
Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated It in Books
Jul 19, 2019
After spending the last couple of months with Bill, Ben, Beverly, Richie, Mike, Eddie, and Stan I feel like they're my best friends and I'm now part of the Loser's Club. I really hope in the coming years I don't forget about them, like a memory hidden away in the barrens of my mind. Maybe I'll have Mike make an entry in his journal.
Wahiawa, HI, July 19th, 2019, just past Midnight: If you were to look into my eyes at this moment you may see what appears to be deadlights in my eyes. I assure you tgey are only lit up with excitement and joy, as Stephen King's IT floated its way to the top as the best book I've ever read.

Anne (15117 KP) rated The Belles: The Belles Book 1 in Books
Nov 4, 2019
It was hard to rate it and chose 3 because of the mixed feelings. It was very slow going - I made it halfway through and then stopped for a day or two and debated whether I wanted to or could finish it or not.
There’s a lot of heavy subject matter in here underneath the pretty stuff and in between the fun and interesting things. I don’t usually like or read this dark of a book much and it was a bit of a challenge for me in parts because I don’t handle reading about deaths or harming animals that well all the time - it can be hard to stomach depending on the details and who dies etc. There were also a lot of other things that bothered me or like some others mentioned maybe should have had a bit more warning before reading it. I also was not happy with the part where Alfred tried to attack and get some action during his beauty treatment.
As some others mentioned in their reviews, some of us readers perhaps more than others need to tread lightly when considering and/or reading this. I don’t know that I’ll be reading the next in this series. This book wasn’t really a good fit for me.

Leah Lopez (7 KP) rated Buster: The Military Dog Who Saved a Thousand Lives in Books
Nov 6, 2019
However, with my current research on British/American forces I thought it would be a good idea; given the fact I have/had no knowledge of dog/handler in the forces. It was such a great read. After reading heavy books based on Afghanistan/Iraq about Soldiers being shot at, severely wounded, and sometimes being blown up, it was good to read an easy-reading book. The chemistry between Will and Buster was well addressed; Will's narration on Buster's emotions was both funny and warm. I was actually falling in love with a dog I hadn't met. But, this journey, although it was based on Buster, wouldn't have succeeded had the chemistry and understanding not have being as blunt. Will Barrow is clearly a dog lover and to work alongside a dog with as much as energy is a bonus. I am glad they made it back to England without neither been injured.
I did notice that quite a lot of the reviews claim this book to be "boring" without "much happening (action)."
Well, I can assure you, it is much more of a pleasure in reading this book, having a happy journey and ending, than reading those whose lives have changed drastically and/or ended.

Ross (3284 KP) rated Siege and Sacrifice in Books
Dec 12, 2019
That opening anti-climax out of the way, this book is a more intelligent and thoughtful one that the previous two. Finally we have some answers and insight into the world we are in, and where the ancient mystical race went, as well as where the summoned demons come from. While I didn't feel this was missing from the first two books, it is good to have some answers and extra world-building to get stuck into.
The first third of the book rattles along quite well, the humans trying to track down the host of the demon and hence stop its daily attacks. The middle third was a bit of a slog, with much less happening, quite heavy on the exposition and endless narrative descriptions. The final was much more pacey, though I was starting to tire of the book by then and skimmed some chapters.
All in all a good conclusion to an enjoyable series.

Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper in Books
Feb 26, 2020 (Updated Apr 18, 2021)
This book gives us a window into the lives of women in the 19th Century that is fascinating.
I listened to audiobook read by Louise Brealey and I think mainly because it was an audiobook (and people had like a million children each!!!) it got a bit name heavy at points as well as other details being hard to take in. This though reflects on what is clearly a very thoroughly researched book. It's conclusion that not all the victims were necessarily prostitutes I think was slightly off the mark in that it doesn't matter even if they were there was more than that to sum up their lives.
There is always more to the victims of horrendous acts than we often look at while we are busy giving in-depth looks into the lives of killers. This book does a great job of refocusing the True Crime narrative.

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