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Sam (74 KP) rated Welcome to Night Vale: A Novel in Books
Mar 27, 2019
I had really mixed feelings for this. I was really excited to start it because of how much I enjoyed listening to the podcast, and I hoped it would be exactly the same as the podcast. And it was, which turned out to be my first problem with it. The format and themes of Welcome to Night Vale are perfect for a podcast, but not so much for a book. I just felt that it didn’t quite work right.
You have to keep an open mind when you’re reading this. Similarly to the podcast, you have to keep an open mind and you can’t take anything literally. To me, that wasn’t so much of a problem and I quite liked the metaphors throughout the book, but I know that for others it makes the storytelling more confusing than it needs to be.
I loved that it had all of the usual characters from the podcast in it. I was half worried with this that it would follow new people and that would have spoilt it for me. The fact that the podcast and the book flow together works nicely and really helped me get into the book.
I felt like the plot needed more though. I think this goes back to what I said about the format of a podcast being wrong for a book. In the Night Vale podcast, you have all of the different characters and forms of entertainment meaning that a major plot isn’t needed so desperately. However, the lack of action in the plot in the book really held it back.
I could see myself enjoying the audiobook of this, but I feel like that would defeat the point. I got it because I liked the idea of a change in format from the podcast, but I found myself wishing I’d gotten the audiobook because it would have flowed better.
I suppose if you usually read more in this sort of genre, you may like this a lot more than I did. I think the major jump in genre also didn’t aid my enjoyment of the book. I’ll let you make your mind up for yourself.
You have to keep an open mind when you’re reading this. Similarly to the podcast, you have to keep an open mind and you can’t take anything literally. To me, that wasn’t so much of a problem and I quite liked the metaphors throughout the book, but I know that for others it makes the storytelling more confusing than it needs to be.
I loved that it had all of the usual characters from the podcast in it. I was half worried with this that it would follow new people and that would have spoilt it for me. The fact that the podcast and the book flow together works nicely and really helped me get into the book.
I felt like the plot needed more though. I think this goes back to what I said about the format of a podcast being wrong for a book. In the Night Vale podcast, you have all of the different characters and forms of entertainment meaning that a major plot isn’t needed so desperately. However, the lack of action in the plot in the book really held it back.
I could see myself enjoying the audiobook of this, but I feel like that would defeat the point. I got it because I liked the idea of a change in format from the podcast, but I found myself wishing I’d gotten the audiobook because it would have flowed better.
I suppose if you usually read more in this sort of genre, you may like this a lot more than I did. I think the major jump in genre also didn’t aid my enjoyment of the book. I’ll let you make your mind up for yourself.
Kristina (502 KP) rated Thirteen Reasons Why in Books
Dec 7, 2020
It hurts. I hurt - my heart, most of all. Thirteen Reasons Why spoke to me on a deep and personal level, one I try to ignore more often than not. Listening to Hannah Baker explain, in great detail, the stories, events, and people, that lead to her decision to commit suicide, was jarring. The way she chose to reveal her past, to expose the cause, was more effective than if she had just walked through the story in real time. Reading the discoveries through Clay's point of view made things more interesting. From Hanna's first official kiss, to the rumors that spread afterward (and who can honestly say they've never had a single rumor said about them?), to out of control parties and signs of depression ignored, we're lead through a sort of "treasure hunt". Each moment builds and builds as her tolerance withers away, crumbling under thoughts of not being wanted or cared about. This book, Hannah's story, is something that should open every eye to who we are as people, how we act, what we believe without verification, and how we treat others. Some events in Thirteen Reasons Why are textbook examples of bullying, while others are moments where, if they had happened separately from all the other moments, probably wouldn't have amounted to much. It should make you realize how every little thing can effect someone. Your words have an effect; your actions have an effect; your behavior has an effect. If you don't stop to think to how you've treated people throughout your life, or even wondered if something you have said or done has ever meant more to another person than they did to you, then perhaps you need to reevaluate your life. Thirteen Reasons Why is a breath of truth, if not a breath of fresh air. Nothing has slapped me in the face as serious or as hard as this book. Please, if you feel like you didn't feel the same reaction, reread this book and try to look at it through a different mindset. Because each word is important and the moral of this particular story is life changing.
Terrifying visuals (2 more)
Great job on casting
Faithful to the book for the most part
Firstly, I do want to address the running time: it's two hours and fifteen minutes. Yet, I didn't feel as if I was sitting in a chair for that long. There was one point where I did question how long had the movie run, but then something happened in the movie to pull me right back in and ignore the outside world.
You really do end up liking the kids and rooting for them. The interactions between Beverly and Ben were really well done and were my favorites. I have heard some people criticizing the amount of time that focused on the kids, but that's really what the story is about: kids dealing with adult-like trauma and facing it.
Of course Pennywise steals each scene he's in. Or should I say 'every scene it's in?' Pun intended.
It's hard to talk (write) about my favorite bits without giving away spoilers, so just go watch it and enjoy!
I can't wait for the second part!
You really do end up liking the kids and rooting for them. The interactions between Beverly and Ben were really well done and were my favorites. I have heard some people criticizing the amount of time that focused on the kids, but that's really what the story is about: kids dealing with adult-like trauma and facing it.
Of course Pennywise steals each scene he's in. Or should I say 'every scene it's in?' Pun intended.
It's hard to talk (write) about my favorite bits without giving away spoilers, so just go watch it and enjoy!
I can't wait for the second part!
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Young Bess (Elizabeth Trilogy, #1) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
While I was reading this book I had my moments where I was thinking “this is nice…this is cute…” the writing was very eloquent and good. However the plot was just… nonexistent. By page 85 not much had happened. I had no urge to continue reading and even though I enjoyed it while I was reading it, I had to force myself to sit down and read it. And you should never have to force yourself to read a book (except for school). I felt the same way about The Midnight Charter. Both of these were similar in that they both had a bit of politics in them.
I did like the characters (Loved Tom Seymour!) and the writing, again, was great. But nothing made me want to keep reading.
I didn’t get far enough into the book to be able to say what content was in it.
Young Bess was re-published by Sourcebooks March 1st. Please know that I am in the minority for those who didn’t like/finish it. See other reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
I did like the characters (Loved Tom Seymour!) and the writing, again, was great. But nothing made me want to keep reading.
I didn’t get far enough into the book to be able to say what content was in it.
Young Bess was re-published by Sourcebooks March 1st. Please know that I am in the minority for those who didn’t like/finish it. See other reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Forgotten Girls in Books
Apr 27, 2018
The Forgotten Girls was a pretty good book. I can’t say it was amazing, but it definitely wasn’t bad. It is a book in a series. It’s designed so you don't have to read the others to enjoy this one and even though I didn’t need the other books in the series to know what was going on, I did feel a little lost at times, and I felt like I was thrown into the middle of a movie (like I skipped the first scene) and it was disconcerting.
That being said, the story itself was okay. It was a good execution of a concept that just wasn't that high. The climax didn’t feel that phenomenal and I felt like it ended just as it got going.
All in all, it was a fine read, I wasn’t annoyed by it, I certainly enjoyed the process, but it didn’t force me to keep reading like some books, and I wasn’t that impressed with the overall experience.
Content/Recommendation: Some language, violence, rape scene (not overly-grotesque). Ages 18+
That being said, the story itself was okay. It was a good execution of a concept that just wasn't that high. The climax didn’t feel that phenomenal and I felt like it ended just as it got going.
All in all, it was a fine read, I wasn’t annoyed by it, I certainly enjoyed the process, but it didn’t force me to keep reading like some books, and I wasn’t that impressed with the overall experience.
Content/Recommendation: Some language, violence, rape scene (not overly-grotesque). Ages 18+
Deborah (162 KP) rated My Brilliant Friend in Books
Feb 4, 2019
Simply Dull
I can't remember the last time I was so glad to finish a book, and I only finished this one as it was a book club pick - I could happily have left it at any point!
I did wonder if it was just me, but I noted plenty of Amazon reviews from other people having to read it for the same reason and having the same problems!
I'd like to put some of it down to the translation, but really my problem was that this was just DULL. Stuff happened, but I didn't feel any emotional impact from us. The beginning of the book has pages and pages of characters listed, but I didn't really care for any of them.
The beginning is also odd and doesn't get picked up on again. Mind you, there are apparently another three books in the series..... needless to say I won't be reading those! The ending was also quite abrupt.
Now I have book club to go to and don't know what to say other than it was really dull!
I did wonder if it was just me, but I noted plenty of Amazon reviews from other people having to read it for the same reason and having the same problems!
I'd like to put some of it down to the translation, but really my problem was that this was just DULL. Stuff happened, but I didn't feel any emotional impact from us. The beginning of the book has pages and pages of characters listed, but I didn't really care for any of them.
The beginning is also odd and doesn't get picked up on again. Mind you, there are apparently another three books in the series..... needless to say I won't be reading those! The ending was also quite abrupt.
Now I have book club to go to and don't know what to say other than it was really dull!
Andrea D (21 KP) rated Six of Crows in Books
Mar 6, 2019
Variety of characters (1 more)
The lack of black and white thinking
A Second chance.
This is the second time I have attempted to read Six of Crows and I've only chosen to pick it up after loving the original Grisha Trilogy so much. This time around I stuck with it and feel deeply hugely in love with the Dregs.
There are very few morals in this book and money is king, don't expect to go into this book liking all the characters as it seems to take a while to truly understand them.
I love the way Leigh Bardurgo has refused to make her characters pure and innocent people who can do no wrong. Every single person in this book is deeply flawed but that's what makes it all so good.
The Grishaverse has a huge following and it is certainly well deserved. You do not need to have read the original trilogy to read this one but I did find myself overly excited every time I recognised a character from the originals.
There are very few morals in this book and money is king, don't expect to go into this book liking all the characters as it seems to take a while to truly understand them.
I love the way Leigh Bardurgo has refused to make her characters pure and innocent people who can do no wrong. Every single person in this book is deeply flawed but that's what makes it all so good.
The Grishaverse has a huge following and it is certainly well deserved. You do not need to have read the original trilogy to read this one but I did find myself overly excited every time I recognised a character from the originals.
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Megan's Munchkins in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Megan’s Munchkins was adorable. Though it did something some books rarely do. That is the fact we get to learn about kitten care though not like we are getting bogged down with information all the time like a kitten book.
It as if Megan want to prove to her parents that can take care of a pet. Though she makes mistakes along the way. We see she how she changes and that of her parents. She afraid to tell her parents that she found them.
Will Megan's fear over rule and or will she tell her parents. We see her determination and struggle to want to tell her parents. She doe take on the responsibility of the kittens. She know she want them to live and not die.
Her family does not know other then her brother. Though will she face and accept the mistakes and learn from them. You will need to find out by reading. Her parents see the changes but they get a little upset when they find out what she been hiding.
It as if Megan want to prove to her parents that can take care of a pet. Though she makes mistakes along the way. We see she how she changes and that of her parents. She afraid to tell her parents that she found them.
Will Megan's fear over rule and or will she tell her parents. We see her determination and struggle to want to tell her parents. She doe take on the responsibility of the kittens. She know she want them to live and not die.
Her family does not know other then her brother. Though will she face and accept the mistakes and learn from them. You will need to find out by reading. Her parents see the changes but they get a little upset when they find out what she been hiding.
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated The Blessings Of Friendship: A Friendship Treasury in Books
Feb 15, 2018
The Blessings of Friendship is book on friendship. There a poems about friendship. It fun the read. There are bible verses in the book as well. Your children may have heard of some of them. This is good book for children. The author makes it easy for children to read and enjoy. The pictures are wonderful and joyful. Children will love the pictures and want to have it read to them again.
The children will learn so good in learning to help others and for friends. They will also would learn kindness. This great book in return for it show what friendship is. The author did a wonderful job in the book. My rating is a 5 out 5 stars. I would recommend this for parents if they would like it for your children. If you like poetry this book great for it. It also great for children and parents a like. Though it for children mostly, it best for them to read though parents can read it to them as well.
The children will learn so good in learning to help others and for friends. They will also would learn kindness. This great book in return for it show what friendship is. The author did a wonderful job in the book. My rating is a 5 out 5 stars. I would recommend this for parents if they would like it for your children. If you like poetry this book great for it. It also great for children and parents a like. Though it for children mostly, it best for them to read though parents can read it to them as well.
Dana (24 KP) rated The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) in Books
Mar 23, 2018
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!
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!