Search
Search results
tapestry100 (306 KP) rated Ghosts in Books
Aug 2, 2017
A cute and somewhat touching story about the bonds between sisters, told with the backdrop of Dia de los Muertos. Catrina and her family has moved to the northern coast of California so that her sister Maya, who has cystic fibrosis, has a better time breathing with the cool salty air off the ocean. Catrina does not like having to have moved away from her friends, but has done so begrudgingly for her sister. When she and Maya discover that there are ghosts in their new town, they are taught about some of the history of Dia de los Muertos and also learn a little about respecting those that have passed. I sometimes think that the explanations around Dia de los Muertos seemed maybe a little too simplistic, but that may just be me. If nothing else, it has made me want to learn a little more about the history and traditions surrounding the day.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Priestdaddy in Books
Sep 4, 2017
The eccentric and quirky life of a Catholic family
This is an intriguing memoir about the author's experiences of living in an unconventional, but highly religious family, with a Catholic gun-toting priest for a father. It is highly sarcastic, and hilarious at times, reading about Patricia Lockwood's family antics. When I first began this autobiography, I honestly believed it was set in the 1960s as her father disallows the sisters to go to college, instead spending money on guitars, and describing the effects of living next to a radioactive plant. But lo and behold, Lockwood is writing about only a decade ago.
She leads an eccentric lifestyle, following in her family's footsteps, writing poetry and travelling across the US after a marrying a man off the internet. But it also reveals her doubts about their customs and practices, and how she questions the function of the church - especially with claims of molestation. An interesting and enjoyable read.
She leads an eccentric lifestyle, following in her family's footsteps, writing poetry and travelling across the US after a marrying a man off the internet. But it also reveals her doubts about their customs and practices, and how she questions the function of the church - especially with claims of molestation. An interesting and enjoyable read.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated My Sister's Bones in Books
Sep 7, 2017
Predictable, what an anti-climax!
If I ever hear that another book is the "next Gone Girl" or the "next Girl On A Train", I'm going to rate it 0.
The genre has become predictable. There are three elements to look out for in these books:
1. Neurotic women are usually right
2. Nice men are psychopaths
3. The women won't be believed by authorities until the very end
And so goes this tale of two sisters, one who became a war correspondent suffering from post-traumatic stress, and the other an alcoholic - both abused as children. One's high functioning, the other is a deadbeat mother. In between are the stories of mysterious children appearing here, there and everywhere. And the women not being believed.
The writer attempts to make a difference by bringing in stories of the horrors of the Middle East, which was a nice change - but it seemed more like a tool to follow exactly the pattern. It seemed promising but it falls short.
The genre has become predictable. There are three elements to look out for in these books:
1. Neurotic women are usually right
2. Nice men are psychopaths
3. The women won't be believed by authorities until the very end
And so goes this tale of two sisters, one who became a war correspondent suffering from post-traumatic stress, and the other an alcoholic - both abused as children. One's high functioning, the other is a deadbeat mother. In between are the stories of mysterious children appearing here, there and everywhere. And the women not being believed.
The writer attempts to make a difference by bringing in stories of the horrors of the Middle East, which was a nice change - but it seemed more like a tool to follow exactly the pattern. It seemed promising but it falls short.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Much Ado About You (Essex Sisters, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
Much Ado About You was a lovely historical romance. Eloisa James' writing has an almost lyrical lilt to it that is fresh and delightful. The story was nicely told and paced, and felt more true-to-life than others I've read in the same genre. Tess was a wonderful and likable heroine who was smart, witty and confident. I look forward to future installments and can't wait for Imogen to grow up and mature. All along the book reminded me a bit of Little Women, even though I've never read it and only seen the film version with Winona Ryder, and in the back of the book Ms. James acknowledges that she was inspired by Louisa May Alcott. My only quibble would be that Lucius could have been more fleshed out and the end seemed a bit abrupt. Other than that, I really enjoyed this quick and easy foray into Eloisa James' charming and witty world of the Essex sisters.
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Spring Fling Kitty in Books
Apr 9, 2019
It all starts when Nadine is in a tree chasing her cat "Greyheart". Her father does one thing that gets it all in the motion.
It gets even better and more twist and turns as you read the story. It is mostly about Nadine and Connor Hart. What makes it even more entertaining is that Michael and Elaine and Nadine want to have their father worry about their lives.
Does Nadine father love her or not? To find out you would need to read the story. Michael wants something, but what is the question.
Connor is bugged about his love life though his family and sisters. Who is Connor true love? Nadine does not want to play second fiddle or be a side piece to any man. Will Nadine get her wish and is Connor Hart, her true love? Elaine is an older half sister to Nadine will she help her sister or is she using Nadine for herself?
It gets even better and more twist and turns as you read the story. It is mostly about Nadine and Connor Hart. What makes it even more entertaining is that Michael and Elaine and Nadine want to have their father worry about their lives.
Does Nadine father love her or not? To find out you would need to read the story. Michael wants something, but what is the question.
Connor is bugged about his love life though his family and sisters. Who is Connor true love? Nadine does not want to play second fiddle or be a side piece to any man. Will Nadine get her wish and is Connor Hart, her true love? Elaine is an older half sister to Nadine will she help her sister or is she using Nadine for herself?
11-year-old Flavia is most concerned about the tricks her sisters are playing on her during the summer of 1950 until the day their housekeeper finds a jacksnipe with a postage stamp attached to his bill on the doorstep. This really upsets her father, but Flavia is shocked to stumble across a stranger dying in their cucumber patch a few hours later. How are these two events related?
This is a well plotted mystery with an unusual (at least for an adult audience book) main character. Flavia can act her age at times and she does drone on in the narration about chemistry (her passion) on a few occasions, but for the most part she leads a cast of fun characters. The plot is very entertaining with some nice surprises along the way to a suspenseful climax.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-sweetness-at-bottom-of-pie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a well plotted mystery with an unusual (at least for an adult audience book) main character. Flavia can act her age at times and she does drone on in the narration about chemistry (her passion) on a few occasions, but for the most part she leads a cast of fun characters. The plot is very entertaining with some nice surprises along the way to a suspenseful climax.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-sweetness-at-bottom-of-pie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Kneaded to Death in Books
Feb 19, 2018
Ivy Culpepper has come back to her home town of Santa Sofia and is trying to put her life back together after her mother was killed in a hit-and-run accident. When a murder occurs outside the local bakery where Ivy is taking a baking lesson, the three sisters who own the bakery are suspected of the crime. Sure that they wouldn’t kill anyone, Ivy starts investigating on her own.
The author did such a great job with the descriptions that I could almost feel the warmth from the ovens and smell the bread baking in Yeast of Eden. The characters were true-to-life, and the mystery well thought out. This book will leave you hungry – for more of Ivy Culpepper, and for fresh baked bread!
Kneaded to Death is the first book in Winnie Archer’s new Bread Shop Mysteries series.
<i>Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced review copy</i>
The author did such a great job with the descriptions that I could almost feel the warmth from the ovens and smell the bread baking in Yeast of Eden. The characters were true-to-life, and the mystery well thought out. This book will leave you hungry – for more of Ivy Culpepper, and for fresh baked bread!
Kneaded to Death is the first book in Winnie Archer’s new Bread Shop Mysteries series.
<i>Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced review copy</i>
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Choice: Escape Your Past and Embrace the Possible in Books
Oct 21, 2018
“Our painful experiences aren’t a liability—they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.” ― Edith Eger, The Choice
Oh my goodness, I can't even begin to tell you how good this book is. It's not just another Holocaust survivors life-story, it's so much more than that ... it's extraordinary!
Dr Eger is now 90 years old and what an amazing woman she is ... this book tells the story of being a teenager and her relationship with her parents and sisters, the truly horrific time she spent being a prisoner of the Nazis, her astonishing strength and bravery before, during and after the war and of her life once freedom had been achieved.
Once again, I can't tell you how good this book is. It's beautifully written and flows exceptionally well. Highly recommended.
My thanks go to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Oh my goodness, I can't even begin to tell you how good this book is. It's not just another Holocaust survivors life-story, it's so much more than that ... it's extraordinary!
Dr Eger is now 90 years old and what an amazing woman she is ... this book tells the story of being a teenager and her relationship with her parents and sisters, the truly horrific time she spent being a prisoner of the Nazis, her astonishing strength and bravery before, during and after the war and of her life once freedom had been achieved.
Once again, I can't tell you how good this book is. It's beautifully written and flows exceptionally well. Highly recommended.
My thanks go to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Deborah (162 KP) rated To Make a Match (Scandal in London, #3) in Books
Dec 21, 2018
Loosely based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, Liana LeFey gives us the tale of a younger sister desperate to find marital happiness and an older sister who seems intent on blocking her at every turn. The sisters nearly end up engaged to the wrong men.... but this is an historical romance, so of course it all works out in the end!
I found this a perfectly enjoyable, easy read, if not one of the best examples of the genre. Lady Victoria Lennox was a bit of a minx and did need holding back a bit, while her older sister, Lady Amelia, was pretty unlikeable for most of the book - it was hard to see what her admirer saw in her. Both main male suitors seemed decent chaps, if not a swoon-worthy as some heroes.... was never quite clear why Victoria's father always seemed so harsh on her though. Ah well.
I found this a perfectly enjoyable, easy read, if not one of the best examples of the genre. Lady Victoria Lennox was a bit of a minx and did need holding back a bit, while her older sister, Lady Amelia, was pretty unlikeable for most of the book - it was hard to see what her admirer saw in her. Both main male suitors seemed decent chaps, if not a swoon-worthy as some heroes.... was never quite clear why Victoria's father always seemed so harsh on her though. Ah well.
Jackjack (877 KP) rated Practical Magic (1998) in Movies
Mar 16, 2020 (Updated Mar 16, 2020)
Amazing!
Couldn't be more engrossed every time I watch this film!! I grew up watching this with my sister's and it's the right amount of comedy witchy romantic horror.
Story about two girls that loose there father to a curse and there mother from heart break, they move in with there aunts who are witches like them they grow up learning spells and then part ways one goes off to explore the world one stays home, they both fall in love one has two witchy girls and the other..........turns out she loved a psychopath working together the two sisters 'get rid of him' with the police investigating them and the ex boyfriend coming back to haunt them this witchy comedy soon turns to a darker setting and it's a race in time to get rid once again.
Incredible film if you have not watched the two brilliant actresses sandra bullock and Nicole Kidman together in this film, you need to!
Story about two girls that loose there father to a curse and there mother from heart break, they move in with there aunts who are witches like them they grow up learning spells and then part ways one goes off to explore the world one stays home, they both fall in love one has two witchy girls and the other..........turns out she loved a psychopath working together the two sisters 'get rid of him' with the police investigating them and the ex boyfriend coming back to haunt them this witchy comedy soon turns to a darker setting and it's a race in time to get rid once again.
Incredible film if you have not watched the two brilliant actresses sandra bullock and Nicole Kidman together in this film, you need to!