This was a really cute novella. Those who've enjoyed the author's first two novels, Something Borrowed and Something Blue, are the target audience, asThis was a really cute novella. Those who've enjoyed the author's first two novels, Something Borrowed and Something Blue, are the target audience, as this is Darcy's diary while she and Rachel are in high school. Darcy's as self-involved as you'd expect, but she's somehow quite endearing, making mistakes that she later regrets and caring about her friends despite all the times they drive her crazy.
The author nails Darcy's voice perfectly, and I loved the way she changed throughout the pages, as well as all the ways in which she stayed the same (especially when it came to boys). Since Darcy's one of the main characters in the aforementioned novels, you already know she's not going to suddenly become a better person, and some of her decisions in here are already known. Still, she's charming enough that you continually care what happens to her and root for her throughout.
I really enjoyed this short insight into Darcy's high school mind, and it was easy to view her as a friend. I wish the story had been longer, but the end noted that it was to be continued, so I'm hoping that perhaps there will be a sequel that continues to detail Darcy and Rachel's friendship before we were originally introduced to them in Something Borrowed. Reading this reminded me just how much I enjoyed those novels; I may have to reread them one of these days. If you enjoyed them, this is something you should definitely read!
Merged review:
This was a really cute novella. Those who've enjoyed the author's first two novels, Something Borrowed and Something Blue, are the target audience, as this is Darcy's diary while she and Rachel are in high school. Darcy's as self-involved as you'd expect, but she's somehow quite endearing, making mistakes that she later regrets and caring about her friends despite all the times they drive her crazy.
The author nails Darcy's voice perfectly, and I loved the way she changed throughout the pages, as well as all the ways in which she stayed the same (especially when it came to boys). Since Darcy's one of the main characters in the aforementioned novels, you already know she's not going to suddenly become a better person, and some of her decisions in here are already known. Still, she's charming enough that you continually care what happens to her and root for her throughout.
I really enjoyed this short insight into Darcy's high school mind, and it was easy to view her as a friend. I wish the story had been longer, but the end noted that it was to be continued, so I'm hoping that perhaps there will be a sequel that continues to detail Darcy and Rachel's friendship before we were originally introduced to them in Something Borrowed. Reading this reminded me just how much I enjoyed those novels; I may have to reread them one of these days. If you enjoyed them, this is something you should definitely read!...more
The majority of this book revolves around an upcoming school dance. Everyone seems crazed about finding a date for it, and if everyone else is going tThe majority of this book revolves around an upcoming school dance. Everyone seems crazed about finding a date for it, and if everyone else is going to have a date, Greg is determined to get one too. Problem is, all his attempts to get one end in disaster.
This book started off slower (and less funny) than the others, with Greg recapping life before he was born. It made me wonder whether the entire book would be just as blah, but thankfully it picked it as soon as his first diary entry ended. I loved all the situations Greg got himself in trying to ask for a date to the dance, from leaving unfortunate messages on someone's answering machine to trying to make himself look unavailable by sending himself multiple candygrams. I laughed out loud constantly through the book - great humor for kids and adults alike!...more
Adelice has always been able to see the "weave" of time and matter around her - the threads the comprise the world she lives in - but her talent in beAdelice has always been able to see the "weave" of time and matter around her - the threads the comprise the world she lives in - but her talent in being able to manipulate the weave is special. After a series of tests, she's sent off for Spinster training; it's required of her, and she's expected to serve for the rest of her life. Adelice realizes that her gift is more of a curse than a blessing, and her extraordinary talents in being able to both see and manipulate the weave without a loom for a tool (which every other Spinster needs) has made her stand out. She learns more secrets that people around her are holding, secrets about life in general, and is unsure who to trust as time ticks away.
I really liked the premise! The idea of everything being woves in strands that certain people can both see and manipulate is quite a thought. The author built the world up nicely, and I had an easy time "seeing" what Adelice saw. I was drawn into the story and unsure where it was heading, especially since there were so many secrets and the world as Adelice knew it didn't exist.
Adelice was an interesting main character. I liked the journey she was on, so I liked her; at the same time, there were instances where she had dumb outburts of speech that made her more immature than she otherwise seemed. I was intrigued by the quest she put herself on to figure out what secrets were being kept, but at the same time, she didn't seem to be much of a sleuth on her own despite her talents; her propensity for speaking her mind at inopportune moments instead of staying quiet and playing dumb (as she'd been advised) kept her from truly blending in, which was occasionally frustrating.
Despite this, I continued to eagerly read this book because of its interesting plot. The ending, however, was disappointing. This is the start of a series, so it ended without a real resolution in an attempt to get me hyped up for the next book. In actuality, it was frustrating (as these sorts of non-endings are ALWAYS frustrating) because nothing was explained and wrapped up. I want to be excited for the next book because I liked the first book, not because I "have" to get the next book in order to finish (or continue) the story.
Anyway, this book was decent overall and had so much potential. The story was great, but the lack of resolution and explanation left me hanging and disappointed....more
I heard about this book before the movie but ended up seeing the movie before reading the book. Because of this, I already knew a lot about what to exI heard about this book before the movie but ended up seeing the movie before reading the book. Because of this, I already knew a lot about what to expect in here: the author traveling to Iran in a disguise, planning to smuggle six Americans out of the country by having them pose as part of a film crew, while the extremely tense hostage situation at the American embassy continued.
While the book and movie were very similar (and both excellent), there were definitely notable differences, and I enjoyed them each for their own merits. The first few chapters really set the stage and, as such, had some stilted dialogue that made me wonder how gripping the book as a whole would be. Once the situation in Iran started deteriorating, I became engrossed. The author clearly had quite a fascinating career during his time in the CIA, and throughout the book, he provides examples of work he'd previously done and the lessons learned that would help in this situation. I really enjoyed reading these asides because it provided context and also gave me a better appreciation and understanding for this sort of work.
Although some details about this operation could not be shared (the author notes that certain techniques are still classified), the lengths gone to in order to make this operation a success were amazing to read about. At times, some of the information (such as the details about which embassy employees were where) was almost too much, as there were a lot of names and not everyone continued to be particularly relevant to the story. However, anyone looking for an exciting read about a real operation should enjoy this book. ...more
I first picked this book up because I'd seen the author on Cupcake Wars, thought her winning cupcakes looked delicious, and went to her website, whichI first picked this book up because I'd seen the author on Cupcake Wars, thought her winning cupcakes looked delicious, and went to her website, which mentioned this cookbook. I am so glad I found it because I LOVE this cookbook! It contains so many delicious recipes, beautiful photos, and is such a great go-to cookbook for quick, easy, and tasty dishes. A number of the recipes in here are very simple and/or basic, which is great for someone who isn't quite a fearless home chef, and it's an excellent introduction to vegan cooking. I especially like the fact that although there are meat "substitutes" in here (ie, recipes featuring tofu or tempeh, etc.), none of the recipes are trying to be meat.
I've probably made nearly half the recipes in here, and none have been bad. Some favorites:
*Brussels Sprouts roasted with hazelnuts and maple syrup - SO good!
*Double Double Drive-Thru Burgers - not exactly a copy of the famous In-N-Out burgers, but what I love about these is how quick they are to throw together (you use a food processor and it takes maybe 15 minutes) and the amazing sauce that you put on it. It's a super healthy, quick meal that tastes wonderful!
*Chickpea Burgers with Sweet and Spicy Sauce - Another super quick burger recipe. The sauce didn't sound particularly appetizing but it turned out to be the perfect complement to the burgers. I really love how this cookbook doesn't just give a recipe for burgers; it also provides recipes for condiments to go with the burgers!
*Stuffed Shells with Arrabbiata Sauce - The shells are stuffed with a "cheese" mixture (it does NOT use fake cheese). After I made this, I served them to others who raved about the dish. I said, "Can you believe they're vegan?" I got some incredulous looks and the question, "...these are vegan?!?" They're that good. And probably much healthier than regular stuffed shells.
*Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter - It takes some time to make the gnocchi but they sure tasted good.
This cookbook is a great introduction to vegan cooking, and I'd easily recommend it to others, vegans and non-vegans alike. I suppose I already have recommended it to others, and the ones who've bought the book love it too. ...more
Maybe 3.5 stars. After Ensign Andrew Dahl is assigned to a new position aboard the starship Intrepid, he quickly learns that things on this ship are aMaybe 3.5 stars. After Ensign Andrew Dahl is assigned to a new position aboard the starship Intrepid, he quickly learns that things on this ship are awfully strange. The fatality rate for new Ensigns is extremely high during away missions, a certain crew member always seems to be massively hurt and then bounce back without a scratch, and nothing ever seems to harm a core group of the officers on board, regardless of the peril they face. As he and other new recruits learn the rules around the ship, they discover that things may not be quite as they seem, and they start digging deeper to find out what's really going on.
I really liked the premise of this book and what was revealed as the plot twist. It was clever and made a lot of the inexplicable seem sensible. The journey to figure everything out was entertaining, and I liked the way that the recruits aboard the ship worked together to piece it all out. The author obviously turned what probably started as a quirky idea that stemmed from Star Trek into an entire story that even referenced Star Trek, and it made for an entertaining read - especially the parts where they pointed out the absurd logic (or complete lack of logic) in some ways that the ship seemed to work.
The characters themselves did not seem to have huge personalities, although they did seem different from each other. Personalities seemed to be developed almost entirely through dialogue instead of narration, which worked fine but left me feeling like I couldn't fully picture the setting or surrounding. It was also very indicative of the book's pace, how things kept going forward without pausing for explanation or further description.
I think I liked the idea of this book more than the actual execution of it. While the book had entertaining moments and a great idea behind the plot, it fell short in characterization and the ending seemed to drag on without actually offering extra closure on the plot (there were 3 codas: one in first person, one in second person, and one in third person); it actually dragged down the pace of the book for me.
I'm guessing this is one of those books that certain people will really love but won't resonate with others. It was a quick read and good overall, but although the story idea will likely stay with me for a long time, the book itself was slightly lacking in the end. It almost felt like the book was trying to be clever but couldn't sustain a story for so many pages. Perhaps if the codas hadn't been added, I would have finished a little more satisfied....more
The author was the secret service agent tasked with protecting Mrs. Kennedy during her husband's presidency, and in this book he describes the years hThe author was the secret service agent tasked with protecting Mrs. Kennedy during her husband's presidency, and in this book he describes the years he spent working with her. It's far from a tell-all, and there are no scandalous family details mentioned here; instead, he describes the day-to-day experiences working with the family, the friendly relationship that developed between him and the first family, and describes memorable events from his point of view - from his initial assignment to guard the First Lady to the aftermath of President Kennedy's assassination.
Mr. Hill's perspective was fascinating. I really enjoyed seeing the political scene through his eyes, and I feel like I gained a deeper appreciation of the Secret Service because of this book. Clearly his own personal life was massively affected by his round-the-clock job, but he didn't focus on this and instead just accepted it as part of the job. He was obviously closer to the president and family than most of the country, and his stories brought the family to life in an inimitable way - they suddenly became a regular family instead of larger than life figures.
Some of the most memorable parts in the book were the stories from more casual events, the sort of things that the general public did not see. One chapter described a 50-mile hike that the author was spontaneously assigned to, tailing a pair of the president's friends who had basically been dared to complete it and needed a security detail along the way. Obviously, this was not in the regular job description, but it made for an engrossing story; I imagine that the actual experience, however, was less than pleasant.
My only complaint about the book is that some of the conversations, especially near the beginning, felt rather stilted, keeping me from becoming completely lost in the narration. The dialogue became better written as the book went on (or perhaps I was just more engrossed in the story), and it wasn't enough to keep me from really enjoying this book.
For anyone looking for a fascinating look at the Kennedy years in this White House, this is a book to pick up. It was interesting, not a sordid read, and gave a nice look at the relationship between the Secret Service and the First Family, as well as the relationships within the First Family. After reading this, I understand why it took the author 50 years to tell this story - some of the events are obviously ones he wishes never happened - but I'm glad he finally wrote it. ...more
4.5 stars. I had actually heard about the author of this book years ago, after a news story mentioned her surviving an accident that left her with sev4.5 stars. I had actually heard about the author of this book years ago, after a news story mentioned her surviving an accident that left her with severe burns on over 80% of her body. She's a prolific blogger, detailing what used to be her normal family life and, now, her new life; however, I don't think anyone needs to have read her blog to be amazed by this book. I was a little unsure what to expect in this book, wondering if it'd have a strong religious bent to it - especially based on the title (the author is a Mormon) - but it didn't come off as preachy and only mentioned religion as a pillar of her life and how she drew strength on difficult days.
The book opens with Stephanie explaining how perfect her life used to be. She came across as optimistic and naive; she dreamed of love as if it were a fairy tale, and her only goal was to become a wife and mother. She married young, had four kids, and then came the accident. Months later, she emerged from a medically-induced coma and tried to adjust to the constant pain, the near-constant surgeries, her scarred appearance, and how her family had been affected.
Although the beginning of the book was interesting, it really only set the stage for the powerful parts the followed. By far the best parts came in the middle sections, when she detailed her slow recovery, the way she struggled to accept herself, how she and her husband had to work hard to forgive themselves and grow close again, and how the entire identity she'd previously crafted for herself needed to be reexamined. It was intense reading about everything she went through, both mentally and physically, to even become strong enough to leave the hospital. Even more powerful were the mental evaluations she put herself through: how long it took her to even look at herself in the mirror, being unable to help her kids with the most simple tasks, the way outsiders treated her, and how completely dependent she was on everyone else. None of this was told in a pitying way; it was simply stated and explained.
I loved the insights in this book and how hope continually shone through. The descriptions felt honest and thoughtful, and it was almost uplifting to read, as strange as that may sound. Reading such an amazing tale of hope and strength, and having the story told with such a positive outlook on life, made this memorable. Although her personal goals may not be relatable for everyone, she does come across as a strong person, one who's learned to have confidence from within.
My only complaint is that some of the dialogue felt stilted, especially at the beginning and at the end; I think I was so drawn into the middle of the book that I stopped noticing. However, I'd still easily recommend this book to others. It gave me a lot to think about, and I'm sure it'll stay with me for a long time....more
I'm pretty sure I'd seen this book around and considered picking it up once or twice, but what finally got me to read it is the fact that it's nominatI'm pretty sure I'd seen this book around and considered picking it up once or twice, but what finally got me to read it is the fact that it's nominated for a Goodreads Choice award. I enjoyed it overall but don't think it's necessarily one of the best young adult books I've read this year, perhaps because of its slow pace and quiet plot (not bad things, just not gripping).
Samantha's always been a good daughter, which is a plus because her mom is a Senator running for reelection. Her mom's a perfectionist with no patience for those who don't fit inside a perfect mold, such as the Garretts who live next door; the Garretts are loud, not the best about keeping up their property, and have more kids than needed. One night, one of the boys next door, Jase, climbs up to Samantha's rooftop perch and they quickly become more than friends. Of course, Samantha realizes that her mom would never approve of this relationship, so she hides Jase from everyone. As Samantha's mom grows more focused on being reelected, no matter the cost, Samantha starts to realize just how much she relies on Jase and can't imagine what she'd do if she ever had to choose between Jase and her mom.
The story is, as mentioned above, very quiet. The relationship between Samantha and Jase was nicely developed, and I liked the way they interacted with each other. There was no ridiculous drama between the two of them, nor was there the sort of instant love that so many other books have. They both felt very mature and lacked the insecurity that so many teenagers (both real and fictional) suffer from. There were a few minor characters that seemed unnecessary, such as Samantha's best friend and Samantha's older sister, both of whom cropped up while dealing with their own drama, then disappearing without real resolution to their stories. Their appearances seemed unnecessary for the book; although they were believable, they didn't add anything to the story - plus their plotlines were left hanging at the end, so I have no idea what happened to them.
I guess my main complaint is that not a whole lot happened throughout the novel. The majority of the book was spent developing the relationship between Samantha and Jase, and although I enjoyed it, there really wasn't a lot of tension to keep me hooked. I kept reading because it was well-written and I was curious what would eventually happen, but it really was a quiet read. I liked it overall, but it felt like something was lacking - perhaps more development with other relationships, perhaps deeper backstory... I don't know. Still, the book was good overall and I'm sure this book will resonate with people looking for a YA romance with little drama....more
This is a book covering the author's sabbatical. After she and her husband sold their house in New Jersey, they headed for Paris with their two kids, This is a book covering the author's sabbatical. After she and her husband sold their house in New Jersey, they headed for Paris with their two kids, ready to experience the life of someone else there. There, she wrote books she had under contract, ate more than her share of French food, and tried to enjoy every moment of life there instead of waiting to experience it all through the lens of a camera.
I began this book expecting the usual narration about her travels, but it was framed in quite a different way than I'd imagined. Instead of chapters filled with long narratives, the bulk of the book was comprised of short musings that were originally posted on - or inspired by - her Facebook page. It was slightly jarring at first, especially because her writing in the opening chapter was beautiful and I wasn't sure how short, stand-alone paragraphs would hold up to this stands, but the more I got into the book, the more I liked this format. The short snippets gave enough detail to draw you into the moment without over exposing details or dwelling on unimportant events. I felt as if I were almost reading someone's diary as events unfolded, giving the book a nice touch.
It was fun to see how much energy could be captured in short snippets about their day-to-day life. Her children (11 and 15) had personalities that leapt off the page, and the author and her husband both seemed very personable and relatable. I loved the descriptions of the food and all the short pieces of soap opera-like drama that seemed to seep out from both her daughter's school days and in the life of her husband's friend - all told about secondhand, of course, but it allowed the author to provide entertaining commentary about it all.
So many times books like this come across as pretentious because, really, how many people can afford to move to Paris for a year, as wonderful as that sounds? But nothing in here was extravagant or outside the realm of what could be possible for others with enough planning and saving. Instead, it was a very charming story overall and filled with snapshots of a memorable year in which nothing big happened but lots of wonderful small moments did. I also really liked the fact that it wasn't full of life lessons but simply took the reader on a journey throughout the year....more
I think this is my favorite book in this series yet. After the long, cold winter, Laura and her family are settling back into life at the homestead. LI think this is my favorite book in this series yet. After the long, cold winter, Laura and her family are settling back into life at the homestead. Laura worries about Mary being able to attend college and helps the family save by taking a job sewing, there are "literaries" in the winter evenings that have everything from spelling contents to songs, and Laura is struggling to work toward being a teacher while fighting with her rival Nellie Oleson, who's moved to the same town.
The writing in this book seemed a lot more polished than in the previous ones. There wasn't one giant overall plot, but I really liked all the details about how time passed in this town and what life was like; so much happened in here that the pace never seemed to drop. The descriptions about the literaries were fun and gave you a sense of how the entire town came together for entertainment. I also really liked the parts about Laura's rivalry with Nellie, who's easy to dislike but makes a good counter to Laura and her more likable friends. Also, now that Laura is older, she makes more poignant observations, such as the fact that Ma hates sewing but won't ever complain about it because it needs to be done.
One things that struck me while reading was how these books really do reflect a different time and a different culture. Obviously, I knew this before starting to read and evidence of this has been plentiful in the previous books, but it was interesting to see all the stuff that happened in here that's no longer considered acceptable: townspeople in blackface, singing songs about "Darkies", more talk about Indians, and even the idea that everyone had to go to a Revival or else be painted as an atheist - which, of course, was completely unacceptable at the time. These things are all so odd by today's standards, but they were clearly par for the course back then. It was very interesting to read about, and I imagine it'd make for some excellent discussions too....more
After hearing so much talk about this book, I decided I had to see what all the fuss was about. This didn't sound like something I'd usually read, butAfter hearing so much talk about this book, I decided I had to see what all the fuss was about. This didn't sound like something I'd usually read, but I checked it out anyway to form my own opinion about it. It is, after all, so easy to criticize this book without reading it. It's about the relationship between a naive college grad and an older rich man who's into BDSM, after all - one can make fun of the book off that summary alone. But I was informed (by a few people who'd read it and loved it) that the book was so much more than that. And so I gave it a try.
The entire book reads like bad fan fiction - which, I suppose, is appropriate, considering the fact that it began as Twilight fan fiction. Anastasia is clumsy, naive, and innocent. She's never had a boyfriend and barely even held someone's hand. Christian is intense, secretive, and wants Anastasia to be his. And when I say "be his," I mean that he wants her to be his Submissive and him her Dominant. Anastasia apparently has no backbone or self-respect because she sort of goes along with whatever Christian says; she just can't resist how hot he is! Even when he emails her a lengthy contract spelling out what their relationship will and will not consist of, she thinks multiple times that he's a "control freak" but still thinks about it. Her best friend (who she can't talk about Christian with because he's made her sign a non-disclosure agreement) thinks Christian is creepy and that Anastasia should steer clear of him, but she doesn't heed this good advice. Instead, the reader is treated to pages upon pages of her wondering why Christian is the way he is and why she can't just say no. There's also a TON of sex scenes in between these mental debates... because Anastasia just can't turn him down.
The writing is pretty poor. Anastasia's line of choice is "Oh my..." whenever anything happens. Christian's hot? Oh my. Christian's naked? Oh my. Christian has an entire room devoted to weird sex stuff? Oh my... It really grated on me. The rest of the book was written awkwardly as well; I don't know how else to describe it. It was simple writing trying to be more. Then again, people aren't reading this book because of its writing! If there's a good story, bad writing (to a point) can be overlooked.
But that brings me to the story. I don't quite understand the claim that one doesn't read this simply for the sex because once you take out the multitude of sex scenes (and the pages talking about the sex that's about to happen or just happened or that someone wants to happen...), then there's not much left. Other characters sort of conveniently disappear once Christian shows up (also, let me mention that he's overly jealous that she even has male friends because he wants her all to himself...). At one point, he actually tracks her whereabouts (like with her cell phone) so he can show up... Yeah. I don't understand how I'm supposed to regard him as anything other than a creepy stalker. Despite Anastasia's claims that she's fallen in love with him, there was no romance in the entire book; this was not a love story. Despite all the talk about their relationship being mutually beneficial and how Christian doesn't want to hurt her (at one point he tells her, "I want to claim your ass." Um... yeah...), he comes across as angry and violent toward women. That's not someone I want to root for.
I have no idea how this series got so popular or what other people are seeing in it that I don't. Are we reading the same book?!? I won't be reading the rest of the series, but considering how many people are, I'm sure no one cares....more
After Charlotte is pushed onto the subway tracks and killed, she "wakes up" in an invisible hotel, where the guests/residents are all ghosts who can'tAfter Charlotte is pushed onto the subway tracks and killed, she "wakes up" in an invisible hotel, where the guests/residents are all ghosts who can't move on to the next phase of death until they solve their own murders. Charlotte teams up with a few other ghosts in the hotel - all of whom have been there longer - to solve the case, learing "The Rules" of being a ghost along the way.
I loved the premise of this book. What a great idea, ghosts trying to catch their own killers. Charlotte was a fun main character and made a good narrator. I enjoyed following along with the case, trying to figure out who was guilty and why. The atmosphere in the book was surprisingly cheerful and peppy for the topic, and there wasn't much suspense, which could have rounded out the novel and made it more mysterious and haunting instead of just fun.
The antics of Charlotte and her sidekicks as they went about investigating the case were entertaining. Each character had a distinct personality and contributed in their own way to the case. There was some focus on the people that Charlotte left behind, but she mainly watched her boyfriend (whose personality changed drastically after Charlotte died) and old friends/rivals; her family members got very little page time. Since her family had little to do with the mystery aspect of the story, their characters weren't missed, but it did seem odd at times that Charlotte did not check in on her family members, despite narrating about missing them. This may have been done to keep the story upbeat instead of too sad.
Although there were little things I would have changed about the book, the main thing being adding more suspense to it, I thought the book was a very entertaining read overall. The idea behind the book was excellent, and the ending seemed to pave the way for future books in a series. If this is the case, I'm sure I'll read more; the book was fun and I hope the mysteries can only get better!...more
It's nearly impossible to review this new book by J.K. Rowling without at least thinking about Harry Potter. But even though that series was in my minIt's nearly impossible to review this new book by J.K. Rowling without at least thinking about Harry Potter. But even though that series was in my mind when I started reading this book, I went into it knowing that it would be completely different and wanting to judge this on its own merits. That turned out to be quite easy to do, since this is definitely nothing like Harry Potter!
The plot is rather thin and the book instead focuses on a large, revolving cast of characters. In the small town of Pagford, a member of the local council dies and almost every adult in town decides they should run for his open seat. Meanwhile, a fight is brewing over what to do with the Fields (a low-income area outside the main part of Pagford) and the local drug treatment center. The story is narrated in turns by various residents of the town, all of whom are miserable and lash out at whoever's nearby - their parent(s), their spouse, their kid(s)...
The book is really well written, especially for having such a large and diverse cast of characters. It took a short while to be accustomed to every character, but each had his or her own distinct personality and issues he/she was dealing with. I really enjoyed the deep, thoughtful backstory each had and the way their history seemed to influence the person he/she had become. Seeing the interaction between some of these characters was tiresome at points because while everyone seemed to be unhappy, no one ever seemed to be making much of an effort to change this, but I did enjoy the scenes where someone was taking action (even if the action was unknown to others) to actually change their lot in life instead of simply letting the misery continue. For this simple reason, I think I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first; the characters and their misery had already been established and things were finally starting to come to a head.
For all the things I enjoyed about the book, however, the lack of a central plot or truly sympathetic, relatable characters took a toll. I liked a few of the characters, but no one stood out as someone I was excited to root for. I liked seeing the characters interact and relate to one another, but there was no strong central plot to bring everything together or keep the story moving forward. It was almost like the book was a study of a small town and its unhappy inhabitants.
The characters were memorable - if only because they were so incredibly well developed! - and the story was interesting at times. It's not something everyone would enjoy, especially considering some of the things the book contained (gritty discussions of abuse, drug use, etc.), and although I liked it, it's not something I'd recommend to others. It seemed to lack a purpose and touched upon everything without going anywhere....more
Nora Hamilton wakes one morning to find that her husband, a police officer in their small town, has killed himself. Almost immediately, Nora begins toNora Hamilton wakes one morning to find that her husband, a police officer in their small town, has killed himself. Almost immediately, Nora begins to suspect that there's more to this than meets the eyes and starts to investigate, since the pieces don't add up to her. She starts trying to piece together strange decisions he made, hoping to unravel the many secrets that she soon discovers people in the town have been keeping for years.
This book began with a lot of potential. The first chapter was done well, featuring Nora's search for her husband when she wakes to find him not in bed with her. There was tension and suspense, and it set the stage for an interesting thriller. However, what followed wasn't nearly as exciting. Nora seemed to be reaching when she found her first "clue" that indicated this was more than a simple suicide, and because she found these clues so easily and readily, there was really no suspense - except for me suspending my disbelief that it all made sense. I guess it didn't seem like there was a big revelation that set the search for the "truth" in motion.
I had a lot of trouble getting into this book, and one of the main reasons was the fact that the characters weren't particularly well developed or deep. I never got a sense of Nora's marriage or even her husband as a person; instead, her husband was nothing more than a name. Nora didn't even really reminisce about him. Nora herself, while the main character, was not much more fleshed out. She was driven to figuring out what happened to her husband because she didn't think everything added up, but she didn't make for much of a sleuth - most of her "findings" were actually handed to her by others in town - and she also lacked much of a personality. Other characters were equally as flat and occasionally bordered on caricatures, such as the police chief who just knows that to keep order, you sometimes have to go outside the law.
The writing overall was decent. The author did a nice job of painting the cold, small town as one that kept its secrets forever; however, the writing lacked suspense because there seemed to be no real action. The pacing of the writing did not lend itself to an exciting read, and I had a difficult time being thrilled by new discoveries or terse situations because I couldn't feel any real tension. Another thing that really threw me off was the fact that the majority of the book was written in first person, from Nora's perspective; every few chapters, however, there'd be an interlude written in third person showing other things happening around town. These extra chapters didn't add anything to the book, especially because I didn't always know what was happening or when it was happening, and they actually pulled me out of the novel because I had to refocus instead of staying in Nora's perspective. I also felt like clues were handed to the reader in a very clumsy fashion. Instead of simply showing the reader clues, Nora posed multiple questions about them, guiding the reader to a specific conclusion instead of letting one simply wonder and keeping you in suspense.
I kept reading this novel because I was curious to see where the mystery would end up and interested in discovering all the secrets residents had been keeping for so long. The reveals were a bit disappointing. By the end of the book, no one came across as sympathetic - not even Nora, who seemed to have known her husband about as well as the reader got to know him - and the twists thrown in near the end bordered on ridiculous rather than being chilling. It was difficult to believe that so much violence (murders, arson, etc.) had been employed to cover up previous mistakes and then kept hidden for so long.
Overall, this book was pretty disappointing. It had a lot of potential, but the flat characters, clumsy reveals, and ultimately bland plot kept it from being truly gripping or memorable.
I received a free advanced copy of this book through the First Reads program....more
Although this is probably not my favorite book in the series, mainly because it's so dark in comparison to the other relatively happy installments, I Although this is probably not my favorite book in the series, mainly because it's so dark in comparison to the other relatively happy installments, I really enjoyed it. Laura and her family are living in De Smet and move into town there when a long winter begins, with constant blizzards and no trains able to arrive in town. Everyone is filled with worry about how to survive when they have dwindling resources with no way to replenish their supplies or travel anywhere to get more.
The descriptions of the winter and the blizzard were great. It felt like the winter was going on forever, which is exactly how it should feel to the reader because that's how it felt to those living through it. It was amazing to read about everything that they had to do to survive: burning hay, digging tunnels through the snow, eating bread and potatoes every night with a smaller portion every time... Life was so different back then, so difficult, and it was fascinating to read how they survived such a winter.
There were a few jarring points in the book, mainly due to a sudden change in narration; it went from Laura's point of view to the Wilder brothers' viewpoint without much of a transition. Every time this happened, I had to reread the last few paragraphs to see if I'd missed something. But, despite this, I did enjoy the book overall because of its excellent depiction of how the family - and town - survived such a hard, long winter. ...more
Probably 3.5 stars. Thirty-five weeks since Bumped ended, twins Harmony and Melody are both pregnant with twins and set to deliver on the same due datProbably 3.5 stars. Thirty-five weeks since Bumped ended, twins Harmony and Melody are both pregnant with twins and set to deliver on the same due date. They're separated, with Harmony back in the religious community of Goodside and Melody in the spotlight out in the rest of the world; their duel pregnancies have made them celebrities to the rest of the world. They're both struggling with secrets, and Melody is excited to make their pregnancies mean something in a world where only teens can procreate and are expected to do so for society's continuation, but in order to do so, they'll have to tell the truth about multiple secrets and are not sure how the rest of the world will react.
I liked this book better than its predecessor, but it still didn't blow me away. Harmony and Melody have more distinct voices in this novel, and the trading of narration worked well. There wasn't a whole lot that happened in this book, but what did happen was done at a quick pace. There was constant action and movement, keeping me interested. Characters weren't developed in here nearly as much as I would have liked, although the twins grew closer and their relationship to one another seemed to improve throughout the book. The supporting characters, including the love interests and all the twins' friends, sort of faded away into the background as the focus of the book was more on its message than on its characters. The end of the book wrapped up the main storyline very quickly and cleanly, but I felt like so many small, not-quite-fully-developed sideplots were left open-ended.
The author was creative in developing the world they lived in, especially in describing how high schools had adapted to the near-constant pregnancies that teen girls were expected to carry. I also liked the different "branding" that went on as the twins (and their agent) tried to make money and capitalize off their fame. Things like this seemed completely believable, especially after situations (as in the book) started to spin out of control. There was definitely an overlying message of how good ideas can turn into bad situations. If you've read Bumped, this is worth picking up, just to find out how the story ends; it's a quick, entertaining read that proves a sequel can sometimes be better than the original book. ...more
Annie Nutter is invisible at school and wishes she could be more like the popular crowd. At home, her dad's constantly inventing stuff that goes nowheAnnie Nutter is invisible at school and wishes she could be more like the popular crowd. At home, her dad's constantly inventing stuff that goes nowhere and her mom's frustrated about their modest - at best - standard of living. After wishing that she had a different life, Annie wakes up in the body of Ayla Monroe, with the same mom but a different dad. Ayla is rich and spoiled, leads the popular crowd, and is almost everything Annie wanted to be. But this new Ayla has her old soul from her time as Annie, and she kind of hates a lot of who Ayla is/used to be. As Annie sets about improving her life as Ayla, she starts to feel happier about herself, even though there's a part of her that still wants to go back to her old life - if that's even possible.
Based on the summary, I expected this to be a lot more predictable than it was: girl wishes for something, discovers what she wished for wasn't what she actually wanted, goes back to being happy with what she had. And although part of the book did follow this formula, there was a lot more depth to the book and the characters than I expected.
There were really three parts to the book: when Annie's unhappy with her life and wishing for more, when Annie becomes Ayla and thinks she might actually have everything, and when Annie-as-Ayla begins to turn her life as Ayla around. I enjoyed the whole book, although my favorite parts were after Annie began changing her life and her/Ayla's friends were confused about the person she'd become. Annie had a number of revelations about friendship throughout this transition, realizing that if you can't trust your supposed friends with life-changing secrets, perhaps they're not people you should be friends with in the first place. I also liked her ruminations on power and order in the high school social structure, debating what it takes to be on top and stay on top. Anyone who's been to high school could definitely relate.
The characters were all entertaining as well. Annie was a very likable main characters and the people surrounding her had well developed personalities as well. The author did a good job showing the changing relationship between Annie and her mom. I also loved the sweet friendship that developed between Ayla and a "nobody" at her new school.
What I really liked about this book is that the story continually changed directions instead of having a super linear plot. There were a number of asides that related well to the plot but kept me wondering what would happen next. For example, when Annie first becomes Ayla, she quickly realizes this new life is far from perfect and desperately wants to go back; then, as she becomes more and more involved in changing her own destiny, her new life starts to seem almost better than her old one, especially since she cares about what might happen to people if she leaves.
I found this to be a very fun read. While the plot wasn't completely original, the author did a good job bringing the story to life. Anyone looking for an entertaining, lighthearted book with soul should find this to their liking....more
Georges isn't the most popular kid at school (the silent S at the end of his name doesn't help), has moved to an apartment since his dad got laid off,Georges isn't the most popular kid at school (the silent S at the end of his name doesn't help), has moved to an apartment since his dad got laid off, and is basically trying to get by. At his new apartment, he meets a kid named Safer who wants Georges' help spying on a resident he's nicknamed Mr. X. Safer is convinced that Mr. X is up to no good, and pretty soon the two boys are busy putting their observation skills to use. While things seem to be getting worse for Georges at school, he becomes increasingly drawn in to Safer's mysterious obsession with Mr. X.
I loved so much about this book. Georges is a great main character and narrator, with a nice wit and a sharp outlook on life. He's being bullied by the "popular" crowd but trying to see the big picture, even though it doesn't help things at the moment, and hangs out with kids just as dorky as himself. The friendship between Georges and Safer was well done, and it was easy to see why the two of them became such good friends. Their spying on Mr. X was both entertaining and exciting, and I had no idea where the mystery was headed but absolutely loved the resolution. All the details included about how they went about spying made Safer seem both brilliant and obsessive.
All the kids in the book had nice personalities, and I enjoyed how different the characters were. At school, Georges talks to a weird kid who draws nonstop and provides Georges with some strange trivia that I hadn't known before reading this; it was quite interesting. I loved the fact that this book was so entertaining but also informative. Safer's younger sister, too, was a fun character and her obsession with candy was entertaining but not overdone.
The pacing of the book was perfect, and it had a nice balance between Georges' life of spying on his neighbor, his family life, and his school life. The three stories intermingled nicely and kept the book moving forward smoothly. I loved the writing as well and actually laughed out loud a few times at Georges' witty observations. My favorite one was about how he didn't know what one hand clapping sounded like, but "it had to be better than the slow clap." Too true!
This is the sort of book that all ages could enjoy. It was smart, educational, and just plain entertaining. I really enjoyed this!...more
When she's only 28, Eloise becomes guardian of her sister's three kids (Theo, Josh, and Claire) and moves back to her hometown of Cincinnati to raise When she's only 28, Eloise becomes guardian of her sister's three kids (Theo, Josh, and Claire) and moves back to her hometown of Cincinnati to raise them. Twenty years later, she's still living in the same house that she desperately wants to sell, if only her mom would sign over ownership the way she'd promised when she took in the kids, and the kids are still living there as well. After Claire moves away, Eloise believes that she's finally on track to get rid of the house, but her mom doesn't fulfill her promise and the kids all begin to bicker over what should happen with the house.
If that doesn't sound like much of a plot, it's because there really isn't one. The book's description mentions that Eloise's mom makes a competition to see who can inherit the house and that Claire reveals a big secret, but these events don't occur until a good way into the book and don't really increase or improve the pacing. The narration shifted around to focus on the separate lives of Eloise, Theo, and Josh, showing the issues they're dealing with individually; Claire's point of view isn't featured, although her actions and words affect others, and so she never becomes a sympathetic character - not that the others are all that likable either.
The main characters all struggled to deal with some issue: Josh is trying to come to terms with the fact that he quit a semi-famous band for an ex-girlfriend; Theo's dealing with a crush on a guy who already has a long-term, long-distance girlfriend, and she also desperately wants to inherit the house she grew up in; and Eloise is trying to finally live her own life instead of constantly putting the kids' needs ahead of her own. Although they all had moments in which they shone, there was just so much angst and drama that never felt real. Everyone was immature and generally unlikable, and I never truly cared about the characters or their superficial problems and complaints.
There were a few moments in this book that piqued my interest, seeming to delve a little deeper into motivations and character development. I liked the dynamic between Theo and a potential boyfriend, and I understood Eloise's hesitation about how she could possibly go on and finally live her life the way she wanted. But, with that said, the plot never really went anywhere and then ending seemed like more of the same without a real conclusion. It made me wonder about the point of this novel.
I've read a previous book by this author and really enjoyed it, so I know she is talented. This is not a book that displays her ability to craft a good story, and it's not something I'd recommend. It's not terrible, it's forgettable.
I received a free advanced copy of this book through the First Reads program....more