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Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
4.25
I liked this a lot ... it wasn't really what I was expecting, and it's a little hard to talk much about it without giving things away.
First person//Present tense, two parts, with chronological chapters running (11 in part 1, 7+ an epilogue in part 2; although a few of the chapters were SHORT. Chapter 15. Sixteen. Seventeen. These are a little more impactful in print I think (having listened, then seeing the pages, and the white space). There was a "reader's guide" with some Q&A and bookclub questions included in the Kindle and physical copy. I had this in all three formats. I went primarily with the audio, checking in with the Kindle copy to make a few notes/highlights and for review afterward.
As I picked up this book, it's the start of 2025 ... ironically I just had my own second bout with Covid last month. Neither time I got very sick. While my family and I experienced the scare of the pandemic, schools/stores closing, we weren't really all that affected. Even having heard stories of the extreme situations, it was a little "ahhhh" to read about it in this fictional setting, even years afterward when things have calmed down. I definitely don't think I could have read this much earlier.
SPOILER ... the TWIST caught me totally off guard. As she was drowning, then waking up and I realized that the whole Galapagos storyline wasn't real (or was it?) I was pretty surprised. I know I have very vivid dreams, that feel real, until I wake up, and then they fade, and if I think about them, they really don't make sense. Super tender moment, having been so sad not being able to be there for her mother when she died ... in the "dream" storyline, and then realizing that hadn't happened and things could be different here (although, in the end ...) I had really liked the relationship with Beatriz. I wasn't sure how I felt about the "real" life and Diana giving up on Finn ... although it is slipped in that he is happily engaged in the end, so I guess we can't feel too bad for him.
Some quotes that resonated ...
You don't have to be afraid of dying, when you're already dead.
You can't grieve something if you don't let yourself get close enough to care.
You shouldn't stay with someone because of your past together - what matters more is if you want the same future.
There was proFanity (x33). Some other words/phrases I noticed ... Hubs and I had just started watching AP Bio on Netflix. In the book, Diana references her AP Bio class (I just thought that was coincidental). Also "arcane" ... (I'm watching that while walking the treadmill). Ornithologist ... that's been in more books that you'd think! "a zephyr of boys" was interesting imagery/description.
First person//Present tense, two parts, with chronological chapters running (11 in part 1, 7+ an epilogue in part 2; although a few of the chapters were SHORT. Chapter 15. Sixteen. Seventeen. These are a little more impactful in print I think (having listened, then seeing the pages, and the white space). There was a "reader's guide" with some Q&A and bookclub questions included in the Kindle and physical copy. I had this in all three formats. I went primarily with the audio, checking in with the Kindle copy to make a few notes/highlights and for review afterward.
As I picked up this book, it's the start of 2025 ... ironically I just had my own second bout with Covid last month. Neither time I got very sick. While my family and I experienced the scare of the pandemic, schools/stores closing, we weren't really all that affected. Even having heard stories of the extreme situations, it was a little "ahhhh" to read about it in this fictional setting, even years afterward when things have calmed down. I definitely don't think I could have read this much earlier.
SPOILER ...
Some quotes that resonated ...
You don't have to be afraid of dying, when you're already dead.
You can't grieve something if you don't let yourself get close enough to care.
You shouldn't stay with someone because of your past together - what matters more is if you want the same future.
There was proFanity (x33). Some other words/phrases I noticed ... Hubs and I had just started watching AP Bio on Netflix. In the book, Diana references her AP Bio class (I just thought that was coincidental). Also "arcane" ... (I'm watching that while walking the treadmill). Ornithologist ... that's been in more books that you'd think! "a zephyr of boys" was interesting imagery/description.
The Other Family Doctor: A Veterinarian Explores What Animals Can Teach Us about Love, Life, and Mortality by Karen Fine
4.25
I picked up a physical copy (or two) at a library sale. This had been a "Reader's Choice" book, so our library had multiple copies. I had it on my TBR for a while. I'd really loved Herriot's books growing up. This felt a little less "fun" although there were still some lighter tales. This dealt a lot with some of the harder issues ... animal injuries, sicknesses, death, the training, the depression that vets can face themselves. Some family just had a dog diagnosed with cancer ... I'm not sure if this book would be something the would "like" ... relate to, find comfort in, or if it would hit too close to home.
First person, past tense, very easy, conversational tone. The audiobook was narrated by the author, and she did a good job. 24 numerical chapters, with headers. I like headers, looking over the table of contents after finishing the book, seeing if the headers bring back memories of the stories within those chapters.
Clean - no profanity or sex. Talk of suicide and euthanasia and animal death.
First person, past tense, very easy, conversational tone. The audiobook was narrated by the author, and she did a good job. 24 numerical chapters, with headers. I like headers, looking over the table of contents after finishing the book, seeing if the headers bring back memories of the stories within those chapters.
Clean - no profanity or sex. Talk of suicide and euthanasia and animal death.
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
4.0
I loved The Midnight Library, and was interested in this "memoir/selfhelp" offering. I had a bit of a wait, getting both the audio (narrated by the author) and Kindle copy. Honestly ... I thought this was going to be a DNF. Between the content and the narration, the lack of a storyline (something I struggle with when it comes to non-fiction), it just wasn't keeping me connected. I'm okay with a DNF, but I figured I'd at least skim the Kindle copy. Reading it myself, I found myself pulled in more, and I went ahead and finished it. I made quite a few connections and notes ... but some of the really profound statements aren't actually from this author, but from others he's quoting (and he gives full credit, both in the book and at the end/bibliography) or just a thought from him, a regular person with depression - but I guess I do that in novels, highlight things a character says/thinks.
This had five sections, although I don't know that I really figured out that format ... it all just blended together in short/random chapters. Some giving his history, then there were quotes from other publications, either creative or scientific. There were "chapters" that were just random lists ... of things people say, things that make you happy. Small statements from other readers. Several "a conversation across time" with a Now and Then (a little like "My Old Ass" if you've seen that movie). There were allusions to his novels ... a statement about being alien (The Humans), about something perhaps happening in a different universe (The Midnight Library), statements of "How to Stop Time" and "this book is impossible" (The Life Impossible).
This set up ... I can see it absolutely appealing to some, and just feeling like random things written down without much organization to others.
The five sections were 1. Falling 2.Landing 3.Rising 4.Living 5.Being ... I think I appreciated this set up/progression more after the fact ... it didn't really register as I was reading. Each section had numerous (small, tiny) little chapters with their own heading. No numerical chapter listing outside of the five sections, which made it a little harder to shift between formats (I did pull the audio back up, wanting to see how "yin YANG" was pronounced, and like another recent listen, it was more "yung" than "yAng" as I've always heard it before, and would pronounce it myself).
I think I prefer things like this in a fictional format more ... a story saying the same, or similar things. A character making a statement, rather than a person/author. For example, the author's statement "one of the things depression often does is make you feel guilt" ... is that just a basic logical statement, or would it mean more coming from a PHD as a result of a depression study? Does it matter if it resonates?
Lots of good BOOK quotes that I connected with ... sometimes I feel a main reason for ME to stay alive is because there are so many books still unread. This thoughts on sunshine, something I've absolutely needed of late (we had a nice stretch of sun, but the forecast now looks cloudy). A lot was made up of his connection to his girlfriend/wife and family ... but what if one doesn't have that? The author himself says he probably wouldn't have made it through without that, but that likely is the case for many, or some, but not as strong, of a support system. British, so a different medical system than the U.S. (both have pros and cons).
Looking back ... I made a LOT of highlights and notes. Made a lot of connections. Besides the audio just not clicking (narrated by the author, and not that he was bad at narrating, my mind just kept wandering, I couldn't stay focused), I think I needed to READ this. I needed to have the option to stop and ponder and highlight and save sections. I love that my Kindle highlights are saved, even with a library book that I've borrowed and returned. Love the Goodreads Quotes section.
There was some proFanity (x7), mention of sex, but nothing at all explicit.
This had five sections, although I don't know that I really figured out that format ... it all just blended together in short/random chapters. Some giving his history, then there were quotes from other publications, either creative or scientific. There were "chapters" that were just random lists ... of things people say, things that make you happy. Small statements from other readers. Several "a conversation across time" with a Now and Then (a little like "My Old Ass" if you've seen that movie). There were allusions to his novels ... a statement about being alien (The Humans), about something perhaps happening in a different universe (The Midnight Library), statements of "How to Stop Time" and "this book is impossible" (The Life Impossible).
This set up ... I can see it absolutely appealing to some, and just feeling like random things written down without much organization to others.
The five sections were 1. Falling 2.Landing 3.Rising 4.Living 5.Being ... I think I appreciated this set up/progression more after the fact ... it didn't really register as I was reading. Each section had numerous (small, tiny) little chapters with their own heading. No numerical chapter listing outside of the five sections, which made it a little harder to shift between formats (I did pull the audio back up, wanting to see how "yin YANG" was pronounced, and like another recent listen, it was more "yung" than "yAng" as I've always heard it before, and would pronounce it myself).
I think I prefer things like this in a fictional format more ... a story saying the same, or similar things. A character making a statement, rather than a person/author. For example, the author's statement "one of the things depression often does is make you feel guilt" ... is that just a basic logical statement, or would it mean more coming from a PHD as a result of a depression study? Does it matter if it resonates?
Lots of good BOOK quotes that I connected with ... sometimes I feel a main reason for ME to stay alive is because there are so many books still unread. This thoughts on sunshine, something I've absolutely needed of late (we had a nice stretch of sun, but the forecast now looks cloudy). A lot was made up of his connection to his girlfriend/wife and family ... but what if one doesn't have that? The author himself says he probably wouldn't have made it through without that, but that likely is the case for many, or some, but not as strong, of a support system. British, so a different medical system than the U.S. (both have pros and cons).
Looking back ... I made a LOT of highlights and notes. Made a lot of connections. Besides the audio just not clicking (narrated by the author, and not that he was bad at narrating, my mind just kept wandering, I couldn't stay focused), I think I needed to READ this. I needed to have the option to stop and ponder and highlight and save sections. I love that my Kindle highlights are saved, even with a library book that I've borrowed and returned. Love the Goodreads Quotes section.
There was some proFanity (x7), mention of sex, but nothing at all explicit.
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
4.0
I liked this ... really, as an adult, more of a 3* personally, but I think this would be good/enjoyed by the younger audience it's aimed at. I hadn't realized it was the start of a series when I picked it up, and didn't love the unresolved ending. I'm not planning on continuing on though, I just have too many books on my TBR.
Super short chapters. 3rd person, past tense. I went primarily with the audio, which was fine, but I had the Kindle copy too. I enjoyed flipping through it afterward, remembering the storyline, seeing the illustrations.
I could see how this could have some topics for discussion ... how Roz learns from the animals, and adapts. The idea of fear (how all the animals were afraid at the start), language, of love, of family/motherhood, of helping others.
I've seen some of the previews for the movie - there's a note from the author just giving a heads up at the difference in illustration from the book to the movie. They are distinct styles.
Super short chapters. 3rd person, past tense. I went primarily with the audio, which was fine, but I had the Kindle copy too. I enjoyed flipping through it afterward, remembering the storyline, seeing the illustrations.
I could see how this could have some topics for discussion ... how Roz learns from the animals, and adapts. The idea of fear (how all the animals were afraid at the start), language, of love, of family/motherhood, of helping others.
I've seen some of the previews for the movie - there's a note from the author just giving a heads up at the difference in illustration from the book to the movie. They are distinct styles.
The Woman Who Ran Away from Everything by Fiona Gibson
2.5
I can't remember how this one popped up on my radar. A Facebook ad? It wasn't at my local library, but was at another, and on Hoopla. I went primarily with the audio, but grabbed the Kindle copy as well. Honestly, if I'd seen the title add-on ... "The Laugh-Out-Loud Funny, Uplifting Kindle Top 5 Read, Perfect for Fans of Sophie Kinsella and Jill Mansell" ... seriously, it's part of the title running across the Kindle copy, and on the Amazon page. I'm fine with a statement like that being part of the blurb, but when it's included as part of the title, it's a total turn-off. It didn't show on GoodReads, or on the library pages, or I seriously would have given it a pass. Trying too hard.
This starts with the annoying "prologue" that actually an "action" scene further along in the story (which isn't really a spoiler, as the cover already gives a glimpse, as does the blurb), and then Chapter One starts "two days earlier" and builds up to the moment we've already read. The prologue scene situation comes in at Chapter Six.
First person/Present tense from Kate's POV for the most part, but there are some "Vince" chapters, which are Third person/Present tense. Labeled as they switch in the text, I wished the POV had also been included in the Table of Contents (if I wanted to look back and go straight to a "Vince" chapter, without having to manually check each chapter to find them). The Vince POV ... it changes things. Just from Kate's POV, the reader would really hate him, but when we get a peek into his head, his thoughts ... some sympathy builds for him, although it doesn't excuse things entirely.
I was a bit conflicted ... SPOILERS ... on the one hand, while Vince and the marriage certainly wasn't perfect, I did still have part of me that wanted them to work it out. Marriage vows, could they be kept? Marriage is so disposable in this day and age. On the other hand ... we're rooting for the new relationship.
Very British (accented in the narration, I adore accents!). Quite a bit of proFanity (x26) and some sexual stuff, more crude than explicit.
This starts with the annoying "prologue" that actually an "action" scene further along in the story (which isn't really a spoiler, as the cover already gives a glimpse, as does the blurb), and then Chapter One starts "two days earlier" and builds up to the moment we've already read. The prologue scene situation comes in at Chapter Six.
First person/Present tense from Kate's POV for the most part, but there are some "Vince" chapters, which are Third person/Present tense. Labeled as they switch in the text, I wished the POV had also been included in the Table of Contents (if I wanted to look back and go straight to a "Vince" chapter, without having to manually check each chapter to find them). The Vince POV ... it changes things. Just from Kate's POV, the reader would really hate him, but when we get a peek into his head, his thoughts ... some sympathy builds for him, although it doesn't excuse things entirely.
I was a bit conflicted ... SPOILERS ...
Very British (accented in the narration, I adore accents!). Quite a bit of proFanity (x26) and some sexual stuff, more crude than explicit.
Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
4.0
I read the first book in the series in October (about three months ago). I had the audio in my Audible library (purchased during a sale) but wanted to get the Kindle copy from the library, and it was a bit of a wait. I was a little worried about coming back into this world, would I remember? Things came back to me pretty quick ...
Similar set up to the first book, six sections, with multiple chapters in each. Headers and chapters had written headers, included in the TOC. While I liked having the headers, they didn't include the POV or indicate "who" the main character of that chapter was (which can be a nice reference to have, although it switched up several times in many of the later chapters). The same little "excerpts" from The Thunderhead. Set apart more in Kindle, although the narrator switched up the voice/sound for those sections to help make them distinctive ... these sections were first person. The other sections of the book (Citra, Rowan, Tyger, Greyson, Goddard, etc chapters) were 3rd person/past tense. No extras at the end (discussion questions, etc) like Scythe had.
The introduction of Greyson ... I definitely note the name (Hubs name is Grayson), it was another full storyline to track. I must admit, at times I got Greyson and Rowan's storylines confused (wait, Rowan is there, wasn't he just with the Tonists... oh yeah, that was Greyson). The Tonists, I had to laugh at the "may the Fork be with you" statement! The image of a Scythe in robes riding a waverunner was also pretty funny. "Out of Order? What's that?" as things are always fixed quickly. Wouldn't it be nice to just "turn up the metabolism" to lose weight?
Listening to the audio, I didn't stop and highlight things, which I might have if reading the Kindle copy (I quickly jotted down a few things in my notes app). Valet ... narrator pronounced it with a t at the end ... is that a regional variation, I guess it is per Google. I wonder if the narrator debated the pronunciation or if that's just how he says it. Other words I note: cacophony, deign, roiling. No proFanity.
Quite the ultimate/cliffhanger ending!
Similar set up to the first book, six sections, with multiple chapters in each. Headers and chapters had written headers, included in the TOC. While I liked having the headers, they didn't include the POV or indicate "who" the main character of that chapter was (which can be a nice reference to have, although it switched up several times in many of the later chapters). The same little "excerpts" from The Thunderhead. Set apart more in Kindle, although the narrator switched up the voice/sound for those sections to help make them distinctive ... these sections were first person. The other sections of the book (Citra, Rowan, Tyger, Greyson, Goddard, etc chapters) were 3rd person/past tense. No extras at the end (discussion questions, etc) like Scythe had.
The introduction of Greyson ... I definitely note the name (Hubs name is Grayson), it was another full storyline to track. I must admit, at times I got Greyson and Rowan's storylines confused (wait, Rowan is there, wasn't he just with the Tonists... oh yeah, that was Greyson). The Tonists, I had to laugh at the "may the Fork be with you" statement! The image of a Scythe in robes riding a waverunner was also pretty funny. "Out of Order? What's that?" as things are always fixed quickly. Wouldn't it be nice to just "turn up the metabolism" to lose weight?
Listening to the audio, I didn't stop and highlight things, which I might have if reading the Kindle copy (I quickly jotted down a few things in my notes app). Valet ... narrator pronounced it with a t at the end ... is that a regional variation, I guess it is per Google. I wonder if the narrator debated the pronunciation or if that's just how he says it. Other words I note: cacophony, deign, roiling. No proFanity.
Quite the ultimate/cliffhanger ending!
Murder at Spindle Manor by Morgan Stang
3.25
This was fine ... I've really enjoyed books by Gial Carriger, which have a similar steampunk/supernatural setup, so I'm not sure why I didn't funny connect with this one. It was well written, with a bit of an Agatha Christie "10 Little Indians" countdown (the Chapter 2 heading was even "Ten Little Guests", but maybe it was just too much? Part of the fun in a mystery, is the reader attempting to figure it out. Here, it was all just too complex and unknown.
Some of the paranormal specters were a little familiar, but others were new. I've never heard of a Doppelvyrm (and it appears created for this story). I have seem something similar to the "living doll" presented here. Astral Projection (a favorite book when I was young was Lois Duncan's Stranger With My Face), a mesmer, a medium, a ghost, a "malformed" (new to this story), a cyborg (half human half machine), necromancy, "zombies", time travel, "Nobles" ... Lady Celestial Brilliance Constellation (12 feet tall ... I was thinking of Pokemon's Celesteela or Pheromosa). There might have been more weird stuff going on that I'm not remembering right off. A LOT.
Also, so many characters. There are the 10 suspects ... we get a laid out list at the end of Chapter2, which I had to highlight and refer back to. There were several other characters in addition to those 10. Beyond the "I'm going to kill one of these 10 people, one of who is the Doppelvyrm" there is a regular ol' human murder. That seems to take over the story more than the original search for the Doppelvyrm. I got a little annoyed with Isabeau in the last half "and now I'll tell you who the murderer is" and she goes on and on and on and on bringing up how everyone could be the suspect.
There was some fun humor ... the skipping of Chapter 13. Evie asking Isabeau how much she weighs. The head splattering into the porridge was funny the first two times, the third and fourth was a bit of overkill.
The interrogations were interesting ... just the lines of dialog, no/very little "he said" and "she said" ... it took just a bit of extra concentration to remember which character was saying what (but better than overusing "said") ...
So ... I think maybe the timing wasn't right for me, that another time I might have enjoyed this more. I made some highlights, more to prep for bookclub, as this was a selection for that. No audio available, so I had to read it on my own (pros and cons to that).
1st in a series but I'm not planning to continue on.
Content - proFanity x2, and some crude sexual humor.
Some of the paranormal specters were a little familiar, but others were new. I've never heard of a Doppelvyrm (and it appears created for this story). I have seem something similar to the "living doll" presented here. Astral Projection (a favorite book when I was young was Lois Duncan's Stranger With My Face), a mesmer, a medium, a ghost, a "malformed" (new to this story), a cyborg (half human half machine), necromancy, "zombies", time travel, "Nobles" ... Lady Celestial Brilliance Constellation (12 feet tall ... I was thinking of Pokemon's Celesteela or Pheromosa). There might have been more weird stuff going on that I'm not remembering right off. A LOT.
Also, so many characters. There are the 10 suspects ... we get a laid out list at the end of Chapter2, which I had to highlight and refer back to. There were several other characters in addition to those 10. Beyond the "I'm going to kill one of these 10 people, one of who is the Doppelvyrm" there is a regular ol' human murder. That seems to take over the story more than the original search for the Doppelvyrm. I got a little annoyed with Isabeau in the last half "and now I'll tell you who the murderer is" and she goes on and on and on and on bringing up how everyone could be the suspect.
There was some fun humor ... the skipping of Chapter 13. Evie asking Isabeau how much she weighs. The head splattering into the porridge was funny the first two times, the third and fourth was a bit of overkill.
The interrogations were interesting ... just the lines of dialog, no/very little "he said" and "she said" ... it took just a bit of extra concentration to remember which character was saying what (but better than overusing "said") ...
So ... I think maybe the timing wasn't right for me, that another time I might have enjoyed this more. I made some highlights, more to prep for bookclub, as this was a selection for that. No audio available, so I had to read it on my own (pros and cons to that).
1st in a series but I'm not planning to continue on.
Content - proFanity x2, and some crude sexual humor.
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
2.25
I could have cared less about this book ... that phrase (instead of "I couldn't care less") is a pet peeve of mine, and it was used in this book. But I mean, here, honestly, I COULD have cared less, I could have rated it a 1* instead of 2, or DNF-ed it, which I really considered doing, but I pushed through to finish as I didn't have my next book queued up.
I think I watched the movie a while back ... I don't remember being impressed with it. I've seen SO many rave reviews about this series though, and there's 30+ books, so people must like them. I was wanting something simple and funny. This "humor" was just ehh for me. I'm not totally turned off by crude/vulgar humor; I really enjoy Nick Spalding's stuff. But for people who said this is "laugh out loud" funny ... what? I guess people chuckle at different things.
The whole story just felt stupid to me ... really? That's really happening? That's really the choices these characters are making?
Contemporary in its time (published in 1994), it felt a little dated now (car phone/no cell, "the channel changer" ... you mean remote?) 1st person/past tense. 14 chapters in the Kindle TOC ... the audio "chapters" did NOT line up (16 chapters there) in the Libby edition. Looks like the Audible one did (and this was included in AudiblePlus, but I'd already grabbed it from my library before noticing that).
The main one at libraries in audio though, is an abridged version (although as I didn't enjoy this at all, cutting out half might not have been a bad move). Abridged read by Lori Petty. The original recordings for the full book/series start is C. J. Critt. She was fine. It looks like a new narrator was introduced later in the audiobook series, and feedback seems to say she is better. There is a version of this book re-recorded with the new narrator (Lorelei King) but it was not as easily available (only at one of my libraries, long wait). I don't know that the narrator would have improved things, as my main issues were with the story itself.
ProFanity x30, and some sexual stuff (ironically I was looking at the text while listening to the audio and noticed a discrepancy discussing an early interaction between Plum and Morelli ... the text said "had my panties viewed" and the audio said "fingered" ... I'm assuming there was an edit to the text after the audio had been done.
I think I watched the movie a while back ... I don't remember being impressed with it. I've seen SO many rave reviews about this series though, and there's 30+ books, so people must like them. I was wanting something simple and funny. This "humor" was just ehh for me. I'm not totally turned off by crude/vulgar humor; I really enjoy Nick Spalding's stuff. But for people who said this is "laugh out loud" funny ... what? I guess people chuckle at different things.
The whole story just felt stupid to me ... really? That's really happening? That's really the choices these characters are making?
Contemporary in its time (published in 1994), it felt a little dated now (car phone/no cell, "the channel changer" ... you mean remote?) 1st person/past tense. 14 chapters in the Kindle TOC ... the audio "chapters" did NOT line up (16 chapters there) in the Libby edition. Looks like the Audible one did (and this was included in AudiblePlus, but I'd already grabbed it from my library before noticing that).
The main one at libraries in audio though, is an abridged version (although as I didn't enjoy this at all, cutting out half might not have been a bad move). Abridged read by Lori Petty. The original recordings for the full book/series start is C. J. Critt. She was fine. It looks like a new narrator was introduced later in the audiobook series, and feedback seems to say she is better. There is a version of this book re-recorded with the new narrator (Lorelei King) but it was not as easily available (only at one of my libraries, long wait). I don't know that the narrator would have improved things, as my main issues were with the story itself.
ProFanity x30, and some sexual stuff (ironically I was looking at the text while listening to the audio and noticed a discrepancy discussing an early interaction between Plum and Morelli ... the text said "had my panties viewed" and the audio said "fingered" ... I'm assuming there was an edit to the text after the audio had been done.
My Dear Hamilton by Laura Kamoie, Stephanie Dray
informative
4.75
I don't know that I LOVED this ... but I have to give it credit. I felt it was well written, I appreciated the set up (prologue, four parts with headers/44 chapters throughout, epilogue), extensive author's notes, discussion questions, a Q&A with the authors, and even "how the book differs from Hamilton: An American Musical".
I had this in all three formats. I'd picked up a hardcopy at a thrift store. Nice deckled edges. Like almost all physical copies today, no Table of Contents, which I feel is an omission. The audio had the author's notes, but not all the extras (just one reason why I always like to check the text when listening to an audiobook). Kindle and audio were easily available from the library (Libby, and on Hoopla).
Told in first person/past tense ... conversational tone. The narration was good. The story didn't grab me right away. In all honesty, my mind was a bit muddled with other things going on and it was one reason I decided on this book. One where I was already a bit familiar with the "characters" and the story. It pulled me in despite my frame of mind.
A little struggle at the start with the MC being referred to as "a Schuyler" and Betsy, but Elizabeth, and then Eliza (as was my thought coming in).
I felt some connections, made some notes/highlights. Will think back on this book fondly.
No profanity, and sex was closed door.
Other words I note: loathing, cacophony, dais, hector, brusque, bucolic, manumission (which was in there a LOT).
I had this in all three formats. I'd picked up a hardcopy at a thrift store. Nice deckled edges. Like almost all physical copies today, no Table of Contents, which I feel is an omission. The audio had the author's notes, but not all the extras (just one reason why I always like to check the text when listening to an audiobook). Kindle and audio were easily available from the library (Libby, and on Hoopla).
Told in first person/past tense ... conversational tone. The narration was good. The story didn't grab me right away. In all honesty, my mind was a bit muddled with other things going on and it was one reason I decided on this book. One where I was already a bit familiar with the "characters" and the story. It pulled me in despite my frame of mind.
A little struggle at the start with the MC being referred to as "a Schuyler" and Betsy, but Elizabeth, and then Eliza (as was my thought coming in).
I felt some connections, made some notes/highlights. Will think back on this book fondly.
No profanity, and sex was closed door.
Other words I note: loathing, cacophony, dais, hector, brusque, bucolic, manumission (which was in there a LOT).
The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman by Julietta Henderson
funny
inspiring
4.75
I can't remember for sure if I heard about this book in a FB group. I found a hard copy at a library sale, and saw the good reviews, so I figured I'd give it a go. I really liked this.
My main complaint is about the narration in the audio version - narrated by Katherine Parkinson (Jen, in the TV series IT Crowd, which is a family favorite). She does a good job, BUT, this is 1st person from two different perspectives, a mother and her 12-year old son. Even though the narration switched up the voice slightly, I needed a BOY to narrate the part of the young boy. Not Jen from IT Crowd. I feel like perhaps I would have enjoyed this more if I'd read it on my own, just because of that.
The POV was listed at the start of each chapter ... Sadie or Norman. I wish it had also been noted in the Table of Contents (it didn't alternate exactly every other chapter, sometimes we'd get a few Sadie chapters in a row, a few Norman chapters in a row). Of course, the physical copy doesn't even have a TOC at all (par for the course for most physical books these days. A TOC with the POV WOULD be be helpful in my opinion).
Despite my irks with the narration and TOC ... this story touched me. Very easy, conversational tone. From the blurb, it's indicated (and early on in the text, although still a bit obscure at the beginning) that the young boy Norman's best friend Jax died recently. Both mother and son are still struggling with the aftermath. Norman and Jax had planned to perform a comedy show ... can that still happen now, with Norman alone?
That's one part of the storyline. Then, there's a bit of a Mamma Mia premise. Who is Norman's father? It could be one of four different men ...
Then, like some of the books out there like [book:Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting|59836844] or [book:Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers|61827543], we have a character (older in those examples) who ends up making a collection of friends from all walks of life. Here, that circles around Norman and his mom. Quite a few adventures.
I had this in all three formats, but pretty much went with the audio (as I have so much more ear time than eye time). I likely would have made some notes/highlights had I been reading on my own. There would be several items for discussion if this were to be used as a bookclub selection (although no questions were included, I really love when they are).
I really liked the "Notes for Next Year's Fringe" ... an unlabeled epilogue.
This had some proFanity (x12) which might keep me from recommending it to some people, but if that's not an issue, it is one I give a thumbs up - give it a go!
My main complaint is about the narration in the audio version - narrated by Katherine Parkinson (Jen, in the TV series IT Crowd, which is a family favorite). She does a good job, BUT, this is 1st person from two different perspectives, a mother and her 12-year old son. Even though the narration switched up the voice slightly, I needed a BOY to narrate the part of the young boy. Not Jen from IT Crowd. I feel like perhaps I would have enjoyed this more if I'd read it on my own, just because of that.
The POV was listed at the start of each chapter ... Sadie or Norman. I wish it had also been noted in the Table of Contents (it didn't alternate exactly every other chapter, sometimes we'd get a few Sadie chapters in a row, a few Norman chapters in a row). Of course, the physical copy doesn't even have a TOC at all (par for the course for most physical books these days. A TOC with the POV WOULD be be helpful in my opinion).
Despite my irks with the narration and TOC ... this story touched me. Very easy, conversational tone. From the blurb, it's indicated (and early on in the text, although still a bit obscure at the beginning) that the young boy Norman's best friend Jax died recently. Both mother and son are still struggling with the aftermath. Norman and Jax had planned to perform a comedy show ... can that still happen now, with Norman alone?
That's one part of the storyline. Then, there's a bit of a Mamma Mia premise. Who is Norman's father? It could be one of four different men ...
Then, like some of the books out there like [book:Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting|59836844] or [book:Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers|61827543], we have a character (older in those examples) who ends up making a collection of friends from all walks of life. Here, that circles around Norman and his mom. Quite a few adventures.
I had this in all three formats, but pretty much went with the audio (as I have so much more ear time than eye time). I likely would have made some notes/highlights had I been reading on my own. There would be several items for discussion if this were to be used as a bookclub selection (although no questions were included, I really love when they are).
I really liked the "Notes for Next Year's Fringe" ... an unlabeled epilogue.
This had some proFanity (x12) which might keep me from recommending it to some people, but if that's not an issue, it is one I give a thumbs up - give it a go!