Park and Eleanor are two high school students in 1986 who both feel like outsiders - Park because he's the only half-Asian kid in the area and EleanorPark and Eleanor are two high school students in 1986 who both feel like outsiders - Park because he's the only half-Asian kid in the area and Eleanor because she's the new girl who sticks out because of her size, her red hair, and her dysfunctional family life. As the school year goes on, the two of them begin to cling to the other, feeling like nothing bad can happen if they have each other.
The author did a great job capturing what first love feels like in this book, with both Eleanor and Park so captivated by the other and worried that they'll scare them off due to their own insecurities, yet feeling so incredibly sure of their own feelings. The transition from acquaintance to friends to boyfriend/girlfriend was rather quick - or at least, that's how it seemed - because there wasn't a big event or incident that brought the two of them closer, just the beginning of their shared interests and intrigue by the other. But perhaps that's one of the reasons why this felt so realistic; it wasn't some "big" story but was instead simply a story about their feelings, stripped down to simply the essentials.
I love the way the characters were developed. Their home lives were so different, and it was easy to see how they'd each been influenced by the factors in their family - Park, with his happy parents, was eager to believe in love, while Eleanor was standoffish because of her abusive stepdad and pushover mom. It didn't feel like any of the problems in their lives were downplayed, and that made the book stronger because of how all-encompassing a look it was at their lives. All the emotional developments felt real, and I couldn't help but get caught up in rooting for them.
Every time I had to put the book down, I couldn't wait to pick it up again. The author did such a great job grabbing hold of the reader and making it irresistible to find out what would happen with the characters next. I think my only real complaint about this novel is the fact that it ended in a semi open-ended way, leaving me wondering what happened next. Still a good ending, and fitting, but I wish there'd just been slightly more so I could know what happened next!
Definitely a worthwhile book to check out, especially for teens who don't feel like they belong for whatever reason. I think this did a great job giving voice to all those feelings. ...more
Probably 3.5 stars. Grace is an unhappy London housewife in 1955 who receives a letter stating she needs to travel to France because she's inherited tProbably 3.5 stars. Grace is an unhappy London housewife in 1955 who receives a letter stating she needs to travel to France because she's inherited the estate of Eva D'Orsey. Only problem is, Grace has never heard of Eva. But she goes to France anyway and begins looking into Eva's life to figure out their connection. In alternate chapters, Eva's story is told, beginning in 1927 New York City, where she worked as a maid in a wealthy hotel and began talking to guests against the rules.
I enjoyed this story overall and the time periods the author chose to set it in. The look at various years in history, and in so may different locations, was fun. The 1955 story didn't exactly feel like a period piece, as it could easily have happened in today's world (aside, perhaps, from some of the society aspects and what was "required" of being a dutiful housewife). But the 1927 world was interesting, and I liked the way that Eva's hotel was described. I could just picture the sort of place where she worked, somewhere that felt like a city of its own and had strict rules to keep the staff and the guests apart.
Grace and Eva were both quite likable, but the surrounding characters had fairly flimsy development. The deepest character development was in scenes where Eva, as a teenager, interacted with hotel guests she was in awe of. I could see how naive and utterly impressed she was with those who seemed to have it all, and this gave a deeper understanding of Eva - and the guest she interacted with - in general. There were a number of people whom Grace interacted with as well, but I never felt the same sort of deep development with her or those around her.
The plot itself was completely predictable. I figured out, very early on, what the connection between Grace and Eva would be, and there was really no linger doubt about how anything would turn out. This wasn't billed as a mystery, of course, but it would have been nice if the story hadn't been so easy to predict. I was never surprised throughout the pages, which isn't a good thing, but because I enjoyed the story anyway, it didn't ruin anything either.
The writing was nice but occasionally threw me out of the story. The chapters alternated between Grace's and Eva's lives, and the majority of the tale was told, in third person, from their perspective. However, every so often, all of a sudden the narrative would switch points of view and the author would include a description of what someone else was seeing or thinking. It jarred me out of the reality I thought I was seeing, out of Grace's or Eva's head, and I often had to reread what was just written so I could understand whose viewpoint it'd just switched to. Then, just as suddenly, it'd return to Eva or Grace. There didn't seem to be any real reason for this, and I really did not enjoy it. Not only did it take me out of the story I thought I was reading, but it also kept me from feeling any sort of mystery or intrigue because I already knew what everyone was thinking and feeling. This, more so than the predictable plot, was my biggest complaint about the novel.
Despite these shortcomings, this book was a fun and entertaining story. I especially enjoyed all the description about perfumes (which Eva made/inspired) and how people had their own particularly "scent" that could be so intoxicating. The novel itself didn't amaze me but I wasn't disappointed either....more
What a completely underwhelming, disappointing conclusion to the Divergent trilogy - so pathetic that I doubt I'll ever read future novels by this autWhat a completely underwhelming, disappointing conclusion to the Divergent trilogy - so pathetic that I doubt I'll ever read future novels by this author. Before reading this, I'd been told by multiple people that it really wasn't worth reading, and they were right. Told in alternating viewpoints between Tris and Tobias, this book covers their departure to the outside world and their fight to change the way their world had been set up, divided into such sharp factions.
I'm pretty sure the author's overall goal with this novel was to turn it into a tragic love story. On both counts, it failed. The majority of this book was filled with such unimportant angst. Tris and Tobias fought with each other, debated whether to keep secrets with each other, argued over secrets they kept/shared... and then almost every chapter ended with them deciding it was all okay and sealing it with a kiss. It didn't feel believable and all the supposed romance was so poorly done that it felt forced instead of being so emotional that it got under my skin. I just didn't care. I felt like the author was trying to manipulate me into feeling something more just so later events would feel "bigger". And it just didn't work.
The characters in here were pathetic. There was little, if any, character development, and secondary characters were introduced simply to be killed off or live on... and because I didn't know any of them well, I just didn't care. Tris and Tobias did not seem like they'd grown any from the previous books and were instead completely headstrong (in a bad way) and whiny. There was jealousy and bickering between the two of them, and none of it even mattered because it didn't advance the plot or the characters any. It was just filler material, and boring filler at that. Also, although the book was narrated by both Tris and Tobias, their voices sounded identical. I often had to double check whose perspective I was reading because I couldn't tell them apart by voice alone. Why bother having two narrators if they don't stand apart? Spoiler alert: so one can continue to narrate when "tragedy" happens to the other. How convenient (insert eye roll here).
The plot was thin. There were some answers to questions that had arisen along the way, but dang - it didn't feel like anything of importance was ever happening. People explained stuff to Tris and Tobias; Tris and Tobias argued; there was a fight scene in which someone would die; more arguing; more explaining; another fight scene; another death... There was not a central plot strong enough to make the book gripping, and I also didn't feel like the main characters had to actually work for the answers they wanted. Everything just happened, regardless of what they did.
And then there's the ending, which was the lamest part of all. I can't believe I read this entire trilogy only to have an ending that felt like nothing more than a cheap shock. By the time I got to the end, I was already yawning and rolling my eyes at the ridiculous scenario and all the stupid decisions that the characters had made up until that point. I have no idea what sort of message the author thought she was sending with the end, but nothing good came through. Instead, I was left with the impression that the ending was written for shock value only. It didn't feel realistic and it definitely wasn't emotional - just dumb.
Overall: a huge disappointment. It's too bad that I didn't know beforehand how downhill this trilogy would slide after the first book. What a forgettable book and series - nothing to recommend here. I'm pretty sure that this series will not withstand the test of time (and if it does, why?) because, wow, what was the point of this? The fact that I just read three books to be completely let down by the author's inability to wrap it up in a satisfying manner is ridiculously disappointing. At least I didn't buy this book. ...more
This book was pretty amusing, split up into chapters that each relayed a different story from the author's life, complemented by illustrations. The stThis book was pretty amusing, split up into chapters that each relayed a different story from the author's life, complemented by illustrations. The stories didn't seem to always tie together well but instead felt like completely separate short stories, threaded together only by the people featured and not arranged in any particular order.
My favorite stories were the ones about the author's dogs. I laughed out loud multiple times at her descriptions of situations they got into, and the illustrations definitely brought the point home. The best illustration, to me, was the one that illustrated "dog science" and how if a dog wanted to do "a thing", they'd do the thing, something bad would happen, repeat, repeat, repeat... and the obvious conclusion is that they weren't doing the thing enough times. I can just picture a dog coming to this conclusion!
There were a few chapters about depression, which weren't exactly funny but were definitely interesting and enlightening. I think the author did such a particularly great job breaking down the feeling of depression and making it easier for others to understand what it feels like. The remaining stories were mostly about weird events in her childhood, none of which were especially entertaining but were instead just kind of awkward and slow to get through. I could have done without those stories.
Although I didn't love every single story in here, when the chapter was good, it was great! It was a really quick book to get through and I liked enough of it to share some of the illustrations with others, making them laugh as well. Not a book that will change your life, but it will definitely make you think about depression and laugh about the crazy antics of animals....more
Lenny is a junior high kid who lives and breathes Phillies baseball. When an "Armchair Announcer" contest is advertised with the prize of getting to aLenny is a junior high kid who lives and breathes Phillies baseball. When an "Armchair Announcer" contest is advertised with the prize of getting to actually announce an inning of a Phillies game, Lenny knows he's meant to enter and win - and he does. But he never gets around to actually announcing his inning because the pitcher drops dead on the field, and Lenny immediately suspects foul play. Together with his two friends named Mike ("Mike" and "Other Mike"), Lenny spends his summer trying to investigate what happened.
This was such a fun and hilarious book. Multiple times while reading this, I laughed out loud and actually read out quotes to whoever happened to be nearby. The author totally did a great job blending together likable characters, an interesting mystery, and truly funny passages. Although this book is enjoyable as an adult, I imagine I would have loved it even more as a kid and would definitely recommend this to everyone.
I had no idea how to mystery would be solved or who the culprit was, and I loved their investigation as they tried to figure it out. This wasn't particularly scary or suspenseful, but it was more about three friends who decide they can take on an investigation that the rest of the world has forgotten about and the police have (of course) botched. I could just see these three boys thinking that, and it was entertaining to see them jump to conclusions, then try to figure a little more out - all the while being completely awkward and dorky and not caring because that was just who they were. The characters completely made this book, and the narrator's voice made the pages fly by.
I have no idea why this book hasn't gotten better distribution. The library didn't have a copy, and I only heard about it because I'd previously read (and enjoyed) some young adult novels the author wrote. I thought this was such a smart book and so witty, and it's probably the exact sort of book kids (and boys in particular, especially ones into baseball) would love, especially if they enjoy other amusing books like the Wimpy Kid series. I thought this was great and I'm looking forward to the next book in this apparent series! Another great book from this author....more
This reads more like a short story than anything else, about a woman named Kate who ends up talking to her elderly neighbor about love and life while This reads more like a short story than anything else, about a woman named Kate who ends up talking to her elderly neighbor about love and life while waiting for her husband to get home. The conversation makes Kate start to think about what she wants in the future and ends nicely, but definitely in a way that will lead into the novel the author's releasing in a few months. I didn't actually realize that this was an intro to a new novel until afterward; I'd originally thought it was a standalone novella (which it can be.... but knowing there's more to the story is definitely nice!).
This is nicely written (as the author's works typically are) and I'm interested to see where the story goes from here. It wasn't anything that completely blew me away, but it did serve as a nice introduction to Kate, getting inside her head as she reflected on her life. There were a couple of extraneous details included about her life that make sense now that I know this is leading into a full-length novel, but everything in here was well-balanced and seemed like a really nice depiction of one meaningful, thoughtful evening in her life. I'm looking forward to reading the book!...more
Cath is a die-hand Simon Snow fan (think Harry Potter) who spends all her free time writing fanfic about Simon. Now starting college, Cath is thrown wCath is a die-hand Simon Snow fan (think Harry Potter) who spends all her free time writing fanfic about Simon. Now starting college, Cath is thrown when her twin sister seems to have suddenly outgrown Simon and maybe even Cath. Cath ends up spending the majority of her time with her new roommate and her boyfriend, who seems to always be around, as well as a writing partner with whom she co-writes pieces for her classes. Over the course of the school year, Cath starts to figure out who she wants to be, what she loves, and how to be a person without her twin or her fictional characters to prop her up.
I loved this book so much! I don't know what exactly it was about the book that spoke to me so much, but I was constantly thinking about the story whenever I wasn't reading it, eager to pick it up again where I'd left off. Cath is such an awkward character, yet she's awkward in an endearing and relatable way that feels entirely believable and understandable. Perhaps she just embodies - to an extreme - what everyone feels, on some level, when thrust into a completely new and unknown situation.
The characters in here were fantastic all around. Everyone felt so real and complex. I loved the fact that no one was a stereotype and instead had such rounded feelings, emotions, and reactions to problems encountered. The friendships Cath struck with Reagan and Levi (Cath's roommate and her boyfriend) seemed somehow deeper than most friendships in comparative books, perhaps because their friendships evolved so naturally and they simply seemed to fit as friends instead of having a single reason why they got along (which is never really the case in actuality).
The underlying theme of fanfiction and that entire world was interesting - and so true! I don't think I've ever read a book that delved so completely into fanfiction as this, and it did so to great effect. Cath is obsessed with Simon and loves getting lost in his world when she's creating new stories inside of it. Hearing her talk - both with someone else and internally - about why she loved writing fanfiction rang so true. Same with her thoughts during her fiction-writing class, where she struggled to come up with her own world in which to write but never seemed to be at loss for anything when it came to fanfiction.
Finally, the love story in here was wonderful. It was well-paced and the perfect balance of awkward and sweet, as it should have been. To me, some of the romance scenes read almost like what much fanfiction strives to be, focusing on the love story so much that I could almost forget anything else was happening... until another plotline brought me back. You can't read this without swooning. And occasionally laughing out loud because of the amusing and witty dialogue!
If I were to complain about anything, it would be that the book didn't have a "bigger" ending. It was a nice ending, and I finished the book very happy - perhaps I'm just sad that it's over! - but it could have gone on longer. Considering that this was mainly a coming of age story, the fact that it could have continued is saying something! What an excellent book!!...more
This is one of those books that's not necessarily easy to read, yet the story is gripping enough to make you feel compelled to read on. I figured thatThis is one of those books that's not necessarily easy to read, yet the story is gripping enough to make you feel compelled to read on. I figured that, based on the publicity alone, I should read this, all about the author's kidnapping and nine months in captivity.
I'm not exactly sure what I expected, beginning this book. Words in it were definitely used to good effect, focusing on how she felt and the basics of what was happening rather than going into details about all the horrors she endured. I liked the fact that enough was said to give a picture of the squalor and awfulness but the details weren't dwelled upon; it definitely made this easier to read. The author comes across as very strong and put-together now, showing how she felt like she endured this ordeal because there was no other choice but wasn't letting her life be ruled by it.
What I felt this book was lacking was more about her recovery. Yet that wasn't the focus of this book at all; her rescue came near the very end of the book, leaving little time to describe how she put her life together again and how smoothly she transitioned back into her old life. I would have liked to read more about that, and I think it could have helped bring the story full circle, instead of the short 1-2 chapters about her life post-rescue. ...more
Cassie is a natural at reading people, able to pick up on slight clues others miss without even realizing it, then putting the pieces together to get Cassie is a natural at reading people, able to pick up on slight clues others miss without even realizing it, then putting the pieces together to get inside that person's head. Because of her talents, she's recruited to join the Naturals program, a part of the FBI that takes teens with strong natural abilities and trains them to further hone their skills so they can assist in solving cold cases. As she moves forward in her training, a serial killer strikes close to the training facility, and Cassie begins to believe that this case has something to do with her mom, who's been missing 5 years and presumed dead.
This was an entertaining story, and I liked the fact that everyone in this program had "natural" abilities that were not paranormal, simply an enhanced perception of the world around them. It made for a nice contrast to the all-too-many books published recently featuring main characters with some sort of magical abilities. This was really just like Criminal Minds for the teen set, as others have noted in their reviews.
Cassie was an interesting main character, and I liked seeing her learning more about how to read people instead of doing a cursory read and not probing deeper. The author did a nice job explaining how her training progressed, and I liked the fact that it wasn't all simply fun but grew almost taxing. Cassie's friendships with the others in this program rounded her out nicely, although not all the characters felt as well developed as they could have been. Still, everyone fit in their roles well and it made for a cohesive book.
I think this is the start of a series, as the ending definitely left a lot open (despite wrapping up the serial killer plot). While this book certainly had its flaws, it accomplished what it set out to do: entertain the reader with an interesting setting, fun characters, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Light and breezy, but entertaining nonetheless....more
3.5 stars. This book opens with Cammie waking up months after her last memory. Instead of it being June, it's October, and her mind is a complete blan3.5 stars. This book opens with Cammie waking up months after her last memory. Instead of it being June, it's October, and her mind is a complete blank of what happened over the summer. She heads back to Gallagher Academy, where her friends are acting strange and no one seems to trust Cammie anymore, including Cammie herself. She begins trying to regain her memories and piece together the few clues she has to try and figure out what she learned over the summer about the Circle of Cavan (a secretive terrorist organization) and what her long-missing dad fits in to any of it.
It's been a while since I read the last book in this series and, as with the previous installments, the author doesn't give a whole ton of recapping of what's already happened, so I had to rely on my memory and figure it out as it went on. That said, perhaps my confusion (at times) worked well while reading this book, since Cammie is confused about what's happened and she and I, together, were trying to piece it all together. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this, in that there was a constant question of what had happened and who knew what and what there even was to be known! The way Cammie started piecing everything together was fun, and it made for an engaging story.
The biggest complaint I have about this book is that it didn't feel truly "complete". Although the plot of this book revolved around Cammie trying to figure out what had happened to her and regain her memories from the summer, the entire story seemed to pick up in the middle of a bigger story - the series overall. It wasn't a book that truly stood alone, and because of that, it was weaker overall than it could have been. The ending resolved the "what happened over the summer?" plot but left so much more unanswered, waiting to be tied up in the next (final) book in the series. So that was a disappointment; I like it when each book in a series feels complete.
That said, the book was still fun and entertaining. The author writes rather sparsely, sometimes leaving minor details out to the point where I have to flip back and wonder if I missed something, but the story was engrossing. Not my favorite book in the series, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and will be finishing the series up soon....more
Ahh, another Wimpy Kid book. It doesn't matter that these are written for a way younger audience than myself; they are so funny and entertaining! In tAhh, another Wimpy Kid book. It doesn't matter that these are written for a way younger audience than myself; they are so funny and entertaining! In this installment, Greg's upset because his best friend, Rowley, has a girlfriend, so Greg's on the hunt for a new best friend. Along the way, he decides that making decisions is too tough, so he begins asking a magic 8 ball to guide his decisions.
Although I enjoyed this book, it wasn't the best in the series. I laughed out loud a few times (which is better than most books) but felt like this book was lacking a "big" moment that got me laughing and didn't let up. Still, there were definitely enjoyable moments in here and Greg was as self-absorbed as ever. My favorite parts included Greg's attempts to join a school club and become an official photographer - an activity that involved him captioning his own photos with stuff like, "His fly's open!" and "This guy's leaving the bathroom without washing his hand!" I can just see him thinking these are the "perfect" captions to go in the yearbook!
Honor Bright is a Quaker who leaves England in 1850 with her sister, who's engaged to a man living in Ohio. Before they reach her sister's fiance, howHonor Bright is a Quaker who leaves England in 1850 with her sister, who's engaged to a man living in Ohio. Before they reach her sister's fiance, however, Honor's sister comes down with yellow fever and dies, but Honor has nowhere to go but on to Ohio, as the ocean journey was so rough on her that she physically cannot return home. Her would-be brother-in-law takes her, but Honor knows she can't stay with him forever and attempts to make friends and find her place. While learning about her new country, Honor becomes involved with the Underground Railroad, as she'd been taught that slavery is wrong, yet everyone around her (Quakers and not) seem to have varying opinions about what to do about slavery and how it should be resolved.
I first heard of this book because it was nominated for an award on Goodreads; I'd previously read Girl with a Pearl Earring by the author and enjoyed that (although I don't remember it well) so I was excited to begin this one. It did not disappoint. This is a slow-paced book, more about the characters and their everyday lives than any "big" action, yet the writing keeps it moving along beautifully. So much research obviously went into writing this, and I loved all the small details, such as the sewing Honor continually does and the ways she finds quilting different in America than in England.
The characters in here were wonderful. They weren't all likable, and there was no one who was perfect, but they all felt completely believable. Even the "bad" characters had their good qualities, and it was easy to see why Honor was so conflicted about her feelings toward certain characters, especially a slave hunter who Honor despises on principle... yet he seems to accept Honor for who she is, an acceptance she doesn't feel from most other people, endearing her to him more than she wants. I'm sure much of this is truly indicative of the time period, with everyone having their own limits to what they were willing to do to do what they felt was "right".
This was such a thought-provoking book, and it had a lovely ending. I wasn't sure how the story would end, as there didn't appear to be any perfect way to finish it, but it wrapped up perfectly, in a way that left me with a lot of hope for what was to come. I imagine that many of the situations in this book were fairly common - alone in a new land, conflicted about slavery, how a woman could make a place for herself - and this was a great story that didn't gloss over the realities of life. Interesting read for sure....more
This was a completely engrossing book and - especially for the subject at hand - as non-partisan a book as there likely could be. Everything was meticThis was a completely engrossing book and - especially for the subject at hand - as non-partisan a book as there likely could be. Everything was meticulously referenced, explained, and conclusions weren't stated without noting evidence weighing on both sides. There were a few parts to this book: a brief review of JFK's presidency, his assassination and the subsequent investigation(s), and the ways in which JFK continues to influence politics on all sides of the political spectrum, despite his actual time in office being so short.
One of the things that sets this book apart from others is that the author didn't appear to have an underlying motive in writing this, no hidden agenda, except to examine how influential JFK was, even after his death and why we are still so fascinated by him. I suppose this fascination is what led me - and others - to pick up this book in the first place, despite not knowing exactly why we're intrigued. As the author noted, part of it is simply because of the different time that he seemed to live in, when the press was more deferential to leaders and the overall meaning of big events was not nit-picked apart to the point of being rendered ridiculous; as the author notes, Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" quote did not translate perfectly, but the press then overlooked this in favor of focusing on the bigger impact of the entire speech. I'm quite sure that the author's correct when he noted that such a mistake now would be great fodder for late-night comedians, as well as political opponents. There's a lesson to be learned here...
The chapters detailing the assassination, how it was (or might have been) pulled off, and the various claims of conspiracy were gripping. The author spent time examining all sorts of claims about what "really" happened that day and who was "really" involved; I loved the thoroughness. Claims weren't dismissed out of hand, but the author presented the evidence, or lack thereof, in support of various theories, making it interesting to think about why people are so eager to believe certain versions of the "truth". Some of the commentary was entertaining as well, such as when it was noted that if everyone who now claims to have been in Dallas that day actually had been there, they wouldn't have all fit.
The last third or so of the book was devoted to exploring the presidencies of JFK's successors and how they each invoked Kennedy's legacy for their own agendas, simply because of the weigh his memory lends. It was like a short history lesson on each president, with the focus being on the ways they were alike, and unlike, Kennedy - and, of course, the ways they strove to compare themselves to him. Seeing the number of times Kennedy was quoted by various presidents, compared to the number of times other "big name" presidents were mentioned, was fascinating. Somehow, despite all the subsequent revelations of Kennedy's less-than-stellar private life, he still appears untouchable. The author interviewed so many subjects for this book, including former presidents and their families, and the book seems so strong because of it. There are so many viewpoints and recollections in here, alongside reports, facts, and older interviews, that everything feels balanced.
This entire book was so readable. It made for an extremely accessible, yet also quite in-depth, look at Kennedy's seemingly eternal legacy. Well-researched and nicely put together, this did such an excellent job of making the events of a half-century ago seem completely fresh. Highly recommended for those interested in JFK or American political history in general. ...more
This is such a talked-about book, yet it's one I'd never read until now. I figured it was about time. The actual plot of this novel is on the thin sidThis is such a talked-about book, yet it's one I'd never read until now. I figured it was about time. The actual plot of this novel is on the thin side, and it's really just a parable with seemingly deep, thoughtful quotes along the way. In short: a boy, who became a shepherd because he wanted to travel, is told that he should travel to the desert to find his treasure. Along the way, while following his Personal Legend, he runs into a number of people he never would have met otherwise and learns more about himself and about the way of the world.
I can see why this book is popular. It contains so much about why people should listen to their hearts, and it's basically a parable that shows how rewarding it can be to follow your dreams despite the hardships along the way because of what you learn out of the detours.
For as inspiring as certain sentences were, the book itself seemed kinda sparse. The writing was simple, with quotable lines here and there, and it was definitely more about the quotes than any actual plot or characters. I did enjoy some of the thoughts in here and, like I said above, it's obvious why the book has such a following. I guess I just wasn't as completely amazed by the rest of it - short bursts of thoughtfulness did not make the rest of it stellar. There were so many grandiose statements that sounded good on their own, but because the story wasn't nearly as deep as the quotes made it seem, the novel as a whole failed to get under my skin and truly wow me. I think perhaps this is a book that's great for quotes but that's about it (at least in my eyes).
From the hype surrounding is book, I expected a lot more. Still, even if I hadn't started reading with any expectations, I think I would have been just as "meh" about this overall. It's great that so many people have found so much meaning and inspiration in here, but it's not anything that amazed me or even truly held my interest without fail. ...more
What a engrossing story! Kate is a single mother in New York who gets a call that her only daughter, Amelia, has been suspended and that she needs to What a engrossing story! Kate is a single mother in New York who gets a call that her only daughter, Amelia, has been suspended and that she needs to pick her up from school immediately. Plagiarizing a paper doesn't sound like something Amelia would do, but Kate hurries over to the school, but by the time she arrives, Amelia is dead. It's initially ruled a suicide, but a month later, Kate gets an anonymous text claiming that Amelia didn't jump, and she begins to look into Amelia's life, learning all sorts of things that Amelia had been hiding.
The story was told in an interesting way, going between Kate's current investigation and Amelia's point of view for about the last month of her life; interspersed with these narratives were texts and Facebook messages Amelia had received. I had ideas of where the story might be going, or what might have happened, but I was unable to fill in all the blanks on my own. I enjoyed the parallel storylines, with everyone having their own secrets they were ashamed of and their own uncertainties about how to move forward with problems they faced.
This book actually reminded me a lot of The Year of the Gadfly, as both dealt with private schools, secret societies, and mysteries, but they weren't identical. The secret society stuff was definitely heavy in this story, along with so much "adult" activity such as sex and drugs; perhaps these are just facts of life at old, rich private schools - I don't know. Or perhaps including these simply made for a more complex story. It definitely gave an extra layer of tension and, of course, more opportunities for students to feel excluded or bullied. As one of the teachers noted, that is often the entire point of these societies: to exclude others. Amelia's emotions and reactions to the hazing were understandable, even though the hazing itself was awful to read about. It was even harder due to the fact that no one was willing to actually take a stand and fight against these societies, for fear of what would happen to them if they did.
One of the things that made the characters in this so strong was that all were flawed. Amelia and Kate were likable, but Amelia was naive and Kate oblivious, still beating herself up over a string of bad decisions. Other characters were even more flawed, and few were actually likable; most were simply interesting because of the wildly different facets of the personalities they displayed. I was particularly intrigued by the friendship Amelia had with her best friend, Sylvia, and how they were able to act terribly toward each other yet always have the other's back. In another storyline, Amelia was exchanging texts with a boy she'd never met, and it was so maddening to read because who was he, really? So many layers of mysteries, some small, some big. And, of course, all the teens believed themselves mature enough to handle everything on their own, no need to involve adults because that'd only bring repercussions from their peers.
The entire novel was put together so well, and although I did predict the way some of the mysteries would turn out, I enjoyed the story throughout. It was such an engrossing mystery and the author did a great job bringing it to life....more
Macey, a spy-in-training from the Gallagher Girls series, and Hale, a thief from the Heist Society series, run into each other at a society event and Macey, a spy-in-training from the Gallagher Girls series, and Hale, a thief from the Heist Society series, run into each other at a society event and quickly realize that there's more to each other than meets the eye. They're the only two people who see an attack coming, and after hostages are taken at the event, the two of them must rely on each other to get everyone out safely.
This was a quick, fun read. And a free e-book!! Doesn't get much better than that. It's been a while since I read any of the books that originally featured these characters, but what a cool idea to combine characters from both series in a novella that was both entertaining and a great way to introduce new readers to these series.
Because of its length, this story almost reads like a long scene from a novel instead of a full story on its own. That's fine by me - it was an entertaining scene for sure, and I liked the ways that Macey's and Hale's individual skills came in handy while trying to outwit the unknown bad guys who'd stormed the place. You definitely don't have to be familiar with the characters to enjoy this, and it certainly makes you want to read more!...more
3.5 stars. Andi and her sister move in with their eccentric aunt, Amelie, who lives in an old house that's been in the family forever. Amelie agrees t3.5 stars. Andi and her sister move in with their eccentric aunt, Amelie, who lives in an old house that's been in the family forever. Amelie agrees to let Andi have her own bedroom in the attic if she helps clean it out. While sifting through items in the attic, Andi stumbles across a hidden trunk marked with the name "Andora" (Andi's full name). Curious about the relative she was apparently named after, Andi begins asking questions, but no one in town wants to answer - in fact, everyone seems to clam up the moment Andora's name is mentioned. Andi realizes that the mystery of Andora is one she needs to solve herself, along with her new friend and next door neighbor, and she needs to do it before a pushy man in town can do his own investigation.
I liked the story in here and the idea of Andi looking into a family mystery. The mystery itself was interesting and I was curious why everyone was so eager to fall silent instead of giving any sort of answers about Andora. I also liked the idea of a man in town wanting to write a book about the mystery, trying to beat Andi to each part of Andora's story. There was a nice dose of history in here as well, as Andora had been born during the Depression, and the author did a good job of providing background information about the stock market crash and subsequent depression without being too heavy-handed about it. Andi's sidekick was an encyclopedia of knowledge as well, and I liked the random facts he spouted off as appropriate.
I'm not sure exactly what this book was lacking. A lot of the story was just going from here to there to there... and I realize that this is aimed at a younger audience, but I think it could have had a little more excitement to it. Parts of this felt dry, certain parts were slightly overdone for effect, and others things were underdeveloped; clues about the mystery were overplayed, but there wasn't much depth to the emotions of Andi and her sister and how they felt about everything that had led to them living with their aunt.
This was a quick read, and it was an entertaining middle grade novel overall. While it wasn't completely amazing, it was a fun novel that I'm sure will be enjoyed by those who read it. ...more
2.5 stars. Kate O'Hare is an FBI agent who's spent years chasing Nick Fox, a con man who always seems to be one step ahead. After she finally nabs him2.5 stars. Kate O'Hare is an FBI agent who's spent years chasing Nick Fox, a con man who always seems to be one step ahead. After she finally nabs him, he slips away yet again, only to reappear with an offer to unofficially work for the FBI and help them nab suspects they haven't been able to catch through legitimate channels. His offer is approved, and Kate and Nick end up as a team - along with a small cast of other colorful characters - chasing down a corrupt investment banker who's disappeared.
I'm pretty sure I'm in the majority when I say that the only reason I picked up this book was because it's co-written by Janet Evanovich and I was curious/excited to read something new by her that wasn't part of the Stephanie Plum series. That said, the premise was cute and I liked the basic storyline. I enjoyed the various personalities that Kate and Nick are eventually surrounded by as they attempted to pull off a large con in order to bring the investment banker to justice, and I liked all the details about what they did in order to pull it off.
The main problem with this book, however, is the writing. It felt very lazily written, and I never once felt excited or enthusiastic about it. It's a fairly short read, which is mainly why I finished it, but it never felt quick paced or particularly captivating. Instead, many of the details offered made the story plod along awkwardly, and the supposedly tension between Kate and Nick did not feel real. I felt like I was being told how the operation went down instead of seeing it or even being a part of it, which made it lose a lot of its excitement. Also, the characters all seemed fairly one-dimensional, with just a quirk or two to help distinguish between them.
I was underwhelmed overall, though this book isn't necessarily bad. It's an okay read, but not anything I'd recommend. Even for a light read, there are lots of better books out there. This was just kind of "meh" overall. There were a few cute moments, but the majority of the book felt like someone was simply relaying a story instead of allowing me to actually be engrossed in it. Not terrible by any means, but it lacked the sort of spark that makes a book appealing. I'd call this slightly below average....more
Sutter prides himself being the life of the party, being friends with everyone, and his ability to always have a good time. Part of his confidence comSutter prides himself being the life of the party, being friends with everyone, and his ability to always have a good time. Part of his confidence comes from the fact that he's an alcoholic, although he doesn't see himself as one; he just thinks his drinking is a fun way to enhance his naturally exuberant personality. After his girlfriend dumps him, he ends up meeting Aimee, a quiet girl at his school he'd never noticed before. He soon realizes that there's more to her than meets the eye, and he takes it upon himself to be the one to help coach her and boost her confidence. As he does so, he realizes that he might actually be falling for her, but he also knows that she's too good for him.
There was so much I liked about this book! The author did a great job with Sutter's voice. His narration was believable and flowed so smoothly that I couldn't help but continually want to read on. Sutter was a completely flawed character, yet he's also endearing and complicated. His relationships with other family members was well done. The one person Sutter held in high regard was his father, who'd disappeared years ago; Sutter never believed his mom's stories about why they divorced and Sutter constantly believing that if he could just reunite with his dad, he'd finally find the family member who'd understand him. It was touching and heartbreaking at the same time.
The relationships between Sutter and his schoolmates, including Aimee and other friends, was written beautifully. I loved the way Sutter and Aimee were drawn to each other, each seeing more to the other than anyone else noticed. It was such a great depiction of a young relationship that truly changed the people involved - and not always for the better, but definitely in deep ways. Both their personalities were more complex than their outer appearances suggested, which was awesome, and I loved the way they both began to fully come to life in each other's presence.
My only real complaint about the book is the ending. While I felt like the entire book was a very realistic and engrossing take on life, I had hoped for a different ending (and I see from other reviews that I'm not the only one!). Having spent a few days thinking about the ending, I can see that the way it ended was more realistic and perhaps authentic than the ending I had hoped for, but at the same time, I wish the author had delved a little further into the future so I could have seen where the characters eventually ended up. Who knows, perhaps there will be a sequel; the option for one is certainly there! And to be fair, it wasn't an unsatisfying ended, just not the one I'd hoped for.
The book as a whole was still spectacular indeed, and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie made from it (which is how I'd heard of this book in the first place.. and, as usual, I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie). This novel was very thought-provoking and very different from others I've read. Very flawed characters, and a bumpy story from start to finish, but an interesting slice of life with much growth along the way....more
This is exactly what the title makes it sound like: an unofficial "guide" to the world of Sweet Valley High, recapping every book in the original seriThis is exactly what the title makes it sound like: an unofficial "guide" to the world of Sweet Valley High, recapping every book in the original series. The author's blog, The Dairi Burger, is where I'd originally stumbled across many of these recaps, as she shared the highlights (lowlights?) with other fans of the SVH series from back in the day. This book combines those recaps, plus continues with recaps of the remaining books in the SVH series that were not originally on the blog.
Fans of SVH are really the only ones who'd be interested in this book. Although not a single recaps is without snark, reading short summaries of each book and having the ridiculousness pointed out is awesome. I loved the commentary about certain characters and the highlighting of flaws - ie, Liz and Todd continually cheating on each other and/or breaking up, yet still being considered a "perfect" couple, etc. There are also continual comments about how peripheral characters were treated and how they disappeared and reappeared as necessary. If you want to relive the days of SVH and don't want to reread the actual books (or even if you do), or if you're curious how the series ended, this is such a fun read. And while the commentaries are great, the highlight of the book is definitely the prologue, where the author details her love for Sweet Valley and then elaborates on things she's noticed or lessons learned from the series.
I've seen complaints about how some of the recaps are repetitive and that some points are harped on about more than necessary. These are valid points, especially if you're trying to read this book in large chunks. Parts of this, I know, are due to the fact that there was so much repetition in the original books, so of course any recaps would repeat the same criticisms as well. Another part of this, I'm sure, is due to the fact that each recap was originally written separately and many posted to the author's blog, one at a time, and then only later put together in this book. I noticed the repetition, but it didn't bother me much, since I only read this book little by little. If this is treated more like a "guidebook" than an actual novel, then the repetition isn't a big deal.
The parts I didn't like about this book were the recaps that weren't written as straight recaps but instead written "as told by... (insert author/fictional character here)". I didn't quite identify with the writing or the personality it was written by. For example, one is recapped through the eyes of Kristy Thomas from the Babysitters Club and another is written by Bret Easton Ellis, author of Less Than Zero. These particular recaps were definitely told in a different way from the rest of the book, but they were harder to get through and weren't exactly what I was looking for.
Still, what a great compilation overall. I'm pretty sure I paid $2.99 for the ebook, but it looks like it's now being offered for free - go figure. Totally worth the $2.99, though. Funny recaps that made me remember all sorts of details about my favorite Sweet Valley series, and the commentary was entertaining. I'm pretty sure the only SVH books not recapped in here are the "Secret Diaries", which originally served to recap the original books while adding a few new "secret" plots....more