Audible offers this book for free to members, and since I was pleasantly surprised by the movie, I downloaded it and gave it a go.
Color me surprised Audible offers this book for free to members, and since I was pleasantly surprised by the movie, I downloaded it and gave it a go.
Color me surprised when I discovered that I might enjoy the movie more. The book is written in a relatable, quiet tone of voice, which I appreciate. If the character had been over the top and dramatic, the story would have crashed for me. But Lara Jean is endearing and that sold the story to me.
The tweaks made to the story, the softening of the character traits, and the casting were impeccable for the movie. Seriously. That casting: LJ, her dad, Peter...and my two personal favorites- Kitty and Chris. *chef's kiss*
While I enjoyed the book, I'll stick with rewatching the movie if I ever want to revisit this franchise.
I'd rate this a PG-13 for some drinking, sexual themes, and some swearing (specifically one use of the F-bomb).
You may be interested if you like: Friends to lovers. Enemies to lovers. Lovers to enemies. (Not in that specific order maybe probably. Guess you'll haYou may be interested if you like: Friends to lovers. Enemies to lovers. Lovers to enemies. (Not in that specific order maybe probably. Guess you'll have to read it to know.) Grief healing. Uprooted life. City girl to country girl. Snarky septuagenarians. Sassy octogenarians. Found family.
This book felt slow for about 2/3s of the way in before I was interested in the outcome. Truly, I almost quit 1/3 of the way in. Eventually, the characters grew on me and even gave me a chuckle now and then. I don't think I would have read this book had I known how much I would struggle to get through it. I definitely enjoyed The Flatshare more.
I'd rate this an R simply due to the number of F bombs. Otherwise this would have solidly landed in the PG-13 category for adult themes including sexual references.
If you enjoy Brave, understated love triangles, girls masquerading as boys, rags to riches, biopunk, and sibling loyalty, this duology may have a drawIf you enjoy Brave, understated love triangles, girls masquerading as boys, rags to riches, biopunk, and sibling loyalty, this duology may have a draw for you.
Some things I didn't enjoy... -The tidy happily-ever-afters. Things concluded so easily for everyone. -The deus ex machina way the author wrote out our loyalty to certain characters to take the sting out of them not getting happy endings. A character I liked in the last book pulled a dumb stunt in this book, therefore precluding any sadness the reader may have had for how his story ended. I felt like that was the author's way of pulling a punch, and I'm bummed about that. -The pacing. The travel to and fro, hither and yon, there and back again got yawnsome.
The first book captivated me more than the second. Not a bad read, but not captivating either.
I'd rate this PG-13 for cultural swearing (e.g. bollocks), some violence and mild gore, and sexual scenarios (but nothing too explicit).
I enjoyed The Flatshare so came into this with fairly high expectations. Unfortunately, it didn't rise to the occasion in the way I hoped. Izzy is PeRI enjoyed The Flatshare so came into this with fairly high expectations. Unfortunately, it didn't rise to the occasion in the way I hoped. Izzy is PeRkY, which is fine. And Lucas is stooooic, which is fine. But the extremes were over the top at times. And this apparently makes them completely InCoMpAtIbLe (also, a minor issue that happened the previous year that could have been easily, and immediately, resolved had they communicated like adults).
I like the enemies-to-lovers trope if it's organic and necessary with the plot. But when the author starts with the trope and comes up with an obligatory issue to trip the couple up, the result is a trite and tiresome toilet spin toward an inevitable happy ending. Not my cup of tea.
I'd rate this an R due to the number of F bombs. Otherwise I would be debating on a PG-13 rating only due to the mild sex references.
I found myself enjoying the story line significantly more than the first book. I find myself annoyed at the unecessary romanticHarumph.
This series...
I found myself enjoying the story line significantly more than the first book. I find myself annoyed at the unecessary romantic angst and drama.
The action, constantly varying scenery, and character advancement made me like this book more than the first. But I'm not buying the victim of abuse bit as much as I want to be; the author could have written the abuse more decisively. It FEELS like Sarah Maas didn't have a solid decision on which male character she wanted Feyre to end up with. So she wrote them both as viable, likeable, and open ended. Once she decided, she had to paint the previous actions of "bad guy" as VERY, VERY bad indeed...except we read everything that happened in the first book and it just doesn't sell well. His actions didn't really meet the level of evil he got painted with. Controlling? Sure, I guess. Overly protective? Definitely. Did he keep our protagonist locked in a literal cage and feed her water and gruel. No. And while his actions previously weren't good, they didn't warrant the level of trauma Feyre acted like she was coming out of. Also, Feyre never pushed back on it hard enough that I felt like she could say she was mistreated or "dying" from the way she was treated. She came across as passive and largely accepting of it. Which also doesn't fit with her personality overall. Which adds to why this plot point feels contrived. I really think this is a case of wishy-washy on the author's part because she couldn't decide who to make the main love interest.
I want to read the next book since I'm curious about the storyline and action sequences/world events. I don't love where I know the romance angst is going.
I'd rate this an R for swearing, violence/gore, alcohol use, adult themes, and sexuality....more
This was actually a re-read as I listened to this years ago on Audible and the narrator definitely colored my enjoyment of the story. As in, I did notThis was actually a re-read as I listened to this years ago on Audible and the narrator definitely colored my enjoyment of the story. As in, I did not enjoy it. So, in all fairness, I let a couple girls from work talk me into giving it another try via reading it with my own two eyeballs.
It helped. But I can't say I'm hooked. I'm a sucker for fairy tale retellings, so I'll likely give the next book in the series a shot as well, but this was far from the most original or compelling Beauty and the Beast retelling I've come across.
I'd rate this an R for cursing, gore, and sex....more
Unfortunately, the last book and this one would have been better suited as one novel. I have no idea what more could possibly be said to hold my interUnfortunately, the last book and this one would have been better suited as one novel. I have no idea what more could possibly be said to hold my interest into book three, so I'll bow out gracefully now.
Also, that wretched love triangle...
I'd rate this book a PG-13 for some mild adult content and danger/violence....more
Things have been tenuous at work lately. Bonkers. Busy. Brusque.
I seem to find that as work intensifies, my reading choices lessen in intensity. MakeThings have been tenuous at work lately. Bonkers. Busy. Brusque.
I seem to find that as work intensifies, my reading choices lessen in intensity. Makes sense. Such is the tale of Gail Carriger's Finishing School series. This should not work. It's YA- with a freaking love triangle for crying out loud. It's urban fantasy- something I historically do not get into. It's steampunk- something I've wanted to like in the past but not really been able to find in any degree of quality writing. The characters are an inch deep and a mile wide.
But that mile is a fun puddle to splash in.
I laughed out loud multiple times. The dialogue, banter, and inner monologue is just hilarious. Granted, do not pick up this book expecting it to be life changing, thought provoking, or philosophically challenging. But for what it strives to be, it succeeds. Light, witty, funny, and escapist. I zoomed through both these books so quickly. Couldn't tell you for the life of me what the plot is when I'm between books from the series. But I can tell you they are funny, lighthearted, and I'm going to keep reading them.
I love ridiculously posh British names and the author intentionally leans into them: Professor Algonquin Shrimpdittle, Lord Dingleproops, Professor Braithwope, Bumbersnoot the mechanimal...
The final big scene in the book had me snorting and laughing. It was masterfully written and timed so well with comedic humor.
And some dry wit just sneaks up and smacks you from behind. Literally, I would be reading and have to stop and go back a couple sentences, realizing I'd just glossed over something really funny.
Observe. And enjoy.
"Sophronia felt that Lord Dingleproops might be improved by a beard. After all, no one would know his chin appeared to have eloped with, quite probably, Monique's brain and Preshea's sense of humor."
"Some of the young ladies even ate the salmon without concern to vital humors-- when everyone knew colored fish flesh could bring on an attack of hysteria. Sophronia refused to be ruffled. She ate the same thing every morning: porridge. Pillover glanced up from his plate of sausage. 'What a revolting spectacle.' Sophronia privately agreed and contemplated breaking from her normal dietary routine and eating a sausage in order to cope."
"Many gentlemen were unable to cope with abundant chatter, which is why they so often married it."
At the risk of being repetitive to a million other reviews, if you dig Knives Out, you'll probably enjoy this book. Slightly less mature and less who-At the risk of being repetitive to a million other reviews, if you dig Knives Out, you'll probably enjoy this book. Slightly less mature and less who-dun-it. Slightly more puzzle and clue-esque.
As I neared the end of the book I had to think, "Can I really commit to another two books? It feels like one was enough." And then the author threw a couple more twists in at the last. Possible. Second.
Dagnabbit.
Guess I'm in for another two rounds. Set 'em up, bartender.
I'd rate this a PG for mild swearing, mildly adult themes, and some violence....more
**spoiler alert** Anna Karenina is partly about Anna Karenina, but also has two side plots involving Stephen Oblonsky and the couple Lavin and Kitty. **spoiler alert** Anna Karenina is partly about Anna Karenina, but also has two side plots involving Stephen Oblonsky and the couple Lavin and Kitty.
I've seen so many interpretations of this novel and the messages Tolstoy may or may not have been portraying. In the end, I walked away considering the different paths people walk in an attempt to find fulfillment and the consequences of the paths we choose.
Anna's decision to break her wedding vows and be unfaithul to her husband and son eventually leads her to a sort of sickly egotism and obsession straying into paranoia. In the end, the same fulfillment she sought that drove her into adultery destroyed the false sense of happiness she temporarily obtained by being unfaithful.
The flip side of the coin was Levin and Kitty's relationship that started out rocky, taking hard work and constant communication between the two of them succeeded. When they disagreed, they talked until they fixed it. And Levin found that his obsessive search for fulfillment eventually lead him to a faith in power greater than himself when he couldn't fill the void by his own personal actions. To be totally frank, Oblonsky's story is the one I need to sort out. I'm not sure what the theme was there. Maybe I'll come back with an edit for this review when I figure it out a little more.
I could be absolutely missing the mark on my interpretations. I've seen Anna held up as a martyr for feminism; I can't agree with that at all, largely because of my own personal beliefs in regards to adultery. Although I do think Tolstoy was progressive in that he took the time to point out Vronsky's position in society vs. Anna's during the affair. Back then, though he couldn't hold positions in city government, etc., his community did approach him differently than Anna. He was limited; she was a leper. Definitely an example of different time, different era.
Also, Tolstoy is a mind-blowing author. In so many passages, I should have been bored by all accounts. Instead, I enjoyed his sidebar reverie. I mean, the guy even wrote from the perspective of a horse and dog at separate points in the book and made it work! I added War and Peace to my "To-Read" List before I even finished this one.
I listened to this one on Audible; the narrator was Maggie Gyllenhaal. Admittedly, I went into it with pretty low expectations. Though she's an A-list actress, I really was skeptical that she could nail narration. While the differentiation between characters could have been stronger at times, she really DID nail this book. Her voice was an absolute pleasure to listen to.
I'd rate this novel a PG-13 for the adult themes throughout, some peril, drug and alcohol use, and suicide....more
I wanted to like this book more than I did. But the premise felt a bit forced and the timing may have been off for me.
Besides the backdrop of a booksI wanted to like this book more than I did. But the premise felt a bit forced and the timing may have been off for me.
Besides the backdrop of a bookstore, which our protagonist is trying to save from going belly up, this book does not have cozy fall read vibes, so don't pick it up if that's what you're looking for.
I'd rate this an R for the sheer number of F-bombs and other cursing, adult themes including suggestive dialogue, and mention of drinking and drug use. If not for the F-bombs, this was a solid PG-13....more
How exactly does one write 678 pages and write in such a way that the action never-ever-ever-amen lets up? How?!
I don't know what to say about this auHow exactly does one write 678 pages and write in such a way that the action never-ever-ever-amen lets up? How?!
I don't know what to say about this author that I haven't already said (for the last time, go read her bio!). She doesn't mince words. So many authors, particularly in the YA genre, dumb down their writing and feel the need to over-explain everything. Bick? She happens to think her awesome readers (current company included) are purdy smart cookies. And SHE'S a purdy smart cookie. The woman was an Air Force major and is a child psychiatrist. So to say she writes with authority on her subject matter is an understatement. She knows things that your average Joe just wouldn't know. And friends, she is constantly dropping that knowledge *down*. Every page. Just one example- JUST ONE mind you- an ex-military member walks into a scene of straight up carnage (another thing she be dropping down constantly). He looks around and starts counting left feet. Why? Because in a severe trauma situation, such as explosions, heads pop off the body "like a champagne cork", so you pick a body part and count it. Like left feet. Most soldiers count left feet. That's a thing I now know. Her expertise lends plausibility to her books. My only issue with that was sometimes her characters seemed just a smidge too smart. For example, Ellie. Sometimes Ellie-the-eight-year-old seemed a tad too smart for her age. But if an author is going to err, I would rather it was away from the simpering, stupid bimbos trapped in love triangles and wrote strong characters like these.
And let's talk about that body count situation, ya'll. It's off the friggin' chart. Like if George R.R. Martin and Bick had a Fitbit showdown, but instead of steps it was for body counts. Georgy-porgy might win that battle, but ONLY because of the sheer ridiculousness of his page count. He has her beat there, so statistically speaking, his body count has to be higher. Maybe...
I'll be honest, I'm a heartless reader. I never cry reading a book (maybe twice in my life), and I don't get incredibly attached to characters. More often than not, I feel like I read with a clinical eye. But guys, the death on page 594...if you read this book, you know what I'm talking about. Incensed. Enraged. I threw the fecking book across the room, and I almost didn't pick it up again. Except I have to because it's a library book, and you know. Late fees. But what the actual heck, Bick?! I trusted you! I sang your praises. How. Could. You.
Her creepy factor and violence level are just amazing. She does it in a way that isn't gratuitous. It's clinical. It's delicious. Bah! There were things I could pick apart. But over-all, I just can't begin to get that frivolous, because she outdid herself with these books. I cannot believe they aren't more popular...yet. Just read the series. M-kay?
I would rate this book a strong R for violence/gore, a near rape scene, cursing, and many other adult features. ...more
I'm going to keep this pretty short and sweet since this is the middle child of the trilogy (poor middle child- I do notice Ho-ho-holy-freaking-moly.
I'm going to keep this pretty short and sweet since this is the middle child of the trilogy (poor middle child- I do notice you and value you equally). Extensive review to come with the third installment. I LOVED this book for all the same reasons I loved the first one. This was creepy, delightful, and gory-as-Sweeney-Todd-sans-opera-singing. How does Ilsa Bick DO IT? How does she combine so many weird elements that could make up their own saga and blend it into this beautiful gumbo that makes sense and is actually appealing? I'm going to say it, guys. I'm going to say it. I think I have an author crush. Have you READ this woman's bio? Reeeead it. When I was reading "Ashes" I kept thinking, "This woman writes without any hesitancy." At times, the reader can pick up on an author's hesitancy as they write. They focus heavily on the story and characters and might throw in a sentence or info-dump paragraph that shows they did some research on the topic. This hasn't happened yet in this trilogy. She casually drops "myopia" in a sentence and keeps on going. I'm a nurse. I'm a psychiatric nurse. I dig it. The only downside to this is I feel like the kids sometimes know a little more than they should for their age, but it's forgivable. She does a great job of giving a backdrop that explains their knowledge source.
Also, the setting being the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is interesting. I felt like this book took a lot more advantage of the location than the last one did.
My one complaint: I had a hard time keeping track of all the different characters. It was cumbersome. My saving grace was that I JUST read "Ashes" so I was able to recall most of the characters. I know that wouldn't have been the case otherwise and, even after only a few weeks between the two, I struggled a bit to keep all the POVs separate. And they just weren't unique enough to stand out on their own. Chris blended with Tom who blended with etc. It was enough of an issue that I IMMEDIATELY put the last book in the trilogy on hold at the library. I was concerned enough about getting lost with any break worth mentioning between reading the two. That's my only gripe.
I'd rate this an R- unapologetic gore, some cursing, violence, blood, did I mention gore?......more
C.S. Lewis said fairy tales are for adults too. I couldn't agree more when written this well. At this point, I've read a decent number of Neil Gaiman C.S. Lewis said fairy tales are for adults too. I couldn't agree more when written this well. At this point, I've read a decent number of Neil Gaiman novels. This is hands-down the best so far....more
Mmm...this book was delicious. The lore realm is totally new and 100% unique. The dialogue is witty, hilarious, and believable. And Leigh Bardugo has Mmm...this book was delicious. The lore realm is totally new and 100% unique. The dialogue is witty, hilarious, and believable. And Leigh Bardugo has a mastery on romance. I DETEST love triangles and love squares- this book reminded me that, when done well, they're actually okayish...I guess. But really, she hit a home run. I loved the relationship between the female and male protagonists. It was heartfelt and realistic. The wholesomeness of it was refreshing. Fantastic job! I'm off to read Six of Crows. Onward!...more
No Series Syndrome here! You know the drill- first book of a YA series comes out with bright eyes and so much promise...and then second one disappointNo Series Syndrome here! You know the drill- first book of a YA series comes out with bright eyes and so much promise...and then second one disappoints. and then the third one tanks. This sequel ROCKED. It blew the first book to smithereens, and made me ecstatic to read the third. Well done, Leigh Bardugo!...more
Incredibly challenging to rate. Also I LOVE Slavakian and Russian lore, but it's challenging to find books that fit that bill. I really feel like I diIncredibly challenging to rate. Also I LOVE Slavakian and Russian lore, but it's challenging to find books that fit that bill. I really feel like I did a dis-service to the author by reading this without being as familiar with the original subject material as I would like. If you have a recommendation for literature that presents Slavakian mythology well please drop it in the comments section. I don't know that this fit the bill so much as it seemed to be a loosely told, creative liberty on the classic Koschei the Deathless myth.
The bookends here are:
1) Some of the best prose I've ever read. The number of times I sat back blinking at the perfect description was more than I can count. Her descriptions in Chapter 23 of the 900 Day Leningrad starvation period were so poignant and well done my stomach ached. Heartbreaking just this side of horror.
2) The prose bogged down the story at times and made the book drag on for weeks of reading for me. Very atypical of my reading pace. Again, I think I may have enjoyed this more had I not struggled so much to stay on top of the story at the root of the book.
I'm glad I read it. Catherynne Valente is one of the most gifted writers I've read. But at the same time...I don't know that I want to read any more of her work. I may though. I may love it and thinks she's one of my favorite authors next time around. That's how baffled I feel rating this book.
Marya Morevna slept with her fists curled tight, held at the ready, next to her chin.
--and all of us saw General Frost step over the Neva. All of us held our breath and snapped our fingers to keep off his eye. His shoes were straw and rags; his beard was all hard snow. He had no hat, but his skull had chilblains, and his great blue-black hands held the double chain of his dogs, December and January.
Just remember that the only question in a house is who is to rule. The rest is only dancing around that, trying not to look it in the eye.
"I believe I have never been so well, Ushanochka. I am so well that my glass fills before I think to be thirsty."
P.S. The vast majority of low ratings this book received was for people raising issue with cultural appropriation (most of which have no business being offended by it in the first place as they fully admitted they weren't Russian to begin with; meanwhile, several Russian reviewers went on to say how much they enjoyed the book, so...). First off, don't let the rating discourage you as it truly has no bearing on whether or not this is a good book. Secondly, we as readers are typically horrified to think of the practice of banning books. Meanwhile, there's this disheartening and unsettling cruel practice of cancel culture that is ten times worse than book banning. The book doesn't even have to have questionable material in it anymore for cancel culture to demand it be removed from shelves. They just may not like the author, something the author accidentally did, or something the author said. And that's infringement of creative expression at its finest. Archaic thinking all over again with a new face. Bums me out. Sounds like her actual Slavakian family was SUPER supportive of her endeavor for this publication. Wonder what they would have to say about that...
I'd rate this an R for swearing, violence, gore, images leaning towards the horror genre, and adult themes like drinking, smoking, abuse, and sexual scenes....more
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