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2199 reviews
Wits & Wagers: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Amy D'Orazio
4.0
I enjoyed this. I needed a 'read' (with my eyes) book (for my Storygraph Format Pie Chart) so I checked my Kindle cloud to see what I had there that didn't have an audio option. This was short and sweet, and always easy to get into these P&P reimaginings, because I already know the setting and characters. This starts up after Darcy's disastrous proposal/Lizzie's refusal. Bingley has pressed through on his own to reconnect with Jane, and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and his older brother Saye (that's an odd name!) come up with a plan to get Darcy back with Elizabeth. It stays historical/realistic. 3rd person, although we do get a peek into the minds of several characters (Darcy, Elizabeth, Fitzwilliam, Lydia, etc).
Now I know that "making love" had a different meaning (just being romantic) back in the Jane Austen days, but still, it just felt odd when it was used here "listening to Jane and Bingley make love to one another" ... four times. "Gay" was twice, but that (as happy) doesn't feel "ewwww" ...
Some sexual innuendo (Fitzwilliam goes to brothels, Darcy uses a handkerchief ... Darcy mocks his cousin "we all know he has difficulty enough standing to attention" ... again, this just doesn't jive with the Darcy from the original (which he stays true to in most other regards for the book).
"Careered" used instead of "careened" (this IS a correct usage, it's just rare, and something I notice). Perspicacious ... I'm pretty sure I had this in another book recently.
Overall, a quick and easy adaptation that I enjoyed.
Now I know that "making love" had a different meaning (just being romantic) back in the Jane Austen days, but still, it just felt odd when it was used here "listening to Jane and Bingley make love to one another" ... four times. "Gay" was twice, but that (as happy) doesn't feel "ewwww" ...
Some sexual innuendo (Fitzwilliam goes to brothels, Darcy uses a handkerchief ... Darcy mocks his cousin "we all know he has difficulty enough standing to attention" ... again, this just doesn't jive with the Darcy from the original (which he stays true to in most other regards for the book).
"Careered" used instead of "careened" (this IS a correct usage, it's just rare, and something I notice). Perspicacious ... I'm pretty sure I had this in another book recently.
Overall, a quick and easy adaptation that I enjoyed.
Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews Edwards
4.25
I found this at a thrift shop and picked it up for my Little Free Library, and I decided I'd give it a read first. Being a fan of Julie Andrews, and challenging myself to Nonfiction November, this shifted up my TBR. Per usual, I went ahead and borrowed the book in audio and Kindle copy from my local library, and went almost exclusively with the audio. Narrated by Julie Andrews herself, as needs must!
I always felt like I "knew" Julie Andrews ... but really, it was quite superficial. Here, we get a detailed history of her childhood, and early years on the stage. There is a second book (which I also have in physical format and plan on getting the audiobook to) HomeWork to continue on (this one ends right as she's committed to Mary Poppins, but hasn't started it yet).
Julie Andrews was a child during WW2, and I'd never thought to imagine that childhood. There were certainly family issues (parents divorced, Andrews is her step-father's name, turns out her biological father is a 3rd man). Her early years as her talent was discovered. LOTS of recognizable names as she came in contact with so many people over the years. I think I was aware of her stage work (Cinderella, My Fair Lady, Camelot). SO interesting as these were just being written, not the iconic musicals we know them as now.
Just basic chronological chapters (49 of them). This stayed simple/chronological, simple 1st person/past tense. A few memoirs I've read played with a present tense/in the moment(future) then shifted to past memories. I think I preferred this straightforward approach. One does wonder about the memory of everything, but Julie does refer to her journals at one point, including a small excerpt. I keep journals and refer back to them to jog my memory of events, so I'm betting that played a part here. Her life does seem very memorable!
I don't know if I would have enjoyed it as much reading it on my own - I loved having Julie telling the story, hearing her voice. I didn't love the little musical/piano interludes between some chapters, but I DID like the small clips (there weren't many) of her singing.
I really enjoyed this, very easy to listen to and I feel like I learned a lot.
Words I note: bucolic, ablutions, rifled, cacophony, dais, Carnegie(Hall - regular pronunciation)
I always felt like I "knew" Julie Andrews ... but really, it was quite superficial. Here, we get a detailed history of her childhood, and early years on the stage. There is a second book (which I also have in physical format and plan on getting the audiobook to) HomeWork to continue on (this one ends right as she's committed to Mary Poppins, but hasn't started it yet).
Julie Andrews was a child during WW2, and I'd never thought to imagine that childhood. There were certainly family issues (parents divorced, Andrews is her step-father's name, turns out her biological father is a 3rd man). Her early years as her talent was discovered. LOTS of recognizable names as she came in contact with so many people over the years. I think I was aware of her stage work (Cinderella, My Fair Lady, Camelot). SO interesting as these were just being written, not the iconic musicals we know them as now.
Just basic chronological chapters (49 of them). This stayed simple/chronological, simple 1st person/past tense. A few memoirs I've read played with a present tense/in the moment(future) then shifted to past memories. I think I preferred this straightforward approach. One does wonder about the memory of everything, but Julie does refer to her journals at one point, including a small excerpt. I keep journals and refer back to them to jog my memory of events, so I'm betting that played a part here. Her life does seem very memorable!
I don't know if I would have enjoyed it as much reading it on my own - I loved having Julie telling the story, hearing her voice. I didn't love the little musical/piano interludes between some chapters, but I DID like the small clips (there weren't many) of her singing.
I really enjoyed this, very easy to listen to and I feel like I learned a lot.
Words I note: bucolic, ablutions, rifled, cacophony, dais, Carnegie(Hall - regular pronunciation)
Rescue Road: One Man, Thirty Thousand Dogs and a Million Miles on the Last Hope Highway by Peter Zheutlin
3.75
I picked up a paperback at a library sale, saw that it had high ratings and (with my non-fiction November goal in mind) figured I'd read it before adding it to my Little Free Library (original reason for the purchase). While I had the physical copy to flip through, I also grabbed it from my local library in audio and ebook (all formats have their advantages). I went primarily with audio, but there are some pictures in the text copies.
This was an inspiring and informative book, but also sad and a graphic in parts. 10 chapters, with an introduction and an epilogue. The presentation was a little odd ... all 1st person, but the tense would shift between present and past. The author would introduce a situation (past tense) and then suddenly shift to present tense, as he 'relives' and tells us/the reader. He refers to the book itself (back in chapter 5 during my trip, we'll rejoin that in chapter 9) ... it all rolled over me in audio, and following things was fine, all informational, the chronology isn't as important as for a story/fiction. Looking back over things in the text copies I noticed the tense change and scene shifts more pointedly. I like that there were chapter headings, but they didn't automatically trigger a memory of what was in those chapters (as sometimes can happen as I glance back over the Table of Contents of a book). Most non-fiction physical copies DO have a TOC, as does this (I think all physical books should have a TOC!)
Intro - about the author's experience adopting a dog, introduces this project and Greg
Chapter 1 - Dog's Best Friend; more on Greg, how he got started, his background
Chapter 2 - On the Road Again; 1st person/present tense, to pickup the dogs
Chapter 3 - All Aboard; Still present tense, introducing all the dogs/their history, the helpers
Chapter 4 - Saving Dogs; "so I went back to Louisiana a few weeks later to find out more about Keri Bullock Toth (although technically this is in the future/and the past, it's still present tense for most, except for a past tense portion about the author's own dog and addressing the "South" issue, also another day (back to present tense) with another helper, Sara Kelly, then CJ (past tense).
Chapter 5 - Lone Star State of Mind; "now that we've seen the world Keri and Sara operate in, let's rewind and rejoin Greg during my trip with him" ... that IS how the chapter starts. More on the trip, travel, dogs, etc.
Chapter 6 - Houston, You Have a Problem; another shift "It's been several weeks since my trip ... I've returned to Texas to learn more about Kathy, Tom ..." still told in present tense.
Chapter 7 - Hard Times; another shelter spotlight
Chapter 8 - Acadiana; another shelter spotlight
Chapter 9 - Long Day's Journey Into Night; Back to the travels on the road (picking up where chapter 5 left off).
Chapter 10 - Gotcha Day; as the header says
Epilogue - wrap up, followup on some of the dogs.
There were some footnotes in the next (at the bottom of the page in physical format, at the end of the chapter in ebook ... I think they just got skipped in audio?) Pictures don't translate to audio of course but while they were nice, I don't think they added anything essential.
Just a narration note ... the narrator pronounced "dearth" as "darth" ... I fell like that should have been caught and corrected.
This was an inspiring and informative book, but also sad and a graphic in parts. 10 chapters, with an introduction and an epilogue. The presentation was a little odd ... all 1st person, but the tense would shift between present and past. The author would introduce a situation (past tense) and then suddenly shift to present tense, as he 'relives' and tells us/the reader. He refers to the book itself (back in chapter 5 during my trip, we'll rejoin that in chapter 9) ... it all rolled over me in audio, and following things was fine, all informational, the chronology isn't as important as for a story/fiction. Looking back over things in the text copies I noticed the tense change and scene shifts more pointedly. I like that there were chapter headings, but they didn't automatically trigger a memory of what was in those chapters (as sometimes can happen as I glance back over the Table of Contents of a book). Most non-fiction physical copies DO have a TOC, as does this (I think all physical books should have a TOC!)
Intro - about the author's experience adopting a dog, introduces this project and Greg
Chapter 1 - Dog's Best Friend; more on Greg, how he got started, his background
Chapter 2 - On the Road Again; 1st person/present tense, to pickup the dogs
Chapter 3 - All Aboard; Still present tense, introducing all the dogs/their history, the helpers
Chapter 4 - Saving Dogs; "so I went back to Louisiana a few weeks later to find out more about Keri Bullock Toth (although technically this is in the future/and the past, it's still present tense for most, except for a past tense portion about the author's own dog and addressing the "South" issue, also another day (back to present tense) with another helper, Sara Kelly, then CJ (past tense).
Chapter 5 - Lone Star State of Mind; "now that we've seen the world Keri and Sara operate in, let's rewind and rejoin Greg during my trip with him" ... that IS how the chapter starts. More on the trip, travel, dogs, etc.
Chapter 6 - Houston, You Have a Problem; another shift "It's been several weeks since my trip ... I've returned to Texas to learn more about Kathy, Tom ..." still told in present tense.
Chapter 7 - Hard Times; another shelter spotlight
Chapter 8 - Acadiana; another shelter spotlight
Chapter 9 - Long Day's Journey Into Night; Back to the travels on the road (picking up where chapter 5 left off).
Chapter 10 - Gotcha Day; as the header says
Epilogue - wrap up, followup on some of the dogs.
There were some footnotes in the next (at the bottom of the page in physical format, at the end of the chapter in ebook ... I think they just got skipped in audio?) Pictures don't translate to audio of course but while they were nice, I don't think they added anything essential.
Just a narration note ... the narrator pronounced "dearth" as "darth" ... I fell like that should have been caught and corrected.
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
3.5
I am one who did NOT love The Glass Castle. Even that, written by the author of her own life, I have to wonder about the truth of some aspects (she really has this complete memory of when she was three years old? Dialog?) This is actually a critique of most memoirs, even my own attempt at a small written history. We write what we remember, but IS that fact? I've noticed how even my own perceptions change if I write up a blog post immediately after it happened vs writing it up from memory some years afterward.
HERE - Goodreads has this book listed as nonfiction. I realize that it is "based on actual stories" but even the author in her note at the end stats "most of what I knew about her came secondhand" as her grandmother died when she was just eight years old. This was mostly based on stories her mother told about her mother. Okay, Rosemary had "an astonishing recall for details" but still. "I never aspired to historical accuracy ... more of an oral history, retelling of stories handed down, with the storyteller's traditional liberties ..." It's fiction, rooted in actual events, but fiction. Storygraph has it labeled correctly as fiction.
Beyond that ... while interesting, if people were coming to this with "fiction" eyes, I think they wouldn't care for the MC much. She comes off as a "wow, look what I accomplished, I am always right" type of woman (which is maybe how the daughter viewed her mother, especially with adoration in stories after she passed away).
Whereas with a novel, you can expect character development, an arc, some unexpected twists ... when using a life as the inspiration and attempting to stick to that, not quite as much. I mean, this DID have quite a few twists and turns and it was interesting, ultimately ... I guess if it was my OWN family history I'd be quite captivated, but reading about a random stranger, not as much. I guess that's what most reading is, but maybe I'm more judgmental when it's supposedly "real" ...
I went with the audio, and it was narrated by the author. It's been a few months and 50+ books since I listened to The Glass Castle, but I would NOT recommend reading them close together, because they feel/sound SO similar in voice (writing, and obviously in narration). I definitely needed quite a bit of time between the two to keep them at all separate in my mind.
1st person/past tense.
No proFanity. "Mormons" made an appearance. The word "sneaked" ... I smiled at the MC wanting to look at who checked out the library book before her, and wanting to track them down so she could discuss the book with them ;) I liked the title tie-in (several times).
HERE - Goodreads has this book listed as nonfiction. I realize that it is "based on actual stories" but even the author in her note at the end stats "most of what I knew about her came secondhand" as her grandmother died when she was just eight years old. This was mostly based on stories her mother told about her mother. Okay, Rosemary had "an astonishing recall for details" but still. "I never aspired to historical accuracy ... more of an oral history, retelling of stories handed down, with the storyteller's traditional liberties ..." It's fiction, rooted in actual events, but fiction. Storygraph has it labeled correctly as fiction.
Beyond that ... while interesting, if people were coming to this with "fiction" eyes, I think they wouldn't care for the MC much. She comes off as a "wow, look what I accomplished, I am always right" type of woman (which is maybe how the daughter viewed her mother, especially with adoration in stories after she passed away).
Whereas with a novel, you can expect character development, an arc, some unexpected twists ... when using a life as the inspiration and attempting to stick to that, not quite as much. I mean, this DID have quite a few twists and turns and it was interesting, ultimately ... I guess if it was my OWN family history I'd be quite captivated, but reading about a random stranger, not as much. I guess that's what most reading is, but maybe I'm more judgmental when it's supposedly "real" ...
I went with the audio, and it was narrated by the author. It's been a few months and 50+ books since I listened to The Glass Castle, but I would NOT recommend reading them close together, because they feel/sound SO similar in voice (writing, and obviously in narration). I definitely needed quite a bit of time between the two to keep them at all separate in my mind.
1st person/past tense.
No proFanity. "Mormons" made an appearance. The word "sneaked" ... I smiled at the MC wanting to look at who checked out the library book before her, and wanting to track them down so she could discuss the book with them ;) I liked the title tie-in (several times).
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
3.25
I liked this ... didn't love it. There were some interesting portions, some statements I liked and highlighted, but I also felt a little like I had to push through to the end. As the author himself says in the note at the beginning "I didn't know I was going to write this book, I've had to rely on my memory, along with notes, papers, lists, letters, emails ..." and it does feel a little pieced together. It's both a general rundown of the author's mother's life, a bit on their relationship, and a peek at the books that they read together. Everything stays pretty superficial though, it didn't seem to really delve deep enough to grab me emotionally. I tagged a couple of the books to put on my list, but so many of them didn't sound like ones I'd be interested it, even though Will and his mother apparently loved them. I'd really only heard of a few of them (The Hobbit, Olive Kitteridge, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).
This book popped onto my TBR because I found a physical copy ... I can't recall if it was in a LFL or a thrift store. Add in non-fiction November and I figured I'd give this a go. Despite the possibilities, it read a little dry. One thing it did reinforce for me is that I do not want to get old, or go through operations or treatments that require so much of my family's time, money, worry. I still just cross my fingers for a quick and easy (and early) exit and still can't help but wonder about why we don't let people make the choice ... I know some would still want to fight to the end, but I would prefer to just have the official goodbye and end it on my own terms.
It was interesting to hear about so many books, but again, it was all superficial, just basic stuff, nothing really telling ... a deeper dive would be a bit of a spoiler to anyone who hadn't read the books, but as it was, it was fairly blah.
The author states "I had so many Davids in my life..." and boy did he ever! That's a disadvantage to nonfiction if you are keeping names true, and you have this many repeats. I was seriously confused at times over all the Davids. When one was killed in a car accident (the author of a book Will was editing) I thought it was his partner David, and wondered at the lack of emotion addressing the death ... and then I was confused when David still appeared to be around (and wondered if this was more time shifts).
1st person/Past tense. The mother/son are both left/Democrat. Adoration of Obama, work with refugees, the author is gay as is his sister, discussed but it isn't overdone.
No proFanity. Some of the other words I notice ... careened, scrum, sneaked, Carnegie (NEG pronunciation). Mention of Ambien. Vero(Beach) ... Hubs and I watched "Kaos" recently and "vero" was a work said in that and I'd always think of it when it was said here. ARB ... Already Read Book ;)
The narration was good, I wonder how the mother would have liked her "voice" as the male narrator presented it. There were a few accents, which the narrator added in.
This book popped onto my TBR because I found a physical copy ... I can't recall if it was in a LFL or a thrift store. Add in non-fiction November and I figured I'd give this a go. Despite the possibilities, it read a little dry. One thing it did reinforce for me is that I do not want to get old, or go through operations or treatments that require so much of my family's time, money, worry. I still just cross my fingers for a quick and easy (and early) exit and still can't help but wonder about why we don't let people make the choice ... I know some would still want to fight to the end, but I would prefer to just have the official goodbye and end it on my own terms.
It was interesting to hear about so many books, but again, it was all superficial, just basic stuff, nothing really telling ... a deeper dive would be a bit of a spoiler to anyone who hadn't read the books, but as it was, it was fairly blah.
The author states "I had so many Davids in my life..." and boy did he ever! That's a disadvantage to nonfiction if you are keeping names true, and you have this many repeats. I was seriously confused at times over all the Davids. When one was killed in a car accident (the author of a book Will was editing) I thought it was his partner David, and wondered at the lack of emotion addressing the death ... and then I was confused when David still appeared to be around (and wondered if this was more time shifts).
1st person/Past tense. The mother/son are both left/Democrat. Adoration of Obama, work with refugees, the author is gay as is his sister, discussed but it isn't overdone.
No proFanity. Some of the other words I notice ... careened, scrum, sneaked, Carnegie (NEG pronunciation). Mention of Ambien. Vero(Beach) ... Hubs and I watched "Kaos" recently and "vero" was a work said in that and I'd always think of it when it was said here. ARB ... Already Read Book ;)
The narration was good, I wonder how the mother would have liked her "voice" as the male narrator presented it. There were a few accents, which the narrator added in.
A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser
3.25
I liked this ... didn't love it. It is YA, and I wonder if I would have been more taken in during my younger years. It does a good job of showing a side of life that (hopefully/luckily) many kids don't have any idea about ... homelessness.
I had picked up a physical copy at a library sale - it was a "beehive award" (Children's Literature Association of Utah) nominee. I saw it had high ratings on Goodreads. I was able to snag the audio and Kindle copies from my library. As with most recent publications, there isn't a Table of Contents in the physical copy (this leaves it lacking in my opinion). The Kindle and audio both had a complete TOC, showing how the book was divided into days, and then alternating between the POV of June and Tyrell. Several switches/chapters for each day. Originally each day (Sep30, Oct 1-8, then a jump to Oct 22-26) ... the whole book taking place in under a month. The individual chapters had running chronological chapter labels as well as the POV, which IS appreciated, makes it easier to switch between formats and locate my place. 72 chapters in all.
With this whole thing taking place in less than 30 days ... I just wondered a little about the fast friendships formed so quickly and completely. I guess that can happen, especially under stressful circumstances, but still I wasn't sure I bought it. Even more suspect was Tyrell, never having ever played an instrument or known how to read music, being able to play a song, no matter how simple, that quickly. Even on the piano ... much less a violin!
The title ties in nicely. While this wasn't specifically about refugees, one of the families featured, the mother spoke Cantonese, not English (which added to the struggle). Having recently read a book about refugees, I was making some mental comparisons between the stories and situations.
Completely clean - no language or sex or violence.
I had picked up a physical copy at a library sale - it was a "beehive award" (Children's Literature Association of Utah) nominee. I saw it had high ratings on Goodreads. I was able to snag the audio and Kindle copies from my library. As with most recent publications, there isn't a Table of Contents in the physical copy (this leaves it lacking in my opinion). The Kindle and audio both had a complete TOC, showing how the book was divided into days, and then alternating between the POV of June and Tyrell. Several switches/chapters for each day. Originally each day (Sep30, Oct 1-8, then a jump to Oct 22-26) ... the whole book taking place in under a month. The individual chapters had running chronological chapter labels as well as the POV, which IS appreciated, makes it easier to switch between formats and locate my place. 72 chapters in all.
With this whole thing taking place in less than 30 days ... I just wondered a little about the fast friendships formed so quickly and completely. I guess that can happen, especially under stressful circumstances, but still I wasn't sure I bought it. Even more suspect was Tyrell, never having ever played an instrument or known how to read music, being able to play a song, no matter how simple, that quickly. Even on the piano ... much less a violin!
The title ties in nicely. While this wasn't specifically about refugees, one of the families featured, the mother spoke Cantonese, not English (which added to the struggle). Having recently read a book about refugees, I was making some mental comparisons between the stories and situations.
Completely clean - no language or sex or violence.
The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Michael Easter
3.75
This probably wouldn't have been a book on my radar ... I'm mostly a fiction gal, and have been trying to include more nonfiction, but usually still "stories" (memoirs or historical biographies or informational presentations)... NOT self-help. But my son enjoyed this and gave me the hardcopy for my birthday (during NonFiction November) and Hubs had purchased it on Audible. I like to have multiple formats ... so as soon as I was able to get a Kindle copy, I gave it a go.
It was easier to listen to than I expected (for a self-help book). I had a few connections ... The experiencing the outdoors, the basic ideas of pushing oneself, and the way the author started with a first person/present tense IN the experience then shifting to past tense and other situations reminded me of [book:The Push: A Climber's Journey of Endurance, Risk, and Going Beyond Limits|33155369]. I've also read Into Thin Air (another reporter writing for a magazine, going on a physical experience, and Everest is mentioned specifically in this book too). SLC/Utah was talked about. Part 3, about hunger/body weight didn't say "intermittent fasting" but definitely talked a lot about the idea. Ironically, I just started up with that and counting calories and going hungry as November started up. Part 5: Carry the Load was interesting as Hubs and #1 son have gotten into rucking.
So basically, this had the five parts
1) Make it Really Hard
2) Rediscover Boredem
3) Feel Hunger (I'm hungry right now!!)
4) Think about your Death Every Day
5) Carry the Load
Each part had a few chapters (21 chapters in all, plus an epilogue).
There was some good and interesting stuff ... some just reaffirming what I already know or feel. The body weight chapter reminded me of the NOOM method, which I tried out (it encouraged members to eat food that was filling, limit the calorie dense). I'm NOT big on discomfort or pushing myself. Reading some of the other reviews ... I have to agree about the irony of this rich/privileged man "pushing" his boredom and discomfort limits by taking a month for this adventure. How many people have the money/time/connections to do that? It just sets a bit of an odd precedence.
The tag line ... "Embrace discomfort to reclaim your wild, happy, healthy self" ... was I ever wild? At times happy(ish), healthy(ish) but I don't know that it's something I can "reclaim" ...
ProFanity x11 ... it felt like more to me, I'm surprised the Kindle count was that low ;)
It was easier to listen to than I expected (for a self-help book). I had a few connections ... The experiencing the outdoors, the basic ideas of pushing oneself, and the way the author started with a first person/present tense IN the experience then shifting to past tense and other situations reminded me of [book:The Push: A Climber's Journey of Endurance, Risk, and Going Beyond Limits|33155369]. I've also read Into Thin Air (another reporter writing for a magazine, going on a physical experience, and Everest is mentioned specifically in this book too). SLC/Utah was talked about. Part 3, about hunger/body weight didn't say "intermittent fasting" but definitely talked a lot about the idea. Ironically, I just started up with that and counting calories and going hungry as November started up. Part 5: Carry the Load was interesting as Hubs and #1 son have gotten into rucking.
So basically, this had the five parts
1) Make it Really Hard
2) Rediscover Boredem
3) Feel Hunger (I'm hungry right now!!)
4) Think about your Death Every Day
5) Carry the Load
Each part had a few chapters (21 chapters in all, plus an epilogue).
There was some good and interesting stuff ... some just reaffirming what I already know or feel. The body weight chapter reminded me of the NOOM method, which I tried out (it encouraged members to eat food that was filling, limit the calorie dense). I'm NOT big on discomfort or pushing myself. Reading some of the other reviews ... I have to agree about the irony of this rich/privileged man "pushing" his boredom and discomfort limits by taking a month for this adventure. How many people have the money/time/connections to do that? It just sets a bit of an odd precedence.
The tag line ... "Embrace discomfort to reclaim your wild, happy, healthy self" ... was I ever wild? At times happy(ish), healthy(ish) but I don't know that it's something I can "reclaim" ...
ProFanity x11 ... it felt like more to me, I'm surprised the Kindle count was that low ;)
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
3.75
I liked this ... it's not one that will stick in my memory with the impact of The Midnight Library, but it was an enjoyable read. I have a few little quotes highlighted (about books, magic). I had this in both audio and Kindle copy, and went primarily with the audio/enjoyed the narration, but turned to the kindle a time or two.
This starts out with letters, from Maurice, a 22-year old young man to his former math teacher Grace Winters, and her response ... which IS the rest of the book. One does have to question a bit her "I started writing a response to you and it just grew and grew, far beyond a little email" ... about 300+, a BOOK ... how long did it take her to write this all down? I know it's fiction and she's not writing a novel per se, just her own history, but still, it seems like it would take some days/weeks. How long before she sent this reply? The "letters" are not dated ...
I'm not sure how I felt about this set-up ... the rest of the story is being told TO Maurice, and she addresses him (the reader) several times throughout. This interplay wasn't really integral to the storyline though. As she says "I have been meaning to write this all down for quite some time now, and your message was the perfect prompt" ...
As for the story itself - magical realism/fantasy ... even aliens? Powers? There were a LOT of chapters, I don't know how many because they were not numbered. Just the chapter headings were given. I like to have both ... the chronological numbering is helpful in switching between formats and finding a specific section more easily. There was an environmental focus, preserving the island, appreciating the animals and the ocean and the plants.
Not one I'd rave about, or absolutely recommend, but I enjoyed it and found some little tidbits to add to my QUOTES section.
ProFanity x17. A couple mentions of sex, very slight.
Some other words I notice: cacophony, preternatural, route(pronounced root), sneaked. Mentioned a murmuration of starlings and a flamboyance of flamingos. She played Wordle.
This starts out with letters, from Maurice, a 22-year old young man to his former math teacher Grace Winters, and her response ... which IS the rest of the book. One does have to question a bit her "I started writing a response to you and it just grew and grew, far beyond a little email" ... about 300+, a BOOK ... how long did it take her to write this all down? I know it's fiction and she's not writing a novel per se, just her own history, but still, it seems like it would take some days/weeks. How long before she sent this reply? The "letters" are not dated ...
I'm not sure how I felt about this set-up ... the rest of the story is being told TO Maurice, and she addresses him (the reader) several times throughout. This interplay wasn't really integral to the storyline though. As she says "I have been meaning to write this all down for quite some time now, and your message was the perfect prompt" ...
As for the story itself - magical realism/fantasy ... even aliens? Powers? There were a LOT of chapters, I don't know how many because they were not numbered. Just the chapter headings were given. I like to have both ... the chronological numbering is helpful in switching between formats and finding a specific section more easily. There was an environmental focus, preserving the island, appreciating the animals and the ocean and the plants.
Not one I'd rave about, or absolutely recommend, but I enjoyed it and found some little tidbits to add to my QUOTES section.
ProFanity x17. A couple mentions of sex, very slight.
Some other words I notice: cacophony, preternatural, route(pronounced root), sneaked. Mentioned a murmuration of starlings and a flamboyance of flamingos. She played Wordle.
After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America by Jessica Goudeau
3.25
I found this book in a Little Free Library and saw it had good reviews. I was able to get the audio and ebook easily from my library. Each format has its benefits, so I like to have it in all three, although I went primarily with the audiobook.
I liked this and was glad I read it, but it just didn't rate up there in the 4 or 5* territory for me. I had to push through a little. 3rd person/past tense for the most part (the prologue, which features Mu Naw in 1989 when she was just five years old, was present tense). Three parts, with multiple chapters in each/30 overall. Personally, I didn't really see a distinct division of why there were different parts? I was very glad the Table of Contents listed the POV/Date/Location for each chapter. Glancing through the other reviews, one stated a friend had read all the Mu Naw chapters together, then the Hasna, then the informational ones. The constant flip-flopping between these three was hard on me.
This felt like three different books ... Mu Naw's story, Hasna's story, and then background information on the history of refugee law in the US. While I appreciate non-fiction, I have to wonder if I might have been pulled in more if either woman's story was more involved, and not interrupted by the two other sections here. Even if it was "fictionalized" with more dialog and feelings ... I just never really connected, I always felt outside looking in. The author does address her choice to stay with the 3rd person.
There were a few things I struggled with ... didn't get all of them marked (to remember) listening to audio. But, i.e., in chapter 20 "Mu Naw realized that her marriage was over ..." That was SO out of the blue, I had to stop the audio, check the text, did I miss something? No, after the statement is made it starts to get into some of the background, but also, it was NOT over ... (maybe I wouldn't have had an issue with "realized her marriage was in trouble" or something less definite than the statement used.
I'm not a Trump fan ... and I figure any Trump fans probably won't read or enjoy the book. The US Refugee Resettlement chapters, while informational, were a little dry. I'm not sure how much of the information I'll retain, more of just a generalized overview of things.
While I appreciated Hasna's story too, I can't help but wonder if these would have been better kept to their own/separate books. While there is the connection of coming through the US Refugee program, the storylines never crossed, as I thought perhaps they would?
ProFanity 1 time ... on my Storygraph, I track whether the f-bomb is used or not, either or. Here, ONE time still gets into the F-Yes tag.
I liked this and was glad I read it, but it just didn't rate up there in the 4 or 5* territory for me. I had to push through a little. 3rd person/past tense for the most part (the prologue, which features Mu Naw in 1989 when she was just five years old, was present tense). Three parts, with multiple chapters in each/30 overall. Personally, I didn't really see a distinct division of why there were different parts? I was very glad the Table of Contents listed the POV/Date/Location for each chapter. Glancing through the other reviews, one stated a friend had read all the Mu Naw chapters together, then the Hasna, then the informational ones. The constant flip-flopping between these three was hard on me.
This felt like three different books ... Mu Naw's story, Hasna's story, and then background information on the history of refugee law in the US. While I appreciate non-fiction, I have to wonder if I might have been pulled in more if either woman's story was more involved, and not interrupted by the two other sections here. Even if it was "fictionalized" with more dialog and feelings ... I just never really connected, I always felt outside looking in. The author does address her choice to stay with the 3rd person.
There were a few things I struggled with ... didn't get all of them marked (to remember) listening to audio. But, i.e., in chapter 20 "Mu Naw realized that her marriage was over ..." That was SO out of the blue, I had to stop the audio, check the text, did I miss something? No, after the statement is made it starts to get into some of the background, but also, it was NOT over ... (maybe I wouldn't have had an issue with "realized her marriage was in trouble" or something less definite than the statement used.
I'm not a Trump fan ... and I figure any Trump fans probably won't read or enjoy the book. The US Refugee Resettlement chapters, while informational, were a little dry. I'm not sure how much of the information I'll retain, more of just a generalized overview of things.
While I appreciated Hasna's story too, I can't help but wonder if these would have been better kept to their own/separate books. While there is the connection of coming through the US Refugee program, the storylines never crossed, as I thought perhaps they would?
ProFanity 1 time ... on my Storygraph, I track whether the f-bomb is used or not, either or. Here, ONE time still gets into the F-Yes tag.
Eliza Starts a Rumor by Jane L. Rosen
2.5
This was a pick for bookclub ... and I wasn't really a fan. I don't know if doing any prep (re-reading portions) or the discussion might make me like it more? As of now, 2.5* and a negative feel. It reminded me of [book:Anonymous Mom Posts|63416757], which was written after this book, but I happened to read it before. It also featured several women, posting on a social media board and some of the issues anonymous posts can create, also attempting to hit many social issues of the day. It's presentation was a little more unique, as readers you see the messages in format.
The blurb indicates this is a story of four women ... there more names than that listed in the chapter headings. These were shown in the TOC for the audiobook, but weren't in the Kindle copy (audio TOC for the win. I wonder if the physical copy even HAS a TOC, most don't seem to these days). I appreciate being able to look and know where to turn if I wanted to check out a particular POV. There is Eliza Hunt, Olivia York, Jackie Campbell, Alison Le, Amanda Cole. There is also a couple chapters from Marc Sugarman's POV, and we get Spencer at one point. Several chapters have multiple POVs. Alison doesn't start until chapter 9, Amanda until chapter 11. We don't get her POV, but also need to keep track of the name Ashley Smith. Now this might be a personal problem, but sometimes with names, I really just remember the first letter or sound ... here, Eliza, Amanda, Ashley, Alison, Olivia. They all start with vowels, three As! In fact there's an Andie too! I struggled just a bit keeping track of all the changing perspectives and people and their background stories.
There were lots of little things that bugged me too ... I was super turned off when one of the women remembers her high school musical days, and "It wasn't Curly or Jud she was thinking about while singing "I'm just a girl who can't say no ..." SO, that's Oklahoma. I played Laurie. Laurie was the triangle with Curly/Jud. She does NOT sing the referenced song. Ado Annie does, and Ado Annie is not saying no to Will and Ali Hakim. If you are going to reference something, GET IT RIGHT!
Other annoyances ... the baby's lilac eyes (does anyone really have PURPLE eyes?) "Allison was impressed that although he joked, he was clearly woke ..." Would someone really think "woke" like that? I realize this was written a few years ago, but it seems like "woke" has more of a negative connotation at this point. She would think that he supported women, not that he was "woke" ... it just felt super unnatural to me. Olivia's reactions seemed off (to suddenly think he was cheating based on the message board? To just "marriage over" when she realized he was lying, and to get such a painless and profitable divorce. Lucky for her! Alison also just absolutely "it's over" and then ... what exactly changed her mind? No revelation even that the last messages had been Lee/Skip not Jack. The whole #metoo thing, and Carson? Oh, the play made him feel bad and he apologized? That Eliza's husband hadn't even realized she hadn't left the house in months? Seems like that would be hard NOT to notice, living with someone, even if you weren't that close. Totally random with the dog Truffles (not sure why that was included).
I did appreciate the author's note. There are discussion questions (which I like) but I didn't feel like these really made me think that much. We'll see how book club goes...
ProFanity x5. Some talk of sex/rape, the #metoo movement
The blurb indicates this is a story of four women ... there more names than that listed in the chapter headings. These were shown in the TOC for the audiobook, but weren't in the Kindle copy (audio TOC for the win. I wonder if the physical copy even HAS a TOC, most don't seem to these days). I appreciate being able to look and know where to turn if I wanted to check out a particular POV. There is Eliza Hunt, Olivia York, Jackie Campbell, Alison Le, Amanda Cole. There is also a couple chapters from Marc Sugarman's POV, and we get Spencer at one point. Several chapters have multiple POVs. Alison doesn't start until chapter 9, Amanda until chapter 11. We don't get her POV, but also need to keep track of the name Ashley Smith. Now this might be a personal problem, but sometimes with names, I really just remember the first letter or sound ... here, Eliza, Amanda, Ashley, Alison, Olivia. They all start with vowels, three As! In fact there's an Andie too! I struggled just a bit keeping track of all the changing perspectives and people and their background stories.
There were lots of little things that bugged me too ... I was super turned off when one of the women remembers her high school musical days, and "It wasn't Curly or Jud she was thinking about while singing "I'm just a girl who can't say no ..." SO, that's Oklahoma. I played Laurie. Laurie was the triangle with Curly/Jud. She does NOT sing the referenced song. Ado Annie does, and Ado Annie is not saying no to Will and Ali Hakim. If you are going to reference something, GET IT RIGHT!
Other annoyances ... the baby's lilac eyes (does anyone really have PURPLE eyes?) "Allison was impressed that although he joked, he was clearly woke ..." Would someone really think "woke" like that? I realize this was written a few years ago, but it seems like "woke" has more of a negative connotation at this point. She would think that he supported women, not that he was "woke" ... it just felt super unnatural to me. Olivia's reactions seemed off (to suddenly think he was cheating based on the message board? To just "marriage over" when she realized he was lying, and to get such a painless and profitable divorce. Lucky for her! Alison also just absolutely "it's over" and then ... what exactly changed her mind? No revelation even that the last messages had been Lee/Skip not Jack. The whole #metoo thing, and Carson? Oh, the play made him feel bad and he apologized? That Eliza's husband hadn't even realized she hadn't left the house in months? Seems like that would be hard NOT to notice, living with someone, even if you weren't that close. Totally random with the dog Truffles (not sure why that was included).
I did appreciate the author's note. There are discussion questions (which I like) but I didn't feel like these really made me think that much. We'll see how book club goes...
ProFanity x5. Some talk of sex/rape, the #metoo movement