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cgj13's reviews
588 reviews
Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
3.0
**** I received this book as an advanced reader copy through NetGalley****
I would give this a 3.5.
The good:
This book did not follow the same format as Gone Girl or Girl on a Train, and that is a good thing. Those type of domestic suspense just leave you with a bad taste in your mouth and no genuine protagonist to root for. It has been touted as a literary mystery for Kate Atkinson and Tana French readers--I am not familiar with either of those others, so I can't make that comparison.
I was kept guessing right until the end. I had a suspicion or two of who did it, but it wasn't ever a clear cut choice. This left me wanting more and kept me turning the pages way into the night
The bad:
The incomplete backstories. We learn tons about Edith, but Manon's history is only marginally hinted at, not to the degree where we can see how her past truly affects her lack of personal connection now.
The intense love story for Manon, that fizzles out as quickly as it started. What's with that?
Too much going on with side stories. Why bring up Stuart--what does he add to the mystery? And the switch from the missing persons case to the life resolutions of Manon with her sister and Fly. Too much to follow, without enough pages devoted to telling the whole story.
The in-between:
The lack of strong women--REALLY!!!! Although, Manon seems like a strong independent woman on the surface, there are bits of her that show her strength, but she is quite reserved and hasn't learned to live a whole with these. Edith runs and hides. Blah--make them strong.
The inconsequential:
I couldn't follow all the vernacular. This is not a downfall of the book, just an observation that made me have to work harder to understand what was going on.
I would give this a 3.5.
The good:
This book did not follow the same format as Gone Girl or Girl on a Train, and that is a good thing. Those type of domestic suspense just leave you with a bad taste in your mouth and no genuine protagonist to root for. It has been touted as a literary mystery for Kate Atkinson and Tana French readers--I am not familiar with either of those others, so I can't make that comparison.
I was kept guessing right until the end. I had a suspicion or two of who did it, but it wasn't ever a clear cut choice. This left me wanting more and kept me turning the pages way into the night
The bad:
The incomplete backstories. We learn tons about Edith, but Manon's history is only marginally hinted at, not to the degree where we can see how her past truly affects her lack of personal connection now.
The intense love story for Manon, that fizzles out as quickly as it started. What's with that?
Too much going on with side stories. Why bring up Stuart--what does he add to the mystery? And the switch from the missing persons case to the life resolutions of Manon with her sister and Fly. Too much to follow, without enough pages devoted to telling the whole story.
The in-between:
The lack of strong women--REALLY!!!! Although, Manon seems like a strong independent woman on the surface, there are bits of her that show her strength, but she is quite reserved and hasn't learned to live a whole with these. Edith runs and hides. Blah--make them strong.
The inconsequential:
I couldn't follow all the vernacular. This is not a downfall of the book, just an observation that made me have to work harder to understand what was going on.
Parisian Cats by Olivia Snaije
5.0
Love love love.
I love cats.
I love Paris.
This book combines them both. This books came across my hands briefly at work and I hadn't had a chance to look at it. Based on the cover, it looked like it was going to be a book with line drawings. An art type book.
Imagine my surprise when I opened it up and it's a book of stories about cats that live in Paris.
Each story is about one cat, and the location they call home. Either a cafe, restaurant, shop, etc. The chapter talks skittle but about the cat, the history of the area and the cats home/ owners.
And it is filled with pictures of the cats.
It's a great book for cat lovers. A better book for those who live cats and Paris.
If I ever go to Paris, I am going to read this book again. I know the cats in this book won't be there, but the places should be. And if they are homes to cats now, they will likely have more cats in the future.
I love cats.
I love Paris.
This book combines them both. This books came across my hands briefly at work and I hadn't had a chance to look at it. Based on the cover, it looked like it was going to be a book with line drawings. An art type book.
Imagine my surprise when I opened it up and it's a book of stories about cats that live in Paris.
Each story is about one cat, and the location they call home. Either a cafe, restaurant, shop, etc. The chapter talks skittle but about the cat, the history of the area and the cats home/ owners.
And it is filled with pictures of the cats.
It's a great book for cat lovers. A better book for those who live cats and Paris.
If I ever go to Paris, I am going to read this book again. I know the cats in this book won't be there, but the places should be. And if they are homes to cats now, they will likely have more cats in the future.
The Truth about My Unbelievable Summer . . . by Davide Calì, Benjamin Chaud
5.0
Great book that showcases the imaginations of kids. And the care that teachers give their students to ensuring their needs are met, whether the child knows it or not.
The Joy of Leaving Your Sh*t All Over the Place: The Art of Being Messy by Jennifer McCartney
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
I couldn't make it through. At first this book was hilarious and made me "spit-out-coffee" laugh. But after a few chapters it became just like the book it was spoofing. The same words over and over again. I just couldn't invest more energy into it. It definitely was humorous, but more on the length of a blog or magazine article. There's just isn't enough to make it a whole book.
A Child's First Book of Trump by Michael Ian Black
5.0
Hilarious!!!
I would quote the book, but I would just be rewritting the whole thing. Political satire at its best. And the drawings.
I might just buy this book so whenever I need a laugh, I can have one.
I would quote the book, but I would just be rewritting the whole thing. Political satire at its best. And the drawings.
I might just buy this book so whenever I need a laugh, I can have one.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
4.0
I received this as a buy one get one at my daughters book fair last year. There it say for a year, while I decided wether or not to read it.
I'm glad I did. I may be biased already towards this book because I love twists on the conventional fairy tales of my youth, but I was still apprehensive about the sci-fi aspect of it.
I really enjoyed Cinder's character, she is a complex mix of cyborg and human and you can see how she struggles to accept that, yet at the same time coming into her own so that she stands up for herself and is outwardly strong to the world. I do find it a little far fetched that Prince Kai was immediately taken by her, but hey this is a fairy tale after all. It's interesting to see how he is supposed to be a leader, but has his own insecurities and doubts as well. And for both Cinder and Kai, nothing goes as easily or smoothly as it would have in a Disney-fied version. This makes the story have much more depth.
This was a page turner for me, even though I figured out the twist mid way through.
I am glad there are more in this series to read.
I'm glad I did. I may be biased already towards this book because I love twists on the conventional fairy tales of my youth, but I was still apprehensive about the sci-fi aspect of it.
I really enjoyed Cinder's character, she is a complex mix of cyborg and human and you can see how she struggles to accept that, yet at the same time coming into her own so that she stands up for herself and is outwardly strong to the world. I do find it a little far fetched that Prince Kai was immediately taken by her, but hey this is a fairy tale after all. It's interesting to see how he is supposed to be a leader, but has his own insecurities and doubts as well. And for both Cinder and Kai, nothing goes as easily or smoothly as it would have in a Disney-fied version. This makes the story have much more depth.
This was a page turner for me, even though I figured out the twist mid way through.
I am glad there are more in this series to read.
The Art of Frozen by Charles Solomon
4.0
This was a beautiful book to browse through. I loved the various levels of development art shown throughout.
There is some details into the making of the film, but mostly it is images. I loved how they explained their difficulties with working with the snow. And how they worked in the snowflake shapes. They did provide explanations to details that I missed in the movie and can't wait to view it again now that I know some of the techniques and details that were used.
There is some details into the making of the film, but mostly it is images. I loved how they explained their difficulties with working with the snow. And how they worked in the snowflake shapes. They did provide explanations to details that I missed in the movie and can't wait to view it again now that I know some of the techniques and details that were used.
The Great Leopard Rescue by Sandra Markle
4.0
**** I received a copy of this book as an advanced reader copy from the publisher through NetGalley***
Great layout. Laid out well for children. Not sure of what age group--sometimes the wording was quite simplistic, but seems geared to older elementary school age.
The information presented in this book is great. Definitely a great read for elementary school kids.
Great layout. Laid out well for children. Not sure of what age group--sometimes the wording was quite simplistic, but seems geared to older elementary school age.
The information presented in this book is great. Definitely a great read for elementary school kids.
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
4.0
I stopped and started back up so many times. Not due to the fault of the book, but more due to it being summer and I never had more than a pages worth of time to read.
I liked this. Part SFF, part detective. I loved the premise of alternate worlds. And who doesn't love a Woman who can hold her own in a world of heavy dresses and boots. Kicking butt and leaving dust in her wake.
We do catch glympse a of Irene's softer side as well. Making her a well rounded, believable character.
I can't wait for the next in the series to see how Irene and Kai handle living in the alternate.
Favorite line--" She was a Librarian, and the deepest, most fundamental part of her life. Involved a love of books. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to shut the rest of the world out and have nothing to worry about except the next page of whatever she was reading."
I liked this. Part SFF, part detective. I loved the premise of alternate worlds. And who doesn't love a Woman who can hold her own in a world of heavy dresses and boots. Kicking butt and leaving dust in her wake.
We do catch glympse a of Irene's softer side as well. Making her a well rounded, believable character.
I can't wait for the next in the series to see how Irene and Kai handle living in the alternate.
Favorite line--" She was a Librarian, and the deepest, most fundamental part of her life. Involved a love of books. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to shut the rest of the world out and have nothing to worry about except the next page of whatever she was reading."