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vivalibrarian's reviews
519 reviews
The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
4.0
"My other friends are in music relaxation class, which I do not attend, because smooth jazz makes me angry sometimes."
In this quirky book we meet Pat Peoples a mentally unstable man who is fiercely determined to reconcile with his estranged wife Nikki. The beauty in this novel is in the funny, odd and moving ways the people in Pat’s life find to show him love. This isn’t a sappy book and it doesn’t shy away from the realities of mental illness. That said, it will move you.
In this quirky book we meet Pat Peoples a mentally unstable man who is fiercely determined to reconcile with his estranged wife Nikki. The beauty in this novel is in the funny, odd and moving ways the people in Pat’s life find to show him love. This isn’t a sappy book and it doesn’t shy away from the realities of mental illness. That said, it will move you.
Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
4.0
"You were born a human being and you're gonna die one. No matter what they did to you. Or what they do. Understand?"
When I finished reading this book I shrugged my shoulders and went, well...that was interesting. But, then I went to Vegas and the hotel we stayed at was crazy high tech. When you walked into the room, the curtains opened, the lights dimmed and the tv came on playing mood music. I alternated between going ooooh, cool and wondering when the tv was going to start talking to me. Then, as I was flying into Denver the story about the almost colliding jetliners at the Denver airport flew into my head and I thought about that exact scenario A LOT.
What am I trying to say? This isn't a hard read. If anything, it feels like a collection of short stories strung together so you don't need to have a lot of focus. Yet, Daniel Wilson has a Ph.D. in robotics from Carnegie Mellon... And I can't stop thinking about this book. I don't think that is a coincidence.
When I finished reading this book I shrugged my shoulders and went, well...that was interesting. But, then I went to Vegas and the hotel we stayed at was crazy high tech. When you walked into the room, the curtains opened, the lights dimmed and the tv came on playing mood music. I alternated between going ooooh, cool and wondering when the tv was going to start talking to me. Then, as I was flying into Denver the story about the almost colliding jetliners at the Denver airport flew into my head and I thought about that exact scenario A LOT.
What am I trying to say? This isn't a hard read. If anything, it feels like a collection of short stories strung together so you don't need to have a lot of focus. Yet, Daniel Wilson has a Ph.D. in robotics from Carnegie Mellon... And I can't stop thinking about this book. I don't think that is a coincidence.
Diary of a Submissive: A Modern True Tale of Sexual Awakening by Sophie Morgan
3.0
A biographical response to Fifty Shades. What I liked about it is the honesty in which she told her story and I think for a lot of readers of Fifty Shades it was an eye opener. Embracing your sexuality as a woman can be tough in the tamest of situations. Adding to it the element of being scared of what you like...well, the adage 'know thyself' really hits home. Fast paced, character driven and very explicit.
"Understanding the things that tuned me on was at times difficult; accepting them was even tougher when the intensity of the scene and the adrenaline high had faded and I was left remembering how far I had allowed myself to be pushed, had pushed myself. It was hugely exciting but also a bit worrying-how would I know how to get the balance right?"
"Understanding the things that tuned me on was at times difficult; accepting them was even tougher when the intensity of the scene and the adrenaline high had faded and I was left remembering how far I had allowed myself to be pushed, had pushed myself. It was hugely exciting but also a bit worrying-how would I know how to get the balance right?"
The Boy by Lara Santoro
3.0
"Things happen, things that shouldn't, things that respect no law, follow no method, assist no function, and are, in spirit and essence, nothing but madness-the cutting loose of the individual from the collective soul."
When I ordered this book for the library, the reviews made me curious enough that I put it on hold. Then it sat on my desk for a week and became an unexpected yet fascinating sociological study. Almost everyone that came into my office brought it up. Just from the cover alone, they wanted to know about it and would take guesses at the contents. Was it a book about an affair with a much younger man? Was it a story about a transgender person? Was it just another one of my erotica books? Turns out, it was none of the above. Sorta.
Anna, is an unreliable narrator that tells us the tale of her obsession and affair with her next-door neighbors college age son. Everything else takes a back seat, including her daughter. But that is where the story gets complicated. Like Gone Girl, this is definitely in the category of characters you can't stand and I want to say I did not like this book. However, I couldn't stop thinking about it either. Character studies do that, I suppose.
When I ordered this book for the library, the reviews made me curious enough that I put it on hold. Then it sat on my desk for a week and became an unexpected yet fascinating sociological study. Almost everyone that came into my office brought it up. Just from the cover alone, they wanted to know about it and would take guesses at the contents. Was it a book about an affair with a much younger man? Was it a story about a transgender person? Was it just another one of my erotica books? Turns out, it was none of the above. Sorta.
Anna, is an unreliable narrator that tells us the tale of her obsession and affair with her next-door neighbors college age son. Everything else takes a back seat, including her daughter. But that is where the story gets complicated. Like Gone Girl, this is definitely in the category of characters you can't stand and I want to say I did not like this book. However, I couldn't stop thinking about it either. Character studies do that, I suppose.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
4.0
"I am a great ape, and you are a great ape, and so are chimpanzees and orangutans and bonobos, all of us distant and distrustful cousins.
I know this is disturbing.
I too find it hard to believe there is a connection across time and space, linking me to a race of ill-mannered clowns.
Chimps. There's no excuse for them."
Oh man...
I know this is disturbing.
I too find it hard to believe there is a connection across time and space, linking me to a race of ill-mannered clowns.
Chimps. There's no excuse for them."
Oh man...
Superman: Birthright by Gerry Alanguilan, Leinil Francis Yu, Mark Waid, Miles Millar, Dave McCaig, Alfred Gough
4.0
I am not really a big Superman fan. I am drawn more to someone like Batman who is dark, twisty and let's admit it, could really use some serious therapy. Superman is larger than life, has amazing powers and never, ever thinks of the dark side of things. Meh.
That said, I took a MOOC on Gender in Graphic Novels and a ton of Superman stuff was required reading. Oh, alright. Birthright surprised me in that it tells a really good origin story in a way that I truly enjoyed. Ma Kent was portrayed much more smartly and influential on who Clark was growing up to be and while he is still larger than life, Waid does a great job of bringing out the emotions that hooked me. From the trailers I've seen of the new Man of Steel movie, it looks as tho they pulled a lot(some exact quotes even) from Birthright.
That said, I took a MOOC on Gender in Graphic Novels and a ton of Superman stuff was required reading. Oh, alright. Birthright surprised me in that it tells a really good origin story in a way that I truly enjoyed. Ma Kent was portrayed much more smartly and influential on who Clark was growing up to be and while he is still larger than life, Waid does a great job of bringing out the emotions that hooked me. From the trailers I've seen of the new Man of Steel movie, it looks as tho they pulled a lot(some exact quotes even) from Birthright.
Goliath by Tom Gauld
4.0
We all know the story of David and Goliath, but did you ever stop and wonder what Goliath thought of the whole thing? What if he was really a sweet and bumbling giant that much preferred administrative work over battle? Sparse text coupled with simple yet illuminating graphics set the stage for deadpan humor, wit and reflection that will make you reconsider Goliath and that smartass punk, David.
There is a playlist: http://bit.ly/GMtpor and the best song representation of the book from said playlist has to be-How's it Gonna End by Tom Waits.
There is a playlist: http://bit.ly/GMtpor and the best song representation of the book from said playlist has to be-How's it Gonna End by Tom Waits.