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Rachel King (13 KP) rated The Beginning (Glee, #1) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
I am a total "Gleek," and I have been in love with the show since the very first episode. I'll spare you the details. But of course, I had to read the Glee book that answers my burning questions about what happened before the t.v. show kicked off, such as what grades the main characters are in, and how did Puck and Quinn wind up in bed together? I have a life, just not on Tuesdays.
Anyways, the book is true to form, right down to Sue Sylvester's hilariously-vile comments, Finn's adorable naivety, Rachel's incredibly self-involved attitude, and Kurt's sense of style. I also appreciated that the book helped me to better appreciate Artie's and Tina's characters, as I got to see how they interacted with each other and the thoughts that went through their heads. Tina apparently has an artistic side that comes out in the novel. I also got to see more of the difficulty that Artie deals with daily using a wheelchair. All of the other familiar characters make appearances, as well, such as Miss Emma Pillsbury, Will Schuester, and even sweaty Jacob.
The only thing I was really missing while reading the novel was the lack of music and singing. The characters did "sing" and "dance" to particular songs, but it helps to take advantage of Youtube if you want to have the full experience.
Anyways, the book is true to form, right down to Sue Sylvester's hilariously-vile comments, Finn's adorable naivety, Rachel's incredibly self-involved attitude, and Kurt's sense of style. I also appreciated that the book helped me to better appreciate Artie's and Tina's characters, as I got to see how they interacted with each other and the thoughts that went through their heads. Tina apparently has an artistic side that comes out in the novel. I also got to see more of the difficulty that Artie deals with daily using a wheelchair. All of the other familiar characters make appearances, as well, such as Miss Emma Pillsbury, Will Schuester, and even sweaty Jacob.
The only thing I was really missing while reading the novel was the lack of music and singing. The characters did "sing" and "dance" to particular songs, but it helps to take advantage of Youtube if you want to have the full experience.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Conversations With Friends in Books
Feb 12, 2019
Utterly unlikeable
Whilst Sally Rooney’s second novel Normal People was fairly likeable, I’m afraid to say that this doesn’t apply to this first book. For starters, I find Rooney’s writing and grammatical style very irritating and not what I’d consider to be proper grammar. It’s definitely not the way I was taught and it does get very frustrating reading a book where you can barely define where descriptive text ends and conversation begins.
After a while though you do get used to the writing style, however the main problem with this book is the horrendously unlikeable characters. Frances as the main protagonist is a horrible self absorbed person who doesn’t appear to have any kind thoughts or decent emotions, or any common sense. And sadly the rest of the characters don’t fare much better. It’s a very difficult to like a book when every character is so flawed and valid and self absorbed. The conversations had between some of these people are just jumped up nonsense, and whilst I don’t doubt there are people who have these conversations in real life, I really don’t want to read this in a book. The plot itself isn’t terrible and despite the strange writing style is fairly well written, it’s just a shame it’s spoilt by some terrible characters.
After a while though you do get used to the writing style, however the main problem with this book is the horrendously unlikeable characters. Frances as the main protagonist is a horrible self absorbed person who doesn’t appear to have any kind thoughts or decent emotions, or any common sense. And sadly the rest of the characters don’t fare much better. It’s a very difficult to like a book when every character is so flawed and valid and self absorbed. The conversations had between some of these people are just jumped up nonsense, and whilst I don’t doubt there are people who have these conversations in real life, I really don’t want to read this in a book. The plot itself isn’t terrible and despite the strange writing style is fairly well written, it’s just a shame it’s spoilt by some terrible characters.
RavenclawPrincess913 (253 KP) rated Breaking Dawn (Twilight, #4) in Books
Feb 22, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
In the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer my favorite book is Breaking Dawn. Why is this you ask? Renesmee, she is my favorite character out of the whole series. I love how her mother Bella went through all that pain and never gave up on her. I also understand why Rosalie was on Bella's side through it. I would have done the same if I was in their shoes. I found Edwards reaction cute when he could hear Renesmee's thoughts while she was still in Bella's belly. I also don't blame Jacob for sided with the Cullen's when he found out about Bella being Pegnant it was the right thing to do. I found Jacob imprinting on Renesmee very weird at first but later understand that it was necessary for the plot and it's different while she's still young. I find Renesmee to be an extremely intelligent young child and love the way she communicates. Also Irina deserved what she got in the end and kind of found it funny when Aro backed down because he was scared. I find him very creepy by the way too. I also love the ending when Bella let's Edward in her mind by letting her shield down and his reaction to it was adorable.
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Phoebe's Light (Nantucket Legacy #1) in Books
Feb 25, 2019
I believe in giving honest reviews, and this one will be the same as all my other. Honest. My thoughts on this book? Ugh. That's right. Ugh. I was very disappointed in how this book turned out. I am usually a big fan of all of Suzanne Woods Fisher's novels but this one was......well, frankly, bland. Very bland. I could not get into it easily. It took me many tries to actually get to the end of the story and by that point I was so frustrated with the way it was written that it lost all appeal to me.
That said, I personally can not give this book more than 2 stars. However, just because I found the characters lacking and the story line flat, does not mean that you or someone you know may feel the same way, so I do still encourage you to give it a try. It's just not a book for me. Does this mean I have given up on reading Suzanne's books? Absolutly not. Sometimes, an author goes through down times just like every person in life. I will definitely give the next book in this series a try and hope that it's not quite so bland.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
That said, I personally can not give this book more than 2 stars. However, just because I found the characters lacking and the story line flat, does not mean that you or someone you know may feel the same way, so I do still encourage you to give it a try. It's just not a book for me. Does this mean I have given up on reading Suzanne's books? Absolutly not. Sometimes, an author goes through down times just like every person in life. I will definitely give the next book in this series a try and hope that it's not quite so bland.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>My Thoughts:</strong></span>
<span style="color: #008080;"><strong>Like Bibles, I can never get enough of Daily Devotionals. When this one came up to review, I was super happy. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The cover is super eye catching and the devotionals within are just what I need to read. </strong></span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>Each day, there is a theme, a bible verse to accompany the theme, a devotional to read and then concludes with a prayer to say. I love that. I feel like my walk with God will improve with this devotional. The devotionals are wonderful and seem to be just what I need to hear/see. </strong></span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>This is definitely worth high recommendations. Ms. Moore created a wonderful, 4 star daily devotional collection that I will use on a daily basis. I'll be sharing this with lots of my friends and family and I hope that you will too!</strong></span><a href="http://cafinatedreads.com/barbour-review-crew-review-the-heart-shaped-life-daily-devotional-by-karen-moore/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads</a>
<span style="color: #008080;"><strong>Like Bibles, I can never get enough of Daily Devotionals. When this one came up to review, I was super happy. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The cover is super eye catching and the devotionals within are just what I need to read. </strong></span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>Each day, there is a theme, a bible verse to accompany the theme, a devotional to read and then concludes with a prayer to say. I love that. I feel like my walk with God will improve with this devotional. The devotionals are wonderful and seem to be just what I need to hear/see. </strong></span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>This is definitely worth high recommendations. Ms. Moore created a wonderful, 4 star daily devotional collection that I will use on a daily basis. I'll be sharing this with lots of my friends and family and I hope that you will too!</strong></span><a href="http://cafinatedreads.com/barbour-review-crew-review-the-heart-shaped-life-daily-devotional-by-karen-moore/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads</a>
ALilLacey (2 KP) rated The Five People You Meet in Heaven in Books
Mar 4, 2019
This book was completely not what I expected, but in a good way. I assumed the five people you would meet would be grandma, an uncle, a long lost friend, etc etc but it wasn't so. Eddie dies an old veteran who has worked his whole life (after the war) at a carnival by the sea. At his death you journey with him through heaven while meeting five different people that have had an effect on his life whether he knew it or not. I wonder how many times this happens in our own lives and if we will one day find out about it. This book was written wonderfully and had so many profound thoughts I've decided to share a few from the book:
"There are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more seperate one life from another than you can seperate a breeze from the wind" Page 48
"Ruby stepped toward him. "Edward," she said softly. It was the first time she had called him by name. "Learn this from me. Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from the inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves." Page 141
"There are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more seperate one life from another than you can seperate a breeze from the wind" Page 48
"Ruby stepped toward him. "Edward," she said softly. It was the first time she had called him by name. "Learn this from me. Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from the inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves." Page 141
MaryAnn (14 KP) rated Made for the Journey: One Missionary's First Year in the Jungles of Ecuador in Books
Mar 5, 2019
In this deeply personal account of her first year as a missionary, Elisabeth Elliot shares the challenges she faced as she worked in the jungles of Ecuador to bring the Word of God to a people virtually untouched by the outside world. With fascinating detail, she captures the stark realities of life in the jungle, the difficulties she encountered while developing a written language for the tribe, and her confusion when God didn't "cooperate" with her efforts to accomplish what she believed was His will.
More than just a memoir, Made for the Journey is a beautifully crafted and deeply personal reflection on the important questions of life and a remarkable testimony to authentic Christian obedience to an unfathomable God.
My Thoughts: First written in 2004 as "These Strange Ashes"; this book give s the account of Elizabeth Elliot's first year as a missionary. Well written and very insightful, it gives the reader a closer glimpse of a woman who devoted her life to missions and serving God.
This is an enjoyable read and gives a comprehensive look at what a missionary can face in a foreign country.
It's a book of encouragement to those who are thinking or looking into following God's call to taking His word out into the world.
This is a book that all will enjoy
More than just a memoir, Made for the Journey is a beautifully crafted and deeply personal reflection on the important questions of life and a remarkable testimony to authentic Christian obedience to an unfathomable God.
My Thoughts: First written in 2004 as "These Strange Ashes"; this book give s the account of Elizabeth Elliot's first year as a missionary. Well written and very insightful, it gives the reader a closer glimpse of a woman who devoted her life to missions and serving God.
This is an enjoyable read and gives a comprehensive look at what a missionary can face in a foreign country.
It's a book of encouragement to those who are thinking or looking into following God's call to taking His word out into the world.
This is a book that all will enjoy
Midge (525 KP) rated The Perfect Betrayal in Books
Mar 16, 2019
A Perfect Thriller!
This book has all of the qualities of the perfect psychological thriller. Deftly layered with emotion and suspense it starts off fairly slowly but the tension builds into a dramatic sequence of events.
The story is told predominantly from the point of view of the main character, Tess, along with snippets from her grief counsellor and brother-in-law. Tess’ conversations that she had with her late husband were heart-breaking. It was an incredibly emotionally charged book, well written and beautifully plotted and so cleverly constructed to help conceal major reveals in the natural progression of the story.
“The Perfect Betrayal” is my favourite type of psychological thriller - where the voices and thoughts of the characters and the reader’s own imagination complement the story. From the beginning, it is an absorbing and riveting novel as well as being massively addictive. The main protagonist, Tess, did not know who to trust and nor did I.
Highly recommended, this is a sad and harrowing story of grief, love and loss, with a fulfilling but shocking finish. Lauren North’s writing is just exquisite and I will be looking out for her next offering.
[Thank you to #NetGalley, Random House UK/ Transworld Publishers, and Lauren North for my free ARC of #ThePerfectBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.]
The story is told predominantly from the point of view of the main character, Tess, along with snippets from her grief counsellor and brother-in-law. Tess’ conversations that she had with her late husband were heart-breaking. It was an incredibly emotionally charged book, well written and beautifully plotted and so cleverly constructed to help conceal major reveals in the natural progression of the story.
“The Perfect Betrayal” is my favourite type of psychological thriller - where the voices and thoughts of the characters and the reader’s own imagination complement the story. From the beginning, it is an absorbing and riveting novel as well as being massively addictive. The main protagonist, Tess, did not know who to trust and nor did I.
Highly recommended, this is a sad and harrowing story of grief, love and loss, with a fulfilling but shocking finish. Lauren North’s writing is just exquisite and I will be looking out for her next offering.
[Thank you to #NetGalley, Random House UK/ Transworld Publishers, and Lauren North for my free ARC of #ThePerfectBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.]
Merissa (13816 KP) rated Venus Trap (Hidden Portals Trilogy #1) in Books
Apr 13, 2019
Venus Trap (Hidden Portals Trilogy #1) by Maya Daniels
Venus Trap is the first book in the Hidden Portals series, and we start off with a storm, a death, and a mad king. Sounds good, right? Wrong! This is brilliant.
Artemis is a Fae, Raphael is a vampire. We also meet with other Fae, Humans, Witches, Vampires, and Demons are mentioned. So right there, we have different species, all with their own history and thoughts, and pitted against each other. Who is telling the truth? Who will fight with who?
We find out more about Artemis' history as the story progresses, and the reasons she has for feeling the way she does. Raphael has distanced himself from the rest of his race, partly due to his friend, Claude, otherwise known as the mad king.
With intrigue, steam, action, wit, and a strong, sassy female paired with a strong, opinionated male, this book has something for everyone. There were no editing or grammatical errors I noticed, and I thoroughly enjoyed every word.
With an epic finishing line, this will definitely leave you wanting more. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Artemis is a Fae, Raphael is a vampire. We also meet with other Fae, Humans, Witches, Vampires, and Demons are mentioned. So right there, we have different species, all with their own history and thoughts, and pitted against each other. Who is telling the truth? Who will fight with who?
We find out more about Artemis' history as the story progresses, and the reasons she has for feeling the way she does. Raphael has distanced himself from the rest of his race, partly due to his friend, Claude, otherwise known as the mad king.
With intrigue, steam, action, wit, and a strong, sassy female paired with a strong, opinionated male, this book has something for everyone. There were no editing or grammatical errors I noticed, and I thoroughly enjoyed every word.
With an epic finishing line, this will definitely leave you wanting more. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Ande Thomas (69 KP) rated White Fang in Books
May 30, 2019
I appreciate this book; I just don't like it.
Jack London is a unique breed. His voice is so distant, so separated from the subjects in his stories. In short bursts (<i>To Build a Fire</i>) it works for me - there's a beauty in watching the action unfold from such a distance. So too is there a beauty in the way White Fang is portrayed in this book. With an absolute minimum of anthropomorphism, we can see and feel what White Fang experiences. This isn't a cartoon version of a wolf-turned-man's-best-friend. The animals don't talk, don't even think in the way we're accustomed to their thoughts when we try to imagine what goes through their minds. White Fang is a dog; nothing more. It just so happens that we hear the story from his perspective.
But. While I appreciate that sort of perspective, one I wouldn't dream of finding from any other author, I still found myself speeding through the book, and not out of excitement. I just wanted to get it done and move on. The dissociation from the characters, though necessary, can only get you so far. Eventually it dissociated me from the story itself. I'll always maintain that I like Jack London. I just...maybe...won't re-read him.
Jack London is a unique breed. His voice is so distant, so separated from the subjects in his stories. In short bursts (<i>To Build a Fire</i>) it works for me - there's a beauty in watching the action unfold from such a distance. So too is there a beauty in the way White Fang is portrayed in this book. With an absolute minimum of anthropomorphism, we can see and feel what White Fang experiences. This isn't a cartoon version of a wolf-turned-man's-best-friend. The animals don't talk, don't even think in the way we're accustomed to their thoughts when we try to imagine what goes through their minds. White Fang is a dog; nothing more. It just so happens that we hear the story from his perspective.
But. While I appreciate that sort of perspective, one I wouldn't dream of finding from any other author, I still found myself speeding through the book, and not out of excitement. I just wanted to get it done and move on. The dissociation from the characters, though necessary, can only get you so far. Eventually it dissociated me from the story itself. I'll always maintain that I like Jack London. I just...maybe...won't re-read him.