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notesbynnenna's Reviews (513)
About- The final installment in the Divergent series; Tris and Four finally learn the truth behind the factions.
Why I picked it– Even though I didn’t love Insurgent as much as Divergent, I wasn’t going to leave the series unfinished.
Thoughts- In the end, I was kind of disappointed in this series. I really enjoyed the first book, but for me it all went downhill from there. I was less enthused by the second book and by the end of the third book I was over it. There’s a lot of information dumping in this novel, which just gets tedious. Also, I wasn’t a fan of the ending at all. It’s a bit of a twist and I won’t give it away, but to me it didn’t make that much sense in the context of the rest of the novel. Who else has read this series? Did you like it more or less than I did?
Why I picked it– Even though I didn’t love Insurgent as much as Divergent, I wasn’t going to leave the series unfinished.
Thoughts- In the end, I was kind of disappointed in this series. I really enjoyed the first book, but for me it all went downhill from there. I was less enthused by the second book and by the end of the third book I was over it. There’s a lot of information dumping in this novel, which just gets tedious. Also, I wasn’t a fan of the ending at all. It’s a bit of a twist and I won’t give it away, but to me it didn’t make that much sense in the context of the rest of the novel. Who else has read this series? Did you like it more or less than I did?
About- Essays on various “White Girls” (hint: the author’s definition of ‘white girls’ is different from the obvious interpretation).
Why I picked it– This was a book club pick, so I didn’t choose this one.
Thoughts- Eeek, this one was a real struggle for me. Remember, last time I was having trouble finishing it? Well, we set a date for a book club meeting this month, so I knew I had to pick it up again and power through. Sadly, this was my least favorite book in recent memory. I didn’t enjoy the writing style or the subject material. My impression of this book is that the only people who would enjoy it are some of the people mentioned in the book or the author himself. Yikes, that was harsh, no? But really, I didn’t like this book and if it weren’t for book club I wouldn’t have finished it.
Why I picked it– This was a book club pick, so I didn’t choose this one.
Thoughts- Eeek, this one was a real struggle for me. Remember, last time I was having trouble finishing it? Well, we set a date for a book club meeting this month, so I knew I had to pick it up again and power through. Sadly, this was my least favorite book in recent memory. I didn’t enjoy the writing style or the subject material. My impression of this book is that the only people who would enjoy it are some of the people mentioned in the book or the author himself. Yikes, that was harsh, no? But really, I didn’t like this book and if it weren’t for book club I wouldn’t have finished it.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book!
I have finally, finally read LUSTER, a debut novel that I was extremely excited about, and can now confirm that you should read it too.
It’s about a young, millennial woman named Edie who is a hot mess. Like, I’m not judging her for this (ok, maybe just a little), but I feel like objectively she is the definition of a hot mess! She starts a relationship with a man named Eric, who is in an open marriage, and soon becomes entangled in his family’s life.
Phew, Leilani can write. These sentences are sharp and pointed. You can tell that everything she writes has been considered. I watched an event hosted by Harvard Bookstore where Leilani was in conversation with Brit Bennett to discuss LUSTER. Leilani talked about how she likes to write at the sentence level and kind of subvert expectations, and I think she definitely achieves that in this book.
Edie’s struggles reminded me of my own experiences of being young and broke in NYC. I love novels set in NYC because I love seeing this city I call home through other people’s eyes. There’s a dark humor in this book that provides small pockets of escape from the sadness and loneliness of Edie’s life.
Let’s come back to the writing because it is just so good. Phrases like “uppercase emotion” that just struck me with their accuracy. Also, there were so many great moments in this book, from a conversation that Edie has with the only other Black woman at her publishing job, about how they each choose to perform their Blackness, to a moment when she is doing someone’s hair with a hot comb and Eric comes down the stairs commenting about the smell, and then becomes apologetic when he realizes that “Something Black” is happening. The writing is so considered that perhaps my one small critique is that occasionally I got so caught up in the sentences that it took me out of the story a bit.
There’s so much packed into this short novel. There is a lot of talk about the body, both the grotesqueness and beauty of it. Edie is an artist, and so is Leilani, and I love the way she wrote about art: the struggle of having something inside that you want to express, but not being able to capture it adequately in your art.
Leilani writes about being young and trying to find your calling, about surviving in this city that chews people up and spits them out, about navigating the world as a young Black woman. The ending really gripped me as well. As I was reading the last twenty pages or so, I felt my insides squeeze painfully with understanding. LUSTER is such a memorable debut and I can’t wait to see what Leilani writes next.
//
Phew, the writing! So so good. Full review to come.
I have finally, finally read LUSTER, a debut novel that I was extremely excited about, and can now confirm that you should read it too.
It’s about a young, millennial woman named Edie who is a hot mess. Like, I’m not judging her for this (ok, maybe just a little), but I feel like objectively she is the definition of a hot mess! She starts a relationship with a man named Eric, who is in an open marriage, and soon becomes entangled in his family’s life.
Phew, Leilani can write. These sentences are sharp and pointed. You can tell that everything she writes has been considered. I watched an event hosted by Harvard Bookstore where Leilani was in conversation with Brit Bennett to discuss LUSTER. Leilani talked about how she likes to write at the sentence level and kind of subvert expectations, and I think she definitely achieves that in this book.
Edie’s struggles reminded me of my own experiences of being young and broke in NYC. I love novels set in NYC because I love seeing this city I call home through other people’s eyes. There’s a dark humor in this book that provides small pockets of escape from the sadness and loneliness of Edie’s life.
Let’s come back to the writing because it is just so good. Phrases like “uppercase emotion” that just struck me with their accuracy. Also, there were so many great moments in this book, from a conversation that Edie has with the only other Black woman at her publishing job, about how they each choose to perform their Blackness, to a moment when she is doing someone’s hair with a hot comb and Eric comes down the stairs commenting about the smell, and then becomes apologetic when he realizes that “Something Black” is happening. The writing is so considered that perhaps my one small critique is that occasionally I got so caught up in the sentences that it took me out of the story a bit.
There’s so much packed into this short novel. There is a lot of talk about the body, both the grotesqueness and beauty of it. Edie is an artist, and so is Leilani, and I love the way she wrote about art: the struggle of having something inside that you want to express, but not being able to capture it adequately in your art.
Leilani writes about being young and trying to find your calling, about surviving in this city that chews people up and spits them out, about navigating the world as a young Black woman. The ending really gripped me as well. As I was reading the last twenty pages or so, I felt my insides squeeze painfully with understanding. LUSTER is such a memorable debut and I can’t wait to see what Leilani writes next.
//
Phew, the writing! So so good. Full review to come.
About- A boy that suffers a traumatic event at a young age and the way the consequences of that particular day affect the rest of his life.
Why I picked it– This was THE book to read earlier this year. I felt like everywhere I turned, someone would mention that they’d just started this book and I wanted to join in on the fun!
Thoughts- I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt’s writing. I loved The Secret History when I read it last year and I was looking forward to reading her latest work. This book isn’t short (it’s around 800 pages) and normally I would think twice about that kind of commitment, but I trust this author. She did not disappoint and I really enjoyed reading this book. Something terrible happens right off the bat and things don’t improve much throughout the book, yet somehow, I find her writing very comforting. I’d finish a chapter and release a little sigh of contentment because she has a very natural way of bringing sections to a close. The words flow along the page so effortlessly that you don’t really notice how long this is. I’m not sure I’m describing this properly or making much sense, but bottom line is- read this book! I would say this is my favorite read of 2014 so far.
Why I picked it– This was THE book to read earlier this year. I felt like everywhere I turned, someone would mention that they’d just started this book and I wanted to join in on the fun!
Thoughts- I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt’s writing. I loved The Secret History when I read it last year and I was looking forward to reading her latest work. This book isn’t short (it’s around 800 pages) and normally I would think twice about that kind of commitment, but I trust this author. She did not disappoint and I really enjoyed reading this book. Something terrible happens right off the bat and things don’t improve much throughout the book, yet somehow, I find her writing very comforting. I’d finish a chapter and release a little sigh of contentment because she has a very natural way of bringing sections to a close. The words flow along the page so effortlessly that you don’t really notice how long this is. I’m not sure I’m describing this properly or making much sense, but bottom line is- read this book! I would say this is my favorite read of 2014 so far.
About- A middle-aged woman who lives a quiet, ordinary life but wants more.
Why I picked it– It was recommended by a friend.
Thoughts- I mentioned in January that I started listening to the audiobook, but just did not like it (the audiobook format, not the book itself). I finally had the chance to download the ebook version from my library in March. At first I liked this book, but by the end I felt lukewarm. I remember when this book was first published there was a lot of talk about likable and unlikable characters. The narrator is an angry woman. She feels invisible and ignored and is desperate to break out of that mold. I didn’t feel like she was unlikable though- that wasn’t what bothered me. She spends a lot of the book talking about one particular family that had a big impact on her life. When I finished the book, I thought “That’s it? That’s all that happens?” I guess I just expected more; I didn’t quite feel how much they affected her.
Why I picked it– It was recommended by a friend.
Thoughts- I mentioned in January that I started listening to the audiobook, but just did not like it (the audiobook format, not the book itself). I finally had the chance to download the ebook version from my library in March. At first I liked this book, but by the end I felt lukewarm. I remember when this book was first published there was a lot of talk about likable and unlikable characters. The narrator is an angry woman. She feels invisible and ignored and is desperate to break out of that mold. I didn’t feel like she was unlikable though- that wasn’t what bothered me. She spends a lot of the book talking about one particular family that had a big impact on her life. When I finished the book, I thought “That’s it? That’s all that happens?” I guess I just expected more; I didn’t quite feel how much they affected her.
About- In one day the main character’s life is completely turned upside down and she’s forced to rethink everything she’s known up to that point.
Why I picked it– I have a stack of galleys that I’ve received and this one looked like light reading.
Thoughts- I’m not sure what to give this book. After The Goldfinch and The Woman Upstairs, I needed something simple and light. It is an easy read. At some points I was rolling my eyes, but there were also parts where I was drawn into the story. I guess I would say don’t expect too much from this book, but at the same time, it did serve its purpose for me.
Why I picked it– I have a stack of galleys that I’ve received and this one looked like light reading.
Thoughts- I’m not sure what to give this book. After The Goldfinch and The Woman Upstairs, I needed something simple and light. It is an easy read. At some points I was rolling my eyes, but there were also parts where I was drawn into the story. I guess I would say don’t expect too much from this book, but at the same time, it did serve its purpose for me.
About- Two sisters with opposite personalities have to come together after their mother dies suddenly.
Why I picked it– Another one from my stack of galleys- I was intrigued by this phrase on the back cover “almost-magical realism.”
Thoughts- The writing is very lovely in this book. One of the key elements in the story is that one of the sisters has synesthesia. I had to google this and see if it was a real thing! This character trait leads to some really great descriptions of things that she sees and hears. Also, I could relate to the idea of two sisters struggling to get along with each other. I remember that when I was younger, it was sometimes hard for me to believe that my siblings and I really had the same parents because we’re all so different. In particular, my sister and I are the closest in age, which means that she was the one that got on my nerves the most. We’ve become so much closer since I left for college though and it warms my heart to think how far we’ve come.
Why I picked it– Another one from my stack of galleys- I was intrigued by this phrase on the back cover “almost-magical realism.”
Thoughts- The writing is very lovely in this book. One of the key elements in the story is that one of the sisters has synesthesia. I had to google this and see if it was a real thing! This character trait leads to some really great descriptions of things that she sees and hears. Also, I could relate to the idea of two sisters struggling to get along with each other. I remember that when I was younger, it was sometimes hard for me to believe that my siblings and I really had the same parents because we’re all so different. In particular, my sister and I are the closest in age, which means that she was the one that got on my nerves the most. We’ve become so much closer since I left for college though and it warms my heart to think how far we’ve come.
About- An unremarkable, Irish-American girl growing up in Brooklyn.
Why I picked it– Recommended to me by my friend Babe.
Thoughts- In most cases, I probably wouldn’t like a book like this. It’s slow and quiet, and not really plot-driven. In fact, when Babe was describing the book to me, she said something along the lines of, “It sounds really boring, but I promise, it’s good!” She was right. In this novel, we follow the life of Marie as she grows up and navigates various obstacles in life. While I was reading this, I felt like I was peeking through a window into Marie’s life. That’s a strange way to describe it, but it did feel a little voyeuristic. The story flashes back and forth in time (sometimes she’s reflecting back on her life) but I didn’t find it too difficult to follow along. I definitely enjoyed the writing as well- simple and quiet doesn’t necessarily mean boring.
Why I picked it– Recommended to me by my friend Babe.
Thoughts- In most cases, I probably wouldn’t like a book like this. It’s slow and quiet, and not really plot-driven. In fact, when Babe was describing the book to me, she said something along the lines of, “It sounds really boring, but I promise, it’s good!” She was right. In this novel, we follow the life of Marie as she grows up and navigates various obstacles in life. While I was reading this, I felt like I was peeking through a window into Marie’s life. That’s a strange way to describe it, but it did feel a little voyeuristic. The story flashes back and forth in time (sometimes she’s reflecting back on her life) but I didn’t find it too difficult to follow along. I definitely enjoyed the writing as well- simple and quiet doesn’t necessarily mean boring.
About- A young woman named Diana tries to resist her heritage, but can’t ignore it any longer when a mysterious manuscript threatens to upset the magical balance of power.
Why I picked it– I think one of you lovely readers recommended it to me, so I added it to my to-read list. I can’t remember who it was, but thank you!
Thoughts- About 10 pages in I knew I was going to love this book. I’ve always enjoyed fiction about witchcraft, I think in part because it was sort of banned from me as a kid and it’s always felt a little forbidden. Once I started this book, I could not stop. It’s not short (500+) but it was so interesting that I felt like I was flying through it. This book has vampires, witches, magic, history, and a love story. What can I say?! I’m a sucker for this stuff.
Why I picked it– I think one of you lovely readers recommended it to me, so I added it to my to-read list. I can’t remember who it was, but thank you!
Thoughts- About 10 pages in I knew I was going to love this book. I’ve always enjoyed fiction about witchcraft, I think in part because it was sort of banned from me as a kid and it’s always felt a little forbidden. Once I started this book, I could not stop. It’s not short (500+) but it was so interesting that I felt like I was flying through it. This book has vampires, witches, magic, history, and a love story. What can I say?! I’m a sucker for this stuff.
About- This is the second book in the series, the sequel to A Discovery of Witches.
Why I picked it– Since I loved the first one, I had to read the second one. In fact, I had to wait a few days for the library copy of this book, but I wouldn’t let myself finish the first book until the second one was available so that I could start it immediately.
Thoughts- It pains me to say it, but I don’t think this one was as good as the first. A couple problems that stood out to me:
1. The main characters travel back in time and suddenly we get bogged down in all this history. Don’t get me wrong- I generally enjoy historical fiction and history has an important role in the novels since Diana is a historian, but in this book I felt that the historical details weighed down the plot.
2. While I felt like the action was racing forward in book one, there are large chunks in book two where nothing happens. I think part of the problem was that there were so many new characters. It felt like the author wanted to squeeze in some historical figures that really did nothing to advance the plot.
3. I think I wanted a bit more character evolution. The two main characters began to morph people that I liked less than I did in the first book (no bueno).
Overall it was still enjoyable, but not nearly as much as the first one was. You know me- I can’t leave a series unfinished- so I’m hoping that the third book gets back to the excitement and pacing of the first book.
Why I picked it– Since I loved the first one, I had to read the second one. In fact, I had to wait a few days for the library copy of this book, but I wouldn’t let myself finish the first book until the second one was available so that I could start it immediately.
Thoughts- It pains me to say it, but I don’t think this one was as good as the first. A couple problems that stood out to me:
1. The main characters travel back in time and suddenly we get bogged down in all this history. Don’t get me wrong- I generally enjoy historical fiction and history has an important role in the novels since Diana is a historian, but in this book I felt that the historical details weighed down the plot.
2. While I felt like the action was racing forward in book one, there are large chunks in book two where nothing happens. I think part of the problem was that there were so many new characters. It felt like the author wanted to squeeze in some historical figures that really did nothing to advance the plot.
3. I think I wanted a bit more character evolution. The two main characters began to morph people that I liked less than I did in the first book (no bueno).
Overall it was still enjoyable, but not nearly as much as the first one was. You know me- I can’t leave a series unfinished- so I’m hoping that the third book gets back to the excitement and pacing of the first book.