I would have hated this book as a younger person. The narrator is a 55+ woman looking back at an interesting affair from her 20s. She is talking to heI would have hated this book as a younger person. The narrator is a 55+ woman looking back at an interesting affair from her 20s. She is talking to her 20 year old daughters and she plays down the emotions felt and decisions made by 20 year old people.
As I am now, I connected with Lara's reminiscent story telling. Lara and Joe look back nostalgic on that time in their life while also barely connecting with those younger versions of themselves that they are sharing with their daughters.
I enjoyed the story and the information about the cherry farm. The tie into a farm and the associated legacy was a good backdrop. The author made good use of a peculiarity of COVID where older kids ended up back in their childhood homes and were dealing with world ending themes. ...more
Loved this series and so impressed with how the story developed and the world grew with each story.
The main characters (and many of the side characterLoved this series and so impressed with how the story developed and the world grew with each story.
The main characters (and many of the side characters) are well developed personas with an expanding story line. The world develops over the series with new areas unlocked in each book. ...more
There were so many good ideas in this book. I appreciated the idea of AI gone god like with neurotransmitter connections to humanity that can also leaThere were so many good ideas in this book. I appreciated the idea of AI gone god like with neurotransmitter connections to humanity that can also lead to corruption. I enjoyed the formulation of the AI kingdoms.
However, this is a hard book to read. The shifting POV was cool at first but it becomes more and more confusing as it continues. I wasn't always sure who was thinking - although maybe that was the point. Also, there was a lot of complexity to describe between the human populated AI kingdoms which also confused some of the experience.
I would read another book from this author. This was a massive world to share and I can see the author honing in on what really works and continuing to expand out the world....more
The story is heartwarming, ends happily ever after, and includes a little bit of magic. I would recommend this as a light read to any of my friends.
HThe story is heartwarming, ends happily ever after, and includes a little bit of magic. I would recommend this as a light read to any of my friends.
However, I settled on a three because its a slow start, I even put it down for several weeks and read other books before circling back to it. So, it didn't grab my attention thoroughly. Second, it is a great happily ever after but it's also a story including huge hard to believe coincidences. I suppose it came together because of the magic element but it stretches internal incredulity meters. ...more
One family, three generations of women learning about love in a modern world. I would classify this as a "beach read" - fun, lighthearted and ending wOne family, three generations of women learning about love in a modern world. I would classify this as a "beach read" - fun, lighthearted and ending with a happily ever after. The women are fun, empowered and ready to live despite any damaging history they may have to grow past.
There were some surprise curves that weren't hard to foresee or figure out but that makes the story even more of a relaxing escape....more
I am glad that this did not turn into a romance and stayed true to the first pages. This is a story about a strong, interesting woman dealing with extI am glad that this did not turn into a romance and stayed true to the first pages. This is a story about a strong, interesting woman dealing with extraordinary events and handling them inventively with honor and courage.
WWII was a terrible time and the book portrays some of the atrocities of the time but also highlights the courage of individuals trying to act with honor. Our hero does her best to save one child. The story is made more interesting by the unique attributes of the child but it's still about one woman trying to save one child, along with many characters that had to help to make her mission successful.
There are a few historical characters written into the story. For example, I didn't know about Dr. Asperger's activities during WWII until reading this story. I have since researched farther. In the context of this story, the addition of Dr. Asperger's character provides a mirror for us to understand that our hero's actions were not the norm for the time....more
I appreciated having a "present" story next to the "past". It brought some lightness to the retelling of a dark period in history. Knowing that our maI appreciated having a "present" story next to the "past". It brought some lightness to the retelling of a dark period in history. Knowing that our main lady survived and had a great granddaughter definitely made reading her painful history a little easier - we know that someone survives to tell the rest of us what happened.
The Holodomor is an incident we should all know more about - it's a real life example of a ruling power using brutality to subjugate and basically enslave a people. It happened less than 100 years ago, it's not that far in the past. By giving life to the story, we honor those who died and remember those who survived....more
**spoiler alert** This was a character study. Woman grows up, has to deal with life, doesn't deal well and then finds "a purpose" that improves her li**spoiler alert** This was a character study. Woman grows up, has to deal with life, doesn't deal well and then finds "a purpose" that improves her life and gives her excitement.
I did not enjoy reading but was interested in her experience as a failed stay at home, child focused mom. My grandmother shared stories of similar exciting women that got married and ended up abusing happy pills and alcohol in the 50s. It's a thing that happened.
She slowly finds purpose through connections from her younger, more exciting life. As such, she remembers that she is a mom but also a woman and an adult (a well off one with plenty of available privilege.) It was a good turnaround story but not enough to make me really enjoy the character or the book.
(Plus, why the extramarital, interracial romance plot? A man was not necessary to turn her life around and her being open to interracial romance seemed irrelevant.)...more
I thought that this book was much harsher and maybe more realistic/historic than the first two in the series. In this case, the hero was the slave - hI thought that this book was much harsher and maybe more realistic/historic than the first two in the series. In this case, the hero was the slave - he was freed by the hero of the first book (under the direction of the heroine who was a childhood friend). He wasn't freed by his own agency and he is angry and bitter. He was raised free, enslaved and now can't live his freedom. His perspective is raw and painful to read. It's a powerful idea that love of woman can bring him back to a fulfilled life.
The heroine is young, spirited and easily manipulated. Through the story, the character grows in understanding of her world and herself. Her story seemed unrealistic but it did allow the author to include some additional history and gave a reason for a child of a slave to be involved in the Confederacy. ...more
The writing is carefully informed by history but enriched by emotional imagination. In this book, we need to imagine and sympathize with a character tThe writing is carefully informed by history but enriched by emotional imagination. In this book, we need to imagine and sympathize with a character that had a privilege but was still held back by the color of her skin. The author digs into that idea of a family that raises you up while still keeping you a prisoner, a dependent, a lesser being. The heroine overcomes these limits and grows into a stronger woman.
I will say that having a "meet cute" in a Southern prison was unique and allows us to start warming up to the hero who is not our traditional suave gentleman. The conversation between the two is fun. He has to go through his own psychological journey to surmount his self image which I found to be an engaging journey....more
The hero of this book does everything she can within her limited sphere to fight for freedom. It was mind altering to realize that this talented persoThe hero of this book does everything she can within her limited sphere to fight for freedom. It was mind altering to realize that this talented person could only serve as an undercover slave. She was very effective but when you think of the world she lived it's heartbreaking. The book addresses this well - the other hero of the book comes to understand that his race and sex has a lot to do with his own swashbuckling success.
It's a romance but I like it and felt mentally enriched by a different story and mental setting....more
I enjoyed reading this novel and seeing the progression of the characters. However, the hero of this book was annoying to me - she was very self absorI enjoyed reading this novel and seeing the progression of the characters. However, the hero of this book was annoying to me - she was very self absorbed in her determination to feel the pain of life. Making her self revelation into the saving grace of humanity was a bit outlandish but a nice pulling together of themes by the author.
I recommend this series for its thoughtful look into the implications of gene modification without control.
I read the first book of the trilogy years ago. The concept of Sleepless and development of the SuperSleepless has stuck with me though so when this cI read the first book of the trilogy years ago. The concept of Sleepless and development of the SuperSleepless has stuck with me though so when this came up as next on my Kindle list "to find" I was excited to read how the story progressed.
The book did not disappoint. I appreciate how the author shows how dependent and spoiled humanity can become while also allowing for personal growth and improvement. She looks at everyone with the same lens of acceptance - if a character is judging a person it doesn't feel like the author is judging. The author accepts and allows each character to be at fault and grow from knowledge of those faults.
I enjoy the scientific explanations. The science fits into the story and improve the readers understandings. In some ways, they are foreshadowing for the future progression. ...more
The world depicted is harsh but not outlandish. I understand why many readers shy from the depictions of abuse but this is what life is for many. The The world depicted is harsh but not outlandish. I understand why many readers shy from the depictions of abuse but this is what life is for many. The author digs into how people survive this harsh reality and get to their calm place.
I enjoyed the different view of Adam/Eve and why we are all so ornery and hateful. I hope we can all grow out of it as well as Walker's characters....more
I am so proud of the Houston library for offering this one as a digital book of the month. Otherwise, this book would not have made it onto my radar fI am so proud of the Houston library for offering this one as a digital book of the month. Otherwise, this book would not have made it onto my radar for reading. The idea of personal dreams becoming reality and creating their own energy is FANTASTIC. I attempted to describe the book to my husband but couldn't adequately share the details. My rhapsody on jeweled eggs hatching into beautiful destructive monsters completely confused me.
For sensitive readers: There are drag queens and homosexual couples. However, the base story covers kids trying to figure out who they are. For me, escaping from human pain was the real driver. It is a sad point that this group has so much pain that makes the need for escape so easy to explain....more
I requested the series from my library and this was the first book available. I have already read the graphic novel Omnibus so I am skipping around thI requested the series from my library and this was the first book available. I have already read the graphic novel Omnibus so I am skipping around the time line quite a bit.
This was so much fun to read. I enjoy the conversation between the companions and the changing POV between disparate characters. I appreciate the inclusion of a female warrior that has to deal with female repercussions that often do not make it into the story lines. ...more
I have come to understand that chronological order is just not a necessary thing for this series. Which is great because these books are coming to me I have come to understand that chronological order is just not a necessary thing for this series. Which is great because these books are coming to me from my library all out of order.
However, my partiality is towards strong female characters and I am very interested in the arc being created for Ciri. The Witcher does his best, often doing the right thing and getting bad results. Ciri seems to be having an arc of teenage villainy and depression. The Falka side that previously scared her is becoming part of her.
There was lots of explanation in this one. I feel that a tone is being set, the upcoming war is being framed. The angst between species is being explaThere was lots of explanation in this one. I feel that a tone is being set, the upcoming war is being framed. The angst between species is being explained.
A little slow but I still enjoyed the read. The author is so descriptive and the dialogue between characters is rich....more
The graphic art for this collection was detailed and imaginative. The work added depth to the written story while still pulling in the original's humoThe graphic art for this collection was detailed and imaginative. The work added depth to the written story while still pulling in the original's humor and descriptiveness. I have only read one of the books and watched the Netflix series so this was a great way to expand my view of the universe.
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