nataliealane's reviews
482 reviews

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner

Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

I DNF’d around 33%/Chapter 15. Although the history and setting were fascinating, the plot and characters simply didn’t hold my attention. I was most interested in Vivian’s quest to discover what happened to her fiancé during WWII, but once she gets to Rome, the storyline has largely focused on her blossoming romance with Lassiter. Historical fiction fans who like a stronger romance plot and are interested in film/film history. It was certainly interesting to see all of the politics at work in the film-making process in Italy at this time and the censorship, especially considering many American companies, writers, etc. we’re involved, and Italy was a “safe haven” for those targeted in McCarthy era USA.

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

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emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Read this for book club, and sports/sports nonfiction is definitely not my normal wheelhouse…but this was so good!

An engaging, emotional, and inspiring account of resilience and brotherhood

Daniel James Brown masterfully wrote the racing scenes, making them easy to imagine and thrilling the reader almost as much as watching the actual race might.

Told largely from the experience of Joe Rantz, the story is very personable and not the kind of nonfiction that keeps it reader at a distance. Although I wish I learned more about the other “boys in the boat,” I quickly grew up to admire and root for him. Brown continually ties the story back to Joe’s character growth and how bring in crew makes him into the man he is later. Brown’s books are also unique because each chapter begins with a quote from a character—-in this case, George Yeoman Pocock, who made the boats and advised the team—-which gives the reader additional insight into an oarsman’s mind. If you like stories of survival or overcoming obstacles, underdogs, or coming of age, I think you will like The Boys in the Boat even if you aren’t a sports fan!

Content Warnings

The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

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emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.75

Really liked the story overall; the main character; exploration of grief, coping, and family dynamics; and the dual timeline/multiple POVs. Although already on the shorter side of a book, I still felt like it dragged in places and sometimes lacked the sense of urgency, despite it being concerned with a countdown to a possible death, and the main goal being preventing the death.

Content Warnings

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

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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

3.0

It’s cute and bookish, there’s sweet romance and friendship. It’s Hallmark-y. But it’s entirely too long for what it is.Didn't like that everyone got paired up at the end, plus the resolution to one of the big conflicts was ridiculous.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.5

The way it’s pitched is elderly secret agent mystery-solving, which I love! But most of the chapters are from the perspective of a much-younger Maggie recounting the original mission that links to the present-day murders. I also didn’t care about the romance (an important aspect) that much.

A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced