This was my second Amazon First Reads selection for July... a bonus, if you will. It was nice to be able to choose two books this month, but this one This was my second Amazon First Reads selection for July... a bonus, if you will. It was nice to be able to choose two books this month, but this one kinda left me cold.
Although it isn't categorized as a YA book, that's how it comes across to me, because I can't imagine anyone over the age of 16 being able to sympathize with and relate to the characters in this book. The writing itself is actually quite good, but the story? Unfortunately, it's not my cup of tea. Most of the characters, both teen and adult, are shallow, self-serving, and suffer a serious lack of morals. That, in itself, isn't enough to make the story unlikable, but the plot and the ending are both lacking, as well. I would've liked to have seen some redemption incurred by positive growth in these characters, especially Maria.
This was one of my two (Count 'em! TWO!) Amazon First Reads selections for July. Although described as a psychological thriller, I think it falls moreThis was one of my two (Count 'em! TWO!) Amazon First Reads selections for July. Although described as a psychological thriller, I think it falls more into the mystery category than a thriller.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many other stories have been told based on the scenario of a reunion of old friends, and although most of those other stories also end up revealing old secrets and creating new disasters, THIS reunion raises the secrets and disasters to a higher level.
Six old college pals gather, along with a few of their children. Way too much alcohol is consumed, some strong pot is passed around, and things go downhill fast from there, beginning with a gruesome rape.
For being twenty-five years past college graduation, most of these characters seem to be stuck at or near the same level of (im)maturity as they showed in school. But by the end of the book, they're all forced to face the facts and grow up... the hard way.
This book was one of the April selections for Amazon's First Reads program, and let me tell ya, I was one smart cookie for picking it. Okay, okay, if This book was one of the April selections for Amazon's First Reads program, and let me tell ya, I was one smart cookie for picking it. Okay, okay, if you must insist on accuracy, I was darned lucky.
Because it's reeeeeally good.
Is it destined to become a classic, something students will be required to study if they want to pass English.101? Well, no, maybe not, but I think their moms should be encouraged to read it just for the sheer escapist pleasure of it.
The writing is smooth and oh-so-readable, whether the author is chronicling the snarky journal entries of an intelligent teenage girl or following her harried single mother's POV narrative. And the story? Delightful, fun, and at times, laugh-out-loud funny.
Librarian mom Amy has been struggling, both emotionally and financially, ever since her husband took off three years ago to kinda "find himself." (Evidently, the putz left himself on the other side of the continent.) It's been hard, but she can mostly pat herself on the back for a job well done. Her kids are the center of her universe, and no sacrifice is too great to make for them. After all, it's all on her to make up for her husband's absence, right? (Cue a snippet of melodramatic music here.)
Then her (mega-rich) husband John suddenly reappears, and she begrudgingly allows their two children to stay with him while she goes to New York to attend a conference. Her "week-long" visit ends up lasting for most of the summer, and in the midst of sharing adventures with friends, old and new, she rediscovers her before-children self.
Bottom line? This is a thoroughly enjoyable story of self-discovery and forgiveness, populated by a cast of memorable characters. It's a fast-reading bit of escapism all you smart cookies might love....more
This was an Amazon First Reads selection for February, and it was the best choice I've ever made since signing onto this program.
The story is absoluteThis was an Amazon First Reads selection for February, and it was the best choice I've ever made since signing onto this program.
The story is absolutely charming. The characters are delightful, especially little smarty pants Ursa, who emerges from the woods, dirty and barefoot, and changes field biologist Jo's life forever. It's a sometimes fun, sometimes scary journey that demonstrates the powers of trust, forgiveness and love.
I'm pleased to say I won an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway, and reading it felt like a reunion with old friends.
The earliest books in tI'm pleased to say I won an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway, and reading it felt like a reunion with old friends.
The earliest books in this series made me fall in love with this writer's ability to keep me on the proverbial edge of my seat, and her characters felt so real to me, I could hardly wait until the next book in the series was released. Then, I somehow lost interest about midway through the series, because the stories didn't seem quite as riveting or fresh anymore.
But this one? It definitely didn't disappoint, and I fell in love with the characters all over again. Although the action seems to drag at times, overall, I was still driven to know what happened... I simply had to get past the agony of what was happening to Cara and the people she loved and hopefully see them get to a safe place. (Not always inevitable in a Johansen book.)
All in all, this was a very enjoyable read, and I'm grateful to St. Martin's Press for making it available. Four and a half stars....more
Most people who have an awareness of ALS know about it because of Lou Gehrig, Stephen Hawking, and the ice bucket challenges, but for those whose liveMost people who have an awareness of ALS know about it because of Lou Gehrig, Stephen Hawking, and the ice bucket challenges, but for those whose lives are touched by it personally, it's a horrifyingly devastating disease and a lonely existence few of us can... or want... to imagine.
Tough. This book MAKES us imagine it. Makes it feel more personal, more real. In excruciating, sometimes graphic, sometimes melodramatic, detail, it brings home just how terrible and terrifying it is to lose control of your body, bit by agonizing bit. It not only details how horrible it is for the patient, but also how exhausting and devastating it is for the caretaker, as well.
It's eye-opening and it's horrible.
Parts will make you cry, I guarantee. But more than anything, you will gain empathy, and the story might make you think about the tough medical choices some of us may face during the final stages of life.
NOTE: This was my Kindle First choice for July. If you want to read it, it's scheduled for release in August.
From page one, when a little girl plops aNOTE: This was my Kindle First choice for July. If you want to read it, it's scheduled for release in August.
From page one, when a little girl plops a jar filled with coins on a lawyer's desk in hopes of hiring him to find her missing brother, I was captivated by the author's natural easy-reading style of writing. For the most part, I continued to enjoy his writing, but in other ways, the book didn't quite live up to my expectations, and I'm not even sure why.
Maybe it was all of the side-plots, which sucked energy away from the main story about black boys disappearing with little more than a shoulder shrug from law enforcement. Not that those side stories weren't mildly interesting in themselves, mind you, but I would have preferred a stronger focus on the boys and how the investigation was conducted after the dead bodies started piling up. The side stories had a tendency to fragment the story, resulting in an all-over-the-board scatter-gun approach, when I was looking for the precision of a laser pointer.
Maybe it was the author's way of telling about the problems in the black community, rather than showing them and letting readers draw their own conclusions. Granted, most of the time, that telling came in the form of dialogue, but it still came across as sermonizing. It would have been far more effective and poignant if readers grew to care about the people and communities, and were made to feel the tragedies and inequities more viscerally.
Maybe it was the killer chosen by the author. I found that to be disappointing and illogical. (Not that a killer follows logic... but still...) There were other illogical (to my mind) premises in the book, too, but all-in-all, it's fast-reading, thought-provoking, and definitely worth a look-see.
Thanks so much to the author and her "tour director" Karla for allowing me the privilege of reading this book prior to its publication. I could hardlyThanks so much to the author and her "tour director" Karla for allowing me the privilege of reading this book prior to its publication. I could hardly wait to read it, and WOW! Did I ever LOVE it.
I mean, what's not to love? I'm telling you, there are NO other books on the market quite like these. None. The fantasy premise behind Grimes' books, in which a small group of people have the ability to adapt the auras of other people, is mind-blowing, and yet, somehow, she makes it all seem so... normal. So kick-ass cool. I mean, actors and actresses get to "play" other characters, but for all intense purposes, adapters essentially "become" other people. Look like them, act like them, talk like them... and provide the service of "filling in" for them. Certainly not a boring job, wouldn't you say? But it can sometimes be a dangerous one.
Yep, all of her books are based on that really cool premise, which always leads to unusual adventures. (Not sure, but Unusual may be the author's middle name.) So you have that cool fantasy premise in every book, and always... ALWAYS... there's a boatload of FUN. And funny? Oh my goodness. You have no idea! (Hmmm, on second thought, maybe Funny is her middle name...) And lots of toe-curling romance and mystery, too. What can I say? These books have it ALL, and this, the fourth book in the series, is the best one yet. (I keep saying that, but doggone it, they keep getting better and better!)
You'd think that by the time a series reaches its fourth book (PLUS a pre-quel!) that it might be in danger of getting just a teensy bit stale, but trust me... not this series. Not by a long shot. I don't know how she does it, but this author's material is still fresh and refreshing, and if we're all very lucky, she has lots more in store for her readers. (Let's hope her middle name is Prolific.)
If you haven't read any of these books yet, READ 'em, for goodness sake. You won't be sorry. This, the fourth book, comes out in May, so you have plenty of time to catch up. If you're already up to speed, why not pre-order this book NOW? You wouldn't want to forget. Believe me, you don't want to miss that scene about the astronauts' toilet...
Nope, I'm not related to the author. Have never even met her, but I'd like to. I simply love her books. My bet is, you will, too....more
I'm in awe of this writer. She has a boatload of reviews already, and her book hasn't even been released yet! High five!!!
Okay, I got this book througI'm in awe of this writer. She has a boatload of reviews already, and her book hasn't even been released yet! High five!!!
Okay, I got this book through the Kindle First program, and it was enjoyable enough. Not great, but engaging for the most part. As some other reviewers have already indicated, there's a lot of repetition in the book, which does slow things down a bit, but not overly so.
The book presents two parallel plots, and it's somewhat disappointing that there's no resolution to the mystery regarding the disappearance and murder of Daphne's sister. Although it occurred twenty years in the past, it's been the defining event in Daphne's life, and has stifled her development in many ways. With her continued obsession with solving the mystery, and the lack of any meaningful answers, it doesn't look like she is ever going to "grow up." In a second book, perhaps?
With the other story line, regarding the old lady who begs Daphne for help, saying she's being kidnapped and robbed, there are some moments that are very interesting, and others that merely evoke head-shaking disbelief over the stupid choices Daphne keeps making. I mean, STUPID. Really, really stupid. Not to mention selfish. I mean, she may be emotionally immature and self-involved, but does that mean she'd deliberately speed through a red light while pursuing people who she thinks might be bad guys? Or that she'd show next to no concern for the people hurt in the subsequent accident caused by her actions? Or that she'd continually put herself into needlessly risky situations with total disregard for the consequences?
Well, evidently, it does.
Anyhow, this was an enjoyable read, even if the main character isn't particularly likable. Granted, her past history is pretty awful, but maybe it's time for her to start living in the present, and to start planning for a better future. In her defense, there are some indications at the end of the book that she may be moving in that direction. Again, I wonder... does this mean a second book is in the works? Could be....more
It seems odd to place a book that's already racked up close to two thousand reviews on my "first reads" shelf, but I won it through a Goodreads giveawIt seems odd to place a book that's already racked up close to two thousand reviews on my "first reads" shelf, but I won it through a Goodreads giveaway, (Thank you!) and that's where we're supposed to place books we've been fortunate enough to win... so that's where I'm putting it. (Dem's da rules!) Bottom line, I may not actually be a first or early reader, but I sure am an enthusiastic one, because I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It was a pleasure, and oh so easy, to get wrapped up in this tale. I mean, I could practically SEE the great settings and wonderful characters. Not that I could have, of course, but if the main character hadn't finally opened her eyes, stopped analyzing everything to death, and run into the arms of a certain too-good-to-be-true man, I would've whopped her upside of her head.
All-in-all, an excellent read. And guess what? A movie made from this book will be hitting the theaters next month! (See? I'm not the ONLY one who could visualize the people and settings!) ...more
I was thrilled to get this book through an early offering from Kindle, because I've read everything this gal has written to date, and she never disappI was thrilled to get this book through an early offering from Kindle, because I've read everything this gal has written to date, and she never disappoints.
To tell the truth, I'm surprised at the number of poor ratings. Evidently, some people think this book doesn't have enough depth or meaning, or something. Heck, if they want depth and meaning, they should maybe read one of the great Russian novels. This book doesn't claim to be Great Literature. It promises to be fun and sassy, with a healthy dollop of heat, and that's exactly what it delivers. It's fun and funny, with a capital F....more
First off, I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. (Thank you!)
What can I say? This book is... different. It's sci-fi, because it involves a strFirst off, I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. (Thank you!)
What can I say? This book is... different. It's sci-fi, because it involves a struggle to save the world from a controlling alien race, but the story also serves as a deliberate conduit for what I suspect to be the author's own sociopolitical theories. In the hands of a less skilled writer, this could be a tad annoying, but Gaughen manages to provide his food for thought without attempting to shove it down readers' throats.
It's an entertaining read, infused with occasional bits of subtle humor, and some lines that were so deliciously written, I had to go back and read them again. (Good thing books aren't fattening.)
All-in-all, I'd give it three and a half stars, rounded up to four....more
First off, let me say I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. (Thank you!)
And I reeeeeeally enjoyed it. Yeah, sure, so the basic elements of thFirst off, let me say I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. (Thank you!)
And I reeeeeeally enjoyed it. Yeah, sure, so the basic elements of the story are tried and true: escaped convicts barge into an isolated home and terrorize the family living there, and before the bad guys can take the equipment they need and head for the border, a violent storm forces them to stay. But this writer manages to spin what could have been a same-old yarn into pure gold. She's developed characters with depth, and deftly portrays how lies can catch up with us, and things... and people... from the past can come back to haunt us. Or worse.
A very enjoyable thriller. I'd give it four and a half stars, rounded up to five....more
What did I think? I think the author's debut novel "Deadly Lies" was absolutely terrific, and this, her second book, is even better.
The story? Kim isWhat did I think? I think the author's debut novel "Deadly Lies" was absolutely terrific, and this, her second book, is even better.
The story? Kim is already classified as a missing person when the story opens, and she's being held by a psychopath. Now, Brooke, another college student, is gone. To make a bad situation worse, Brooke is a diabetic, a diabetic whose vials of insulin are still sitting in her dorm room, so finding her as soon as possible is a matter of life and death.
But when Brooke's mother Marissa goes to the police, they don't initially share her sense of urgency. They've seen this kind of reckless disappearing act behavior from college students many times before, so they see no reason to overreact. But they're wrong, and Marissa knows it. And she knows her daughter is in danger.
Wherever she is. Whoever has her. She is in danger, and the clock is ticking. Once the investigation kicks into high gear, the mutilated bodies start appearing. Will one of them be Kim? Or Brooke? Who else? And why? Will Marissa and her other daughter become targets, too?
This is a very well-written thriller, but don't take my word for it. Read it yourself. You'll be glad you did.
Many thanks go to the author for allowing me to read "In the Dark" prior to its publication. Now, that I've shed some light on it, you aren't in the dark about what a terrific book it is, and I hope you're prepared to snag yourself a copy as soon as it's available....more
When I sign on as a new follower on a blog, I sometimes joke that I'm the blogger's "newest groupie," although I can't imagine me ever being... or eveWhen I sign on as a new follower on a blog, I sometimes joke that I'm the blogger's "newest groupie," although I can't imagine me ever being... or even wanting to be... an honest-to-goodness band groupie. Not even when I was a teenager. Not my thing.
BUT, I certainly enjoyed reading this wonderful book, which I won (Thank you!) through a Goodreads giveaway, about a 45-year-old journalist's one-month stint as a pretend groupie. It helped that Monica looked youthful enough to pass for thirty. It also helped that the juicy assignment came her way right after her husband of twenty years dropped the bombshell that he wanted a divorce. And it reeeeeally helped that the band whose tour she was going undercover to follow was the very one that had once fueled her love-sick teenage dreams. Especially the lead guitarist/ singer. Her heartthrob. After all these years,looking at his picture still made her heart beat a little faster. And NOW, she was going to have the magazine-given opportunity to get to know the band and *HIM* in a more up close and personal way. After all, she's got front row seats for many of the concerts... and backstage VIP passes... not to mention a new hip and sexy wardrobe. Anything could happen! Is it possible for her one-time fantasies to become reality, or is she just too darned old for all that loud rock 'n' roll and those decades-old dreams?
Was the story totally believable? Not entirely. But who cares? It is a fun read. It's as simple as that. I'd give it four and a half stars....more
First off, let me say that I won an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway, but when the final version is released in January, y'all should walFirst off, let me say that I won an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway, but when the final version is released in January, y'all should walk to the book store in your bare feet over broken glass to buy a copy. Okay, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but I'm telling you, this is a beautifully-written, and truly eye-opening book. A quote on the cover by Colum McCann calls it "a literary molotov cocktail," and that is a perfect description.
The writing is captivating, and the matter-of-fact way in which the author presents differing life views promotes understanding and empathy, whether or not we agree with the beliefs of, and the actions taken, by the opposing characters. The centerpiece of this tale is the 1999 WTO riot in Seattle, and whether he is depicting a protester, a third world country delegate, or someone in law enforcement, Yapa manages to shed light on their underlying motivations and ideals, without imposing his judgment on any of them. What comes across most brilliantly is a heartbreaking sense of shared humanity, and the utter tragedy of misunderstanding and resulting violence between decent human beings who are guided by different ideals. While some of us may have memories of seeing news reports about this riot when it occurred in 1999, this book raises the event to a whole new level. Rather than being an event we may have shaken our heads over when seeing it in a few five-minute news bites, it becomes about real human beings with real human motivations, dreams, and ideals. This book may break your heart, and it may even make you shed a tear, but it will also open your eyes.
This is a brilliant book, and well worth reading. Maybe more than once. I highly recommend it....more
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, (thank you!) and it was the first of Dean's books that I've had the pleasure of reading. However, it proI won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, (thank you!) and it was the first of Dean's books that I've had the pleasure of reading. However, it probably won't be the last.
The plot lines of some romances stretch credibility way out of shape, and this one is no exception. Parts of it had me raising my eyebrows in disbelief and rolling my eyes, but parts of it are so touching and heart-wrenching, I readily stuffed my disbelief in my back pocket, and kept on reading. The whirlwind romance between Luke and Jill is very sweet, and not unlike what is found in many other romances, but it's the relationship between Luke and Troy that steals the show, and makes this book stand out from the crowd. The two are lifelong friends, pretty much inseparable since they were in diapers, but when they were twelve years old, a terrible tragedy changed everything for them. Even though their relationship has been toxic and dysfunctional ever since, Luke refuses to give up on Troy, and will do anything for him, no matter what. But does that "anything" mean giving up the woman he loves?
This book is about the complicated ways we can be affected by tragedy, and the long-lasting effects of those changes. It's about the joys and pains of friendship and love, about the destructive powers of bitterness, and the healing powers of forgiveness and understanding. I'd give it three and a half stars, rounded up to four. ...more
First off, I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, and boyohboy, am I ever glad.
It's a unique story that takes readers somewhere few of us have First off, I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, and boyohboy, am I ever glad.
It's a unique story that takes readers somewhere few of us have ever been before, and will never have an opportunity to be: inside the walls of a cloistered convent. That in itself is fascinating, and well worth the read, because the author does a beautiful job describing the physical and spiritual nature of the secluded convent, and the nuns who live there.
But that isn't all this book is about. It's about twin sisters who were separated shortly after their mother died in childbirth, and who are finally meeting as adults. One twin, Sister Catherine, lives in a convent, where she spends most of her time praying... and painting. She paints inspired, breath-taking works of art, which to her are yet another expression of prayer, and meant to remain private, just between her, God, and the other nuns. In addition to her vow of poverty, which prompts her to paint over her works so she can re-use the canvases, she has also taken a vow of silence. On the other hand, the second twin, Dori McKenna, is anything but silent. She works as a journalist for a tell-all, make it up if you have to, kinda newspaper. When Dorie visits the convent in hopes of meeting her sister, she's stunned by the beauty of her paintings, and firmly believes such God-given talent should be shared with the world.
To get to know her new-found sister the Sister, and in hopes of telling her story, and persuading her to show her artwork at a gallery, Dorie pretends to have an interest in becoming a nun. While she's living, working, and praying at the convent with the other nuns... let's just say, God takes over from there, and life changes dramatically for both sisters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would give it four and a half stars. ...more
This book, which I won through a Goodreads giveaway, relates a story that hits all the right notes, and in a most haunting way. Just like the duduk plThis book, which I won through a Goodreads giveaway, relates a story that hits all the right notes, and in a most haunting way. Just like the duduk played by the story's main character Rupen. Never heard of a duduk before? Me, neither. Not until I read this book. Even better yet, through the author's website, I was able to actually HEAR this amazing instrument, too. [So can you. Just go to littymathew.net and click on the "chatter" tab. There's both an interview, which includes some of the music, as well as a couple other audio tracts.]
But this book does so much more than simply introduce us to an Armenian instrument with a unique voice. It opens our minds and hearts to the history of the Armenian people, and sheds light on the animosity between Armenians and Turks. This story takes place in an Armenian community in California, and highlights many of their traditions, the foods they eat, the lives they live, and the bitter hatred some of them still harbor.
Within that community, the aging... and dying... duduk maestro Rupen has carried a deep secret for most of his life. If his family, friends, and many fans find out the truth, will it change how they feel about him? More importantly, should it...?
This is an excellent book. Very thought-provoking, and very informative. As if that weren't enough, some of the prose is so beautiful, I had to stop and read it again, kinda like replaying a favorite strain of music.
Bottom line, I highly recommend this book on oh-so many levels. ...more
Word nerds and grammar groupies, unite! With Comma Queen Mary Norris as our fearless leader, perhaps we can change the world, one dangling participle Word nerds and grammar groupies, unite! With Comma Queen Mary Norris as our fearless leader, perhaps we can change the world, one dangling participle and misplaced modifier at a time.
We can only hope, right?
Okay, so maybe we can't change the world, but if you're in love with language, this is the book for you. You'll learn the basis for some of the editing standards used at "The New Yorker," and find out if copy editor Norris is bugged by the same common errors that drive YOU crazy. See what the pros think about various dictionaries, and follow Norris' quest to discover why the book title "Moby-Dick" is hyphenated, but the whale's name isn't. Get some simple explanations for grammatical usages, and see how attitudes about the use of "certain words" have mutated over the years. What makes it all even more enjoyable, the book is written in a simple conversational style and with an understated sense of humor, so reading it is like hanging out with a fellow word nerd... and it feels good!
I won an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. (Thank you!) Now if I can only find a comma shaker......more
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