This book was refreshing. It's great to hear that a lot of the 'rules' of pregnancy, while founded, are a bit overdramatic. I'd been avoiding even a sThis book was refreshing. It's great to hear that a lot of the 'rules' of pregnancy, while founded, are a bit overdramatic. I'd been avoiding even a sip of beer and longing for a Jersey Mike's sandwich for the past five months and it was refreshing to learn why I'd been told to avoid these things. Oster is a very intelligent woman (I get why she didn't put Dr. on the cover, but PhD would have been founded!). Her knowledge of medical research and ability to read into it helped me make some decisions about how I'd behave during my pregnancy that I feel a lot more comfortable with. I check the mercury levels of a fish before I order it, but I also demand a sip of my husband's wine while we're visiting Michigan wine country.
I enjoyed her deep dive into food restrictions, which is something I've struggled with. I've reduced my caffeine intake, but there's some nights that baby kicking keeps me up and I need that second cup of tea. I'm worried about hurting baby! But reading her research and understanding where limits are made me feel a lot better. The same goes for the occasional sip of wine (I'm writing this from the hotel of my Babymoon in Michigan wine country) though I avoid a whole glass as Oster prefers. Undercooked eggs are a favorite of mine (over easy is the BEST) so understanding the risks of having an over easy egg were great, rather than avoiding them completely. I feel good about having one now that I'm in my second trimester, though I probably would have avoided it earlier on in pregnancy!
Oster wanted to take control of her pregnancy and I really enjoyed hearing about how she did that. I think the 'rules' she researched were ones that a lot of woman accept without question and I was glad to learn the reasons why. Some of them are blanketly applied unnecessarily and it was helpful to understand why these rules exited and how they would apply specifically to me and my pregnancy....more
The characters Bennett created in this one are really remarkable and made me fall in love with the book early. It’s tough to decide how you feel aboutThe characters Bennett created in this one are really remarkable and made me fall in love with the book early. It’s tough to decide how you feel about Desiree or Jude from the beginning, but I loved Early almost immediately. Then you learn about Jude as an adult and her amazing relationship with Reece and by then, I was head over heels with these people. I’m never sure how I feel about Stella and Desiree but the supporting characters were easy enough to love that you wanted to keep reading about everyone. The story became a lot less about Desiree by the end and I didn’t even mind.
Jude’s time in California was my favorite. I liked how she developed relationships with Reece and Barry while she was in school. How hard she worked to balance school, track, and job was amazing and I respected her so much and fully believed she’d crush med school with that work ethic....more
Some of this was so crazy that you wanted it to be fiction instead of a bitter true history. The murders and deaths were terrible and hearing about thSome of this was so crazy that you wanted it to be fiction instead of a bitter true history. The murders and deaths were terrible and hearing about the dangers of daily life in Belfast during this time made me wonder why my mother didn't stop me from visiting because of old headline fears. This book took decades worth of headlines and developments and told a story. While it starts and ends with Jean McConville, the story seems to spend a lot of time with Dolours Price. Price's story is an extreme example of the IRA's brutality but it highlighted much of the organization's history without bringing in too many other people. I found it fascinating to hear about an armed struggle from the side I'd always been told was the enemy. I won't say this changed my opinion of the IRA; more that it helped me understand why someone would be drawn to the other side.
There were two parts of the story I found most interesting. The first was the 1970s, the hight of Dolours's involvement in the IRA and a large part of the book. The activities undertaken and efforts of the group to gain political power were fascinating. The second was the Belfast Project. It's amazing that the Boston College historians were able to get the interviews they did. I'm fascinated by the lack of legal protections the project provided and I'm a bit disappointed that the noble goal of the project fell apart so quickly. I'm interested to see who else did interviews and hope that as time passes, more information can come out of the project to provide peace of mind and closure to remaining victims....more
**spoiler alert** This story was very moving and really powerful. I've read stories about American slavery before and most of the ones I remember were**spoiler alert** This story was very moving and really powerful. I've read stories about American slavery before and most of the ones I remember were told from the slaveholder's point of view. Having a Black character tell the story was much more powerful. Dana was great for telling this story because she made it easier to compare the treatment of Blacks in the 1970s to slaves in the 1800s. She lived in both worlds and learned how to survive. Having a white partner made it an even more stark contrast and I liked how Butler included Kevin for this. The images in the book were really striking. My reading buddy and I liked the color selections, where the 1970s was monochromatic while the 1800s was in full color and much more vivid.
Dana's travel back to find Kevin was my favorite. On top of the story with Rufus, I was anxious about the two of them being reunited. It added a level of suspense on top of the mystery and horror of her situation that I thought made for a really compelling section of the story.
The ending of the book was a bit too rushed for my liking. After Dana returns from her last trip, things wrapped up almost too quickly. She seemed to move on from a very traumatizing situation very quickly and Kevin was supportive but I got a feeling he was also telling her to move on. We know that Alice is a relative because of a family bible but now she can't find anything about her relatives. Their names are in the Bible so I felt that would have been the perfect place to start. I turned the last page expecting more and was a bit disappointed.
An enjoyable story that I feel suffered slightly from being adapted. I'm not sure graphic novels are a format for me. Three out of Five Stars....more
In the end, I was left a bit confused by this book. On one hand, it's about race in America and Ifemelu's observations of race and reflections on how In the end, I was left a bit confused by this book. On one hand, it's about race in America and Ifemelu's observations of race and reflections on how it affects people. On the other hand, it's a love story about two people living in Nigeria, where they clearly say race is not a factor. While these are both good stories, they're not very well related, yet they live together in this book. I liked both stories, I enjoyed the insights about love and race, but it felt disconnected to me which took away from my overall enjoyment....more
The book seemed to be a bit too long for me. It dragged near the beginning, which is a bad place to drag. I didn't get invested in the action until itThe book seemed to be a bit too long for me. It dragged near the beginning, which is a bad place to drag. I didn't get invested in the action until it picked up and by then, my time was diminishing and I just had to race through the book. I feel like as much of the plot development I remember from the last two days reading this book was in the rest of the book. That's not very well-weighted. With a thriller, you expect a fast-paced ending, but I wasn't expecting the slow beginning.
The ending of the book, from St. Dunston's Day to the end, was the most exciting. Most of the book built to St. Dunston's Day and I thought the scene was handled well and the way it wrapped up was exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I just wish there could have been some similar moments in the middle....more
Because I'm such a big fan of historical fiction, one thing that struck me was that this book seemed a bit out of time. I'm thinking specifically of KBecause I'm such a big fan of historical fiction, one thing that struck me was that this book seemed a bit out of time. I'm thinking specifically of Kit's upbringing in Barbados which seemed very modern from what I know of the late 1600s. It colored the book for me moving forward from there. I did feel that the Puritan colony in Connecticut was rather well portrayed from my knowledge of history and I found that fascinating.
Kit seemed so oblivious at the beginning of the book that her character was a bit annoying. It was hard for me to like her at first because she seemed to be so flippant and didn't listen to those around her. She grew on me later, but it didn't start off well....more
I hadn't heard of this project and when I started reading, was really excited to see how such an ambitious program would play out. Moving wild wolves I hadn't heard of this project and when I started reading, was really excited to see how such an ambitious program would play out. Moving wild wolves to a new area and seeing if they'd survive sounded like a massive undertaking. McIntyre is the perfect person to tell this story because he was there from the beginning and his perspective of the project is unlike any other. The afterword of the book really highlights how much time he's spent with the wolves and how unusual that is, even among wolf researchers. I really liked the expertise McIntyre brought to the book.
I liked it when McIntyre would talk about the pups. It made me think of puppies and always brought a smile to my face. The ways they would play together were adorable and I liked how McIntyre described their games and the play bows they did. It had a lot of human and domesticated-dog feeling to it.
Overall, an important book and one that taught me a lot. However, I wasn't the right audience for this one and that's the only reason I didn't enjoy it more. Three out of Five Stars....more
This is what I get for not reading summaries before starting a book. I really enjoyed Li Lan's story and learning more about the Planes of the Dead. HThis is what I get for not reading summaries before starting a book. I really enjoyed Li Lan's story and learning more about the Planes of the Dead. However, I got frustrated with the book and felt like it was dragging a bit too much in places. It seemed like Lim Tien Ching's deception at the hands of his family was unnecessary and Fan's betrayal didn't seem to do a lot. These things complicated the plot. And I was disappointed in the ending. I think the story would have been stronger without Li Lan's change of heart.
I really liked Tian Bai's character and I felt connected to him more than most of the characters. I liked that he was humble and didn't seem too proud; very unlike his cousin. He seemed like a kind person and I think he would have been a good partner for any woman, especially Li Lan....more
This book just didn't work for me. I kept thinking something would change and I'd start to appreciate something I'd missed or I'd become interested inThis book just didn't work for me. I kept thinking something would change and I'd start to appreciate something I'd missed or I'd become interested in a new character, but it never happened. Håkan didn't even make a strong impression on me. This book was very episodic and that's not a structure that I usually like. I wanted more closure from the people he met along the way or for someone to come back into play late in the story to complete a storyline. I felt perpetually let down.
The storyline with Asa and Håkan's time in the desert were my favorite parts of the book. I liked Håkan alone and how he described his life at that time. I also liked to see him happy, even if it was fleeting, with Asa.
Part of what turns me off to episodic stories is that they seem to lack an overarching theme. In this book, Håkan is trying to find his place in a new country. He tries working, following someone else, and striking out on his own. None of them seem to work for him. In the end, America isn't for him and he decides that rather than try a different part of the country, he's going to head home. I was a little lost about the theme here and the relevance of a lot of Håkan's stops along the way....more
I'm a big fan of historical fiction but not a huge romance fan so I was iffy going into this book. I thought it started off strong and I liked the hisI'm a big fan of historical fiction but not a huge romance fan so I was iffy going into this book. I thought it started off strong and I liked the historical background for John's character and the integration of the natives and Dellis's plotline. Overall, the book set up well for a longer series. I had some minor quibbles with the relationship building between John and Dellis but I think the arc overall is strong. I enjoyed the political arc to the story a bit more, though. That's just a preference.
I thought John and his men were the most entertaining part of the book. I liked that they were able to maintain an upbeat attitude and that they stuck together when things got tough. They're the team I'd want to be on in a war or an undercover situation.
John has a lot on his conscious throughout the book. He's battling with something he regrets from his past, trying to do his job and follow orders, and also finds himself romantically entangled. He has to face his past soon because there doesn't seem to be a way forward with Dellis unless he does. And his mission seems to be in jeopardy because of it as well. Facing his demons is sure to be a big theme for the remainder of the series....more
Parts of this book felt so real that it hurt. Living in Metro Detroit like Joe and Anna, I felt the setting very intimately. I also felt the workplaceParts of this book felt so real that it hurt. Living in Metro Detroit like Joe and Anna, I felt the setting very intimately. I also felt the workplace setting Ana inhabited and the stresses of a job that she didn't love. I also related to Joe and his desire to make a living from his creative endeavors. I'd love to be able to do that but I feel I'm more accurately caught between Joe and Ana, being Ana while wishing to be Joe. This book was only hard to read because it felt so real and captured the hardships of modern living so vividly. It was well written and had me pulling up the file whenever I had a chance.
The question I asked of this book is if Ana and Joe needed to grow up. They're adults by merrit of their age, but some of their tendencies are more often associated with someone in their early 20s. If they need to grow up, what are things grown-ups do? Does Joe need a real job, does Ana need to lie about her age and act younger to get ahead at work, and do they need to get married? In the end, I think the answer was 'no.' These two are perfectly functional and making a life together in their own way. If they decided to make changes, it was because they wanted to, not because anyone was making them do it. They were happy with the life they'd built and didn't need anyone telling them what to change about it to make it 'better.'...more
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