oceanwriter's reviews
752 reviews

Way to Inner Peace by Fulton J. Sheen

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

So far my favorite book by Vn. Fulton Sheen! It's incredible how much his words still apply to our current times (and have become more prevalent in some ways). Words to live by, indeed. When will this man be canonized?
Etiquette for Lovers and Killers by Anna Fitzgerald Healy

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

2.75

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Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

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

3.25

This is a book I’ve been wanting to read for a while now, but I’ve put it off. This, unfortunately, allowed too much time to build my expectations to a point where I left little room for anything but those expectations to be met. 
 
The book is a reflective look back on Charles Ryder’s friendship with Sebastian Flyte and his family in the decades leading up to World War II. Charles and Sebastian are students at Oxford, and despite Sebastian’s initial efforts to keep Charles’ friendship for himself, the more he spirals into alcoholism, the more Charles gets entangled with Sebastian’s family. Julia, Sebastian’s sister, also forms a friendship with Charles. Their friendship grows complicated as the years go on, faith, spouses, and family getting in the way. 
 
I enjoy the idea of this book. I enjoy the themes, particularly the spiritual ones, but the writing is so dry and on the surface. I felt absolutely no connection to the characters, and in turn, didn’t find myself caring what happened to them one way or another. I’ve read another book by Evelyn Waugh in the past and I remember having the same difficulty with the style. There is a lot of telling rather than showing. I’m disappointed, but I’m hoping as it’s memory fades, the essence will remain and I’ll think back with a fonder memory. 
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The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

The premise of this book was fantastic at a glance, but the execution was a letdown to say the least. The only reason I kept reading was because I just couldn’t look away. I think I somehow hoped there would be something redeeming by the end. 
 
Summer and Iris are twins, or more specifically, ‘mirror’ twins. Iris grows up feeling inferior to Summer, the twin who was meant to be an only child. One night out on Summer’s yacht, Iris wakes to realize Summer is missing and presumed drowned. Instead of breaking the news to Summer’s husband, Iris assumes Summer’s identity, saying ‘Iris’ was the one to fall overboard. 
 
There’s more to the plot… but all of it is so convoluted and, frankly, disturbing. I’ve read more than my fair share of thrillers, so I know these books are meant to be twisted, but this was downright uncomfortable. What was up with the
’sexyr*pe’
thing? I wanted to gauge my eyes out. The fact that scene happened was made even more creepy as the book went on. Don’t even get me started on the weird, probably illegal, means of the daughters (half-sibling situation) trying to win their father’s inheritance in a race to be the first to produce an heir. And that’s not even considering Summer and Iris’ side of this plot. 
 
On top of the convoluted, problematic plot, the writing was incredibly weak. It’s been a while since this book was published, so I wouldn’t judge future books on this aspect alone as there’s always room to grow, but I am so unsettled by the entirety of this book that it would take a lot for me to pick up another by this author. I should have marked it as a DNF and moved on. Alas, I didn’t. That one’s on me. 
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Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I must say, I’m impressed with myself for starting and finishing this series without a major gap in between the books. I read Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries this past November and I finished Compendium in March. 
 
Emily Wilde’s studies of the Folk have taken her to the depths of their realms and politics. In particular, she and Wendell try to reclaim his throne. However, they return to find the Queen missing, and the kingdom is left behind with a curse in her wake. Emily takes the task of lifting the curse to heart and immerses herself into the lore, drawing from her years of studies to unlock the solution. 
 
Of the three Emily Wilde books, I admit I enjoyed this one the least. What drew me to the first book was that it was more in the realm of magical realism. I struggle with most fantasy that goes beyond that. I feel like I retained very little of the plot aside from Emily and Wendell’s relationship. Of course, if you’re inclined to high(er) fantasy, this shouldn’t hinder any enjoyment. 

I'm so glad I gave this series a chance because I enjoyed my reading experience immensely. I'm pretty sure this is the first modern fantasy series I've ever felt an attachment to.
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Eiger Dreams by Jon Krakauer

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adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

3.0

I have a strange fascination with Jon Krakauer’s books for someone who doesn’t climb or even hike. While I can’t claim this one was my favorite of all the ones I’ve read, I still enjoyed it. 
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The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Tasked with leading a twelve-women expedition to the Arctic in search of the missing Franklin Expedition, Virginia Reeve, though an experienced guide, quickly realizes that she’s taken on more than she intended. As if the sub-zero temperatures and having to share a ship with a crew of men (who are none too thrilled to be sharing their expedition) weren’t enough, Virginia is constantly at odds with her crew. In particular, she struggles with Caprice who all but forced her way into the female crew. 
 
The book jumps back and forth between the expedition and Virginia’s trial a year later. She is brought to court for the death of Caprice, and consequently, the other women who did not return with her and a handful of other survivors. On the stand, Virginia is forced to face not only her fated voyage but also her past. 
 
Honestly, this story was wild. There were a lot of characters/identities/stories to keep track of. I struggled to discern who was who outside of Virginia and Caprice who were the main focus. It didn’t feel super authentic to the time, either. Not so much the elements themselves, but the way they were addressed and handled. There is just no way some plot points would have been dealt with so matter-of-factly. (I think these tread on spoilers or else I’d go deeper into the details.) Nevertheless, as a whole it was certainly an exciting and haunting read. 
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Who Cooked Adam Smith's Dinner?: A Story About Women and Economics by Katrine Kielos

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

This book explored new topics for me. I’m not particularly interested in economics or feminism so I was wary going into it. In turn, I learned quite a bit. I was definitely more interested in the economic half of it, though I can’t say it’s inspired me to go look up other books on the topic. Still, I’m glad I picked something up outside my comfort zone. I like to explore perspectives outside of my own. 
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A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

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emotional reflective fast-paced

4.0

Short but sweet and reflective. I’ve only ever read The Chronicles of Narnia from C.S. Lewis, so it was interesting to read a piece of nonfiction. 
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The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I hadn’t heard of the Franke family until the news of Ruby Franke’s arrest went viral. The more that came out about her children’s situation, the more heartbroken I felt. While the idea of family vlogging never quite sat right with me personally (hence why I was out of the loop), I didn’t have a strong stance on whether or not it was a moral issue. In recent years, however, I’ve begun to feel differently. If most individuals are putting on airs for the sake of social media, why not families, too? 
 
Honestly, I don’t know what compelled me to pick up this book aside from curiosity. Not so much curiosity about Ruby herself but to hear the side of one of her children. I found Shari Franke’s writing and ability to convey her personal experiences remarkable. I applaud her decision not to write about or even name her younger siblings and what they went through. It wasn’t necessary in order for her to paint a true picture of Ruby. 
 
What came as the biggest surprise for me personally was how much of myself I could see in Shari’s personality, headspace, and coping skills (though I thankfully did not have similar experiences to her growing up). It struck a way deeper chord than I was prepared for, although I am grateful for the insight I was granted. Undoubtedly, this book is going to stay with me.
 
I admire the fact that despite having negative experiences religiously, Shari has clung on to her faith. That sadly doesn’t happen often when people have suffered the amount of abuse she has. For far less, young adults tend to walk away from their parent's religious views. Her ability to not waver spiritually is an inspiration and, for me, is a good reminder of the importance of a personal spiritual foundation for coping with the ugly parts of life. 
 
If you’re looking for a juicy tell-all, this isn’t it, nor should it be. This is a coming-of-age memoir and a story of strength, resilience, and the price of fame. Namely, the fame that children do not consent to. 
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