I keep going back and forth between 3 stars (really enjoyed the characters, didn't love the ending) and 4 (loved theI reviewed this on my blog
I keep going back and forth between 3 stars (really enjoyed the characters, didn't love the ending) and 4 (loved the characters, stayed up late reading it, accept the ending as logical even if I didn't like it)...more
A British boy gets struck by a meteor... and lives to tell. He's the narrator, for this coming of age tale that managed to stay emotionally balanced,A British boy gets struck by a meteor... and lives to tell. He's the narrator, for this coming of age tale that managed to stay emotionally balanced, and quirky without feeling like it was trying too hard. All the eccentricities made sense....more
a few chapters in I can tell that I adore this book and I'm going to need to own a copy. Sort of picks up where The School of Essential Ingredientsa few chapters in I can tell that I adore this book and I'm going to need to own a copy. Sort of picks up where The School of Essential Ingredients left off, at Lillian's restaurant. But instead of cooking classes, it follows continuing adventures of some of the people the first book introduced. Lovely turns of phrases and imagery throughout. Reading the first book is probably a good idea. Although there were plenty of gorgeous food descriptions, I wished for more cooking class scenes, or, you know, any. But this book was more about interconnected stories, even out in the world outside the restaurant.
Also: Al the accountant, and his bookstore adventures. Best part....more
What a fun little story. A man picks up Mitterand's hat in a restaurant. And, as he wears the hat, he finds his life changing, for the better. MoreWhat a fun little story. A man picks up Mitterand's hat in a restaurant. And, as he wears the hat, he finds his life changing, for the better. More confidence, better business, it's a lucky hat. And it's a lucky hat for the others who pick it up along the way. (I had trouble not thinking of the Traveling Pants. The only sense in which it has a resemblance to the Traveling Pants is that it's an item of clothing.) A very fun read... I especially liked the parts where it wound up inspiring a perfume designer, because reading about his world was interesting....more
"It's like Firefly, and the main character has an electric guitar," was what I heard about this book at BEA, so I was absolutely up for this.
It lived"It's like Firefly, and the main character has an electric guitar," was what I heard about this book at BEA, so I was absolutely up for this.
It lived up to its promise. A fun science fiction adventure, with the promised guitar, interesting alien races, menacing bad guys and a good ensemble spaceship crew. I'm a big fan of some of the perils the worldbuilding creates. Though on reflection, I think it was more reminiscent of Farscape than Firefly. In a way that worked for me.
Thing that didn't altogether work: the central conceit of "Entangled," and what that means when two people are "entangled"... got a little murky for me. I wasn't sure what it actually meant in terms of powers conferred on people, and had some trouble decoding what it meant as a relationship: siblings? lovers? Although the events of the plot don't clearly telegraph a sequel (which is a huge point in this book's favor, set against most of the rest of YA lit, lately), I wonder if a sequel might more clearly explain how someone who is "entangled" can use that in this universe....more
Altogether decent Regency Romance. Bonus points for banter and for a courteous gentleman suitor. (Sometimes I find the genre forced in regards toAltogether decent Regency Romance. Bonus points for banter and for a courteous gentleman suitor. (Sometimes I find the genre forced in regards to gentleman suitors.)...more
This had been sitting on my shelf for ages before I picked it up. Historical fiction based on the Borgias guarantees some smut, and some murdering,This had been sitting on my shelf for ages before I picked it up. Historical fiction based on the Borgias guarantees some smut, and some murdering, which does go on here. But I was more impressed with the moments of heart, and hope, and friendship and even love between characters in the ensemble cast. Giulia, learning to navigate the intrigue that comes with being Rodrigo's mistress, and even growing to love him. Lucrezia growing from a young girl into a woman who is more than a little warped. And a bonus, the fictional characters. I have so much love for Carmelina and Leonello. ...more
This series stays good. I like getting to see aspects of World War II I hadn't known about, and I also like that character development carries overThis series stays good. I like getting to see aspects of World War II I hadn't known about, and I also like that character development carries over from book to book- Billy's growing up, and the characters of Diana, Kaz and even Big Mike are developed from book to book. Trouble is, I appear to have run out. Write faster, James Benn!...more
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