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notesbynnenna's Reviews (513)
#ReadSoulLit: http://youtu.be/YMCQzwi0rqU
In this novel, the wife of a wealthy oil executive is kidnapped. Now kidnappings are a regular occurrence in this part of Nigeria and there’s a procedure to follow. The husband pays a few journalists to meet with the kidnappers and confirm that his wife is alive. One of these journalists is our main character, Rufus, who’s young and idealistic and is hoping that this will be his first big story. He’s also working with another reporter named Zaq, who used to be really famous and is one of Rufus’s idols. The two of them take off in search of this woman, but the routine kidnapping goes awry.
Again, it’s really nice to read something that’s set in a different part of the world. One of the main issues in this book is the way that the oil industry is affecting the lives of the people in nearby villages. The oil ruins the environment and these villages collapse because they can’t sustain themselves anymore. I also liked the discussion of the role of journalists. Rufus comments that it’s his job to observe and report the truth, because if he doesn’t, it’s very possible that no one else will.
I thought it was an interesting and easy read, not just because it’s a short book and there’s a lot of dialogue, but also because the writing felt very natural and accessible. If you’re at all curious about books set in Nigeria, I would definitely recommend this one.
In this novel, the wife of a wealthy oil executive is kidnapped. Now kidnappings are a regular occurrence in this part of Nigeria and there’s a procedure to follow. The husband pays a few journalists to meet with the kidnappers and confirm that his wife is alive. One of these journalists is our main character, Rufus, who’s young and idealistic and is hoping that this will be his first big story. He’s also working with another reporter named Zaq, who used to be really famous and is one of Rufus’s idols. The two of them take off in search of this woman, but the routine kidnapping goes awry.
Again, it’s really nice to read something that’s set in a different part of the world. One of the main issues in this book is the way that the oil industry is affecting the lives of the people in nearby villages. The oil ruins the environment and these villages collapse because they can’t sustain themselves anymore. I also liked the discussion of the role of journalists. Rufus comments that it’s his job to observe and report the truth, because if he doesn’t, it’s very possible that no one else will.
I thought it was an interesting and easy read, not just because it’s a short book and there’s a lot of dialogue, but also because the writing felt very natural and accessible. If you’re at all curious about books set in Nigeria, I would definitely recommend this one.
After a not-so-great reading experience with We Were Liars, I wanted to pick up something solid and dependable, so I turned to Agatha Christie. When I was in junior high (I think), I went on a huge Agatha Christie kick and read a bunch of her books. I can’t remember whether or not I’d read this novel before, but either way, I didn’t remember the mystery. As the title says, there is a murder on the Orient Express and detective Hercule Poirot is charged with discovering the murderer. This was another great Agatha Christie mystery and I’m so impressed by her attention to detail. Clues are uncovered throughout the novel and when the sequence of events is revealed at the end, it all makes perfect sense. I know exactly what I’m getting when I pick up one of her mysteries and I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
I was hyped to read another Claire Mackintosh book after I Let You Go and I liked this one even more.
What if someone was watching you on your daily commute? What if they were tracking your every move? Zoe doesn’t realize that this is exactly what’s happening to her until she sees her photo in the classified ads of a newspaper.
I loved the premise of this one because it felt completely plausible. How much attention are we really paying on our daily commute? Not that much, probably.
I wanted Zoe to make it out of this creepy situation alive. She was a well-developed character, flawed but endearing. Also, when she first starts to suspect something is wrong and goes to the police department, she has a hard time getting people to take her seriously, which is awful. I just wanted to shake them and tell them to believe her, believe women!
There is one police officer that takes an interest in Zoe’s case, DC Kelly. I think she was one of the strongest characters in the book (in fact, I’d read a whole spinoff about her). When reading the author blurb, I found out that Mackintosh used to be a cop. Makes sense, given that her descriptions of the police and their procedures felt really solid and believable.
Mackintosh considers how justice has different definitions for different people. To some, it involves revenge, and others want nothing more than to put everything behind them.
Overall, this was a really solid and enjoyable read!
What if someone was watching you on your daily commute? What if they were tracking your every move? Zoe doesn’t realize that this is exactly what’s happening to her until she sees her photo in the classified ads of a newspaper.
I loved the premise of this one because it felt completely plausible. How much attention are we really paying on our daily commute? Not that much, probably.
I wanted Zoe to make it out of this creepy situation alive. She was a well-developed character, flawed but endearing. Also, when she first starts to suspect something is wrong and goes to the police department, she has a hard time getting people to take her seriously, which is awful. I just wanted to shake them and tell them to believe her, believe women!
There is one police officer that takes an interest in Zoe’s case, DC Kelly. I think she was one of the strongest characters in the book (in fact, I’d read a whole spinoff about her). When reading the author blurb, I found out that Mackintosh used to be a cop. Makes sense, given that her descriptions of the police and their procedures felt really solid and believable.
Mackintosh considers how justice has different definitions for different people. To some, it involves revenge, and others want nothing more than to put everything behind them.
Overall, this was a really solid and enjoyable read!
3.5 stars
I always keep a close eye on Grace’s monthly book posts and this one sounded really intriguing to me. When I picked up a copy, I discovered that it was published by Lake Union, which is a subsidiary of Amazon. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book published by Amazon before.
In Chicago, one tragic day changes the course of three women’s lives forever. Our main characters are Cecily, Kate, and Franny, and the novel alternates between each of their perspectives. As the story unfolds, we begin to see how each of these woman is connected, and how the incident had drastic effects on their lives.
It was interesting to get to know these women. I think I felt the most connected to Cecily because I felt I would have reacted somewhat similarly if I were in her shoes. I also liked the relationship between Cecily and her kids, which felt very sweet and genuine.
I enjoyed the writing and the characters, but I think the plot was the strongest part of the book. The author revealed certain things bit by bit, like she was peeling back the layers of an onion, which constantly left me wanting to know more.
In this book, the author explores what motivates and drives people. Do people always have a reason or a justification for their actions? It’s a tricky question, but in this book, I believe the conclusion is that you can’t always know or fully understand a person’s motive.
There was one strange scene that left me questioning why it was included in the book. There were also a few moments that required a suspension of belief, but overall, this was a solid mystery read.
I always keep a close eye on Grace’s monthly book posts and this one sounded really intriguing to me. When I picked up a copy, I discovered that it was published by Lake Union, which is a subsidiary of Amazon. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book published by Amazon before.
In Chicago, one tragic day changes the course of three women’s lives forever. Our main characters are Cecily, Kate, and Franny, and the novel alternates between each of their perspectives. As the story unfolds, we begin to see how each of these woman is connected, and how the incident had drastic effects on their lives.
It was interesting to get to know these women. I think I felt the most connected to Cecily because I felt I would have reacted somewhat similarly if I were in her shoes. I also liked the relationship between Cecily and her kids, which felt very sweet and genuine.
I enjoyed the writing and the characters, but I think the plot was the strongest part of the book. The author revealed certain things bit by bit, like she was peeling back the layers of an onion, which constantly left me wanting to know more.
In this book, the author explores what motivates and drives people. Do people always have a reason or a justification for their actions? It’s a tricky question, but in this book, I believe the conclusion is that you can’t always know or fully understand a person’s motive.
There was one strange scene that left me questioning why it was included in the book. There were also a few moments that required a suspension of belief, but overall, this was a solid mystery read.
Hmmmm, where to begin with Sweetbitter, a buzzy book from last spring? I'll start by saying that this book is not for everyone, but I'm glad I read it and I do have an appreciation for it. The reason that I think I got along with this book is that it hits a lot of my literary checkboxes. It takes place in NYC and it's about a young twenty-something coming of age. Tess moves to NYC with very little to her name and lands a job at the famous restaurant, Union Square Café. It's about becoming a part of the fast-paced restaurant industry and trying to find your place in the world.
In terms of plot, there's not much happening in this book. Instead, it's all about Tess, whose name we don't even learn until well into the book. We do know that she is young, carefree, and trying to reinvent herself. I was talking to someone who described this book as "self-indulgent," and they were not wrong. That's why I think that if you can't connect with Tess in some form, then this is not the book for you.
Sometimes, the writing is really good. There are a few, beautiful passages that made me wistful and nostalgic about my move to NYC several years ago. At other times, the writing feels pretentious. Ahh, but again, there was so much that I could identify with in this novel. I remember moving into my first place on my own, like Tess does. I remember the hot, humid days of my first summer in New York. I remember some of the places that Tess haunts, because I've been there as well. I remember trying to get used to this supersonic pace of life and trying to feel like I belonged here. In some ways, the book is a love letter to NYC, and I throughly enjoyed that aspect of it. I also found her descriptions of working in the restaurant industry really fascinating and eye-opening.
Tess can be a frustrating character, and I believe she is meant to be. There are actions that she takes that I just don't understand, which make me want to shake her and say "Grow up!" But, I suppose, that's the whole point. I also didn't understand the love interest in this story because he sounds like the worst, and I had a hard time seeing what Tess saw in him.
In the end, there were parts of this novel that really grabbed me and which I'm still thinking about now. I think my personal connections to the story definitely shaped my experience in a more positive light. This book seems to incite pretty polarized views, so if you've also read this, I'd love to hear what you thought.
In terms of plot, there's not much happening in this book. Instead, it's all about Tess, whose name we don't even learn until well into the book. We do know that she is young, carefree, and trying to reinvent herself. I was talking to someone who described this book as "self-indulgent," and they were not wrong. That's why I think that if you can't connect with Tess in some form, then this is not the book for you.
Sometimes, the writing is really good. There are a few, beautiful passages that made me wistful and nostalgic about my move to NYC several years ago. At other times, the writing feels pretentious. Ahh, but again, there was so much that I could identify with in this novel. I remember moving into my first place on my own, like Tess does. I remember the hot, humid days of my first summer in New York. I remember some of the places that Tess haunts, because I've been there as well. I remember trying to get used to this supersonic pace of life and trying to feel like I belonged here. In some ways, the book is a love letter to NYC, and I throughly enjoyed that aspect of it. I also found her descriptions of working in the restaurant industry really fascinating and eye-opening.
Tess can be a frustrating character, and I believe she is meant to be. There are actions that she takes that I just don't understand, which make me want to shake her and say "Grow up!" But, I suppose, that's the whole point. I also didn't understand the love interest in this story because he sounds like the worst, and I had a hard time seeing what Tess saw in him.
In the end, there were parts of this novel that really grabbed me and which I'm still thinking about now. I think my personal connections to the story definitely shaped my experience in a more positive light. This book seems to incite pretty polarized views, so if you've also read this, I'd love to hear what you thought.
After a couple meets and falls in love, what exactly happens during the “happily ever after?” This is the main question that de Botton seeks to answer in this novel. In the first few pages, Rabih and Kirsten meet, fall in love, and become a couple, but that’s only the beginning of their love story. Throughout this book, the author charts the course of their relationship and all the messy, complicated bits that happen in-between.
I’m a horrible romantic and at times it felt like this book was speaking directly to me and my lofty, idealistic notions of love. The book is structured so that the story is broken up by analytical asides from the narrator. There are a lot of interesting thoughts and ruminations on love in these passages, but by the end, I felt that they were too frequent and interrupted the story too often. It started to feel quite didactic, which I believe was the intention, but it was not what I wanted to experience while reading. Sometimes it felt difficult to form your own conclusions as a reader because you knew that the narrator would explain it all to you shortly.
That said, the writing is beautiful. I did enjoy the way the author broke down popular views on love. Rabih and Kirsten were also very strong characters and I could see bits of myself in each of them and they way they approached their relationship. The book does focus mostly on Rabih’s perspective, but I would have loved to learn more about what Kirsten was thinking or feeling in certain situations.
I’d be curious to know how someone who has been or is currently married feels while reading this book. Do the lessons ring true? Regardless, I enjoyed this thoughtful novel/essay on love and I’m looking forward to picking up another de Botton book in the future.
I’m a horrible romantic and at times it felt like this book was speaking directly to me and my lofty, idealistic notions of love. The book is structured so that the story is broken up by analytical asides from the narrator. There are a lot of interesting thoughts and ruminations on love in these passages, but by the end, I felt that they were too frequent and interrupted the story too often. It started to feel quite didactic, which I believe was the intention, but it was not what I wanted to experience while reading. Sometimes it felt difficult to form your own conclusions as a reader because you knew that the narrator would explain it all to you shortly.
That said, the writing is beautiful. I did enjoy the way the author broke down popular views on love. Rabih and Kirsten were also very strong characters and I could see bits of myself in each of them and they way they approached their relationship. The book does focus mostly on Rabih’s perspective, but I would have loved to learn more about what Kirsten was thinking or feeling in certain situations.
I’d be curious to know how someone who has been or is currently married feels while reading this book. Do the lessons ring true? Regardless, I enjoyed this thoughtful novel/essay on love and I’m looking forward to picking up another de Botton book in the future.
Get ready to go for a wild ride when you read this book! It’s irreverent and incisive from the first few pages and it doesn’t really slow down. The narrator, whose first name we never learn, is a black man living in Dickens, California. He describes Dickens as the original ghetto and is distressed when Dickens is literally erased from the map. The narrator comes up with a plan to get Dickens noticed and put it back on the map- bring back segregation.
This novel is as wacky as that plot description sounds and it’s a satire on race relations in America. Beatty is not afraid to go there, and several times I was wincing at his accurate observations about race. The plot can be unbelievable, until you remind yourself of the current political climate. There’s a lot of truth in this book and a lot to digest. It’s certainly left me reevaluating and taking a hard look at the current state of affairs.
I’m really glad I got around to this one in February. As with all of my Black History Month reads, this story feels even more timely and necessary than ever.
This novel is as wacky as that plot description sounds and it’s a satire on race relations in America. Beatty is not afraid to go there, and several times I was wincing at his accurate observations about race. The plot can be unbelievable, until you remind yourself of the current political climate. There’s a lot of truth in this book and a lot to digest. It’s certainly left me reevaluating and taking a hard look at the current state of affairs.
I’m really glad I got around to this one in February. As with all of my Black History Month reads, this story feels even more timely and necessary than ever.
This book is a little bit of a memoir/journal, in which the author writes about her year-long quest to make a new best friend. In the beginning, she moves from New York to Chicago and realizes that it’s not as easy as she thought to make new friends in your mid/late- twenties. She raises some really interesting points about friendships between women and some of the factors involved in making new friends. When I stopped to think about it, I haven’t made a ton of new friends since I moved to NYC- the majority of the people I hang out with are college friends or work colleagues. Anyway, this book makes you reflect a little bit on your current friendships and what it takes to make new friends. The author’s tone is humorous, a little bit sarcastic and conversational, which makes for a fun and interesting read!
This book is highly praised by the critics and recently won the Man Booker Prize. I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while, but it’s a sequel to a previous novel, Wolf Hall, so I thought I better read the first novel first. I liked Wolf Hall– I’m generally a fan of historical fiction and I could tell it was really well written. The novel tracks the life of Thomas Cromwell- advisor to the infamous King Henry VIII (you know, the one who had six wives?!). However, it takes place over the span of several years and some parts dragged a bit for me. Turns out, I liked Bring up the Bodies better. The pace is much quicker (less than a year) and the plot is a little juicier now (Anne Boleyn goes from beloved wife to beheaded queen). Maybe I liked the second book better because I was already familiar with the characters, thanks to the first book. Regardless, I recommend that you read them in order, and if you do, let me know which one you like better!
With this one, I actually heard about the movie first. It got pretty good reviews and won the Audience Award at the most recent Toronto Film Festival, so I was looking forward to the movie release. Then I found out that it was originally a book and I definitely wanted to read the book before I saw the movie (Do you like to do that too- read the book first? Or does it not matter to you?). The storyline is kind of hard to describe- basically the main character, Pat, is released from a mental institution and tries to put his life back together. His main focus is to get back together with his wife Nikki, but things don’t go exactly as he plans. That’s all I’m going to say about that because I don’t want to give too much away. The characters are quirky and this is not at all a depressing read- quite the opposite actually.