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crystalreading's reviews
6708 reviews
A Sudden Country by Karen Fisher
3.0
Very bizarre book about crossing the country by wagon. The writing had a dreamlike quality to it rather than a straight narrative. Often things were disjointed. I had some difficulty connecting with some of the characters and many things were very unsettling. That said, it still manages to be interesting by virtue of the many little day to day details and challenges that are shown throughout the trip. Not my favorite book by far, but not boring either.
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
3.0
This is one of the most bizarre living situations that I have ever encountered in literature. It seems stranger than fiction. What is so uncomfortable about it is the memoir aspect. My husband had watched the movie and never realized it was based on real-life events. If what the author recounts is actually true, he has been extremely transparent. Yikes. This book is disturbing in its revelations. It is a page turner, but I almost felt guilty for looking into someone's life in a rubbernecker kind of way.
Pictures from Our Vacation by Lynne Rae Perkins
5.0
Excellent story showing that it is not the picture or souvenier from a vacation that is most important, but the emotions and experiences that happened. It also teaches the idea that a picture with a person in it is almost always more interesting than one without. I think it would be great for an elementary writing lesson about personal narratives. It would also be great right before going on a nature field trip or something else outdoors when the students would be allowed to snap digital pictures along the way.
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison
4.0
I thought it was helpful to get the inside view of Asperger's. He told the story very well and I actually enjoyed it more than the memoir by his brother.
Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
3.0
Peaceful book about hope. It felt like I was in the hush of winter when the snow is all around. I too am ready for spring and could relate well to that hope that you want to have when it is the dead of winter. I think Woodson did a nice job of narrating from a young perspective as the main character learns about life.
Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley, Ron Powers
4.0
I was glad to finally know the context of the photograph. I had only had a vague idea of what it was about. The book did glorify war a bit, but it seemed that the author(s) tried to balance that with the realities of war also.
Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson
4.0
Very funny view of life with children including the lovely and the frustrating moments.
A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle
4.0
I really enjoyed this meandering book by L'Engle. It gave me a different perspective of her and was actually quite a spiritual book. It caused me to think about many interesting aspects of life.
Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems
5.0
Great fun! Who says sequels never measure up? Knuffle Bunny brings laughs and also has a cameo of Leonardo.