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abbynice's reviews
97 reviews
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Car accident
Hide by Lisa Gardner
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual assault
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
5.0
Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an easy read that you will enjoy any time, except when you're hungry. Each chapter is filled with discussion of food and recipes that will make your next meal seem bland and simple in comparison. It will ask you to expand your view of food - from how to buy it, to preparing it, to eating it.
In addition to the food descriptions, this book offers a complex weaving of plot lines and characters that you only key into a couple of chapters in. At times, I wished for more obvious character connections, and hated the gaps in the story line. When I finished the book though, I enjoyed the simplicity of it, and having to wait to see where the connections would appear.
Although not necessarily a book I would purchase full-price, I was happy to have found it discounted, and greatly enjoyed reading it. I would recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable, quick read. Bonus points if they truly like adventurous foods.
In addition to the food descriptions, this book offers a complex weaving of plot lines and characters that you only key into a couple of chapters in. At times, I wished for more obvious character connections, and hated the gaps in the story line. When I finished the book though, I enjoyed the simplicity of it, and having to wait to see where the connections would appear.
Although not necessarily a book I would purchase full-price, I was happy to have found it discounted, and greatly enjoyed reading it. I would recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable, quick read. Bonus points if they truly like adventurous foods.
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
4.0
Two things:
1.) This book is a typical Jodi Picoult book. Multiple perspectives, good plot, twist at the end, ending that makes you feel good. You get what you get. She has better books, and she has ones that are worse.
2.) The main character is black, and a majority of the book is written from the perspective of a black woman. As a white person, I am not sure I love that a white author co-opted the perspective of a black woman. Furthermore, the story is about being persecuted by a white supremacist. I feel that this is not an appropriate perspective for a white author to write as.
Overall, it's a good book, but these are some important things to keep in mind.
1.) This book is a typical Jodi Picoult book. Multiple perspectives, good plot, twist at the end, ending that makes you feel good. You get what you get. She has better books, and she has ones that are worse.
2.) The main character is black, and a majority of the book is written from the perspective of a black woman. As a white person, I am not sure I love that a white author co-opted the perspective of a black woman. Furthermore, the story is about being persecuted by a white supremacist. I feel that this is not an appropriate perspective for a white author to write as.
Overall, it's a good book, but these are some important things to keep in mind.
Warcross by Marie Lu
4.0
I read this to see if it was worthy of a Junior High lunch book club, and I am SO glad I did! Not only does it have a strong female main character, but it brings in computer science, appropriate levels of romance, and a world in the future where videogames dominate the landscape. The ending left quite a bit to be desired. I felt like the first 3/4ths of the book had great character and plot development, and well-placed but not too lengthy descriptions of the setting. The last 1/4th though felt like the author was racing to the end. The action was confusing because of all of the long descriptive paragraphs, there was little dialogue and then POOF twist, and it ended immediately. I know there is a sequel, and that may be why the ending was weird, but it was disappointingly poorly written. The rest of the book is excellent though and I am excited to share it with my students.
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
3.0
I have to provide a disclaimer here - I read the audiobook, and the narrator does not have a good narration voice. My rating and review may be biased due to this.
The Library Book by Susan Orlean is an exceptionally well-researched book. There is SO much information about libraries, from the Library at Alexandria, to modern libraries today. It was fun to read how much (or little) has changed about libraries over time, and how certain rules (library fines, etc.) came to fruition. It was a fascinating book about the history of libraries...
However, the book advertises itself as a story about the fire at the LA Central Library in the 80s. Although a good amount of this book is about that topic, it is sparsely detailed throughout the book in small chunks that seem unrelated to the surrounding history of libraries. I feel like I would have enjoyed this book much more had Part 1 been about the history of libraries, including the Central Library, and Part 2 had been specifically about the fire. Both sections were incredibly well-researched and well-written, but the transitions between topics were disappointing and confusing.
The Library Book by Susan Orlean is an exceptionally well-researched book. There is SO much information about libraries, from the Library at Alexandria, to modern libraries today. It was fun to read how much (or little) has changed about libraries over time, and how certain rules (library fines, etc.) came to fruition. It was a fascinating book about the history of libraries...
However, the book advertises itself as a story about the fire at the LA Central Library in the 80s. Although a good amount of this book is about that topic, it is sparsely detailed throughout the book in small chunks that seem unrelated to the surrounding history of libraries. I feel like I would have enjoyed this book much more had Part 1 been about the history of libraries, including the Central Library, and Part 2 had been specifically about the fire. Both sections were incredibly well-researched and well-written, but the transitions between topics were disappointing and confusing.
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
4.0
Disclaimer: I listened to the audiobook of this book.
I have to admit, I thought this was a memoir when I originally borrowed it from my library. I was disappointed to learn that it was not, and the story definitely followed an unlikely, and cliche story line at times.
Things You Save in a Fire is about a firefighter who has to move to Massachusetts to care for her ill mother. Cassie, the firefighter, ends up in a new station, meets a rookie, falls in love and lives happily ever after.
The story is well written and the author uses excellent descriptive words to illustrate emotion throughout the story. For those that are looking for an action story of firefighting, this story is not for you. It is a romance novel for a modern woman. The main character is independent, deals with a history of sexual abuse, struggles with forgiveness, and closes herself off to the world due to past experiences. Unsurprisingly, she falls in love and this heals everything and she becomes this amazing person because of it.
I gave the book a 4/5 review because it is well written, and a good story. However, if cliche romance story lines irritate you (as they do me), avoid this book.
I have to admit, I thought this was a memoir when I originally borrowed it from my library. I was disappointed to learn that it was not, and the story definitely followed an unlikely, and cliche story line at times.
Things You Save in a Fire is about a firefighter who has to move to Massachusetts to care for her ill mother. Cassie, the firefighter, ends up in a new station, meets a rookie, falls in love and lives happily ever after.
The story is well written and the author uses excellent descriptive words to illustrate emotion throughout the story. For those that are looking for an action story of firefighting, this story is not for you. It is a romance novel for a modern woman. The main character is independent, deals with a history of sexual abuse, struggles with forgiveness, and closes herself off to the world due to past experiences. Unsurprisingly, she falls in love and this heals everything and she becomes this amazing person because of it.
I gave the book a 4/5 review because it is well written, and a good story. However, if cliche romance story lines irritate you (as they do me), avoid this book.
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories by Stephen King
5.0
Excellent book. As always, Stephen King's writing is impeccable.
This is a book filled with short stories. It was so fascinating to see him move from perspective to perspective and from one writing style to the next. I loved the little explanations before each of his stories explaining where his inspiration for them came from. It was an eye-opening peek into the life of a writer.
I think as an educator, this taught me some interesting things about how to foster better writing in my students. It also taught me patience in writing, as good stories don't come from forced thought.
I would recommend this book to all readers who have ever enjoyed or been intrigued by Stephen King's writing. It is not scary in the shock factor, as one might expect from ghost stories told around the campfire. Rather, these stories stay with you, rattling around in your brain as you ponder human behavior and what if's.
This is a book filled with short stories. It was so fascinating to see him move from perspective to perspective and from one writing style to the next. I loved the little explanations before each of his stories explaining where his inspiration for them came from. It was an eye-opening peek into the life of a writer.
I think as an educator, this taught me some interesting things about how to foster better writing in my students. It also taught me patience in writing, as good stories don't come from forced thought.
I would recommend this book to all readers who have ever enjoyed or been intrigued by Stephen King's writing. It is not scary in the shock factor, as one might expect from ghost stories told around the campfire. Rather, these stories stay with you, rattling around in your brain as you ponder human behavior and what if's.