emilyrosebooks's reviews
595 reviews

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

4.0

An enthusiastic 4 stars for this book, the story of Clay finding himself as an overnight clerk at Mr. Penumbra's 24 hour book store is surprisingly wholesome and fun. This book is about friendship, and the value of both the journey as well as the destination. Loved loved loved this book!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

4.5

If you believe the book is always better, but couldn't get through the LOTR series due to the language, try The Hobbit. It reads different and easier and is a delightful tale of Bilbo Baggins and his adventures. Very fun epic adventure!

Boomsday by Christopher Buckley

funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

This is George Orwell meets Christopher Moore meets Jon Stewart in a fantastically satirical comedy about what will happen on "Boomsday" when all the baby boomers retire and overwhelm the social security system. Published in 2007 it is still incredibly relevant and a pointed criticism of all things politics. Highly recommend.

The Color of Water by James McBride

reflective slow-paced

3.0

I think the story of Ruth McBride is pretty spectacular, but I found the juxtaposition of her story and her son's (the author's) story a bit jarring and I found her story far more compelling than his. I do however think this is an important book as far as delving into the reality of a mixed race existence and is a worthwhile read. 

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I found this to be very endearing and heart wrenching at times. The romance aspect is not what you expected which I loved, and Clover really grows on you as a character. The first half of the book is a bit slow, but the second half and the ending makes it totally worth it. 

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore

funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.5

What hilarity ensues when a prehistoric, giant, lizard-like, sea creature comes to town? Between attracting its prey (the townspeople) by making them lusty and vulnerable, and becoming attached to the local mad-woman in a weird romantic relationship, this book will have you laughing out loud and shaking your head in absurdity.  Christopher Moore is very funny, and this is book 2 of the Pine Cove series, but you do NOT need to read book one to enjoy this. As a matter of fact, I think this one is better than book 1. 

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

funny fast-paced

3.5

This is comedy for comedy's sake. A bit of dry, witty humor and lots of word play. Very entertaining, an excellent read for a short plane ride or beach trip!

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

This book absolutely blew my socks off. If you like historical fiction, particularly WWII, but also love suspense and a good twist or two, this is IT! The characters are lovable and also piss me off at times, which means I think they are multidimensional and interesting. There were moments in this book that my jaw dropped so hard I think I pulled a muscle, moments that made me laugh out loud and cheer for joy, and moments that made me cry uncontrollably. Kate Quinn is amazing at painting a picture and I love how she stays as true to life as possible, with characters based on real amazing women. 

Absolutely absolutely recommend!!! 

Climate by Whitney Hanson, Ruth Bladen, Emma McNamara

fast-paced

2.5

This poetry book screamed Rupi Kaur's style, but NOT hitting the mark like she does. It just didn't do it for me, and I didn't feel that it was original, or particularly cutting in observation or profound in the understanding of life experiences. If you are 22 and just got dumped, you might like it though.

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

This book is a long form letter to the author's mother, written in lyrical and broken prose. It follows no direct timeline, but more feels like an emotional purging of feeling and trauma. In speaking to his mother, the author digresses into the mother's and grandmother's past coming from war torn Vietnam, and their lives as immigrants in America, as well as his own experiences as the child of immigrants, learning to fit in, but also come to grips with his own homosexuality. It is deep and gripping and frankly a very sad testament to the realities he and his family has faced. It is a novel, but based on the pain in these pages it feels like a memoir of sorts. Certainly a catharsis.