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madisonlawson's reviews
772 reviews
Water Walker by Ted Dekker
5.0
A page turner and a thinker, Water Walker really gets your mind turning. With such a wholesome ending, I'm thankful I spent my time on this novel.
If you know Ted Dekker, you'll know you won't be disappointed with this book.
If you know Ted Dekker, you'll know you won't be disappointed with this book.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
3.0
This book wasn't my favorite but it was good enough for me to finish reading. The main problem was the potential it had that it did not live up to. The main character was not the most likable character and though she had gone through a lot, it was rough seeing her think about how mean she was being but not change a thing about her character. Also it seemed to be a book about her boyfriends that didn't or did work out.
Either way I can see why people would give it five stars. I wouldn't recommend it but others have recommended it to me and who knows, you may love it.
Either way I can see why people would give it five stars. I wouldn't recommend it but others have recommended it to me and who knows, you may love it.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
3.0
I have a lot of thoughts on this book and I count that as a plus. But this book is discussion book. It's the sort of book you write a paper over for school, because it does have so many themes and interesting discussions.
This novel is not a plot driven novel by any means, in fact I would more categorize it as a fiction memoir. It's written extremely well and the characters, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, have been carved to perfection. This is what propels the story forward: the topics and characters.
One thing I truly appreciated about the novel is that Kazuo managed to capture emotions and events of childhood better than most. There were many moments I found myself in awe at the sheer accuracy of how children act and think, and the reasoning behind it.
However, as a writer, there is too much about the book that irks me to truly love it.
The lack of plot, though almost made up for, is so glaring that I find it odd the writer was ever able to publish to begin with. There is absolutely no tension or desire for an ultimate goal in any of the characters. It's like a pimped out car that has no engine. It looks pretty, yes, but it's not going to take you anywhere.
Second, the love story. I'm afraid it has been advertised as a romance in vain. Though there may be a romance, it comes out of no where in the last fifty pages of the book. Kazuo does an INCREDIBLE job at building a friendship between the characters. Perhaps too good a job as after endless pages of little antics proving how close friends they are, the romance seems implausible. It wasn't built up properly and their was no heat between the characters before suddenly *poof* they're in love.
Lastly: the lack of information before an enormous infer dump. For hundreds of pages we are left to Kathy's memory, sometimes getting a bit of information from her guardians (Mrs. Emily) or her own wit, but really with no real concrete reason as to why their lives are what they are. Then, as if remembering to add vital information but too lazy to incorporate it into the novel, our author gives us an almost four page long explanation to this world... right before the end of the book.
Info dump is never a good idea, especially at the end.
This novel is interesting but Ishiguro took multiple shortcuts in writing it, ultimately leaving it a three star book.
This novel is not a plot driven novel by any means, in fact I would more categorize it as a fiction memoir. It's written extremely well and the characters, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, have been carved to perfection. This is what propels the story forward: the topics and characters.
One thing I truly appreciated about the novel is that Kazuo managed to capture emotions and events of childhood better than most. There were many moments I found myself in awe at the sheer accuracy of how children act and think, and the reasoning behind it.
However, as a writer, there is too much about the book that irks me to truly love it.
The lack of plot, though almost made up for, is so glaring that I find it odd the writer was ever able to publish to begin with. There is absolutely no tension or desire for an ultimate goal in any of the characters. It's like a pimped out car that has no engine. It looks pretty, yes, but it's not going to take you anywhere.
Second, the love story. I'm afraid it has been advertised as a romance in vain. Though there may be a romance, it comes out of no where in the last fifty pages of the book. Kazuo does an INCREDIBLE job at building a friendship between the characters. Perhaps too good a job as after endless pages of little antics proving how close friends they are, the romance seems implausible. It wasn't built up properly and their was no heat between the characters before suddenly *poof* they're in love.
Lastly: the lack of information before an enormous infer dump. For hundreds of pages we are left to Kathy's memory, sometimes getting a bit of information from her guardians (Mrs. Emily) or her own wit, but really with no real concrete reason as to why their lives are what they are. Then, as if remembering to add vital information but too lazy to incorporate it into the novel, our author gives us an almost four page long explanation to this world... right before the end of the book.
Info dump is never a good idea, especially at the end.
This novel is interesting but Ishiguro took multiple shortcuts in writing it, ultimately leaving it a three star book.
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
4.0
In discovering the truth about her town and the Faeries who seem to control it, Hazel also discovers truth about herself and those she loves and thought she knew. She grew up dreaming of being a knight and saving the sleeping horned boy, but didn't they always say to be careful what you dream for? This is a story filled with the magic of faeries, the desire for truth, and the danger of dreams.
I really did love this book!! It was a classic young adult - in that I didn't have to think very hard while reading. Which was nice after finals week. But it was entertaining and kept me wondering what was going to happen!
My two big issues: the ending felt a bit rushed and the characters could have been more crafted.
But I do believe it earned its four star review simply because I was entertained and happy to read it.
I really did love this book!! It was a classic young adult - in that I didn't have to think very hard while reading. Which was nice after finals week. But it was entertaining and kept me wondering what was going to happen!
My two big issues: the ending felt a bit rushed and the characters could have been more crafted.
But I do believe it earned its four star review simply because I was entertained and happy to read it.
Room by Emma Donoghue
5.0
Told from the perspective of five-year-old Jack, Room, written by Emma Donoghue, takes readers on an exciting, emotional journey. The novel opens up to the morning of Jack’s fifth birthday in “Room” where Jack and his mother, “Ma”, have lived for his entire life. Readers explore this world in Room through the eyes of Jack, seeing everything as if it were the entire universe, which is what Ma told him. However, the need to be free after eight years being imprisoned drives Ma to come up with an escape plan. This involves Jack feigning his own death and running from “Old Nick,” their captor, after jumping from his truck. During his “Great Escape,” Jack is able to get away and explain to the cops what happened to him and Ma. The police save her and arrest Old Nick. The story, far from over, continues to follow Jack as he discovers the outside world. Readers see both Jack and Ma deal with the trauma, fear, confusion, and consequences of what they went through. The themes touch on the troubles of one’s reality completely altering, positionality, and rape.
An emotional story told from a unique point of view, Room is definitely one I would recommend to others. The simple, yet equally strange, viewpoint that Jack has on the world is one I believe many adults could benefit from reading. In addition, the experiences that Ma goes through are important and should be discussed further. Room deals with heavy situations and feelings, showing what it looks like to rediscover the world and suffer from an unfortunately frequent crime. Freedom, confinement, rape, and power are all themes that readers will discover in the pages of the novel, and the social views it offers are valuable. The novel is not only highly entertaining and emotional stimulating, but also philosophical and educational.
This book will definitely get you thinking and will pull at your heartstrings. Very few books have made me cry but this one definitely did. It was filled with so much emotion and tension and I really enjoyed the adolescent voice used via the POV.
Definitely give this book 5 stars and if you ever get the chance, you should read it.
An emotional story told from a unique point of view, Room is definitely one I would recommend to others. The simple, yet equally strange, viewpoint that Jack has on the world is one I believe many adults could benefit from reading. In addition, the experiences that Ma goes through are important and should be discussed further. Room deals with heavy situations and feelings, showing what it looks like to rediscover the world and suffer from an unfortunately frequent crime. Freedom, confinement, rape, and power are all themes that readers will discover in the pages of the novel, and the social views it offers are valuable. The novel is not only highly entertaining and emotional stimulating, but also philosophical and educational.
This book will definitely get you thinking and will pull at your heartstrings. Very few books have made me cry but this one definitely did. It was filled with so much emotion and tension and I really enjoyed the adolescent voice used via the POV.
Definitely give this book 5 stars and if you ever get the chance, you should read it.