This was an interesting and eclectic collection. I enjoyed several stories, others were just okay. I am glad it was a shorter book because I am not suThis was an interesting and eclectic collection. I enjoyed several stories, others were just okay. I am glad it was a shorter book because I am not sure it would have kept my interest much longer....more
I really was hoping to go higher with the rating, but I found myself struggling to really get into this book. The plot was interesting enough that I wI really was hoping to go higher with the rating, but I found myself struggling to really get into this book. The plot was interesting enough that I will be moving on to the next one in the series, but I was definitely expecting more based on the reviews and ratings I was seeing.
For me, this was a confusing mash-up of sci-fi and fantasy. Throughout the book, the storyline jumped around so much I was often unsure what was going on or why people were doing what they were doing. I was never entirely sure what the goal was? Something to do with right of passage, but again, why??? Other than that is just how it is.
This is definitely in the The Hunger Games genre, but darker and less coherent. I am hoping that more is revealed in the second book that takes it in a much more satisfying direction....more
Sometimes writers are really good at making up the unbelievable. In this case everything felt forced and coincidental. While I did enjoy it a little, Sometimes writers are really good at making up the unbelievable. In this case everything felt forced and coincidental. While I did enjoy it a little, it did not blow me away.
UPDATE 8/3/2015 - I forgot to mention when I first wrote this that it reminded me a lot of Stephen King's Firestarter....more
I liked the story a lot, but the package it came in was very odd to me. It is just my opinion, but it just felt to me like the aut3 - maybe 3.5 stars.
I liked the story a lot, but the package it came in was very odd to me. It is just my opinion, but it just felt to me like the author was trying to hard with symbolism and artsyness. At times I felt like I was moments away from connecting with the authors vision, but I never quite did.
Also, I felt like some of the scenes were drawn out longer than they needed to be with inner monologue or dialogue that could have been covered in a few pages, but took 50.
But, it was an interesting story, and I was satisfied with the resolution....more
This book was a very pleasant surprise - I could not put it down! I enjoyed the background of the wealthy family putting on airs of happiness while roThis book was a very pleasant surprise - I could not put it down! I enjoyed the background of the wealthy family putting on airs of happiness while rotteness is eating away at the core. I believed the relationships. I believed the characters. The author did not have to try hard to pull me in. In fact, one of the things I enjoyed was how the author could tell so much story in so few words.
There is so much more I could say, but it is up to you to read and determine what are lies and what are truths....more
Maybe 3.5 stars. I have had a hard time getting into Rainbow Rowell. I feel like I should like her stuff more because a lot of my friends like her andMaybe 3.5 stars. I have had a hard time getting into Rainbow Rowell. I feel like I should like her stuff more because a lot of my friends like her and she writes novels similar to ones I do like, but she just hasn't clicked with me.
The story of Landline is a very interesting "What If" scenario. In the end you are left wondering if it all really happened or if it was just in the mind of Georgie (but whether it happened or not doesn't really matter that much - it is the resolution that is important).
I think what I tired of were the long conversations. I don't think they were bad, I just think they were not my sort of thing. It seemed like they accomplished what they needed to accomplish but then kept going on with banter - I started to lose interest. I do understand, though, that Georgie did want to keep the magic going and was afraid to hang up.
If you like love stories give it a try and this format may work well for you....more
Thank you, Mr. Gaffigan, for my first book of 2016 - and a good way to start!
In spring of 2000, I went to The Late Show with David Letterman - the gueThank you, Mr. Gaffigan, for my first book of 2016 - and a good way to start!
In spring of 2000, I went to The Late Show with David Letterman - the guests were Jackie Chan and up and coming (and little known) comedian Jim Gaffigan. I am excited that years later I can say that I was there to see someone before they were big (and, have the opportunity to name drop in a Goodreads review).
I enjoyed Gaffigan's cynical and humorous approach to foods of every kind. While I didn't always agree with his sentiment (I love shellfish), I knew exactly what he was getting at and realized I had thought the same thing myself from time to time. Also, his poking fun of something, followed by praise, often made me wonder if he loved it or hated it.
Another thing I like was that the humor was clean. Not that I mind cuss words, but it seems like lately when I try and watch a stand up comedian, they use foul language as a crutch, and the material doesn't end up being very funny.
Food lovers of the world unite - and read Food: A Love Story (between bites of your burrito)
Note: I listened to this book and at one point I did pull over and buy a burger because Gaffigan made me want one SO BADLY!...more
Interesting concept, funny stories - from serious to seriously outlandish. Very entertaining.
My only complaint was that it was tough to make sure I reInteresting concept, funny stories - from serious to seriously outlandish. Very entertaining.
My only complaint was that it was tough to make sure I read every single page, but I had that same problem with the original Choose Your Own Adventure books (I swear that I never made it out of the Cave of Time!)...more
It's easy to compare this to Fey's Bossy Bossypants since these two are best buds, but this was actually very different. I felt like this book reflectIt's easy to compare this to Fey's Bossy Bossypants since these two are best buds, but this was actually very different. I felt like this book reflected more on life and was a bit more serious (and at times darker) than Bossypants.
Amy's road to fame was paved with hard work, love, divorce, drugs, etc. It seems like Amy spent most of her career feeling like an also ran. The famous don't always feel smug in their success, and Amy is an example.
I think that this book will resonate the most with 90s/2000s comedy movie, sketch comedy, and improv fans. My favorite part was when she talked about her time on SNL....more
What a weird mystery - I guess some of my review may be spoilerish, so proceed with caution.
It started out like a normal serialWow, what happened!?!?!
What a weird mystery - I guess some of my review may be spoilerish, so proceed with caution.
It started out like a normal serial killer mystery, but then things just got weird. You start to wonder what's real, whats a hallucination, and what might really be dark magic/demonic possession.
I think the main point the author is trying to get across are the dangers of social media. It is a strong theme throughout the book - characters craving attention, paying the price for over exposure, etc. Even the final resolution (view spoiler)[deals with turning off the feed to the public. (hide spoiler)]
I enjoyed this one, but I cannot say for sure I understand what happened - but I am not sure that we are supposed to understand it. We are just supposed to accept the fact that there are demons out there, and if we open ourselves up without caution, bad things could happen to us....more
Bonus points for creativity. It was an unexpectedly unique sci-fi/techno mystery with nice twists of humor. I am glad that I didn't know4 to 4.5 stars
Bonus points for creativity. It was an unexpectedly unique sci-fi/techno mystery with nice twists of humor. I am glad that I didn't know much about this going in because it was fun to get into this bizarre new world (is it okay to say it's fun to get into a plague filled world?)
I will say that this is a very brainy story. A lot of concentration and thought must be given in order to keep up. I am still not entirely sure of everything that happened!...more
Not really a plot here in the sense of a beginning, middle, and end. This is just a peek into the life of an Iowa farm family and the variety of this Not really a plot here in the sense of a beginning, middle, and end. This is just a peek into the life of an Iowa farm family and the variety of this that happen to them over the course of the years 1920 to 1953. Once I realized that this was just going to be a serious of anecdotes, and I didn't need to look for a grand plot our specific meaning, I really settled in and enjoyed watching this family grow and change.
I look forward to checking out the next two books....more
This probably could have been a short story/novella. It's not a long book, but for me it was longer than it needed to be.I liked it, I didn't love it.
This probably could have been a short story/novella. It's not a long book, but for me it was longer than it needed to be. It just felt like a lot of plot points were drug out.
Also, I figured it all out very close to the beginning of the book. This is not me bragging! Usually this type of mysterious book keeps me guessing until the end. But, right after I started I turned to my wife, told her that it seems like this is what is going to happen, and it was exactly what happened. 99% of the time books in this genre are written in such a way that what it makes you think will happen is just to throw you off. This time, it progressed as expected so there was no surprise.
However, I did really enjoy the writing. It was easy to get into the story and the way that the multiple viewpoints we're presented in different timeframes was pretty cool. I look forward to trying out Kubica again in the future.
I have mentioned before, it seems like there is definitely a "'Girl' In the Title" genre, and this fits the mold pretty well. If you like those books, be sure to try this!...more
I am kind of embarrassed - I really thought this was going to be a fantasy novel. I try to avoid reading the synopsis of books so that I am surprised I am kind of embarrassed - I really thought this was going to be a fantasy novel. I try to avoid reading the synopsis of books so that I am surprised - thus, I judged this book by its cover and it's name.
So, lemme tell you - this is not a fantasy novel! I would say that it is a cross between The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption. But, not quite as good.
I liked the story okay, but I am not sure I got what the author was trying to do with the way she wrote it. At times, I had trouble figuring out which character was the focus. Also, something about the way it was written got under my skin a little (just a tiny irritation, not something I can put my finger on, but it was not a comfortable read). Finally, there were some strange, unexplained occurrences that I kind of wanted explained - it didn't feel okay to me that I was left wondering what the heck happened.
You may enjoy this book and you may not - enter at your own risk!...more
Whenever I read a Jo Nesbo book, it has some great, thrilling parts and some interesting plot twists. But, it also has a lot of slower parts 3.5 Stars
Whenever I read a Jo Nesbo book, it has some great, thrilling parts and some interesting plot twists. But, it also has a lot of slower parts and places where I am confused about what exactly is going on. The Son was not an exception.
Each little anecdote about "The Son" and the details of (view spoiler)[ each revenge (hide spoiler)] was great. But, the overall plot about the (view spoiler)[ mole, drug trade, and corruption (hide spoiler)] was kind of convoluted, confusing, and sometimes boring.
I wouldn't say it's a bad book by any means, just a bit difficult to follow or stay into at times....more
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