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Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Still Star-Crossed in Books
Jan 23, 2020
Once upon a time I read <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> for English.
It was awful and boring, and I hated it with a passion. I don't know why, but <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> just didn't clash well with me.
<em>Still Star-Crossed</em> isn't exactly like Shakespeare's <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> - definitely not a retelling, though I would read a retelling of the cheese any day over rereading the original. <em>Still Star-Crossed</em> is like <strong>an unwritten sequel - the aftermath of what happens in Shakespeare's Verona after the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet</strong>. The Capulets and Montagues are in a truce of sorts, but despite the public image, a tension remains between the two families and they're back to their feuds within weeks in the dark of the night. Hoping to diminish the feud altogether, the prince of Verona - Escalus - selects Benvolio (Montague) to marry Rosaline (Capulet).
<strong>Benvolio and Rosaline are an interesting pair to put together</strong> - they're complete opposites of their cousins. Both of them would probably prefer marriage to a literal snake than a forced marriage to each other, and in the hopes to break off the marriage, the two of them try to ease the heavy tensions lurking over the city.
But Benvolio and Rosaline are <strong>so much more entertaining to read about</strong>.
<blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>THE BETROTHAL: A NUTSHELL</b></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Escalus:</b> In order to bring peace to the two families and to Verona, I have decided the Montagues and Capulets will be united through marriage.
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Rosaline:</b> DUDE. PEACE? I slapped that Montague not too long ago.
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Benvolio:</b> About an hour ago, in fact.
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Rosaline:</b> That's five minutes of knowing each other. Imagine a lifetime!
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Benvolio:</b> A complete life of misery.
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Pause.</i>
<b>Benvolio: </b>Then again, I guess my misery is yours to command, Your Grace.</blockquote>
They're not hopelessly romantic like their cousins with cheese lined around them! In fact, Benvolio and Rosaline hate being around each other. They only tromp around Veronas streets behind their families backs in the hopes to figure out who is behind trying to start up the feud between their families once more. At the exact same time, Rosaline starts becoming more distant from her sister Livia, and in a way, <strong><em>Still Star-Crossed</em> becomes a tale of a sisterly feud as well</strong>.
I think the only problem I really had with <em>Still Star-Crossed</em> is wanting to slap Escalus upside the head a few times for being figuratively blind. (Also, this is becoming a TV show. SOON. YES PLEASE.)
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-still-star-crossed-by-melinda-taub/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
It was awful and boring, and I hated it with a passion. I don't know why, but <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> just didn't clash well with me.
<em>Still Star-Crossed</em> isn't exactly like Shakespeare's <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> - definitely not a retelling, though I would read a retelling of the cheese any day over rereading the original. <em>Still Star-Crossed</em> is like <strong>an unwritten sequel - the aftermath of what happens in Shakespeare's Verona after the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet</strong>. The Capulets and Montagues are in a truce of sorts, but despite the public image, a tension remains between the two families and they're back to their feuds within weeks in the dark of the night. Hoping to diminish the feud altogether, the prince of Verona - Escalus - selects Benvolio (Montague) to marry Rosaline (Capulet).
<strong>Benvolio and Rosaline are an interesting pair to put together</strong> - they're complete opposites of their cousins. Both of them would probably prefer marriage to a literal snake than a forced marriage to each other, and in the hopes to break off the marriage, the two of them try to ease the heavy tensions lurking over the city.
But Benvolio and Rosaline are <strong>so much more entertaining to read about</strong>.
<blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>THE BETROTHAL: A NUTSHELL</b></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Escalus:</b> In order to bring peace to the two families and to Verona, I have decided the Montagues and Capulets will be united through marriage.
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Rosaline:</b> DUDE. PEACE? I slapped that Montague not too long ago.
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Benvolio:</b> About an hour ago, in fact.
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Rosaline:</b> That's five minutes of knowing each other. Imagine a lifetime!
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Benvolio:</b> A complete life of misery.
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Pause.</i>
<b>Benvolio: </b>Then again, I guess my misery is yours to command, Your Grace.</blockquote>
They're not hopelessly romantic like their cousins with cheese lined around them! In fact, Benvolio and Rosaline hate being around each other. They only tromp around Veronas streets behind their families backs in the hopes to figure out who is behind trying to start up the feud between their families once more. At the exact same time, Rosaline starts becoming more distant from her sister Livia, and in a way, <strong><em>Still Star-Crossed</em> becomes a tale of a sisterly feud as well</strong>.
I think the only problem I really had with <em>Still Star-Crossed</em> is wanting to slap Escalus upside the head a few times for being figuratively blind. (Also, this is becoming a TV show. SOON. YES PLEASE.)
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-still-star-crossed-by-melinda-taub/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
BookInspector (124 KP) rated The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson in Books
Nov 9, 2020
The protagonists of this story would be Margarette and Roy, but this novel is told from multiple perspectives, including Innis herself. Margarette and Roy belong to the families, that hate each other. Both of the families trying to outdo each other with better events and showing off, and Margarette has to endure all that competing behaviour. Innis is a character, who’s story is running in the background. Innis is an incredibly strange woman. Her story is revealed little by little, but it is very sweet and heartbreaking. I really liked all the main characters, they are very kind, sensitive and pleasant people. Margarette has patience made of steel, she does so much for both of the families, scared to offend them, I know I would have lost my patience in no time. 😀 😀
The book is set in a very small town called Coraloo, during a festival, and the whole vibe feels like Bruge (Belgium) for some reason. I imagine little shops down the little alleys, cobblestone everywhere… It just seems cosy, small and inviting. The narrative is quite slow and steady, the characters are sharing their thoughts about family, love, relationships, but it is quite funny at times when crazy family members join in. The topics discussed in this novel are family relationships, marriage preparations and stress, abandoned dreams, wish to be accepted and many more. This novel has some mystery elements, but the whole novel is more oriented towards romance and wedding.
I really liked the writing style of this book. It was very creative, and even though some of the things kept repeating, I could feel the love for everything through the characters. I am very happy that the author used her experience as a teacher in this novel, I think it was very well utilised. The chapters are medium length, and some of the information was a little repetitive, but I was quite curious to find out more about Innis, so the chapters didn’t feel draggy to me. The ending was very unexpected but left me very satisfied with the outcome.
So, to conclude, I really enjoyed this funny, heart-warming book, that is filled with unique and entertaining characters, as well as very soothing and “cuddly” plot. I think this book is perfect for these long and cold evenings, it feels like a hug.
The book is set in a very small town called Coraloo, during a festival, and the whole vibe feels like Bruge (Belgium) for some reason. I imagine little shops down the little alleys, cobblestone everywhere… It just seems cosy, small and inviting. The narrative is quite slow and steady, the characters are sharing their thoughts about family, love, relationships, but it is quite funny at times when crazy family members join in. The topics discussed in this novel are family relationships, marriage preparations and stress, abandoned dreams, wish to be accepted and many more. This novel has some mystery elements, but the whole novel is more oriented towards romance and wedding.
I really liked the writing style of this book. It was very creative, and even though some of the things kept repeating, I could feel the love for everything through the characters. I am very happy that the author used her experience as a teacher in this novel, I think it was very well utilised. The chapters are medium length, and some of the information was a little repetitive, but I was quite curious to find out more about Innis, so the chapters didn’t feel draggy to me. The ending was very unexpected but left me very satisfied with the outcome.
So, to conclude, I really enjoyed this funny, heart-warming book, that is filled with unique and entertaining characters, as well as very soothing and “cuddly” plot. I think this book is perfect for these long and cold evenings, it feels like a hug.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Mar 25, 2022
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Casual Vacancy in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This book is another prime example of why I wish Goodreads would allow half stars...it wasn't a 4 but it wasn't a 3 either.
J.K. Rowlings's first forray into the adult book world is well written, don't get me wrong. She has a true gift in her ability to craft the written word and describes things in a way few other authors can. I just had a very hard time getting in to this book until the last 50 or so pages.
This book tells the tales of several families of all varities in the parrish of Pagford. It is a small town where it seems that evryone has their noses in each other's business and that they know who is who & what is what. The plot flows along following the lives of the various families & showing you how they are all connected, as much as 1 family or person may think they are better than the rest. Of course, the story twists & turns & eventually lets you in to the fact that no really knows what is going on in their neighbor's lives. It is all centered around the sudden death of parrish councillor Berry Fairbrother & the political wranglings around who will fill his seat.
On 1 jand it speaks to the impact that 1 man can have on the people around him. On the other it is a flat lesson on minding your own business. I hope Rowling will attempt more books targeted at an older audience but this one, for me, fell abit short of expectations.
J.K. Rowlings's first forray into the adult book world is well written, don't get me wrong. She has a true gift in her ability to craft the written word and describes things in a way few other authors can. I just had a very hard time getting in to this book until the last 50 or so pages.
This book tells the tales of several families of all varities in the parrish of Pagford. It is a small town where it seems that evryone has their noses in each other's business and that they know who is who & what is what. The plot flows along following the lives of the various families & showing you how they are all connected, as much as 1 family or person may think they are better than the rest. Of course, the story twists & turns & eventually lets you in to the fact that no really knows what is going on in their neighbor's lives. It is all centered around the sudden death of parrish councillor Berry Fairbrother & the political wranglings around who will fill his seat.
On 1 jand it speaks to the impact that 1 man can have on the people around him. On the other it is a flat lesson on minding your own business. I hope Rowling will attempt more books targeted at an older audience but this one, for me, fell abit short of expectations.
Lindsay (1812 KP) rated Army Wives: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage in Books
Feb 15, 2018
I checked this book out so I could understand a show that was called "Army Wives" on lifetime. I knew the show was based on the book. So finally had checked it out to read it.
When I started reading the book. Tanya Banks starts by tell you about herself in terms of telling you a little of what going on around her and her breaking the news. She goes to a army post to get her reports and tell you about what going on. She also introduces four army wives and families.
Each family is tell their own story by the army wife. She goes from wife to many but she also tell tales as she is apart of the story as well. The story starts with her a bit and then you meet the families and she start each section of the book. You get the whole story of each family she talking about beging to end with her in it. She also close the book talking. I do recommend this book if you are Armywive fan as of the show on lifetime.
I was into this book. I felt each armywives heart and feelings. I felt I like was there in their house. You can certify feel the emotions to each armywives and family. It may be a bit confusing at first but you do understand as it goes from one family to the next. The show protrait the book a bit not completely but does goes with it.
When I started reading the book. Tanya Banks starts by tell you about herself in terms of telling you a little of what going on around her and her breaking the news. She goes to a army post to get her reports and tell you about what going on. She also introduces four army wives and families.
Each family is tell their own story by the army wife. She goes from wife to many but she also tell tales as she is apart of the story as well. The story starts with her a bit and then you meet the families and she start each section of the book. You get the whole story of each family she talking about beging to end with her in it. She also close the book talking. I do recommend this book if you are Armywive fan as of the show on lifetime.
I was into this book. I felt each armywives heart and feelings. I felt I like was there in their house. You can certify feel the emotions to each armywives and family. It may be a bit confusing at first but you do understand as it goes from one family to the next. The show protrait the book a bit not completely but does goes with it.
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Debbiereadsbook (1788 KP) rated The Best Parts of Him (Vermont Trailblazers #1) in Books
Nov 4, 2025
It's about discovering yourself, and what you are doing might not actually be the best step forward.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
If this review runs away with itself, I'm sorry, but I freaking LOVED this book!
It's sweet, and charming. It's cute and a little bit smexy. Very little angst apart from what happened to both Ryland and Dabbs as children (divorce and verbal parental abuse, talked about but not in detail)
It's a small town and major hockey leagues. It's building new found families and more established real families.
It's about discovering yourself, and what you are doing might not actually be the best step forward. What I loved was that BOTH men had a little bit of a revelation about themselves.
I was reading and I kept coming back to Jason and Bellamy, who are Ryland's brother and Dabbs' best friend (and Ryland's enemy) I kept thinking I've read these guys before and off I tootled and there it was: A Touch of Maple (Love In Maplewood #3) Now, on a personal note, I think you should read THAT book first. It will give you a better image of Ryland and Bellamy's previous animosity and just what Ryland does to let it all go. I loved being able to catch up with them.
There was a MAJOR hint at who might be next and I can't wait to read it!
5 full, and so very sweet, stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
If this review runs away with itself, I'm sorry, but I freaking LOVED this book!
It's sweet, and charming. It's cute and a little bit smexy. Very little angst apart from what happened to both Ryland and Dabbs as children (divorce and verbal parental abuse, talked about but not in detail)
It's a small town and major hockey leagues. It's building new found families and more established real families.
It's about discovering yourself, and what you are doing might not actually be the best step forward. What I loved was that BOTH men had a little bit of a revelation about themselves.
I was reading and I kept coming back to Jason and Bellamy, who are Ryland's brother and Dabbs' best friend (and Ryland's enemy) I kept thinking I've read these guys before and off I tootled and there it was: A Touch of Maple (Love In Maplewood #3) Now, on a personal note, I think you should read THAT book first. It will give you a better image of Ryland and Bellamy's previous animosity and just what Ryland does to let it all go. I loved being able to catch up with them.
There was a MAJOR hint at who might be next and I can't wait to read it!
5 full, and so very sweet, stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere