|
July 13
|
|
Jessica
gave
 
to:
Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil (Hardcover)
by Deborah Rodriguez
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
|
|
Jessica
gave
to:
Daughter of Fortune: A Novel (P.S.)
by Isabel Allende
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
|
|
June 27
|
|
Jessica
gave
to:
The Memory Keeper's Daughter (Paperback)
by Kim Edwards
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in June, 2008
Jessica said:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
And, the whole book is about the same thing - there wasn't enough plot development - couple have twins, the daughter has Down's, husband secretly gives baby away, former husband employee raises baby, husband feels guilty and pulls away from his wife emotionally and they have a loveless marriage. Blah blah blah when their son is a teen the wife has affair...mean while husband sends money to help support daughter. Couple divorces, husband eventually dies and wife finds out about secret after he is dead. Throw in some drama about husband's life pre-wife and a crappy relationship with his son and a random teenage pregnant girl that husband decides to take in and help provide for her and her child, and there you have the plot. All with a melancholy flavor. BLAH.
In case I have not clearly articulated how I felt about this book, I found it to be an empty read and the ending was not emotionally satisfying. The end.
...less
"
|
|
June 24
|
|
Jessica
gave
to:
Five Quarters of the Orange (Paperback)
by Joanne Harris
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in June, 2008
Jessica said:
"I started off enjoying this book. And then my enjoyment faded. The two things that stood out in my mind that I did not care for were this:
1) The story is narrated by a woman, 1/2 of the time when she was 9 and the other half when she was an adult...more
I started off enjoying this book. And then my enjoyment faded. The two things that stood out in my mind that I did not care for were this:
1) The story is narrated by a woman, 1/2 of the time when she was 9 and the other half when she was an adult. Her narattion as a child was annoying - she was manipultive towards her mom to the point of cruelty, and she had a negative "know-it-all" attitude towards her older siblings. Newscast kid, you're only 9, stop talking and acting like you're an independent woman of the world.
2) There were several incidents within the story line where I felt like the author alluded to something happening, versus straight up communicating what did/did not happen. That was annoying, what am I supposed to think happened? I don't like having things inferred. This made me decide that if I ever write a book, I will be sure to communicate exactly what is happening in the story line, versus inferring what might/might not be....less
"
|
|
Jessica
gave
to:
The Tenth Circle: A Novel (Paperback)
by Jodi Picoult
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in June, 2008
Jessica said:
"This is the third book I've read by Jodi Picoult. I really, reeally liked "Plain Truth" and "My Sister's Keeper" and I have been looking forward to reading this book since it came out in hardback and I waited for it to hit paperb...more
This is the third book I've read by Jodi Picoult. I really, reeally liked "Plain Truth" and "My Sister's Keeper" and I have been looking forward to reading this book since it came out in hardback and I waited for it to hit paperback. So, needless to say, I was bitterly disappointed with this book. Picoult's characters are extremely, extremely dark. I did not care for the comic book tie-in at all - flip through a copy of the book and you will see a comic book story board throughout the novel. The comic book storyline illustrates the dad's emotional journey for what he experiences with his daughter. Obviously from a literary standpoint, it is a unique and clever metaphor. However, it just added to the dark-side factor. The choices made by all three main characters were frustrating, and and the pilgrimage in the last 1/3 of the story is an unbelievable stretch.
Because I loved the first two books I read by Picoult, I will read her again, but I will be more selective about which of her novels I select. This one was a "sure to miss."
...less
"
|
|
Jessica
gave
to:
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey (Hardcover)
by Alison Weir
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
recommended for: anyone who likes historical fiction.
read in June, 2008
Jessica said:
"I read this book right after I finished "The Sixth Wife" and while I did not like that book, I absolutely loved "Innocent Traitor" - it was fantastic! Each chapter is narrated by a different character, so you get to participate i...more
I read this book right after I finished "The Sixth Wife" and while I did not like that book, I absolutely loved "Innocent Traitor" - it was fantastic! Each chapter is narrated by a different character, so you get to participate in the story line through several different perspectives, which is really interesting. Weir's writing style is interesting and it was very easy to slide into an observer's shoes and be in every scene watching the events unfold. Aside from Paula Gregory, I have to say that Alison Weir definitely made a good impression on me and I would seek out other books by her....less
"
|
|
Jessica
gave
to:
The Sixth Wife: The Wives of Henry VIII (Paperback)
by Jean Plaidy
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
Jessica said:
"I was a bit disappointed with this book. I liked the story line, but the style of writing was very simple to the point that it wasn't stimulating. I also didn't like the narrating character, so that likely contributed to my reaction to this book. ...more
I was a bit disappointed with this book. I liked the story line, but the style of writing was very simple to the point that it wasn't stimulating. I also didn't like the narrating character, so that likely contributed to my reaction to this book. Overall, not a recommended read....less
"
|
|
April 19
|
|
Jessica
gave
to:
Rebecca (Paperback)
by Daphne duMaurier
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in April, 2008
Jessica said:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
First things first - the copy that I ordered from Amazon has the look of one of those cheap $6 books you can get at the grocery store. It was only $7.99, and the front cover of the book is picture of re...more
Warning - this review reveals plot details!
First things first - the copy that I ordered from Amazon has the look of one of those cheap $6 books you can get at the grocery store. It was only $7.99, and the front cover of the book is picture of red silk with the name, "Rebecca" in gold scripted font, so I guess it is one of those inexpensive grocery store books. I was all set for a good smut novel, as it totally had the look...I was having flashbacks to VC Andrews!
In terms of the actual book, I read in about 3 days. I found the main character to be pretty annoying, she is SO INSECURE. There were quite a few times I found myself skimming through her mindless narrative of thinking to herself.
What I did find interesting (plot spoiler coming) was when the story revealed how her husband truly felt about his deceased wife. This new information totally changed the main character's opinion of her role in her husband's life and their household. That was pretty fascinating, and such a good example of how we, meaning people, can limit ourselves by our perception of how people feel about us, and how we **think** we fit in the world.
The whole deal with the white dress at the ball was incredibly predictable, I'm sure everyone who read this book saw that coming as soon as Mrs. Davners made the suggestion. There were a few more twists and turns after the ball, and I'm sure that the author's intent was to shock and throw the reader for a loop. Unfortunately, it did not have that kind of impact on me.
Despite this overall ho-hum review, I did read the book pretty quickly, and it was nice that it wasn't a book that had so much detail that would require a lot of concentration.
Would I recommend it to other? Um, no. Would I re-read it down the road? Um, no. Will I throw away the book? No, I only do that with books I absolutely hate (see my review for "The Lovely Bones"). My copy of "Rebecca" is headed for the Goodwill bag...I don't think Powell's will want it.
...less
"
|
|
April 05
|
|
Jessica
gave
to:
To Kill a Mockingbird (Paperback)
by Harper Lee, Nelle Lee
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
|
