carolineolesky's reviews
71 reviews

The Still Point by Tammy Greenwood

mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

The Still Point was a fairly good mystery about ballet culture. As a fan of the show Dance Moms, I enjoyed seeing similar mom drama with the added mystery of a broken friendship and mysterious fire. This would be an excellent summer read for reality TV fans.

Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz

dark

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Ruptured is a wonderful verse book about a teen's life when an aneurysm strikes her mother. Protagonist Claire learns how to cope and grow when things get tough and finds comfort in books, new friends, and new hobbies. A great quick read.

Sociopath by Patric Gagne

reflective medium-paced

2.5

I admire Gagne for openly sharing her story, but it ultimately fell flat for me. While I rip through most memoirs, this one was a struggle to finish. Gagne is very repetitive and her insistence on a diagnosis of sociopathy rubbed me the wrong way. Her insistence that no other diagnosis could be hers felt closed minded and immature. Further, refusal to mention that female mental health traits often differ greatly from those listed in books also bothered me. Ultimately, I found some parts of this book interesting but it is doubtful I would recommend it.

The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The Absinthe Underground was an unusual choice for me as someone who typically does not go for fantasy books. While I got through the book and enjoyed parts of it, it ultimately fell flat because I knew little about the characters and the Fae realm was not built out. I wouldn't recommend or not recommend this book, I felt like it was just okay. 

The Devil and Mrs. Davenport by Paulette Kennedy

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There is nothing like a thriller to keep you glued to a book for an afternoon. The Devil and Mrs Davenport is a wonderful book about mental illness and marriage in 1950s America that will keep you hooked until the last page. 

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

I have never read a book like The Backyard Bird Chronicles before and I wasn't sure if I would like it. Only an excellent writer like Tan could make seemingly mundane bird behaviors interesting. Her descriptive writing and personification kept me hooked throughout the book. Though there was no real plot, I was drawn to see how Tan and her birds would evolve throughout the course of the book. A must read for home gardeners and Marin residents.

Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge

mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Mockingbird Summer is a charming middle grade book about the changing cultural tides of the 1960s. It explores the many characters of protagonist Corky's small Texas town. I found the story entertaining and somewhat informative, though a bit candy coated. My dad grew up in Texas at the same time but in more urban Dallas and has expressed that racism and sexism were extreme during this time. That so many of the book's characters were open-minded is probably a bit inaccurate. That being said, this book does approach difficult topics in a way that is accessible to middle grade readers.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

You know a story is compelling when you stay up far past your bedtime to finish it. I was dying to find out the truth of the Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels and I was not disappointed to find that it was complex and thrilling. I found the story to be unique and kept me interested, though the multi-media epistolary format was a bit challenging for me to follow, especially on kindle. This book definitely had me invested and I am sure to read more books by Janice Hallett. 

Ratchetdemic by Christopher Emdin

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Ratchetdemic by Christopher Emdin was an inspiring book about evoking creativity and engagement in students. The book is certainly hopeful and largely discusses theory rather than application, but it inspired me to think outside the box with my teaching.

Eyeliner: A Cultural History by Zahra Hankir

informative medium-paced

3.5

Eyeliner is an interesting book about how eye makeup has been used and viewed throughout  history. I thought the book was interesting overall, but some parts dragged on longer than they needed to and felt repetitive. I would recommend this book, but I not likely read it again.