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adrith's reviews
376 reviews
Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Duty and Desire by Pamela Aidan
4.0
I am a total sucker for good books written in Jane Austen's settings. I picked this one up while at the bookstore with a friend; didn't realize that it was the second book of a series until I'd gotten it home.
I love these kinds of books because they give some insight on a character by seeing how the character views life from his or her own eyes. Usually when I pick up a book of this style, I expect it to be a parade of characters I know well already from Austen's novels, and I'm always strangely surprised when it swallows me whole with its own well-developed plot. (Dare I say that reading Harry Potter fanfiction online has lowered my standards somewhat - and set me up for some very pleasant surprises in other fictional universes.)
This book did exactly that. It was a highly entertaining Sunday morning read, and I set it down determined to find the first and third books in the series - and more in love with Mr. Darcy than ever.
I love these kinds of books because they give some insight on a character by seeing how the character views life from his or her own eyes. Usually when I pick up a book of this style, I expect it to be a parade of characters I know well already from Austen's novels, and I'm always strangely surprised when it swallows me whole with its own well-developed plot. (Dare I say that reading Harry Potter fanfiction online has lowered my standards somewhat - and set me up for some very pleasant surprises in other fictional universes.)
This book did exactly that. It was a highly entertaining Sunday morning read, and I set it down determined to find the first and third books in the series - and more in love with Mr. Darcy than ever.
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
2.0
This book was not a particularly hard read - I found it easy enough to get sucked into, and only put it down last night when the struggle to keep my eyelids open wasn't worth the energy it was expending.
Rightfully, this book should probably have three stars from me, but I'm feeling ambivalent about the ending. There are a couple of passages that really struck me, which I will be taking away from my reading of the book and holding onto for a while.
Rightfully, this book should probably have three stars from me, but I'm feeling ambivalent about the ending. There are a couple of passages that really struck me, which I will be taking away from my reading of the book and holding onto for a while.
The Price of the Stars by Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald
5.0
This is one of those books that I revisit again and again. If I am in a mood for an epic space story, this is the one I pick up. The writing is good, the characterization and plot development grab my interest and don't let it go until I've finished the series. I've read this book so much it's starting to come apart.
Dispatches From The Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival by Anderson Cooper
5.0
I could not put this book down. I missed my stop on the train because I was so engrossed by it - and I don't tend to miss stops on the train.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
5.0
I received this book as a gift from my in-laws for my birthday this year. I did not get around to reading it until this summer, after Dr. Pausch had passed away.
It is a worthy companion to his lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," which you can find on YouTube. It gives some of the back story to the anecdotes he shares in his lecture. It was not a long read, but it is definitely an addition to the Permanent Collection - and would be even if it had not been a gift.
I highly recommend chapters 51 and 53.
It is a worthy companion to his lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," which you can find on YouTube. It gives some of the back story to the anecdotes he shares in his lecture. It was not a long read, but it is definitely an addition to the Permanent Collection - and would be even if it had not been a gift.
I highly recommend chapters 51 and 53.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
5.0
I love this book. So much I've reread it a number of times since I originally picked it up.
I'm not sure if I can pinpoint exactly why I love it so much. It may be because the story portrays a future for our planet that is more plausible than we'd like to admit. It may be because the character of Ender is highly compelling, just a little kid trying to get along in a path that has been chosen for him from the very first moment, trying to define himself on his own terms and not others.
I feel his struggles - and his successes - very keenly.
I'm not sure if I can pinpoint exactly why I love it so much. It may be because the story portrays a future for our planet that is more plausible than we'd like to admit. It may be because the character of Ender is highly compelling, just a little kid trying to get along in a path that has been chosen for him from the very first moment, trying to define himself on his own terms and not others.
I feel his struggles - and his successes - very keenly.