I read this a while ago, so for that reason my review will be brief. I do want to say that it is one of the most beautifully written stories I've readI read this a while ago, so for that reason my review will be brief. I do want to say that it is one of the most beautifully written stories I've read in a long time. It is dark, but the author uses hope as a foil to the darkness in the story. It isn't always a perfect balance, but then, neither is real life. It's an odd story, a clever story, and a coming of age like none I've read before. A wonderful bildungsroman that will stay with me for a long time. A well-deserved award winner....more
This is the third book I've read by Padgett Gerler. She is a Southern writer and a gifted one at that. I really love her writing style and the pacing This is the third book I've read by Padgett Gerler. She is a Southern writer and a gifted one at that. I really love her writing style and the pacing of her stories. Gerler's most recent one is a bit different than the others in the sense that much of it is based on a true story. She also inserted family photos into the book, which adds a sense of familiarity. When I was reading about certain characters, I kept looking at their photos, and I felt like I was getting to know each one personally. The early 1900s were certainly different than today, especially when it came to children and their experiences. So many were forced to be independent at a young age, for whatever the reason. The Girl Who Feared Trains makes me think of my parents, and their parents, and theirs before, who grew up quickly, and often died young. While the story does portray some sad situations, it is anything but depressing. It is a story of childhood, growing up, figuring things out, finding independence, loving family no matter how it is put back together after being broken, and of living the best life possible. If you like historical fiction with a memoir feel, this is definitely the one to read....more
So this one was very different than any other book I've read in a long time. I'm going to offer this review in positives and negatives to keep it simpSo this one was very different than any other book I've read in a long time. I'm going to offer this review in positives and negatives to keep it simple and to avoid spoilers: The Good: Fantastic writing style Unusual characters. Unusual story line and structure. Made me curious throughout to see where it would go, and had nice twists along the way. Loved the use of omniscient narrators so we got to go inside all characters' perspectives--even the dog's! I appreciated the "science vs religion" theme (though some may not). It was a fun and totally outside the box novel.
The Not So Good: Should be touted as literary fiction/fantasy, or at the very least, should let the readers know in advance the extreme use of hyperbole in the story--though keep in mind this is up to the publisher and NOT the author. Madeline, an important child character in the story, is WAY too intelligent. And finally, it wasn't super easy to love the main character Elizabeth, but she did sort of grow on me.
If you know out the gate this story is way out there, that it digs deep into themes such as feminism and religion, and it has some scenes through the dog's perspective, you will enter the book with an open mind. Seriously, you will need to suspend your disbelief to read it. But if you do, you will probably enjoy the ride as I did.
I have soooo many books to read!! But my mother-in-law recommended this book to me, and, well, I felt sort of obligated. Luckily, I ended up really enI have soooo many books to read!! But my mother-in-law recommended this book to me, and, well, I felt sort of obligated. Luckily, I ended up really enjoying this historical fiction novel. It is based on the true story of a steamship that was supposed to take wealthy patrons and their families, along with their servants and slaves, on a trip from Savannah, Georgia to Baltimore, Maryland. However, the ship never made it, and obviously many lives were lost. I like this story for many reasons. The author is a sharp and talented writer, and really goes deep into research, so the reader feels like they are there when the boat begins to sink, and the passengers need to survive. If you take the time to read the author's notes at the end of the book (there are many!) you will appreciate the story even more. I fell in love with the setting descriptions in the book, and felt my heart pound along with the characters trapped at sea. The author seamlessly goes back and forth from present day perspective to the past, and in first-person. Some reviewers did not like this aspect, but I did. I like seeing how the present day is affected by a tragedy that occurred long ago. It makes me feel like we are all connected. And I may be biased, because I was born in Baltimore, am in love with Savannah, and live in North Carolina, only an hour from where the ship sank off the coast. So there are many reasons for me to have enjoyed this book. So why not five stars then? The dialogue. Honestly, I am not much of a romance reader, and the book has a modern day romance in it. I'm fine with that if it comes across realistically. And most of the time, it works in this story. But the modern-day dialogue... it goes way over the top; way too dramatic much of the time. I found myself rolling my eyes sometimes, and reading the lines out loud just to see what it would sound like if I ever spoke that way. I totally appreciated the relationship, and the whys of certain things, but I really didn't need the lesson of the story to be so evident, because it was clear enough without having to be said. HOWEVER, even though some of the conversations weren't for me, other readers may find them to be romantic and beautiful. I guess I'm not as sentimental as I once was. If you decide to read this book, keep those things in mind, and do what I did: Enjoy it for the incredibly hard work the author put into it, and the two amazingly balanced story lines that hold the book together. I will definitely purchase other books by Patti Callahan....more
There is way too much to unpack with The Housemaid, so I will offer the goods and bads, and leave the gray areas to the professional reviewers.
FreidaThere is way too much to unpack with The Housemaid, so I will offer the goods and bads, and leave the gray areas to the professional reviewers.
Freida McFadden writes a fun thriller that I believe would be best enjoyed by either a much older readership or a much younger readership. Older because there were so many oddities regarding technology, I kept wondering if it was taking place in the 1980s. And younger because the writing…well, it just feels immature somehow. Obviously, we must place some responsibility on the editors, but there were so many repetitive sentences, phrases, and words, they actually stopped me a LOT while reading. And a few verb agreement typos made my teeth hurt.
The story is told in two perspectives. When I got to the second one halfway through the book (I was excited about the POV switch, by the way) I found that–UGH–the voices were nearly identical. I had a hard time telling the two narrators apart. Just so you know, I let little annoyances like these drift away when the author is self-published, because I understand how hard it is to write a book without the backing of a publishing team, all those extra eyes checking and double checking. But this book is traditionally pubbed, so I am surprised by the lack of clean-up. The writer does have a knack with writing in the thriller genre, that is for sure, and I can tell she enjoys it as well. But I found myself laughing out loud regarding the lack of reasons behind certain choices, and was disappointed the total lack of emotion in character development. For all of the above reasons and more, this book gets a 3.5 from me.
WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD: I was angry that Nina didn’t have anyone set up cameras in the house or put a tracking device on her husband’s phone. I was shocked that no one thought to break the attic window and scream for help. Or sneak in a flashlight or a second phone, or whatever. I never understood the reasons the daughter was such a bitch (though there was a weak throw-away line regarding this.) There just weren’t enough realistic reasons behind bad choices, or regarding the lack of better choices. And what about Nina’s friends prior to Andrew? Did she ever have one girlfriend she could confide in? Just one? In all her life? It all seemed a little too convenient and easy for the husband to do to his wife (and Millie) what he did. And there should have been way more with the mother. That would have been an easy addition to the story.
Honestly, I think this book had so much going for it, and even though I did enjoy it–it really is a fun book–I didn’t get so much of the reasoning behind the choices that the story ended up being a bit of a let-down for me. I do know that others have loved–and will continue to love–this author’s style. And who knows? Maybe I’ll even read another one of McFadden’s books to see if she can turn me around. One day. Maybe....more
This psychological thriller, The Silent Patient, was recommended to me by some readers on Goodreads, so I thought I’d take a chance. After reading VerThis psychological thriller, The Silent Patient, was recommended to me by some readers on Goodreads, so I thought I’d take a chance. After reading Verity, I was a little hand-shy, as so many books in this genre tend to be over the top, so much so that I find myself rolling my eyes a lot. Outlandishness doesn’t mean the book isn’t fun, but sometimes I like a bit more realism with my thrillers. In any case, The Silent Patient is a bit over the top, and the author, Alex Michaelides, is probably a better literary writer than he is a thriller writer…it was the writing style alone that made me stick with the book. Even though I figured out the twist about halfway through, it was still an enjoyable read. The story is fun and fast-paced, and offers great cliffhangers at each chapter’s end. From what I understand, the book has been adapted into a film and has been in production for a few years, so we will have to see how that pans out. In any case, if you are looking for a unique thriller that merges mythology with art, and is steeped in professional psychiatry, this book is for you....more
Sometimes I read a book, and it is so different from anything I’ve read before that I need a week or so to digest before reviewing. Glimpses, by LewisSometimes I read a book, and it is so different from anything I’ve read before that I need a week or so to digest before reviewing. Glimpses, by Lewis Shiner, is one such book. I just happened to stumble across a review on Goodreads, and it struck me as interesting. I’m so glad I stumbled!
Let me start by saying that I am a music lover, born in 1963, living long enough to see music morph over and over again as it takes on the ideas and ideals of each era. Shiner shares that there is “something about the thought of life without music, and that would truly be hell.” And I agree. I could not live without music of today, or music of yesterday. But what if we could go back in time and change moments in musical history that could affect the world and, ultimately, our own lives?
Glimpses is time travel with a twist: A nearly middle-aged man who fixes stereos for a living– partly because he adores rock and roll and partly because he missed his own opportunity to be in a successful band– is listening to an old recording of a famous band. As the song ends, something strange happens, catapulting Ray into a past world of 60’s and 70’s music icons. The story, obviously, does not end there, as the main character finds himself dealing with the death of a loved one, a stagnant marriage, and his somewhat obsessive ideas of mortality. Ray is searching for answers but tries to find them through the lives of dead (and living) musicians. Ray gets to “meet” some of these icons, and in so doing decides he is going to help them, thereby helping to resolve his own issues. Glimpses (aptly titled, I will add) is a book filled with common metaphors about life, but the author has an original way of sharing these metaphors. It discusses how we are always wishing to go back again, but this is an impossibility, and even if we could, what could we really change? And if we had the power to change the past, why would we, really? Would we be doing it for the world? Or would we be doing it for our own selfish reasons?
Here is one of my favorite Glimpses quotes with regards to music from the sixties: “The problem was greed and hatred. The answer was peace and love. The way to get there was music and drugs. We knew we could change the world.” But that was not to be the case. “[By the end of 1970] It was hope and promise turned to ashes, grass and LSD turned to coke and heroin, heavy music and acid rock come to mean songs that weighed you down and burned to the touch…What happened to us? Where did we go wrong?” He then goes on to say, “Music is easy, it isn’t even that important what the words say. The real meaning is in the guitars and drums, the way a record sounds. It’s a feeling that’s bigger than words could ever be.”
There were some quibbles I have with this book, and for these reasons I give it 4.5 instead of 5 stars. The author does a little too much info dumping in some places; Ray is down in the dumps through the entire story, which gets a little tiring; and the book felt like a sort of diary, or more like an atonement, which dragged the story down a tad. Those minor things aside, Glimpses is a reminder that music is what every human needs. It brings back a mood, a memory, a time; a kind of hope that if we drop ourselves into the music of our past, we can find happiness–as if everything in the past was perfect. And maybe it was.
I compare Glimpses to Mitch Albom’s “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” and the movie “Yesterday.” And if I were to give the book a theme song, it would be Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street,” from the lyrics all the way down to the sad bluesy saxophone for its hopeful message but sad undertone.
If you are looking for something different, or if you enjoy a little fantasy mixed with realism, then Glimpses might be the book for you. It is an interesting perspective on music, self-love, and mortality, and gives the reader much to think about....more
This is a sweet, well-written book with a timeless topic: What would happen if we could choose another life? It may even be an overdone topic, but MatThis is a sweet, well-written book with a timeless topic: What would happen if we could choose another life? It may even be an overdone topic, but Matt Haig does a lovely job at keeping us rooting for the main character, Nora, as she tries to decide whether to live or die, or remain in the in-between worlds of “what if?” Nora is a likable character even though she feels sorry for herself. I think she’s a great example of many people like her who feel like they have let others–and themselves–down. That their life has been for naught. If you like the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” or enjoyed the book “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” I think you will appreciate this adult fairy tale. It reminds all of us that no matter how many lives we get the opportunity to live, it is THIS life in which we must try to make a difference. And even if those differences seem irrelevant to us, they always make a difference to others. This is the reason for living–to affect others. In the midnight library, Nora must learn–before it’s too late–that to choose other lives over the one she was given might not be the smartest choice....more
This is the first book by Colleen Hoover that I've read. Because I jump from author to author, and from genre to genre, I may or may not pick up anothThis is the first book by Colleen Hoover that I've read. Because I jump from author to author, and from genre to genre, I may or may not pick up another one of her books. That said, Verity's plot was interesting, at least enough to hold my attention. Did I fall in love with the characters? Not one. Did I like them? One or two were okay, but not enough to do lunch. I think I liked Verity best, but I won't say why due to spoilers. Did I like the writing style? In parts. Every once in a while, Hoover drops a beautifully constructed sentence, but mostly the paragraphs are written to propel the story forward, not have the reader linger on the prose. And as a thriller, this is the best way to write, so it worked. I found myself laughing out loud a few times, mainly at the over-the-topness of it all. That said, I have three quibbles: Firstly, it is so over the top, that I nearly put the book down a few times. Secondly, I guessed the ending a third of the way through. Not sure how; maybe it's all the Netflix I watch! And thirdly, OMG, the headboard! I won't explain that one. You can read it for yourself and share what you think.
So. Would I recommend Verity? If you are looking for a plot-forward story with some mysterious elements and explicit sexual scenes, then this book is for you. Maybe read it on a crappy rainy day when you aren't in the mood for Netflix. That's what I did! : )...more
I am trying my hardest to get through some Pulitzer Prize winning novels this year. Sometimes it isn't easy, mainly because I have very limited readinI am trying my hardest to get through some Pulitzer Prize winning novels this year. Sometimes it isn't easy, mainly because I have very limited reading-for-pleasure time, but also because some of these books are difficult to get through, either because they are incredibly depressing, or because they are too high brow. I read Nickel Boys in one month (not unusual for me) as I only read an hour or so a week, and I am not a fast reader. This book became a bit of a conundrum for me, as it was an easy and difficult read at the same time, and yet I can't put my finger on why. The story itself is a depressing one, but one I believe should be told. I believe all stories of unjust worlds must be shared, whether in a book or a movie or a painting. This is how we keep the past from (supposedly) happening again. So I knew going in that the plot would be sad, and maybe even painstakingly slow, if only to make the reader feel like they are simmering in the same sad world as these boys/men. All of that worked for me. But here is where I have to depart from the opinions of some other readers: I got lost. A lot. The author said "he" in different perspectives, and I had to re-read over and over again some paragraphs to understand who "he" was. Sometimes we were in different characters' heads, and I wasn't sure whose. I normally love books that go back and forth between characters and time frames. One of my own novels does this, separating the voices by chapters and flashbacks. But these characters' perceptions would pop in unexpectedly, and I'd have to back track, believing I'd missed something in the telling. Please know that Whitehead can turn an individual sentence into music. He really is a poet. But often his paragraphs hold so many ideas from so many people, it's a bit exhausting to follow. This author definitely has a gift for telling a tale, especially one I could tell is close to his heart. I only wish it had been told a bit more succinctly, or perhaps even linearly, as that may have helped. Or maybe it's just me. That is highly possible!
I do plan to read The Underground Railroad, another of Whitehead's books, and another Pulitzer winner. So I have not given up on him at all. And The Nickel Boys needed to be told. I'm glad he was the one to do it. But I will go into the next book more prepared for his unique writing style. ...more
I am not usually a reader of the Gothic romance genre, though I do like an occasional dip into classics by Poe or Hawthorne. But because I have read HI am not usually a reader of the Gothic romance genre, though I do like an occasional dip into classics by Poe or Hawthorne. But because I have read Harwood’s other book, Impossible Saints, and really loved her remarkable historically accurate backdrop, I knew this tale would be just as good, if not better. And I was right. The Curse of Morton Abbey sets the dark and chilly mood right from the start, taking place in and outside of London. Little by little, our female protagonist, Vaughn, feels her sanity slipping away as she hears and sees things that are—or perhaps are not—there. With a delicately unwinding mystery, a few love triangles, and characters who rarely are what they say they are converging together, one can’t help wonder if Harwood is the reincarnate of Bram Stoker or Henry James, or perhaps a little of both. I know a lot of reviewers will compare Harwood’s writing to Charlotte or Emily Bronte’s, but honestly, this book is WAY better than Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. I think the reason for this is that today’s female writers can write anything they please. They aren’t held back by the constraints of the day, or by the men who used to rule the publishing world. So even though Harwood’s story draws us into a space of Victorian mores and values, the plot itself is fresh. It is modern, without being modern! I fell in love with Vaughn, not for being the romanticized “girl who longs to be independent,” but because she is multi-dimensional, unlike the female protagonists created by Victorian writers, who were often portrayed as stereotypes of what society believed women should be. I would have been friends with someone like Vaughn. We would have hung out, maybe in a garden, sipping tea with a drop of brandy while discussing everything from men to science to philosophy. Our main gal is brave but careful, confident but humble, and caring without doting. She is the perfect blend for today’s Gothic revival. Without going into the near-perfect way in which Harwood follows plot structure, just know that all the twists and turns, most of which are unpredictable, will be settled in the end, satisfying even the most picky of readers. It is because of The Curse of Morton Abbey that I might just pick up other books in this genre....more
Although I live in Eastern North Carolina (aka Downeast) I am not reviewing Where the Crawdads Sing as a North Carolinian, mainly because I have neverAlthough I live in Eastern North Carolina (aka Downeast) I am not reviewing Where the Crawdads Sing as a North Carolinian, mainly because I have never lived in a marsh, nor would I want to. The mosquitoes alone would drive me to an early grave! So, tossing away any familiarity, I am reviewing Ms. Owens’ story the same way I read it: as if this region is totally new to me; as if I’d never sailed near a marsh or kayaked on a tributary laden with water moccasins, and Cypress covered in Spanish moss growing out of the water.
Where the Crawdads Sing broke all kinds of records when it hit the stands, leaving editors and publicists alike happily surprised by its overnight success. Did I like the book? Sure. Did I love it? I guess I sort of fell in and out of love with it as the story moved forward. Was there a payoff at the end? Yes. Sort of.
Here are the positives: Obviously, and I’m sure you have heard this from other readers, the setting is gloriously beautiful, almost to a point of heartache. Think Ralph Waldo Emerson or any other Transcendentalist, had one of them written a fiction novel as opposed to poetry. Owens casts words strung together as thick and luscious as the forest of the marsh itself. I learned a LOT about nature. From the names of different seabirds and trees, to how the tides roll, and even the mating habits of a certain frog! Always a plus when you can learn interesting tidbits through fiction.
Aside from the writing style, the author added her own original poems, scattered throughout the book. As someone who is very picky about what poetry I dig into, I was not pulled into these particular poems, but that is just me. Honestly, I could have done without them at all. But some people will absolutely love them. And I do understand why the author added them to the book.
This leads me to the not-so-positives. Mind you, they did not detract from me finishing the book, nor did they make me come away feeling like I’d wasted my time. There are just some niggles I’d like to share. Number one: The story is too dang long. Some scenes could easily have been whittled down, others completely deleted as they added nothing other than more of the same setting description. Again, the writing is beautiful, lyrical really, but it is way too much. I like succinctness in writing, especially where a murder mystery is at the crux. Another reviewer had mentioned that the book felt like it was written by two different people: one wrote the setting and the other wrote the dialogue. And I agree.
The dialogue of the townies of the era, somewhat ignorant and shaped by the fact that they, too, live remotely, though not as remotely as the protagonist, Kya, is over-the-top in their stereotypical portrayal. There are so many “colloquial” sayings in the book, and everybody spouts them. Every time they speak. There are two cops in charge of the murder, and I swear I felt like I was watching an episode of the Andy Griffith Show, with Sheriff Andy and his sidekick Barney Fife. I am neither making fun of that show nor this book. This is just the comparison that kept coming into my head whenever these two men popped up. And they were always eating, or talking about eating, or talking about restaurants and what they planned to order for lunch, or dinner, or a snack. Maybe they were meant to be comic relief…but I don’t think so.
Another important male in the story who befriends Kya got on my nerves because he’s too patient, too kind, too polite, too perfect a son, too everything for me to like him. He does something not-so-nice, which makes him seem real for a moment, but even that is overshadowed by the guilt that eats at him. I found him divisive as opposed to a genuine character that one could choose to love or hate. So I didn’t love or hate him, I just dealt with him.
As far as our main character goes, Kya’s inner strength, natural intelligence, and ability to survive on her own are wonderful assets reminiscent of White Oleander’s Astrid. Because I liked Kya’s independent side, I looked forward to moments when she had the opportunity to break away from her marsh world. Twice she gets the chance, but the reader never gets to see her actually interacting in these other worlds. It’s a bad case of “tell not show,” so, like Kya, we are one with the marsh. Forever. And ever. And I felt stuck, almost claustrophobic. Perhaps this is what the author intended, for us to feel that the only place in the world for this girl is the marsh. That without the marsh, she will not survive. We do get to enter a courtroom for part of the book, a definite relief to be somewhere new. To be honest, the courtrooms scenes are what propelled me to finish the book.
As an aside, I figured out the mystery long before the author let it play out, but that could be because I am always putting clues together, looking for the tiny hints, checking to see what adds up.
So look. If you want to read a book with themes of aloneness, nature, abandonment, fortitude, and even love, then go for it. Am I happy to have read it? Sure. It is definitely different than anything I’ve read before. Would I read it a second time? No. Would I read any future fiction by this author? I’m not sure. I guess I’ll play that one by ear.
Obviously, I am just one reader in a sea of millions. See what others have to say. So many people loved this book, and gave it five stars, so you be the judge. See if you like hanging with Kya as she comes of age in the marsh. I look forward to reading more reviews of Crawdads to see what others have to say....more
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