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carriekellenberger's reviews
1350 reviews
The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What a gorgeous dreamy read that takes readers through Wales, India, Pakistan and Switzerland. The Kashmir Shawl spans two timelines. One story takes place in Kashmir during World War II while the modern storyline takes place in present day in Wales and then in India.
Mair discovers a gorgeous shawl amongst her father's things after his passing and realizes it belonged to her grandmother. It's evident that the shawl is precious and very expensive. Her parents were missionaries in India during World War II, so she decides to go to India to see if she can learn more about her grandmother and her family's past. What follows is a fascinating tale of travel, adventure and the truest of friendships set amongst some of the most gorgeous landscapes in the world.
Thomas writes about each country with stunning prose and precision. I kept wondering throughout the novel how she was going to tie all the characters and stories together, but just like a fine and delicate Kashmir shawl, she weaves her stories together expertly and with great tenderness.
I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did! This book has been sitting on my shelves for years and I wish I had read it sooner.
Mair discovers a gorgeous shawl amongst her father's things after his passing and realizes it belonged to her grandmother. It's evident that the shawl is precious and very expensive. Her parents were missionaries in India during World War II, so she decides to go to India to see if she can learn more about her grandmother and her family's past. What follows is a fascinating tale of travel, adventure and the truest of friendships set amongst some of the most gorgeous landscapes in the world.
Thomas writes about each country with stunning prose and precision. I kept wondering throughout the novel how she was going to tie all the characters and stories together, but just like a fine and delicate Kashmir shawl, she weaves her stories together expertly and with great tenderness.
I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did! This book has been sitting on my shelves for years and I wish I had read it sooner.
Kisscut by Karin Slaughter
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Book Two of Karin Slaughter's Grant County series did not disappoint and I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll be burning through this series. It's dark and twisted and I have no idea what's wrong with me! You never know what's coming with this author. Just when you think you know where the story is going, she hits you with something completely unexpected.
Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena are back and buckle up. You're in for a wild ride!
Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena are back and buckle up. You're in for a wild ride!
House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara G. Forden
informative
slow-paced
4.0
- <What you have to understand about the Guccis,” Jenny told a journalist in 1994, “is that they are all completely mad, incredibly manipulative, and not very clever. They have to be in control, but as soon as they get what they want, they crush it! They are destroyers, it’s as simple as that!
― Sara Gay Forden, The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed
Everything's Gucci and some families are really effed up!
I would've given this book five stars, but I was expecting more about the murder and not a thorough family history. Nevertheless, it was fascinating to read through Gucci's story to success. I enjoyed it!
Everything's Gucci and some families are really effed up!
I would've given this book five stars, but I was expecting more about the murder and not a thorough family history. Nevertheless, it was fascinating to read through Gucci's story to success. I enjoyed it!
Elegance is like manners,” he used to say. “You can’t be polite only on Wednesday or Thursday. If you are elegant, you should be every day of the week. If you are not, then it’s another matter.”― Sara Gay Forden, The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed
Stalking You Now by Jeff Strand
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I love Jeff Strand. He writes comedic dark horror. Unfortunately, this is the first book I've read by him that was OK. It lacked his usual flair for comedy.
56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A COVID-19 mystery murder set in Dublin, <i>56 Days</i> deserves the reviews it's receiving. Ciara and Oliver meet just days before lockdown happens in Dublin, Ireland. They decide to live together to avoid the strict rules that residents had to follow during lockdown in March 2020, but they don't know each other at all. It turns out, obviously, that someone is hiding a massive secret.
When one of them is found dead 56 days later, the police wonder what happened. They are able to piece together a few ideas, but since this relationship was so new and no one knew they were together, it's next to impossible to learn the full story.
The plot goes back and forth from different points of views that happened within 56 days. I'm not usually a fan of storylines jumping all over the place, but Catherine Ryan Howard does a commendable job of keeping her story intense. She has her readers wondering what happened until the very end.
If you're worried this might bring COVID flashbacks, there is no need to be concerned. There's no mention of hospitals or sick people. It's simply a tale about two people who meet and fall in love until things go awry.
When one of them is found dead 56 days later, the police wonder what happened. They are able to piece together a few ideas, but since this relationship was so new and no one knew they were together, it's next to impossible to learn the full story.
The plot goes back and forth from different points of views that happened within 56 days. I'm not usually a fan of storylines jumping all over the place, but Catherine Ryan Howard does a commendable job of keeping her story intense. She has her readers wondering what happened until the very end.
If you're worried this might bring COVID flashbacks, there is no need to be concerned. There's no mention of hospitals or sick people. It's simply a tale about two people who meet and fall in love until things go awry.
All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars.
I can see why Colleen Hoover's books are so popular. They're relatable to readers and they offer a nice story - feel good and emotional all wrapped up together.
This was a lovely story, but a bit too sappy and heavy on the romance for me. Still I can see why she is so damn appealing and such a beloved author.
I can see why Colleen Hoover's books are so popular. They're relatable to readers and they offer a nice story - feel good and emotional all wrapped up together.
This was a lovely story, but a bit too sappy and heavy on the romance for me. Still I can see why she is so damn appealing and such a beloved author.
If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't) by Betty White
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
3.5
A fun collection of intimate but heartwarming tales from the one and only Betty White!
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall
hopeful
informative
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
“I've found that stories reach the heart better than any facts or figures. People remember the message in a well-told story even if they don't remember all the details.”― Jane Goodall with Douglas Abrams
What a perfect book to launch with for 2022!
Each year, I purchase a new non fiction and fiction hard cover to add to my collection and I gift them to myself from my cats. (They're so thoughtful!)
When I learned that Douglas Abrams was co-writing this book with Jane Goodall, I knew I was in for a treat, especially having read his work with the Dalai Lama XIV and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World.
Goodall and Abrams cover four key concepts in this book: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and the Indomitable Human Spirit.
This results in several wonderful conversations about Earth, its inhabitants, and how we can make small changes each and every day to ensure a better future for all of us.
What a beautiful start to the new year.
What a perfect book to launch with for 2022!
Each year, I purchase a new non fiction and fiction hard cover to add to my collection and I gift them to myself from my cats. (They're so thoughtful!)
When I learned that Douglas Abrams was co-writing this book with Jane Goodall, I knew I was in for a treat, especially having read his work with the Dalai Lama XIV and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World.
Goodall and Abrams cover four key concepts in this book: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and the Indomitable Human Spirit.
This results in several wonderful conversations about Earth, its inhabitants, and how we can make small changes each and every day to ensure a better future for all of us.
What a beautiful start to the new year.
Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
I'm a Karin Slaughter fan and I always enjoy her stories. I would've rated this with four stars, but there is A LOT of graphic violence in this book.
I liked the plot and characters, but the queasy factor is never appreciated when things get a bit too twisted. I love thrillers, but not too much violence towards women in general. Nevertheless, I'll continue with this series as she's always entertaining. This is the first book in her Grant County series, and I'm expecting I'll burn through the series this year.
It will be interesting to see how the three main characters develop across this series. (Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena)
In short, Sara Linton is the town pediatrician and coroner. Her ex-husband, Jeffrey, is the town police chief. When a woman is brutally murdered, we learn that she is the sister of Jeffrey's deputy, Lena. The manner in which Lena's sister is murdered is gruesome and it stirs up very bad memories for Sara. Soon enough, all three of them are entangled in a man hunt to find a serial killer before he kills again.
I liked the plot and characters, but the queasy factor is never appreciated when things get a bit too twisted. I love thrillers, but not too much violence towards women in general. Nevertheless, I'll continue with this series as she's always entertaining. This is the first book in her Grant County series, and I'm expecting I'll burn through the series this year.
It will be interesting to see how the three main characters develop across this series. (Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena)
In short, Sara Linton is the town pediatrician and coroner. Her ex-husband, Jeffrey, is the town police chief. When a woman is brutally murdered, we learn that she is the sister of Jeffrey's deputy, Lena. The manner in which Lena's sister is murdered is gruesome and it stirs up very bad memories for Sara. Soon enough, all three of them are entangled in a man hunt to find a serial killer before he kills again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence