I enjoy these books. They're the more "Y" side of YA, and I wish they'd been around when I was in my teens. I loved Mythology then, and even more now.I enjoy these books. They're the more "Y" side of YA, and I wish they'd been around when I was in my teens. I loved Mythology then, and even more now.
I saw the twist with the parentage coming, but it wasn't telegraphed too heavily. I hope Bianca comes back in the next novel or so. I'm interested to see how the Nico angle plays out....more
Okay. I have finished all of the Stephen Fry HP audiobooks.
Time to start over from the beginning!
Right?
Seriously, these are crack.
-----
The last HarryOkay. I have finished all of the Stephen Fry HP audiobooks.
Time to start over from the beginning!
Right?
Seriously, these are crack.
-----
The last Harry Potter audiobook. I took my precious time getting to it. It's been a really long time since I've read Deathly Hallows. It was on the first movie, and I stopped before the part that would be the second movie. I never got around to finishing. Call it grief.
I love this book so much. ----
I want the origin story of Andromeda and Ted Tonks. If fanfic exists, I need a link, pronto. If it doesn't...well, someone with more talent than me needs to write it.
Hedwig's death still hurts.
-----
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
There are entire monologues in books that are not as powerful as those three sentences.
----
My common phrase, "Books are my crack", has never been more appropriate. I'm destroying the battery on my phone because I don't want to stop listening. I listen while driving to and from work. At my desk, pausing to answer the phone and refusing to pause just because stupid coworkers are trying to talk to me. I listen at home while cleaning, while cooking. I just keep plugging my phone in for a bit, then unplugging.
-----
"Here lies Dobby. A free elf."
::bawls::
-----
Hearing just how badly Voldemort punishes Lucious Malfoy throughout this book, how much he suffers....it is intensely satisfying.
-----
Does Voldemort eat?
What does he eat?
Other than puppies and baby eyeballs, I mean?
-----
I still don't understand the flibberty gibbit that ghost Dumbledore "explains" at the end, in King's Cross. The explanation for why Harry didn't die? Yeah, I still don't get it.
Also, this is making me even more irritated about the movie version of this scene, which makes Dumbledore look like even more of a psychopath than he really was.
I skimmed past everything but the recipes. I don't generally cook with salt, but I like to see recipes that are low sodium.
I only found two recipes II skimmed past everything but the recipes. I don't generally cook with salt, but I like to see recipes that are low sodium.
I only found two recipes I really liked, but the ones I like I REALLY like. I plan to make both the phyllo dough chicken pot pie, and the oatmeal pie crust. Tasty tasty....more
Some really beautiful projects in here. Despite my frustration at the hats and socks that start the book (curse you, knitting in the round), there's pSome really beautiful projects in here. Despite my frustration at the hats and socks that start the book (curse you, knitting in the round), there's plenty of techniques to use, and there are written patterns along with charts.
Another one from favorite librarian. Her recs are good 3/4 of the time, but I still hesitate every time I pick up a new rec, because that 1/4 is alwayAnother one from favorite librarian. Her recs are good 3/4 of the time, but I still hesitate every time I pick up a new rec, because that 1/4 is always really bad. ----
I am shocked at how much I enjoyed this book. That happens more and more lately, going into books expecting to hate them. I either need to be more open minded, or stop reading shitty books.
Emalee is a fantastic character. Flawed and wonderful, and without a miracle. She spends so much of the book beaten down, not even really wanting this child in her life. Afraid to take Leona up on her offer of a place to live. And you see her get picked up and stood back on her feet repeatedly throughout the book, but it's not tiresome. It's not, "Jesus, will someone hand this girl a backbone, please?!"
When she does finally stand up for herself, and Kelly (Kelly Faye is a ridiculously stupid name, btdub), it's a glorious moment. So so lovely.
Leona is also a fantastic character. The juxtaposition of the two is absolutely perfect, and showing her history and her flaws and her heart breaks explains in perfect detail why she would invite a coworker, a stranger, to come stay in her home.
(view spoiler)[I saw most everything coming. I knew when she went to Leona's and didn't call her dreadful aunt and uncle that they would use that as an excuse to keep her. My brain didn't quite wrap around the era difference, so I assumed child services would be there to whisk the baby away when she got back. I didn't expect her to get her back as easily as she did, thanks to the Fultons.
I guessed from the start that Emalee would end up living in the trailer by the end, but I couldn't see how she would end up there. It was a very sweet moment, after all the talk of how generous and godly Curtis was, that he would inadvertently leave it to her. It works, and it's not an eye rolling, "Isn't that convenient", moment.
Mrs Fulton is a right cunt, by the way, and I really would've liked a scene where she got punched in the face. Can't always get what we want, I suppose.
Nolan is a really well thought out character. It is plain fact that he is a cruel, awful human being who should be shot and left out for the vultures. But there are moments, small ones, where he's not. Maybe his reasonings for not being an asshole are selfish, but he drove Emalee to get her baby back. He pushed her and pushed her, and while he didn't care for her, I think he did care about her. Some small, small, small, small, small, small part of him. And you can see how much that would make life for Emalee all the harder, especially when she was younger. They weren't moments of kindness, but maybe little flickers of hope that her life wouldn't always suck.
Inappropriate review of a children's book coming riiiight now.
Fucking adorable.
Seriously, I loved this. I want to read it to my godchildren. Right nowInappropriate review of a children's book coming riiiight now.
Fucking adorable.
Seriously, I loved this. I want to read it to my godchildren. Right now. I want to leave my house, go wake them up, and snuggle up with them and read this book.
The illustrations are AMAZING. Please note, the very first illustration, of the food in the fridge. The label of the jam jar? Still giggling....more
I hate Martha Stewart (HATE), and I love Jen Lancaster for forcing the Martha into my life.
Some of the Reasons I Love Jen Lancaster:
1): ShI love her.
I hate Martha Stewart (HATE), and I love Jen Lancaster for forcing the Martha into my life.
Some of the Reasons I Love Jen Lancaster:
1): She embraced the amazingness of knitting. Even though she uses a loom, which I consider sacrilege. Even if she has probably already learned how to knit socks via her loom, and I'm still enjoying scarves.
2: She loves baby alpaca yarn.
3): She is an animal lover and rescuer, an enjoyer of both pit bulls and demon cats, whom she named The Thundercats.
4): Reading this book has led to me organize my desk at work, and hardcore clean my house this weekend. NOT organizing my house, but cleaning it. I'll take whatever progress I can get.
Anyone who knows me knows that number one is the reason this book gets five stars.
Also, because I have melted a spatula while cooking before.
Seriously, this book is delightful. Bring me more Lancaster!...more
It's odd. The subject matter of this book is very serious. The tone is very serious, and traumatic and really heart breaking. And yet I walk away feelIt's odd. The subject matter of this book is very serious. The tone is very serious, and traumatic and really heart breaking. And yet I walk away feeling like I do after a fluffy book. I don't feel bogged down, and filled with Big Thoughts.
I think that makes me like the book even more.
I loved the characters, even the unlovable ones. I'm looking at you, Emilie and Stacey. Each one feels very real, and I think most anyone can relate to them. Because of the age differences, you can relate to them at different times in your life, which is really lovely.
The tornado of events after Stacey's disappearance were so completely heart breaking, it made me uncomfortable. I genuinely couldn't guess whether Johnny was guilty or not, and it made that entire section all the more gut wrenching. I can see this happening, it probably is happening somewhere. And if I were in the Lemke's place, I would have done far worse. You can't be angry about anyone's feelings here.
(view spoiler)[I did not in any way see the twist coming. Until the moment he walked up behind her at the cemetery, he was such a background character I would forget about him until he appeared again, and then, again, he was just background. Paula DeBoard played this beautifully. I didn't see it coming in any way, whatsoever. The creepiness in the truck was done beautifully, and the way it played out, so that everyone in the town knew Johnny was innocent, wasn't too heavy handed. (hide spoiler)]
I adore debut novels (for the most part). A good author's debut novel is often times their best, because it's the idea that's been floating around their brain, it's their baby, their debut in the writing world. The biggest example of the exception to the rule that I can think of is Christopher Rice, whose first two books were phenomenal, and everything after that went wah wah wahhhh.
I expect great things from this author. Don't let me down....more
This would be an excellent, excellent gift for newlyweds, or kids striking out on their own for the first time. Anyone who has ever left the ThanksgivThis would be an excellent, excellent gift for newlyweds, or kids striking out on their own for the first time. Anyone who has ever left the Thanksgiving cooking and prep work to someone else, and spent the holiday asking, "When are we gonna eat???"...more
Desperation is ripping an audiobook and slapping it onto your phone just so you can listen to an audiobook in your car when the stupid CD player crapsDesperation is ripping an audiobook and slapping it onto your phone just so you can listen to an audiobook in your car when the stupid CD player craps out on you.
Also, I attempted to listen to this while medicated and having a root canal. It led to some interesting puppy-related imagery. Starting over. -----
Bonus to having an audiobook slapped on your phone: Being able to listen to the audiobook in between calls at work. Although I'm certain the coworkers who have occasion to be near my desk now think I'm much less intelligent for having listened to books about magic staffs and vampires.
I don't care, it's James Marsters. Blow me.
Speaking of which, it's so hard to review the Dresden files. I am completely, 100% biased because they are read to me in the dulcet tones of this very sexy man.
It does not help that he laces his books with lines like, "If you get the chance, make like Buffy."
I love that Jim Butcher is a Whedon fan. He had to know that having Marsters read these would essentially guarantee a fangirl fanbase.
I do love Harry Dresden. I love that he's not a superhero, even though he does always seem to snap back from his ass kicking aches and pains. Though I'll be interested to see what happens in the coming novels regarding his barbecued hand.
I was much more interested in the porn set plotline than I was Mavra (spelling, as always, questionable), or even the Thomas bits. I knew from reading Many Bloody Returns about the Thomas connection, but seeing how it was discovered was lovely. The soul gaze scene was also wonderful. I didn't see the twist of her ending coming, and I did enjoy that a great deal.
I would've liked a better ending for the Raith guy. Hoping for good (aka bad) things to come for him in future novels. Also interested to see what happens with Mavra. She's kind of badassly awesome.
These books are just not my genre. But I don't hate myself for listening to them, so I guess they get a solid four stars. ...more
There's an interesting situation, reading this book. If you're not really that big on science (see: me), it takes you forever to actually get into theThere's an interesting situation, reading this book. If you're not really that big on science (see: me), it takes you forever to actually get into the story. The first few chapters are so heavily drenched in jargon, and it weighs down the story in a way that almost made me close the book.
However, if you are a science buff (see: not me), as proven by the other reviews on GR, you'll spend the first few chapters (and the majority of the book) irritated by the faux science, and finding fault with the required suspension of disbelief.
I was bored to tears by 60% of this book. I really, genuinely don't care about the magic behind science. The ability to reanimate someone frozen for 100 years? That is amazing, and if the science ever did become real life, I would be absolutely fascinated. But not by the jargon-y bits. I'm an actions, not words, kind of person. And of course, with books it's all words.
The characters aren't terribly likeable here, a lot of the time. Other than Judge Rice, who I genuinely enjoyed. I liked seeing the modern world from his point of view, which is really what made me take the librarian up on this recommendation. Time traveling is always a big pull for me, and that's what this book is about.
I didn't hate the book. Parts of it rightly deserved five stars. But it just felt very heavy. And the ending, before the final wrap up, was weird and disjointed. (view spoiler)[Though it was nice not to have a big dramatic death scene with Judge Rice, with Kate weeping over his twitchy body. (hide spoiler)]
Adorable and fun. He obviously had help writing the book, but it's obvious he told the stories, and the writer just put them together in a way that coAdorable and fun. He obviously had help writing the book, but it's obvious he told the stories, and the writer just put them together in a way that could be understood.
Well, that was dreadful. And awful. And I want the last week of my life back.
I can't believe it only took nine days for me to read this. It feels likeWell, that was dreadful. And awful. And I want the last week of my life back.
I can't believe it only took nine days for me to read this. It feels like I've been reading it for years.
There isn't even one likeable character anymore. Blood Red Road, I liked Saba. She was a badass. And even though I started out disliking Emmi, she grew on me rapidly.
This book just merrily tosses all of that out the window. And really? We were so emotionally invested in her finding Lugh in the first book, and what we end up with is this loser? Now I'm irritated that I wasted my time reading the first book.
A lot of the complaining about this book is regarding the ingredients, such as the tofu noodles.
Do people not know you can replace ingredients? Is thiA lot of the complaining about this book is regarding the ingredients, such as the tofu noodles.
Do people not know you can replace ingredients? Is this not something that should be obvious?
Yes, this may add calories to the dish, but for crying out loud, people. If you don't want soy crumbles, replace it with ground turkey, and move the fuck on. Don't want tofu noodles? There's an entire pasta aisle in every supermarket in town. Really, I promise. Go look.
I personally love this book, and want to own it. And I will be looking into the other HG books. ...more
This is a beautiful book. Cover to cover, I fell in love so hard. I can't even begin to express it.
James is a wonderful person. Not just for saving BoThis is a beautiful book. Cover to cover, I fell in love so hard. I can't even begin to express it.
James is a wonderful person. Not just for saving Bob, which really, he gets all the points just for that. But for allowing Bob to help him grow as a human being, to move past the horror that is heroin addiction, then methadone dependence, and better himself. I realize he had help getting his story into novel form, but the book feels real, like he sat down and wrote it.
Bob is a phenomenal character. What a fantastic cat. I looked up a few interviews with James and Bob, and you can tell he's got a great personality. When James talks about trying to "let Bob go", my heart hurt. I was worried Bob would feel like James was basically throwing him away. And I love that he's such a cat, and wouldn't let him get rid of him.
I was also petrified that Bob would die at the end of the book. Marley and Me really ruined me for true stories about animals.