jenwestpfahl's reviews
303 reviews

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

adventurous

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

A fun read but the last chapter was pretty lame.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This almost makes me want to live in 1780s Maine!

The Women by Kristin Hannah

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’ve seen the criticism of this book and I kind of get it but I still loved it. A week after reading, I’m still thinking about it. 

Hang The Moon by Jeannette Walls

4.5

Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee

informative medium-paced

3.5

This probably won’t appeal to everyone but I found some interesting thoughts that could help add joy to my life and to my retreat business. Incredibly wealth of real-life examples.

The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A quick and compelling read. I liked that exploration of how “ordinary German” people lived with the choices they made during and after WWII and how that affected the rest of their lives. It shows how life is more complicated than choosing sides.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor

challenging slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

3.5

These stories are dark and full of symbolism that I’m not sure I grasp. Have your thinking cap on if you’re going to read this one.

How to Be: A Monk and a Journalist Reflect on LivingDying, PurposePrayer, ForgivenessFriendship by Kathleen Norris, Paul Quenon, Judith Valente

fast-paced

3.5

An easy read with a few good quotes but overall nothing too revolutionary when it comes to spiritual thoughts.

The It Girl by Ruth Ware

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

Very compelling thriller. It kept me guessing at the truths pretty much right until each was revealed. One small plot device doesn’t really make sense to me after the fact. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Stalking

Minor: Sexual assault

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I was excited to read about Hedy Lamarr because I knew she did some sort of scientific/research work but didn’t know any more than that.

The first half of the book about her life in Austria was fascinating and well written. The second half started out just as good but then when we finally got to the part where she was inventing things, it felt slightly rushed. There were mentions of “our new project” being on the flipboard while they waited for answers on the first project but never any info on what that was. We also got no insight into what happened when her mother arrived in California.

The last chapter felt like a huge letdown, and the last page or two was so cheesy. 

It just seems like there was so much of her life still to explore and we were just cut off abruptly.