mjcourchesne's reviews
191 reviews

Gemma Bovery by Posy Simmonds, Pieter van Oudheusden

3.0

This was a fun read, a quick dip into a world of graphic novels-come-classics. The tale is familiar--Emma Bovary, but brought up to modern-day France and a young wife named Gemma who is spied upon by her baker neighbor (our narrarator). In his musings, he connects young Gemma with her infamous near-namesake, and gets himself into a wee bit of trouble as a result.

I picked this up based on a review of a forthcoming title by Posy Simmonds that will be out in the fall in the UK. I am intrigued enough with her style to check out another.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

4.0

This was a quick read, but what an achingly heart-wrenching read it was. The subject is tough--the Vélodrome d'Hiver round-ups of July 1942--but the story is so well written and the characters she creates so compelling, you can't help but be absorbed into the narrative.

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

3.0

I'll agree with friends (and my mother) who said this is the better of the Robert Langdon books (Davinci Code being the other, of course). I still have to admit that Brown's trite observations of female (and male) bodies are rather annoying, but that's one of his specialties, I suppose, that keep people coming back.

I think one of the best things about this book is the twists that are thrown in at the end. Just as I was thinking "why on Earth are there 18 more chapters, this thing is solved," another bizarre turn of events kept me reading.

Now I can go see the movie.

The Sisters Mortland by Sally Beauman

3.0

This is a haunting book, and one of those that I didn't want to like at the start. It took a couple of chapters before I was drawn in, and then it was too late for me to stop.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman

5.0

Watchmen by Alan Moore

4.0

Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World by Lisa Lillien

4.0

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith

4.0

My English-majorly curiousity combined with wonder at why more than 20,000 Brits and countless Americans have snapped this book up made me pick this one up, too.

Yes, the infiltration of zombies into this classic story is a bit unnerving and truthfully can get a little old, but it's otherwise a fun read for the summer. I kept this one for my nighttime reading, and would tick off a chapter or two each night, but never did those zombies enter my dreams! ;-)

Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy by Lindsay Moran

4.0

Really fun, quick read. My sister-in-law and mother both recommended it. Pretty crazy tale of one former-CIAer's experience going through training and the first times out in the field.

DogTown: Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Redemption by Stefan Bechtel

4.0

A really great book with inspirational stories of dogs who were otherwise forgotten and got a second chance with Best Friends Animal Society.

Based on the National Geographic Channel series of the same name, we meet several dogs who have been profiled in the show and see how Dogtown gave them a new lease on life.

If you're a dog lover, you'll really enjoy this book.