Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
For most of this book, I wasn't sure if it would reach the five-star mark. It took me a while to warm up to Josie, as she was making decisions I didn't agree with or understand, and she was so standoffish that I just wasn't sure if I'd grow to love her. However, the last third of the book completely pulled me in and finally made me feel for her, but it required someone she cared about to finally lay down a hard truth about her behavior. In the end, there were some moments that made me tear up, which is typically what I need to call something a five-star. I'm happy to add this one to the list, and cement Ruta Sepetys' addition to my favorite authors list. I definitely recommend this one!
This was an easy read. I love reading/seeing/hearing about anything that deals with New Orleans so this was just a different one for me. I can't imagine living how this girl lived, especially with her mom being the way she was. It made me think about how I would handle that situation if I were brought up like that and I consider her a strong woman to be able to live on her own from such a young age.
The first book I read of Ruta Septys was Between Shades of Gray, so it is kind of hard not comparing it to that book. I liked this book, but compared to Between Shades of Gray, it wasn't that interesting. I kind of expected it to enthrall me. But it didn't. It took me way longer too read because other books were more interesting. I found it boring at parts and that disappointed me. That being said, I would recommend this book. It is a great humanistic novel about a girl trying to make her life better. I am looking forward to reading other books by this author. 7/10
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
well written but underwhelming.
I didn't feel invested in the storyline as much as I should have been with a narrative with so many "unexpected" twists. A lot of these plot twists felt cheap and felt like Sepetys threw them in there for the sake of throwing them in if that makes sense. As such I was disappointed especially since I waited nearly 3 months to get this from local library.
I didn't feel invested in the storyline as much as I should have been with a narrative with so many "unexpected" twists. A lot of these plot twists felt cheap and felt like Sepetys threw them in there for the sake of throwing them in if that makes sense. As such I was disappointed especially since I waited nearly 3 months to get this from local library.
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
After loving Ruta Sepetys's debut historical fiction novel, Between Shades of Gray, I decided to pick up her second one, Out of the Easy. For some reason I'm always afraid of reading other books written by an author whose work I already love, for fear that I won't like the new book as much, (I know - it's an irrational fear) but I absolutely loved Out of the Easy! (A little less than Shades of Gray, I'll admit, but enough to warrant a 5 star rating.) Ruta Sepetys has a talent for creating vivid and gripping historical fiction novels about places and people that we would otherwise rarely--or never--hear about or from. Out of the Easy is told from the perspective of Josie Moraine, the 17-year-old daughter of a prostitute living in New Orleans in the early 1950's. Josie is adamant about not following in her mother's footsteps (thank god - this mother is awful!), and yearns to escape her life in the Quarter. Surrounded by a host of lovable characters who prove that you can create your own family, Josie does her best to rise above the so-called life her mother gave her, and not without her share of downfalls. I just loved everything about this book - the characters, setting, plot. Although historical fiction is not my favorite genre, I would absolutely read anything by this author (who knew I wanted to read about brothels in 1950's New Orleans?!).
Great book. If you haven't read any of Ruta Sepetys' books before, I highly recommend them. She has a great writing style. Some of the best historical fiction I've read recently.
This deserves a 3.6 or .7 for sure. Loved Josie, loved the setting and the whole story, just didn't grab me quite enough for a 4. Wonderful read though.
Reread this one–I love the way Ruta Sepetys writes! She's truly gifted and manages to capture her characters very well and make them very vivid.