rpweber15's reviews
273 reviews

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia

3.5

The Musician by Heloísa Prieto

4.0

Thank you to #NetGalley for the e-ARC of #TheMusician. I was concerned when I began this book that there were too many (seemingly) unrelated characters and that with the chapters so short, I wouldn't really get to know them very well. While that is still somewhat true, the book did come together in the end in a beautiful way. Prieto's prose is lovely, especially when describing the Guarani people (indigenous to to South America) and culture; it is with these characters that the book really shines. In contrast, the other characters seem a little flat and their dialogue a bit stilted. I can't tell if that's a result of the translation (which I believe the author did) or if they were meant to be written that way. The "villains" of the book were unsettling and scary, in the way that cults usually are. The magical realism in this book is lovely, but I wanted more. This was an easy, short read that I definitely recommend to others. Just know that by the end of the book, you'll be disappointed you didn't spend more time with the forest dwellers.

Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

3.5

Since moving to the PNW I’ve become quite enamored with crows. In fact, we’ve been feeding “our kids” daily and I treat them with a lot of respect. This book should have been a home run given my new interest in crows. It was nice enough, I suppose. The author’s writing is pleasant but oh my goodness does it meander. I’m not a big non-fiction reader and I made the mistake of reading half of this book, taking a half-year break to read fiction, and then deciding to finish this book. I had lost the groove and instead felt kind of annoyed by the lack of cohesion in the few chapters I read. The book felt like a peaceful walk through a forest…a walk that might have been slightly more enjoyable without so much unnecessary chatter by the hike leader.

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl

5.0

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

3.5

This was a pretty unique approach to storytelling. I loved the idea of the book, but I'm not sure it was executed really well. There are some big twists that I didn't see coming; each one of those made the book interesting to read. However, the story as a whole began to lose its purpose and by the end of the book, it became somewhat forgettable and mundane. I wasn't invested in the characters as much as I was the mystery, and that always makes for a disappointing read for me.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

4.0

I’ve never seen a Hallmark movie and I’m fairly certain I never should. I’ve also never read a romance novel (in my day, they were mass market paperbacks with Fabio on the cover). How there is a whole genre called Rom-Com I do not know. This is definitely not my genre. However, this book was delightful, albeit predictable. I enjoyed the author’s writing and really loved the characters. If this ever gets made into a movie, it might be the only Hallmark movie I watch.

The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman

5.0

Heart-wrenching. Backman has a way with words and emotions like no other author I’ve ever read. The language is simple yet devastatingly full of impact, in ways you don’t expect.

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

5.0

I absolutely loved this book!

The dust jacket says: This isn't the kind of fairy tale where the princess marries a prince. It's the one where she kills him.

Add in a bone-dog, magic, a chicken possessed by a demon, and fairy godmothers the likes you've never seen and I have barely tapped into the magical world of this story. Despite the darkness in this book, there was so much humor, kindness, and friendship. I really couldn't put the book down and desperately want more tales of the characters from this great fantasy quest. This is my first T. Kingfisher book and you can bet I'll be reading more of her books!

Verity by Colleen Hoover

2.0

I liked CH’s writing style and I was a little gobsmacked by the twist. However, I think this genre isn’t for me. There was so much inappropriateness that turned me off and in the end, I didn’t really like any of the characters. I understand why people went crazy for this book, but it’s just not my thing. I need more intelligent thrillers that don’t have an icky “romantic” piece to them.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

3.5

I had really high hopes for this book based on a bookseller’s recommendation, but it fell flat for me for some reason. Maddie and Queenie are great characters and I really loved Maddie’s POV in the later half of the book. But I think the writing style somehow hindered me from really immersing myself…that and there really isn’t too much plot.