked that she was able to entertain while informing. Well done, indeed.
Recommended for anyone that likes memoirs and those who want to learn something about brain injuries.(less)
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I got this book in for review last year and it kind of sat in the back of my head to read. I liked the description and it looked to be something right up my alley. I ran across it again and decided to finally give it a shot. WHY did it take me so lon...more
I got this book in for review last year and it kind of sat in the back of my head to read. I liked the description and it looked to be something right up my alley. I ran across it again and decided to finally give it a shot. WHY did it take me so long? This book is absolutely wonderful!
The main genre is thriller/mystery but it also has a bit of environmentalism and activism in it. I will admit that I was a bit worried about that. I've read books similar to this in the past and it was entirely too preachy for me. I like my fiction to lack holier-than-thou. I shouldn't have worried. This was so supremely well done! This was interwoven very well into the plot and didn't feel forced down our throats, just part of the story.
Where the author excels with this book is character development. I felt like I knew Larabeth, like she was my good friend living next door. The author has the ability of empathy. I was extremely empathetic to both Larabeth and Cynthia and their plight. Even the pilot, who played a small part, was so strongly developed that I felt connected with him.
Her writing is amazing. It's beautiful, almost lyrical at times. She sets up a scene without giving away too much of where she's going. The only bad I saw in the whole book is that there were a few times that the book seemed to drag a little. Almost as though she was overexplaining a situation. We could have done with a little bit more of a strong editing arm.
Having said that, it doesn't detract from the story and the story moves along very well.
Highly recommended to those that enjoy a good thriller and just plain excellent writing.(less)
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