I generally pay attention to an author if her name happens to pop up several times in a week. And Kristin Hannah did exactly that. I read about her in several blogs, all about different books. So I thought it was time I read one of hers. I looked around a bit and decided to giveBetween Sisters a try.
I must admit that it was hard to get into it. I didn’t like her voice or her writing for a while. I kept waiting for the story to begin. Hundred pages in, I still didn’t care too much for any of the characters. Too one dimensional, too obvious. I could tell it would be one of those Hollywood stories of strife and sadness but a perfect, happy ending.
And it was.
But somewhere along the line, I did sort of start to like the characters. They all grew in their own ways a bit and in the end I was sort of sad to see them go. All in all, I am not sure I will read any more of her stories but I cannot say that I hated it fully. Just a little too simplistic and obvious. But it was a happy ending and I needed one of those after the hard books I’ve been reading.
All in all, it was ok.
edited: somehow the text for this got mixed up with another book i mentioned. please forgive me. i fixed it.
I was reluctant to pickup The Girl Who Played with Fire after having mixed feelings about the first book. I found the first one to be interesting but long at places and the subject matter was deeply disturbing to me. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read more.
But thanks to my friend Mike’s recommendations I picked up the second one and I am glad I did. This book is SIGNIFICANTLY better than the first one. While the subject and the content is still deeply disturbing, I found the pace to be much better and the character development deeper and more interesting. This one felt more personal. I read it much more quickly and with great interest and anticipation. And I will read the third one at some point.
I’m glad I didn’t give up after the first book.
After reading two terribly sad books, I picked Beachcombers cause it looked happy and light.
Light it was.
Even though I read it in one day, I decided it was too light. Too hollywood. All the stories had perfect, happy endings. But I did like the characters a lot and enjoyed reading this little story. There are many other books I’d put before this one but if you’re looking for a light read with happy happy endings, this is not a bad choice.
Both Ways is the Way I Want It was on my list for this year and I decided this was a good time to pick it up.
I was so wrong.
This short story collection is full of terribly sad stories. I don’t usually read short story collections cause I don’t like them. They are too short and don’t give me enough time/space to get to know the characters or get into the story enough. And this was no exception. I wanted more for each story. Maybe that’s cause they were all so sad and I kept hoping for something happier, I don’t know.
She’s a great writer. I loved her writing. I just wasn’t in the best place to read these sad, sad stories right now.
There is so much buzz around Little Bee that I just couldn’t decide if I wanted to read it.
I knew it was going to be sad. But several people said they loved it. Others said they couldn’t get through it.
I finally decided to pick it up and see.
I read it in one day. It was a quick and painful read. And there were parts I loved. But overall, I wasn’t sure how much I liked it. The characters, I thought, weren’t very well developed. The story was very unbelievable in parts and got more so towards the end. I have no doubt the horrific events are similar to ones that actually happen and it did make me cringe, feel the horror, and devastation. But I don’t like reading about such terrible things and maybe that makes me ignorant. I am ok with that. I would have liked some more warning. I know the publisher didn’t want to disclose but I think that was a ploy and unnecessary in this case.
All in all, I cannot say I recommend it even though I am glad I read it.
I wanted to read The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake as soon as I read about it. Not sure exactly why. But something about it spoke to me.
I am not really into magical realism really. (Though I adore Kundera who is supposed to write in genre too)
But I loved every little bit of this book. I loved the characters. I loved the voice. The story. The way it was written. There were some holes for me (like the brother’s gift) that I wish were better explained. But I liked the book so much that I didn’t even mind that.
Aimee Bender has a way with words. Her simple sentences are absolutely perfect. I highly recommend this very very unusual book.
The Forgotten Garden is another book club read. It’s a novel I wanted to read but for some reason couldn’t get myself to.
The thing is once I got started, I couldn’t put it down. Even though I could totally guess the ending and I was completely right, I still really enjoyed reading this book. It was the characters again. I thought they were interesting and I wanted to know exactly how the story turned out the way it did. I liked the pov changing from chapter to chapter and i even liked the shifts in time.
I am not sure I will read her other novels since I think she generally writes historical novels but I am really glad I read this one and now I want to read the Secret Garden, too.
I would have never ever read Lonesome Dove if it weren’t for my book club. And honestly, I read some and listened to some of this super-long book. I honestly didn’t think I was going to like it. Cowboys are not my thing after all.
But I loved it. I really did.
I love the characters, the plot, the way the story weaves around. I wasn’t crazy about the ending but the most important part of a novel, for me, is the characters and these are some fantastic characters. Really leave an impression.
I was also amazed to find that it has some of the most favorable reviews on amazon I’ve ever seen. Many many people consider it their very favorite novel.
how about that? this is why i wanted to join book clubs.
I should have written about Hand Wash Cold a long time ago. I read it months ago and I loved it.
I loved it.
I really really loved it.
There are so many things I want to write about this amazing book. So many passages I highlighted. So much that has affected me and I want to read this book at least two more times and I never reread. I want to savor it. I want to think about every little piece of it. I was so moved by the book that I emailed Karen the instant I put it down. But if I wait until I can sit and write up all the passages I highlighted, I will never actually do it.
So just trust me that this is a great book. I really liked it and it really spoke to me.
I’m a fan of 37 Signals and their products and especially their style so I was looking forward to reading Rework and I was not disappointed. It’s a very good book with solid, valuable points that I agree with. It’s a lot of food for thought and it’s quite recommended.
So is their blog. Go check it out.
There’s something about Elizabeth Berg’s novels that speak to me. I love them. And I’ve read all of them except that last one that I couldn’t read.
I picked up Last Time I Saw You with bigger hopes and I was not disappointed. It was much more her style and even though I still didn’t think it was as amazing as some of her other novels, it was an enjoyable read.
I look forward to more of her novels.
I’m a big Stephanie Meyer fan. I’ve read all of her books. I don’t care what that makes you think of me. I love her writing. So I picked up The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner the moment it came out and read it in one sitting. It was interesting to read more about this little character and I do wish she would write more. I happen to enjoy her writing quite a bit.
|
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
|
