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sand_between_pages's Reviews (734)
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Long-time fan of the show turned fan of the BOOKS!
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I've wanted to read A Game of Thrones for forever and am happy I finally took the plunge. While this book follows extremely close to the show, I still found reading about the houses and world descriptions fascinating. I still felt emotion surrounding the direwolves and the fate of Ned Stark, loving admiration for Tyrion and Arya, and absolute disgust at the villains - I'm looking at you Joffrey! I just love the story so much and I'm excited to be re-living it via the books!
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Favorites:
Character - Tyrion! All wit - the shiniest Lannister Lion!
Scene - Ned revealing to Cersei that he knows her secret, even though it leads to his demise. Without Ned's stupidity and love of honor, we'd have no story.
Wolf - Summer. I love her dedication to Bran and saving the young Lords life!
Stark - Arya. So much smarter than her dad my lawd.
Line - “... a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
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Can't wait for book 2!
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I've wanted to read A Game of Thrones for forever and am happy I finally took the plunge. While this book follows extremely close to the show, I still found reading about the houses and world descriptions fascinating. I still felt emotion surrounding the direwolves and the fate of Ned Stark, loving admiration for Tyrion and Arya, and absolute disgust at the villains - I'm looking at you Joffrey! I just love the story so much and I'm excited to be re-living it via the books!
.
Favorites:
Character - Tyrion! All wit - the shiniest Lannister Lion!
Scene - Ned revealing to Cersei that he knows her secret, even though it leads to his demise. Without Ned's stupidity and love of honor, we'd have no story.
Wolf - Summer. I love her dedication to Bran and saving the young Lords life!
Stark - Arya. So much smarter than her dad my lawd.
Line - “... a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
.
Can't wait for book 2!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
" All children are charming as an adjective, but you're charming as a verb."
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This book is... simply put... charming!
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Henri Haltiwanger, high school senior with a trademark Smile, is navigating the end of high school amidst classes, debate team, his dog-walking side business, and applying to college with his hopes and dreams resting on admission to Columbia. Charming is told from the perspective of Henri, who, I must say, I simply ADORE. Henri is smart, sweet, thoughtful, hilarious, but not perfect. And I enjoyed how real this character feels. If there is any reason to read this book, it would be for Henri :).
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Charming as a Verb explores first relationships, father/son bonds, friendship, and second-chances. It is a fast read with a lot of lol-moments and several happenings that will make you say "aweeee". I really, really enjoyed this one and will lok for more Ben Philippe to read in my future :)!
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This book is... simply put... charming!
.
Henri Haltiwanger, high school senior with a trademark Smile, is navigating the end of high school amidst classes, debate team, his dog-walking side business, and applying to college with his hopes and dreams resting on admission to Columbia. Charming is told from the perspective of Henri, who, I must say, I simply ADORE. Henri is smart, sweet, thoughtful, hilarious, but not perfect. And I enjoyed how real this character feels. If there is any reason to read this book, it would be for Henri :).
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Charming as a Verb explores first relationships, father/son bonds, friendship, and second-chances. It is a fast read with a lot of lol-moments and several happenings that will make you say "aweeee". I really, really enjoyed this one and will lok for more Ben Philippe to read in my future :)!
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of Crime of the Ancient Marinara!
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This book is deemed a 'cozy mystery', and having recently read Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, another cozy, and not liking at all, I was really hesitant to dive back into another cozy. That being said, I was really pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book!
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This is the second in the series A Tuscan Cooking School Mystery, and I think it would be extremely helpful to read book 1. I sorta dove into the middle of the character ARCS and I think had I read the first, the characters would have been familiar and it wouldn't have taken so much time for me to get into the story.
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That being said, I enjoyed the writing and the mystery. For me, anything that takes place in Italy is a WIN and there was definitely a lot of Italy/Italian/Recipes to keep me turning the pages.
So I definitely recommend this book, but start with the first!
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This book is deemed a 'cozy mystery', and having recently read Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, another cozy, and not liking at all, I was really hesitant to dive back into another cozy. That being said, I was really pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book!
.
This is the second in the series A Tuscan Cooking School Mystery, and I think it would be extremely helpful to read book 1. I sorta dove into the middle of the character ARCS and I think had I read the first, the characters would have been familiar and it wouldn't have taken so much time for me to get into the story.
.
That being said, I enjoyed the writing and the mystery. For me, anything that takes place in Italy is a WIN and there was definitely a lot of Italy/Italian/Recipes to keep me turning the pages.
So I definitely recommend this book, but start with the first!
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my second time reading Beartown. The first time I felt angry, this time, I couldn't keep it together. ALL THE TEARS.
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While there is a lot of ugly in this book - homophobia, rape, elitism, classism, gender inequality, and racism - there is also a lot of beauty, and that beauty is how I want to raise my sons...
... to be tough like Ramona
... to be brave like Maya
... to be fierce like Kira
... to be bold like Ana
... to be loyal like Peter
... to be true like Amat
... to be a good friend like Bobo
... and to be the best kind of human being like Benji (possibly one of the best characters I've ever read).
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Hats off to Backman, he tackles it ALL in Beartown.
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While there is a lot of ugly in this book - homophobia, rape, elitism, classism, gender inequality, and racism - there is also a lot of beauty, and that beauty is how I want to raise my sons...
... to be tough like Ramona
... to be brave like Maya
... to be fierce like Kira
... to be bold like Ana
... to be loyal like Peter
... to be true like Amat
... to be a good friend like Bobo
... and to be the best kind of human being like Benji (possibly one of the best characters I've ever read).
.
Hats off to Backman, he tackles it ALL in Beartown.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“A body could be labeled but a person couldn’t, and the difference between the two depended on that muscle in your chest. That beloved organ, not sentient, not aware, not feeling, just pumping along, keeping you alive.”
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I mean, wow.
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The Vanishing Half is one of the most amazing books I've read. The beautiful writing, the thought-provoking premises, the endearing characters, the multi-generational weave through American history - I find myself very emotional after finishing this book and also in admiration of the flawless writing from Bennett.
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The hype you have heard is very true. This book is worthy of all the praise and accolades it has received. The twin story resonates so deeply with me. Both my mom and my dad are a twin, and funnily enough, I have twins - and I just felt so drawn to this fascinating study of twins choosing completely different lives. The bond that stays between Desiree and Stella was at times so heartbreaking and gut-wrenching to read, and at other times, maddening.
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PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
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I mean, wow.
.
The Vanishing Half is one of the most amazing books I've read. The beautiful writing, the thought-provoking premises, the endearing characters, the multi-generational weave through American history - I find myself very emotional after finishing this book and also in admiration of the flawless writing from Bennett.
.
The hype you have heard is very true. This book is worthy of all the praise and accolades it has received. The twin story resonates so deeply with me. Both my mom and my dad are a twin, and funnily enough, I have twins - and I just felt so drawn to this fascinating study of twins choosing completely different lives. The bond that stays between Desiree and Stella was at times so heartbreaking and gut-wrenching to read, and at other times, maddening.
.
PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
"I am not impressed that slavery was abolished or that Jim Crow ended. I feel no need to pat America on its back for these 'achievements.' This is how it always should have been. Many call it progress, but I do not consider it praiseworthy that only within the last generation did America reach the baseline for human decency."
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Simply reading antiracist books is not enough - but it is a start - and just think if books like I'm Still Here were required? Or Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Or Born A Crime by Trevor Noah. Or Stamped Ibram X. Kendi. The list goes on and on.
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Reading isn't enough, but it's a step in the right direction of enlightenment. It's a choice to inform yourself, to avoid being ignorant, to learn the true history of the United States, not the one you were taught in school.
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Brown's thoughts, feelings, and experiences in I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness should be read by everyone.
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Simply reading antiracist books is not enough - but it is a start - and just think if books like I'm Still Here were required? Or Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Or Born A Crime by Trevor Noah. Or Stamped Ibram X. Kendi. The list goes on and on.
.
Reading isn't enough, but it's a step in the right direction of enlightenment. It's a choice to inform yourself, to avoid being ignorant, to learn the true history of the United States, not the one you were taught in school.
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Brown's thoughts, feelings, and experiences in I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness should be read by everyone.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ALL THE FEELS!
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Thank you so much to Berkley for this arc for review - I really enjoyed Our Italian Summer.
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Mother/daughter relationships are complicated but important, and that's the main theme of this lovely little book. A grandmother, Sophia, is concerned about her daughter and her granddaughter and their every-tense relationship and decides that what they all need is a summer away together - preferably in Italy which has been her life-long dream.
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This book explores the ideas of slowing down, appreciating the beauty in life, communicating effectively, and focusing on the things in life that are truly the most important. In addition to the resonating themes of the story, I loved the romp through Italy. We explore Rome, Naples, Capri, Pompeii, Florence, Sienna, and Lucca. These are places I have been fortunate to travel to and I really enjoyed reliving them through Probst's descriptions.
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For a fun little story that will give you so many feels and remind you of what is important in life, I recommend Our Italian Summer.
.
Thank you so much to Berkley for this arc for review - I really enjoyed Our Italian Summer.
.
Mother/daughter relationships are complicated but important, and that's the main theme of this lovely little book. A grandmother, Sophia, is concerned about her daughter and her granddaughter and their every-tense relationship and decides that what they all need is a summer away together - preferably in Italy which has been her life-long dream.
.
This book explores the ideas of slowing down, appreciating the beauty in life, communicating effectively, and focusing on the things in life that are truly the most important. In addition to the resonating themes of the story, I loved the romp through Italy. We explore Rome, Naples, Capri, Pompeii, Florence, Sienna, and Lucca. These are places I have been fortunate to travel to and I really enjoyed reliving them through Probst's descriptions.
.
For a fun little story that will give you so many feels and remind you of what is important in life, I recommend Our Italian Summer.
