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The Fifth Wave
The Fifth Wave
Rick Yancey | 2013 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
4
7.7 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
Storyline has great potential (0 more)
Point of view jumps around too much (0 more)
Love/Hate Relationship with this Novel
I both like and hate this book. I like the storyline it has great potential but it fell flat for me. Here's why: The point of view jumped around way too much. I thought the idea of changing point of view was good except the execution sucked. It went from one to another so hard I got whiplash and it kind of takes you out of the story trying to figure out who's part of the story you're following. The second thing that stuffed it up was the way it was written. I get that the people in it are kids they're all 18 and under but the way they thought was painful. I mean they crawl out of a hole in the damn ground all bloodied and totally f**ked up and she's worried about her hair? F**k off with that s**t. I don't care how old you are there's no way you'd be worried about that type of crap at that point. It's so shallow it hurts. The last thing is, wtf is with Cassie getting all sappy over Ben? The guy you're sort of dating might be dead and Ben kisses you and you get all mushy about it? Are you f**king kidding me? I'm sorry but you'd have a bullet in your head if it were me. I'm going to give the rest of the series a chance but at this point I'm not hopeful....
  
HN
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Since I don't feel like writing a review, I'll just detail what I liked and disliked about the book.

Liked:
The subject matter - From what I know, I think the author handled Wicca/Witchcraft very well.
How it was written - I'm not the grammar police and don't know everything about it, so it was fine with me. Sometimes I think that the books that have the best grammar are the most unrealistic and holds the reader away from the book and story because of this. I mean Mr. Sellars has a point, how many people really speak or think in proper English?
Most of the book.

Disliked:
The constant use of paleface, squaw, and other white or Native American Indian terms. I get that Rowan and Ben are friends and they use the words as buddies (and the author means well I assume), but I think it's unlikely that anyone would say them so much - it felt forced and unrealistic to me.
Some repetitions of phrases, descriptions, etc. - i.e. Felicity's hair, eyes, temperament, other actions people did, or descriptions of places.
The use of the word query. How many people actually use that word? LoL
The ending was a bit saccharine and not very likely, but I'll let that pass.

Neutral
Some of the descriptions made me a bit queasy but I think it added to the storyline.

Overall, I was very impressed with the story, will read the next and be on the lookout for others in the series.
  
40x40

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated First Frost in Books

Feb 13, 2018  
First Frost
First Frost
Sarah Addison Allen | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Claire and Sydney are sisters. Claire is the more practical of the two and lately, she is drowning under the weight of a blossoming candy business. Sydney runs a hair salon and worries about her teenage daughter, Bay, who seems to be drifting away from her. In addition, Sydney longs for another baby. One day, a mysterious stranger shows up in their tiny town and threatens to disrupt their lives, especially Claire's.

This was an interesting read and definitely more on the 3.5 star end. I was about halfway through when I realized there was a book that came before this one - I'll probably read that one at some time, but I was already committed to this one. The book has a mystical edge to it; supposedly, each of the Waverley women are blessed with a gift, and Claire's house - the old Waverley home - has strange powers and a mind of its own.

At first it's a little strange to add the magic to the story, but it actually works well. Claire, Sydney, and Bay are all interesting characters. I actually found myself hoping there will be a third book that focuses more on Bay, because she's a compelling person. In a way, not much happens in the story, things just sort of float along as the women wait for the "first frost" to occur, but I still found myself compulsively flipping pages, wondering what would happen next. All in all, that's a sign of a good tale. Definitely a fun little read.
  
Not That I Could Tell
Not That I Could Tell
Jessica Strawser | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
8
6.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Where the $#%#% is Kristen!?!?!

This book will take you up and down, and back around again just trying to answer that question. I really enjoyed the suspense that builds up throughout this - and it's a fun, easy read as well. A bit "Big Little Lies" -esque, this story follows a group of neighbors (mostly moms), who let their hair down one night with some wine, and stories, and some neighborly bonding while their children and families sleep unaware of the mystery they will wake up to Monday morning - Kristen, has disappeared.

You wonder throughout the WHOLE BOOK where she went. You think it's one thing, then you think it's another (I wish there was more of this though - I didn't question many characters, and wished there were more angles to point fingers) but ultimately the end is satisfying, yet a little predictable, and then WHAM! Total surprise! I loooooved the end of this book!

I have read a few books in the past that each chapter is dedicated to a character. I find this a bit hard to keep track when its three or more characters. This book primarily follows two, Clara and Izzy, who are very likeable although troubled. I loved this technique of just following two people and watching all the drama in this entire neighborhood unfold.

The writing is smart, and clever and progresses very smoothly. This story of how well you really know the people around you, flows really well, and is definitley a page-turner, and I'm glad I read this.
  
The Hope Jar (The Prayer Jars #1)
The Hope Jar (The Prayer Jars #1)
Wanda E. Brunstetter | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wanda does it once again with her latest book. Ever wonder what would happen if you mistaking though someone was your relative or grandchild by think that the person got the same hair color as your daughter?

That person goes along with it by pretending to be someone they are not. Well, that is kinda what goes on in this book. Can you fault the person that was asked, if you are acting as that person even though you are not them?

Well, the Lapps do this when they get a letter from their granddaughter Sara and hurry to pick her up at the bus station that day which is July 5th. Not knowing what she looks like or if she is even coming that day.

Michelle is asked if she is Sara Murray? She goes along with them. She never really says their granddaughter or not. We know she wants to stay away from Jerry and his abuse.

As she stays with them, she learns about the Amish culture and a little bit about the Lapps. She meets the family. She is asked questions by the Lapps. She too has questions.

We Eli as well. He seems fond of Michelle. Does he not know if he wants to stay Amish or go English? What will he decide? He comes to help Michelle (Sara), and Lapps. He comes over to the Lapps to see Michelle (Sara).

How does it end? Do we meet the real Sara? You will have to pick up a copy to read to find out.
  
Witch & Wizard (Witch & Wizard, #1)
Witch & Wizard (Witch & Wizard, #1)
James Patterson | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry
4
5.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book has so much potential. I almost gave it a two & 1/2 stars. The characters can at times be funny and humorous. It has almost no romance beyond the acknowledgement that Whit has a girlfriend. Although, the prophecy is one of the largest let downs since I found out the name of the childlike empress in The Neverending Story. I kinda started to root a little for the siblings.
However, I kept getting hung up on the layout of the book. The chapters really? Truly? I don’t think that there is a chapter longer than 5 pages. I’m not even sure there is a chapter that is 5 pages long. I’m all about short chapters but this takes the cake. There is no reason for at all for some of the chapter breaks. Especially when a double space between the paragraphs or an asterisk (*) would do the job much better.

Here’s an example of one of the worst breaks. This is the last two sentences of chapter 58 which is in Whisty’s pov

“His thick, black hair fell forward over his eyes. ‘Sorry about that, Freckles.’

Chapter 59
Whisky
‘Not Freckles either,’ suggested Whit. ‘Or Carrottop.’”

For the reals. There is no need for this to be a new chapter. All it does is distract and chop up the flow of he book. It made me think they are getting paid per chapter. There are 104 of them!
The idea is there and like I said massive potential.... just feels unfinished.
  
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