Feels like the introduction to a book. The library doesn't have any more so I'll read more if a friend loans me another. Solid characters and a lovely Feels like the introduction to a book. The library doesn't have any more so I'll read more if a friend loans me another. Solid characters and a lovely setting in London. Some mystery, maybe magic? Written as journal entries. Fun quick read. Book club picked it, not sure if there is much to discuss so we'll probably just drink tea and talk!...more
This book was a lot! It was suggested for book club and anytime a nonfiction is I say-Yes. We all had lots of opinion but overall didn't really like itThis book was a lot! It was suggested for book club and anytime a nonfiction is I say-Yes. We all had lots of opinion but overall didn't really like it. I started it really quickly and thought it was really wordy and trying to be poetic. He veered from solid nature writing to hippy woo woo to interesting facts and science to travel memoir to philosophy to lots of incomplete sentences. Metal incomplete. Silver. Gold. Cold. Deep time incomplete sentences... Oops I got carried away. (And I never really got the concept of Deep Time) I did end up finishing after our book club meeting and I liked it better when I was not rushed reading it. The things he did for the book was fascinating and a little crazy and I would have loved a timeline and map and better pictures. Also a job description for a Cambridge fellow and how his wife felt with him leaving for weeks and week to go under Paris and up mountains and through icy sea caves. Cold caves. Brilliant white caves. Air. Sea. Water. Underland. Deep Time Caves. Oops I did it again. ...more
A twist on the dual timeline story. This time it is the same person at the same age! It was something new and the plots were enjoyable. I was surprisedA twist on the dual timeline story. This time it is the same person at the same age! It was something new and the plots were enjoyable. I was surprised by the end. There is a fine line between sharing faith and saying sugary platitudes, this one got close but I don't think it crossed it. It was nice to read a Christian fiction which encourages faith in God's plan, but set in a real life fantasy, and especially one that had romance but also other good things going on. I will read more of this series and look forward to discussing it at book club. ...more
It was boring. I'm glad these early sci-fi books gotten written to open the way for today's stories but the depth of character and acts of evil just weIt was boring. I'm glad these early sci-fi books gotten written to open the way for today's stories but the depth of character and acts of evil just weren't that interesting. ...more
A long life lived as a performer. It's pretty amazing, she seemed to not ever have to work as a waitress but was able to get dancing and acting jobs enA long life lived as a performer. It's pretty amazing, she seemed to not ever have to work as a waitress but was able to get dancing and acting jobs enough to support herself. I didn't know she was in the original cast of A Chorus Line (I watched some clips and have the songs in my head this week). Lots of names and shows and plays and movies. Serial romantic relationships as well as diving into her family, and health concerns. I guess in a lot of ways that is what lives boil down too. It will be interesting to discuss some of the more interesting aspects of her life at book club. ...more
This was almost exactly like the movie. I've heard people express so strongly that one or the other is better, but it was just like reading the movie!This was almost exactly like the movie. I've heard people express so strongly that one or the other is better, but it was just like reading the movie! I don't like rewatching many movies but The Princess Bride is one I have seen many many times and can quote most of it. So I knew exactly what was happening as it was happening. There are tiny changes, and a little bit more backstory (Fezzik is from Turkey) and details, and the weird intro with his talking about trying to get the book from his (fake) wife, for his (fake) son but still the same story. The book I think is worse about fat-shaming and some slurs. The movie did amazing at casting. I skipped the bonus chapter because Mary H (HI!!!!!!!) said to. ...more
This book was very popular a couple of years ago. I thought it might be too sappy but I was wrong, it was really good. The two time lines were really dThis book was very popular a couple of years ago. I thought it might be too sappy but I was wrong, it was really good. The two time lines were really different. The history was agonizing and heart breaking (poverty, stolen children, abuse, murder, etc), the modern one was lighter. We agreed it was a respite and a decent mystery though that portion we'd be fine to make it shorter. It was also cool that last summer I'd been near Edisto Island. ...more
It was cute, I like found family and quirky kids solving riddles and saving the world. It was so long and yet I feel like we were smack in the middle oIt was cute, I like found family and quirky kids solving riddles and saving the world. It was so long and yet I feel like we were smack in the middle of the world needing saving with not much set up. I didn't even know if we were in the US or UK or a made up land. So many people rave about this series and I'm glad they enjoy it but I won't be continuing though I am glad I have read it. ...more
I loved this book so much. In the prologue, I laughed out loud 3 times and teared up once and that was about the average for every wonderful chapter, wI loved this book so much. In the prologue, I laughed out loud 3 times and teared up once and that was about the average for every wonderful chapter, which I loved how he arranged the parks by (pretty random) topics. This book contained the best of a memoir - short personal stories, some history, culture, interesting facts, travelogue, small calls to action. I've been to 14 of the 58 and now I want to go to so many more so much more. It was, of course, so fun reading about places I have been and having some of the same experiences. Yet I learned many new things (Mary Colter architecture!, pupfish, border crossings in Big Bend and more) We really enjoyed talking about it at book club. I highly recommend this book to everyone. ...more
It was very sweet, a lovely journey through someone's imagining of the thought process of Jack Lewis in writing Naria. I enjoyed her book about his wifIt was very sweet, a lovely journey through someone's imagining of the thought process of Jack Lewis in writing Naria. I enjoyed her book about his wife as well. Very cozy and perfect for any Naria fan and especially at Christmas. Long ago I read an article that stated the British write better children's stories than American and it boiled down to British write fantasies while Americans write moral realism. This is a moral realism story (written by an American) about a British fantasy. Kinda an interesting combo. This is our Jan. book club book. ...more
It was sweet. After seeing it everywhere I was expecting something a little more delightful. Found family (literally) with a cast of characters, the beIt was sweet. After seeing it everywhere I was expecting something a little more delightful. Found family (literally) with a cast of characters, the best being the octopus, and like others have mentioned, the most annoying being Cameron. He had growth but also got old. ...more
This was a really good book. I have done several Beth Moore Bible studies and really sympathized with her 'fall from evangelical grace' as someone who This was a really good book. I have done several Beth Moore Bible studies and really sympathized with her 'fall from evangelical grace' as someone who opposed Trump, so I knew I would like this book. I kinda feel like everyone needs a personal therapy session after reading this and I'm glad I had the next best thing in a book club (we ate at Chuy's and I got enchiladas even though I don't really like them because she mentioned them). We agreed that while she told a lot, she left a lot to mystery (like when was the last time she was abused? did her mom know about it?) Reading about her upbringing in a small town Baptist church made me long for that, but her descriptions of her new liturgical church made me long for that as well! She was funny (I listened to it and enjoyed her voice) and heartfelt and inspiring. ...more
The book I exchanged for Book Club's Christmas Fairy Tale book exchange! It was on the shelf, had more than 4 stars on Goodreads and Judith hadn't readThe book I exchanged for Book Club's Christmas Fairy Tale book exchange! It was on the shelf, had more than 4 stars on Goodreads and Judith hadn't read it yet. It was good. I liked the retelling of not the best well known tale. It had great characters and fun twists and turns. ...more
Don't read this if you like your books to answer any Hows or Whys. Do read this if you like slice of life, slightly creepy, slightly meditative, dystopDon't read this if you like your books to answer any Hows or Whys. Do read this if you like slice of life, slightly creepy, slightly meditative, dystopian novels that are told very straight forward. I was never confused about WHAT was happening but I had 100s of questions to the why and how. ...more
What is this book about? Words and stories and thoughts and life and love and travel and kids and grandparents and death and funerals and war and liviWhat is this book about? Words and stories and thoughts and life and love and travel and kids and grandparents and death and funerals and war and living and STORY. What is this book about? IDK :) ND is a very creative writer and wants people to truly live life. That's good. He has interesting stories. These are vignettes or essays or blog posts but didn't really gel into a book for me. There are moments I chuckled and a few I felt moved. I really related to his time in tombs in Jerusalem. He acknowledges that a lot of people talk about STORY (I really enjoyed Donald Miller's 1000 miles on a bike or whatever it was called) and he doesn't want to be cliche but it is cliche because it is true and important. I also had a rough start bc Eric Metaxes was the person endorsing it on the front. I had to remind myself that in 2013 EM was a biographer of Christian Greats and was not yet the EM Trumpite who wrote children stories such as "Donald Drains the Swamp". Also I got very Theology Bro vibe...I love Jesus but I'm cool, I almost swear and I drink beer. Again very 2013. If you like creative Christian writing or you want some inspiration to live a full life you might enjoy this book. I hope we have good discussions at book club. ...more
I didn't finish this before our book club discussion. Many other reviewers say it is really bleak until the end. And yes it is sad so I am not finishiI didn't finish this before our book club discussion. Many other reviewers say it is really bleak until the end. And yes it is sad so I am not finishing it now. ...more
I read this on my phone because that is the only format available for this book club book so that negatively effects my opinion. Overall good elements I read this on my phone because that is the only format available for this book club book so that negatively effects my opinion. Overall good elements of a family murder mystery - quirky characters, fabulous setting, twists and turns and riddles. But something felt off on this. (view spoiler)[ Was the huge amount of murders that weren't really reacted to? Or that so many more than statistically normal were gay? No tokens here. Or where the riddles too obscure? Or was it just that I was reading on my phone? (view spoiler)[ We'll discuss at book club! (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]...more
How in the world did this make it to the good reads best memoirs list of last year? It could have been really good with some smart editing decisions, bHow in the world did this make it to the good reads best memoirs list of last year? It could have been really good with some smart editing decisions, but come on, all the lists of people and events with no context? I started it, was bored out of my mind and then started flipping. I did get engrossed in a couple of sections - mostly the time around N Richardson's death and a couple of Harry Potter parts. Unless you like diaries meaning list of places to be, or are a huge AR super fan who doesn't mind skipping stuff, don't bother with this book. ...more
Whimsical...the best word to describe this book. I read it in two days and enjoyed every moment. Even though it dealt with heavy subjects, it felt veryWhimsical...the best word to describe this book. I read it in two days and enjoyed every moment. Even though it dealt with heavy subjects, it felt very light. I don't know how some authors can do that. There was a touch of magic realism and (crazy!) the last book I read set in Charleston (didn't even know this one was as it was a book club selection) also had ghost stories (but it was a lot grittier). I loved the characters and theme of found family and belonging. To use gen Z language...it's giving The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune....more
I really hate comparing books by the same author but I felt this one was a lot slower and less happened than in Station Eleven. I got the large print fI really hate comparing books by the same author but I felt this one was a lot slower and less happened than in Station Eleven. I got the large print from the library so I wondered if that is why it was going so quickly without much happening. Anyway, I liked the way the things came together in the end. Hope we can have a good discussions about it and life and time travel at book club. ...more