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Goodreads: Book Reviews
Goodreads: Book Reviews
Book, Social Networking
10
8.8 (453 Ratings)
App Rating
Probably the most useful app/website I use as an online book reviewer. Allows me to not only track my reading throughout the year, but also to divide it up so I can easily reference it. For example, if I've reviewed a book here, and on other sites as well, I can create a bookshelf for each website it's been reviewed on for quick reference.
The addition of the "Scan the book" feature last year (where it can quick scan the cover of a book and figure out which book it is) made adding books to my "to read" list whenever I'm at a bookstore or library beyond easy, and the ability to "reread books" has allowed me to keep a more accurate account of what I have read each year.
The giveaways are easier to find on the website than through the app itself, but they are awesome. Definitely a great way to get your hands on some free books if you're an avid reader on a tight budget, or if you like to read books before they come out.
  
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Jessalyn Joy (118 KP) rated The Circle in Books

Aug 28, 2017  
The Circle
The Circle
Dave Eggers | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
AWESOME!
Well, when I first saw it was a movie I was excited. But then when I saw it was a book I was curious. I then checked it out from the Aplington library. When I was done with the previous book I started reading The Circle immediately. I was immediately interested because at the beginning we read about Mae. A young woman who has arrived at The Circle for her first day on the job. I have told friends and family who I have talked about the book to and I am going to say it here. It is an extremely well detailed book. It's incredible. I never got bored with the book. It surprised me throughout. I would recommend this to anyone no matter what their reading interests are. I would recommend for high schoolers up to adults. Also, being in highs school already I think this would be a great book for a high school English class. I thought the characters were incredible and incredibly described. The plot was very well written and like I said earlier never bored me.
  
Circe
Circe
Madeline Miller | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.9 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
Circe was my April Book of the Month club pick, and WOW was it epic. I haven't read Song of Achilles, but I just put a hold on it with my library, because this book was amazing. So amazing, in fact, that it sent me into a bit of a reading slump - what book could follow up this masterwork?

This is actually going to be a pretty short review because I'm just in awe of this book. Circe begins as a somewhat naive child in her father's household, unaware of her own power until her brother points it out to her. For those powers, she is banished to a deserted island, but her powers only grow from there. We meet many figures of Greek mythology - from gods and goddesses to mortals and monsters like Scylla and the Minotaur.

I just don't even know how to properly review this book other than it was amazing. If you like Greek mythology at ALL, you should read this book. It's captivating.

You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
  
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ClareR (5686 KP) Apr 27, 2018

I have this sat on my bookshelf - I really need to get on with reading it!! Great review, by the way ?

UT
Until There Was You
10
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I love Kirstan Higgins so much. She's a good writer, she's funny, she's clever, her characters are awesome, and there's always a cute dog or cat.

Also she rocks at writing kissing scenes. WOW!.

The number-one thing I love about her novels is this: She writes these awesome contemporary romance novels, but she doesn't litter them with explicit sex, which I DON'T like to read (I mean really, I feel like I'm sneaking into a XXX movie when I read stuff like that. It's private, man! The characters don't want you to know what's going on under the sheets!).

Anyway, Until There Was You didn't disappoint. Liam was amazing, Posey was sweet, Nicole (the daughter) was adorable, and the family was family: a-typical in every way and funny and weird and full of life. I love it. I wish I could keep this book forever instead of bringing it back to the library. I tore through this thing in like five hours... I stayed up until 4am reading.

But hey, other people have to read it too, right?

:D
  
The Innocent
The Innocent
Harlan Coben | 2005 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
8.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the first book I have read by Harlen Coben. I saw it the library and it looked pretty interesting. Matt Hunter is on his way back to college when the unthinkable happens, he gets in a fight and ends up killing a boy. The story picks up 9 years later. Matt is married to Olivia, he is working as a "paralegal" at his brother's law firm, and is about to be a father. Things couldn't be any better for him right now. Until one day after his wife leaves for a business trip, he gets a strange message from her on his cell phone. Its a picture of another man. The next message is even more startling. His wife in a blonde wig with this man. What does all this mean, why would his wife do this to him. The reality turns out to be a whole lot more than Matt could ever imagine. This book is chock full of twists and turns and strippers and cops and ex-cons and family. A good book I didn't want to put down.
  
When I originally got this book from the library, I returned it because it wasn't grabbing my attention. The second time, I figured I should just power through it.
The aim of this book was to do a rehabilitation of Evelyn Nesbit's reputation. The author honestly downplays how famous she was, and spent a lot of time setting up the reputations of the men around her, rather than her. Nesbit was who inspired THE GIBSON GIRL, and her image is used all of the time.
Do I believe she was raped by this skeezy Standford White? I was doubting it towards the end, since she kept up contact with him, as a mistress. However, stepping back from it, it seems like she was groomed by White, and didn't realize the drugging/raping wasn't normal until after the fact.
I actually think the author did a disservice to Nesbit, downplaying her success and pumping up the men in her life. No one knows who these crusty dudes are now, but her image is iconic.
  
Otherworld (Otherworld, #1)
Otherworld (Otherworld, #1)
Jason Segel | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.4 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was quite surprised by the book! I had no idea that the author was the "Jason Segel" from tv and movies, until midway through the book when I needed to know more about the author. I was pleasantly surprised the characters were well fleshed out and were not two dimensional as most sci-fi can do. I was a bit hesitant at the start of the book as I had seen some hype saying that this was the next "Ready Player One". I really dislike when people compare things like that. Especially when they are compared with my favorite book. Don't even get me started on the movie for that book.

This had a great world, and I'm really excited to get to go back for the second book, currently it's on hold at the library once I'm off the waitlist will definitely dive in. I'm glad that the characters were flawed and real. The worlds were developed and thought out. The plot was fully considered. I'm rather impressed with Jason Segel's writing ability.
  
OO
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Charlie Harris has joined the Friends of the Library board in time for their annual Christmas fundraiser. Unfortunately, he’s walked into a feud that has been going on for years between the elderly Ducote sisters and Vera Cassity, who likes to think of herself as a bigger deal in town than she is. The night of the gala, Vera takes a tumble down the stairs and breaks her neck. With the sheriff looking at Azalea, Charlie’s housekeeper, he needs to figure out what really happened.

As a fan of the Southern Ladies series, I was quite anxious to read the book that introduced the Ducote sisters. They are as much fun here as they are in their own series. We get to see a different side of a couple of series regulars as well, which I really enjoyed. The plot was strong and kept me going until the surprising yet logical conclusion.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-out-of-circulation-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
I must say I really enjoyed continuing to read about the characters from the first book. Ella really deals with self esteem issues,but it was so nice to see her come out of her shell. The character of Dorothy was quite fascinating to hear about. I think bitterness over what had happened to her when she was younger really taken a little far. I really don't think that I have ever read another Amish character quite like her.
I also intrigue in reading more about Calvin and Lucy, and I great seeing things through young Katie's eyes.Her determination to get to the library and sign up for the summer reading program was so sweet. The scenes that take place in the Kaffi Haus really had me wanting to find out what going on there.
I also like the continuing story of Maddie and her health issues and Graham part of the story. Though I think Mattie has found her special someone but I am hoping she find out soon.
  
The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
J.R.R. Tolkien | 1954 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.5 (39 Ratings)
Book Rating
Again, I listened to the BBC radio play for this book and again it did not disappoint. I love it when there can be plays of the books because the actors get really into it and the sound effects make it that much more fun. I do want to, at some point, go back and read the physical copies of the books, but this is doing just fine!

I love Pippin, he will forever be my favorite, but all of the characters in these books are so compelling. It is really fun to read the godfather of modern fantasy and see how much of what he wrote is influencing the books written today. I can say that this is my favorite genre of all and I could not be any more pleased to be reading these books. I just have to wait until my library has the last book opened up and I will be reading that so fast!

Honestly though, so good. If you have the chance, listen to the radio plays. They are very well produced and just phenomenal!