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mjcourchesne's reviews
290 reviews
Evidence of Things Unseen by Marianne Wiggins
2.0
This was another book club selection, which I must admit, captured me despite the fact that I wasn't sure where it was going. I liked how the author provided enough detail for me to imagine the world of the characters, and I was fully able to step into that world while I was reading.
The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by Shauna Reid
4.0
What great fun. Yes, that's a strange comment to make on a book that is a chronicle of one woman's struggle to lose an amazing amount of weight, but it's true. Shauna's got a very colloquial voice, and you find yourself cheering for her and crying with her throughout. I even saw bits of my own neuroses in here, and learned more about how I view weight loss and what it means to find balance and happiness at all stages in life. Run to Amazon.ca to get it (it's currently not on the shelves in the US)!
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
1.0
Although the book is much better than the film version, in my opinion, this isn't some of Gaiman's best writing.
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
3.0
Although not the same pace as American Gods, this has been a fun read so far. I keep alternating between this and my Complete Sandman collection, so this might take a while... ;-)
Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel
4.0
Great read. History in a well-written narrative. Although I enjoyed it immensely, it's one of those titles that you can pick up, read a chapter, and put down again. Gotta have one of those on your shelf now and again.
I'm looking forward to diving into Longitude soon.
I'm looking forward to diving into Longitude soon.
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories by Tim Burton
3.0
This quick little read is written in verse and is reminiscent to Nightmare Before Christmas in its macabre storyline. The cute charm we know from Nightmare is here, too.
Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon
2.0
I didn't want to like this book from the start. The characters are written older than their chronological age is supposed to be, and keeping track of who is who and how everyone is related at first feels like it needs a charting system.
But then I found myself more than halfway through the book. The tempo of this book runs, and drags you with it whether or not you want to go along.
The author does employ a few literary devices that are somewhat clever, although the allusions to rabbits in their various forms (the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit of nursery rhymes, and Peter Pan) gets a little old by the end of the book.
Still, I'd recommend this to you for a fluff beach read. Something you probably won't want to pick up again, but entertaining for a bit.
But then I found myself more than halfway through the book. The tempo of this book runs, and drags you with it whether or not you want to go along.
The author does employ a few literary devices that are somewhat clever, although the allusions to rabbits in their various forms (the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit of nursery rhymes, and Peter Pan) gets a little old by the end of the book.
Still, I'd recommend this to you for a fluff beach read. Something you probably won't want to pick up again, but entertaining for a bit.
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
2.0
I must admit I'm more than a little bit torn over this book. The writing was solid, and the story flowed well enough to keep me interested in it, but I profoundly dislike the characters. Granted, I know that F.L. Wright was a jerk (to say the least) in real life, but this book left me disliking him even more. Although the end of the book was the stuff of classic tragedies (and I know that those facts were also true), it did not endear me to Mamah. I found her choices selfish and thought she rather blindly followed Wright rather than thinking out the possible consequences of her actions.
But I suppose that's what the author wanted me to feel. I'm not sure that the characters were MEANT to be endearing (despite the book's blurb on the back cover).
Still, I think it was a good book to add to my shelf, and it did deepen my knowledge of this architecht's personal life (however fictionalized it might be). In the end, I still appreciate the man's work, but have less respect for the man himself.
But I suppose that's what the author wanted me to feel. I'm not sure that the characters were MEANT to be endearing (despite the book's blurb on the back cover).
Still, I think it was a good book to add to my shelf, and it did deepen my knowledge of this architecht's personal life (however fictionalized it might be). In the end, I still appreciate the man's work, but have less respect for the man himself.