Sassafrass’s Comments (group member since Nov 19, 2016)

Sassafrass’s comments from the Pick-a-Shelf group.

I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on 12/3/16. it's been shelved "1" 30 times (on page 2 of the list).

Here's my review:

This was so much better than I thought it was going to be. I know that people either loved or hated this but I was in the "love" category. This was so convoluted, interesting, and gripping. I have to admit the beginning was a bit dry for me. The financial reporting part of it wasn't so interesting, but it quickly morphed into this whole other story. I wasn't sure how the financial part and the missing person part were going to morph together, but man I loved the way it did.

I was nervous about reading this because I had so many other people talk about the way that women are treated in the book. And, yes, if you have triggers this probably wouldn't be the book for you. There is a lot of violence toward women in this book. I'm not sure I felt that it added to Lisbeth's story, but it did explain how fierce she was in the end. As for the other instances, I think that they were integral to the story and while they were difficult to listen to, I was thinking about what it meant for the story.

And, personally, I thought that Lisbeth was the biggest surprise. A total badass. I can't wait to see how she will evolve over the trilogy. I'm not sure how I felt about Mikael's character. Sometimes I felt like he was so weak, and other times I respected his strength. And I've got to tell you, that family, the Vanger family, was a piece of work. I wonder if they are going to crop up again in the subsequent books.

I will definitely be continuing on with this series. I don't think I will jump right into the next book, there was so much here that I think I need to decompress a bit, read some light and fluffy material for a few weeks, then I can head back into this one. We'll see.

I listened to this one on audio and I thought that Simon Vance did an amazing job. I look forward to listening to him in the next one.

✼Danielle✼ wrote: "For you, Sass:

Anything but Minor
The Shameless Hour"


Thanks, Danielle. I think I'll go with The Shameless Hour

Roll #4: COMPLETED

12/4/16 @ 11:50 AM

2 + 3 = 5
Jumping Rope

Picks by Danielle:

Anything but Minor
The Shameless Hour
Skinwalker

I'll go with:

The Shameless Hour completed 12/9/16 *4.5 STARS*

A Message That's More Than About College Love

The Shameless Hour (The Ivy Years Book 4) - Sarina Bowen

I have to say from the outset, that I've really enjoyed this series so far. I am really amazed at how much I have come to care for these characters. And, honestly, I didn't think that Sarina Bowen would be able to do anything nearly as good as the first book in the series, but she's proved me wrong time and time again.

But here's the thing. I wasn't all that interested in Bella's character. Was I "slut-shaming" (for the record, I don't like the term because I feel like it is doing the very thing that you say you shouldn't do) her? I don't think so. That's not why I didn't like her. She just wasn't someone that I connected to or thought of as having any depth.

And, I think that I should have realized the author was going to make me eat my words...again. And eat those words, I did. This book was powerful. It was thought-provoking, it made me gut-check my own feelings several times, and it seemed fitting for today, right now, when we are having conversations in the U.S. about men of privilege and how they treat women.

So, we had all of these things going on in this story and that is not even dealing with the love developing between Rafe and Bella which was so sweet. And that's why this book resonated with me the way that it did. We have Bella,who has been just violated in a way that I am sure she didn't see coming, her life is a mess and she doesn't know if she will ever be able to look at the world the same way again. But, in the midst of that, something so sweet and pure grows out of it. Isn't that they way it always works? I'm just glad that she got her act together to see it for what it was before she pushed Rafe away for good (but knowing his stubborn behind, we wouldn't have let her push him away).

I was so wary about the story because some people were turned off by the way that Bella responded to "the thing" (I don't want to give away too much). They didn't feel that she was strong enough, but I think that's tone deaf. No one can say how they would respond to something like that. I think that the author gave the story a lot of authenticity by the way Bella's character responded.

Ultimately, I thought this was an amazing story. It's probably my second favorite of the series, the first book still holds the title for my favorite of the series. I never would have thought that any book about Bella would be so good. So, thank you Sarina Bowen for making a believer out of me.

I landed on Jumping Rope. Would someone be willing to pick 3 books for me on my shelf?

THANKS!

Tea, it must be a sign. LOL

♞ Pat wrote: "I loved that book, Sass. Hope you do too!"

I saw that you loved it, Pat, that's what made me put it on my list. :) I'll let you know how it goes.

I'd like to purchase Tug-of-War please.

I think I'll read Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

Tien wrote: "Sassafrass wrote: "Tien, would you mind picking one more? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is what i'm reading already. It's on my currently reading shelf but I didn't realize I didn'..."

Thanks!

Tien, would you mind picking one more? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is what i'm reading already. It's on my currently reading shelf but I didn't realize I didn't remove it from my bookopoly shelf. sorry.

Roll #3: COMPLETED

12/2/16

4 +2 = 6
Tug-Of-War

Picks by Tien

A Court of Mist and Fury
Feverborn
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

will read:

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things (352 pages)



completed 12/4/16

I feel like I need a little a brain rest now.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things - Jenny Lawson



*3.5 STARS*

Let me start by saying, I think I would have done better with reading this instead of listening to the audiobook on this one. I actually like the author's voice and personality. But in this instance, I think it was just too much.

Everything was like one big word salad, and at first, I thought it was hilarious, but after a while, it just became...too much (yes, I know I said that already but there really is no better way to describe it).

I have to give the author props for taking hold of her mental illness(es) and figuring out a way to go forward with her life in a way THAT WORKS FOR HER. That's the key, this is what she does and is not meant for everyone.

What I do want to make note of here is that she sees a Psychiatrist and therapist regular and is under supervision. And she does not make light of how important it is to seek help.

And though she had me banging my head up against a wall at one point because she had gone so off tangent, I really do respect her for how she's been her own advocate. And she's trying to take the stigma out of mental illness which is so needed in this county. More people would get the help they need if we could stop shaming people into the dark.

Hi there! I just landed on Tug-Of-War. Would someone be willing to pick 3 books for me on my shelf?

THANKS!

♞ Pat wrote: "I've landed on Lucy and Linus.

I need some books selected please.


Pat's Bookopoly Shelf"

Here ya go, Pat:


Seven Dogs in Heaven
Honey from the Lion
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Enjoy!

Dominique wrote: "Hello, I landed on Waiting for the great pumpkin. Need someone to pick 3 for me. Thank"

Here you go Dominique:

X
Carry On
Gus

Coralie wrote: "Sassafrass wrote: "Hi there! I just landed on Woodstock on Ice. Would someone be willing to pick 3 books for me on my shelf?

THANKS!"

Here are three for you
[book:Stamped from the Beginning: The ..."


Thanks, Coralie. Love the variety!

Roll #2: COMPLETED
11/30/16 @ 8:47 pm

3 + 1 = 4
Bus Stop

Rolled 3+1 (again!) = Contemporary Romance

#Nerd (shelved contemporary-romance 69 times) completed 12/10/16 *4 STARS*

#So cute!


#Nerd (The Hashtag Series Book 1) - Cambria Hebert

Awww, so cute. I really liked this one. I loved Romeo and Rimmel even though I saw the story line coming from a mile away. Just a sweet and adorable college romance with some drama thrown in. I KNOW things can't be over for them, so I'm definitely going to go on to book #2.

Roll #1: COMPLETED
11/30/16 @8:15 pm

4 + 4 = 8
Woodstock on Ice

Picks by Coralie

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Staked

will read:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
date completed: 12/3/16
rating: *4.5 STARS*

What in the world did I get myself into?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson *4.5 STARS*

So, wow. This was so much better than I thought it was going to be. I know that people either loved or hated this but I was in the "love" category. This was so convoluted, interesting, and gripping. I have to admit the beginning was a bit dry for me. The financial reporting part of it wasn't so interesting, but it quickly morphed into this whole other story. I wasn't sure how the financial part and the missing person part were going to morph together, but man I loved the way it did.

I was nervous about reading this because I had so many other people talk about the way that women are treated in the book. And, yes, if you have triggers this probably wouldn't be the book for you. There is a lot of violence toward women in this book. I'm not sure I felt that it added to Lisbeth's story, but it did explain how fierce she was in the end. As for the other instances, I think that they were integral to the story and while they were difficult to listen to, I was thinking about what it meant for the story.

And, personally, I thought that Lisbeth was the biggest surprise. A total badass. I can't wait to see how she will evolve over the trilogy. I'm not sure how I felt about Mikael's character. Sometimes I felt like he was so weak, and other times I respected his strength. And I've got to tell you, that family, the Vanger family, was a piece of work. I wonder if they are going to crop up again in the subsequent books.

I will definitely be continuing on with this series. I don't think I will jump right into the next book, there was so much here that I think I need to decompress a bit, read some light and fluffy material for a few weeks, then I can head back into this one. We'll see.

I listened to this one on audio and I thought that Simon Vance did an amazing job. I look forward to listening to him in the next one.

Hi there! I just landed on Woodstock on Ice. Would someone be willing to pick 3 books for me on my shelf?

THANKS!

Dee wrote: "You know how it goes - too many challenges, not enough time ;)"

No kidding! LOL

*waves* Hi Dee. How have things been?

my shelf

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