oceanwriter's reviews
534 reviews

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted 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

2.0

From the start, I’ve had an apprehensive relationship with this book. It caught my eye when it dropped as a Book of the Month selection. I ultimately passed on it because I couldn’t determine if it would be something I would enjoy. I liked the premise but after seeing so many fantasy tags, I decided to put it on the back burner (and eventually bought the Kindle version). When a buddy read opportunity came up I figured I’d finally put my curiosity at rest. 
 
In the style of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Jack Masterson holds a contest at his home, Clock Island, which is the backdrop of his famed children’s books. The prize is his newest book in the ‘Clock Island’ series — the only copy. Four contestants all have their reasons for wanting to win, however, the story focuses heavily on the contestant Lucy Hart. She hopes to win the book especially for her young student Christopher. Though she knows it’s merely wishful thinking, she hopes to adopt him. 
 
I feel like a lot of good intentions went into this book… but they came out in all of the wrong ways. Lucy’s relationship with Christopher is unhealthy and, frankly, inappropriate. Not in an abusive sense, rather, she’s imposed herself into his life, taking on the role of mother when she is hardly in a position to take care of herself let alone a child. Very much on the surface, it’s a sweet bond, especially connecting through the ‘Clock Island’ books, but when you look at the situation, it’s unsettling, especially in today’s climate. 
 
Another instance of this is with Jack admitting that he’d always wanted a child and was not in a time, place, or situation that would allow him. But it goes beyond that. This man received letters from children, many of them along with their wishes (as per the theme of his books). Sadly, many of these wishes centered around tragic home lives… to which Jack would reply with what many people would point out as a red flag in the real world. Despite that, we are left to assume his intentions were good-hearted. To go even further, we hear about an occurrence with one child who took up one of his offers to live with him on ‘Clock Island’. 
 
Were there some scenes I got sucked into? Enjoyed? Definitely. Did they matter in the greater scheme of the book? Sadly, no, and I can only recall the details of one of them due to it being a buddy read discussion. The book lacked direction as a whole. At the beginning of the book I thought it was going to be multiple POVs, then the focus on Lucy took over, and then the other contestants seemed to be mostly forgotten as Hugo and Lucy’s friendship grew. (Some of that early stuff is likely on me as I was under the weather, but given how the book progressed, I stand by it.) On top of this, I found the characters superficial, albeit, not without potential. Unfortunately, those characters with the most promise have the major strikes against them that I’ve already mentioned. 
 
Lastly, there is a strong YA voice presented in the writing, which is fine and complements the plot, however, it’s not being marketed as such. Even making Lucy say, 20, would explain the way she presents herself (to a certain degree). I’m also confused as to why this is being so heavily tagged as fantasy. I’d say there are whimsical elements at best but it is otherwise very much a piece of contemporary fiction. 

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The Incredible Life and Mysterious Death of Dorothy Kilgallen by Sara Jordan-Heintz

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adventurous challenging dark informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

My monumental excitement for this book had me convinced that I was going to devour it in a matter of days. Instead, it exceeded my already high expectations and I found myself waiting for proper reading sessions where I could take my time and jot down annotations along the way. 
 
Written by the author of the Midwest Today article ‘Who Killed Dorothy Kilgallen?’, Sara Jordan-Heintz compiles years of thorough research into this book covering Dorothy Kilgallen’s early life, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and Kilgallen’s own mysterious death in 1965. I would go as far as to say that her original article brought Dorothy’s story to a new generation. 
 
Her death aside, Dorothy’s life is one that should be celebrated in history books. She was a trailblazer for women, finding herself at the top of a male-dominated industry in the early-mid 20th Century. In addition, she was also a radio host, television personality, socialite, wife, and mother. 
 
Yes, the book gives an intimate background on Dorothy’s life and career, however, the larger portion of the book is dedicated to her investigation of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. In addition, there is also a section that delves into the assassination itself. Sara Jordan-Heintz writes extensively about different eyewitness accounts, the problem with the Warren Commission’s findings (which Dorothy herself challenged), a background of Lee Harvey Oswald, and much more. While Dorothy is mostly absent here, it provides important context for the last section of the book. 
 
On November 8th, 1965, Dorothy Kilgallen was found dead in her New York townhouse. It is largely believed that her death was the result of her investigation into JFK’s death (which had already led her to be under surveillance). Too much didn't add up between where she was found and her state of attire to name just a couple of the red flags. What's more is that her investigation notes have not been seen since.

In the 60 years since the assassination, there have been countless writings, documentaries, and discussions on what might have truly happened that day in Dallas. We can assume while reading this book that Dorothy must have had similar findings and more thanks to having a multitude of connections. Given in 2024 the 'official' story is still being pushed by those in power, it’s not unlikely that someone of Dorothy’s stature and reach would be silenced at that time. 
 
What impressed me the most about this book was how so much information was fit into a relatively short number of pages. It brought back a lot of things I’ve read about in other books on the topic, both a mix of things I’d forgotten as well as tidbits I’ve held onto and can’t get out of my mind. Having so much at my fingertips now in one book makes me ecstatic. 
 
I have read three of the four books author Mark Shaw has published on the subject of Dorothy Kilgallen and I worried that I would be spending a lot of time comparing this book to those. Instead, I felt as though I was looking through fresh lenses despite going in with some facts memorized. The books offer quite different narratives even though a lot of the information, of course, remains similar. The delivery and organization of this book were a better fit for my personal preference. 
 
I have been an admirer of Dorothy’s for several years now and it still boggles my mind that after first watching episodes of What’s My Line? it took a good year or two before I realized she was such a renowned journalist, never mind the fact that she had a connection to JFK’s assassination. It’s a travesty that her life and accomplishments have been a forgotten part of history. Whether her death is the cause of this, I couldn’t say, though I do think it adds to the suspicion in a time where we so fervently celebrate women. I’m glad there are people out there telling her story so that she will be remembered for years to come. 

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Agent Sonya: Moscow's Most Daring Wartime Spy by Ben Macintyre

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adventurous challenging informative tense medium-paced

3.0

I somewhat blindly picked this book up after reading Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre. Though it was quite interesting, the subject, Ursula Kaczynski codenamed ‘Sonya’,  covered so much of the WWII-era Europe that I struggled to keep track of it all. 
 
To her neighbors, Ursula seemed like a typical housewife. In actuality, she was an intelligence officer working for the Soviet Union. Though several agencies went after her, ultimately, it was her gentle appearance that kept her from danger. That’s not to say there were never any close calls. Her career as a spy and her life in general are what the book explores in detail. 
 
Listening to the first few chapters, I honestly didn’t know what I was getting myself into given the way the atmosphere was being built. Once Ursula’s story found its footing I was more interested, though I still found the (written) narration chaotic. I didn’t get as much out of it as I’d hoped because of this. 

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A Natural Woman: A Memoir by Carole King

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emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

I’m a big fan of Carole King, especially after seeing the touring production of Beautiful. I didn’t realize then that she’d written a memoir so I was super excited when I came across the audiobook. 
 
More than a linear autobiography of Carole King’s life, the book is more of a series of vignettes from different times in her life. Naturally, there is a large focus on her music career. Her narration is wonderful, interspersed with a few musical moments. She seems as genuinely down to earth as she appears in her music. 
 
I certainly have a deeper appreciation for her music now knowing some of the stories behind the songs or the times they were written and recorded. An uplifting read! 

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Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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

2.0

After reading Babel a while back, I had assumed Yellowface would follow a similar style. Though it hadn’t been a book I loved, I liked the writing enough to give this one a go when it was selected for a group read. I was so excited when I realized this book is more of a thriller. 
 
After the death of her friend and rival Athena Liu, June Hayward takes Athena’s first draft of her latest book. With some editing, June claims it as her own. How long can she get away with feigning a heritage that doesn’t belong to her? 
 
While I was taken in by the premise, I spent most of the book feeling uncomfortable. Yes, that is the purpose of the book, but I wasn’t prepared for it and wasn’t in the mood for this type of read. I’d hoped at least for some character growth. The voice of the narrator left me feeling I was on the outside of an inside joke. 

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The Scarlet Stockings Spy by Trinka Hakes Noble, Robert Papp

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emotional hopeful informative sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Gorgeous illustrations and a touching story. 

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The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

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

2.75

Try as I might, I don’t have a whole lot to say about this one. It was good, yet, I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it. The pacing was good, the writing was great, the mystery was as expected for the tone of the book, and yet, I was left uninvested. I struggled to keep the characters straight and overall didn’t connect with them. Not for me, I guess. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy a quieter mystery that emphasizes the prose over the thrill. 

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Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson

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informative reflective fast-paced

2.0

This was a former DNF that I wanted to give another go. I chose to listen in audio form this time and didn’t find it any more interesting than I did several years ago. I kept reading as it was a quick listen and I really did want to enjoy it. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of my favorite films and I wanted to learn more about how it was made and its cultural impact. Instead, this book reads more like a Hollywood gossip column with very little substance and a lot of speculation. 
 
My biggest takeaway was realizing that the way I’ve interpreted the film has been, evidently, vastly different than the majority of people. I’ve read Truman Capote’s original novella as well, which might have influenced some of my perspectives without my realizing it, but I’ve never thought of the film as a gateway to the ‘sexual revolution’ of the 1960s. Of course, this could also be in part of being born decades later, but for me, the film has always been more about the lost souls of the characters and it being a story of how they try to come into themselves in an overwhelming world. Holly's lifestyle (and Paul's for that matter) has always appeared to me to be a harsh reality, not something that would ever inspire me to take on that lifestyle let alone empower me. She lives a sad life, and it's only when she accepts the honest love of another that she can begin to feel free. (This is all based on the film, not Capote's original work.)

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Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra

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lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I try to avoid picking up books mid-series but I was drawn to both the cover and description when this book showed up in an email. I’m glad I took the chance. With a lovely cast of characters and a great setting, it was a nice read. 
 
A target of a decades-long revenge plot, Captain Murino turns to Nonna Maria for help. On the other side of the island of Ischia, another person connected to Nonna Maria offers forth an old treasure map. This, too, is brought to Nonna Maira and the book follows both plot lines. 
 
It took some getting used to the dual plot in a cozy mystery, at least how it was presented here. Both were easy to follow, I just can’t recall ever reading a book with this format in this particular genre. There is a great deal of action in the book which helped keep both plots moving along well. 
 
Though third in the series, Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure stands well on its own. As with any series, I think you get the best experience reading in over, however, I didn’t find it completely necessary. That said, I would love to go back and read the first two books. 
 
A huge thanks to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with a free digital ARC of the book! 
The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-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

3.0

The Inheritance Games is my guilty pleasure series. It’s so wild and something I wouldn’t normally enjoy, alas, here I am for the fourth installment. Though this wasn’t my favorite in the series, it was still a fun time by the end. 
 
Brothers Grayson and Jameson are at the forefront of the games this time around with a heavy focus on Grayson and his sisters. We see some over Avery, but this one is ultimately for the boys. 
 
It looks like I’m not alone in feeling like the first half of the book dragged. I was, frankly, so bored that at one point I stopped reading during a commute and opted just to stare out the train window instead. It took a little while to pick back up again. Thankfully, the last third of the book picked up immensely. 
 
Of all the brothers, Grayson and Jameson are the ones I care about the least. I felt like Jameson’s story was summed up decently in The Final Gambit alongside Avery. Grayson? Meh. I’m a Nash girl. (Side note: I think a lot of this book tried to amplify a reader attraction to the brothers and I am not in the age group where I have any interest on that front. So that was weird.) I was disappointed that we didn’t see much of Nash and Xander. 
 
The book left me more confused than pumped for another installment. There are questions left unanswered but without an urgency that was found midway through the first two books. I don’t think this book needed to exist to make the series complete. Will I read a fifth book? Sure. Will I have the same level of excitement I initially had about book four? No. 

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