The hype is real! Words can’t express how much I loved this book! All the stars and all the feels! I had been trying to get into one dark book after tThe hype is real! Words can’t express how much I loved this book! All the stars and all the feels! I had been trying to get into one dark book after the other and with all the sadness in our world right now nothing was working for me. Then I stumbled upon this one. I’m so glad I did because it was the best escape I’ve had in a long time. It was honestly like self care.
I preordered this book. For months this gem was just sitting there waiting to be downloaded on my Audible app. Boy was I missing out because this willI preordered this book. For months this gem was just sitting there waiting to be downloaded on my Audible app. Boy was I missing out because this will go in my favorites bookshelf. I absolutely loved it! Phenomenal story with a wonderful message. I just finished and I have chills! The kind of chills I got after reading books like “The Goldfinch” and “A Little Life”.
The audio was so good! I mean Tom Hanks! My God!
I have a feeling these characters will stay with me for a very long time....more
This book was a 10! I loved it so much! If you haven’t read it and are looking for a good audio this is phenomenal! The narrator, Susan Bennett, is amThis book was a 10! I loved it so much! If you haven’t read it and are looking for a good audio this is phenomenal! The narrator, Susan Bennett, is amazing!
I loved this book so much!!! All the feels! All the Stars! Lots of laugh out loud moments, lots of tears, wonderful characters (her sister Kit and herI loved this book so much!!! All the feels! All the Stars! Lots of laugh out loud moments, lots of tears, wonderful characters (her sister Kit and her Instagram was the best!) and smart dialogue! This was probably the best chick lit book I have ever come across (unless Me Before You is chick lit)! It was even inspirational!
Margaret is in her late 20’s and has it all! She goes out to celebrate her new dream job, gets engaged to her longtime boyfriend Chip and then something suddenly happens right then and there, her life takes a turn, and all is changed forever!
I wanted to say that this was the audio version. If you are looking to try audio, this would make a fantastic first listen! Therese Plummer is an amazing narrator! She makes this novel so easy to follow and so much fun to listen to!
Thank you to all my Goodreads friends for putting this book on my radar!
I must have tried 20 books. I quit all of them. Then I tried this one and I could not get enough of it! What a beautiful and moving novel! I ended up I must have tried 20 books. I quit all of them. Then I tried this one and I could not get enough of it! What a beautiful and moving novel! I ended up savoring the last part of it because I didn’t want it to end. I have been in a book rut for months.
I had no idea what this was about. I just decided to try it. It’s best not to read too many reviews. You do not need to love sci-fi to enjoy this one. A little suspension of disbelief and you’re golden!
I listened to the audio version. It’s fabulous! I can’t recommend this one enough! Please give it a try. ...more
Bam! All the freaking stars!!! Why do we read? I'm serious? Why? Because books like these exist! "My Absolute Darling" in my humble opinion is a moderBam! All the freaking stars!!! Why do we read? I'm serious? Why? Because books like these exist! "My Absolute Darling" in my humble opinion is a modern masterpiece! An absolute, all consuming, beautifully written work of art! I loved it so much!
I'm completely exhausted. This book was all consuming. I wanted to save Turtle from her monster father all throughout this book. I wanted her to run and get help when she could have. Most of this novel is dark and disturbing but there are glimmers of joy, especially when Turtle is with Jacob. The writing is some of the finest I've ever come across in modern literature, and I dare say it actually got me out of the book rut I was in.
There will be much debate about this book to come. Some will absolutely love this novel and others will be absolutely disgusted by the scenes that have graphic abuse of a minor and the language Gabriel Tallent uses to convey them. I do feel these scenes were appropriate because they show the depravity of Turtle's father, Martin.
I want to put this out there, if this is a made into a movie I think Michael Shannon should play Martin. I think he would be perfect.
I listened to the audio version. The beginning is shaky because the narrator has a husky voice but within the first hour she had me hooked and did a great job with all of the characters voices.
Highly recommended for literary fiction fans with an err on the side of caution for people with triggers. ...more
I absolutely loved this heartbreakingly beautiful piece of writing! I'd give this book 10 stars if I could! "Before We Were Yours" by Lisa Wingate graI absolutely loved this heartbreakingly beautiful piece of writing! I'd give this book 10 stars if I could! "Before We Were Yours" by Lisa Wingate grabbed me from the very beginning, tossed my emotions around like a salad, and never let go! I didn't want it to end.
I listened to the audio version! Both narrators deserve huge props for their performances! I actually think this novel was enhanced by the superb narration!
There are two storylines going on in this novel, one in 1939 and one is present day. They slowly unravel and come together. I thought the writing was wonderful and so were the characters in both storylines. As gut wrenching as this novel is I feel it is an important story that must be read!
There is a bit of chick lit to the part of this story taking place in modern day. I actually enjoyed the bit of romance in it, but I know some diehard historically fiction fans might not.
People are comparing this to "The Orphan Train". In my humble opinion it's a much better book.
I have goosebumps right now! Hands down "The Lost Letter" is my favorite book of 2017 and I'm not a big fan of historical fiction! If I could give thiI have goosebumps right now! Hands down "The Lost Letter" is my favorite book of 2017 and I'm not a big fan of historical fiction! If I could give this novel 10 stars I would! "The Lost Letter" has all the feels, beautiful writing, and a fantastic story!
There are two storylines in this novel. Part of this book takes place in 1989 and the other part takes place in 1938.
In one storyline Katie lives in California and is the daughter of a stamp collector. It's 1989 and she comes upon an unopened letter with an unusual stamp on it. She is going through a divorce and her father is living in a home due to his late stage of Alzheimer's.
In the other storyline it's 1938 and The Faber Family is living in Austria. They are a Jewish family. Kristoff, is Frederick Faber's apprentice. He is learning to be a stamp engraver. He eventually finds himself falling in love with one of Frederick's daughters and becomes involved in the resistance.
These two storylines eventually come together. The author, Jillian Cantor, does a fantastic job of making this happen, smoothly.
I listened to the audio version. It's fabulous! The narrators are terrific. I highly recommend this version if you enjoy audio!
By the way, I think this would make for a great book group discussion. I also think it would make a great movie! Do not miss out on this book! It's wonderful!
This is going to be one of my favorite books this year! Although I've only made it through four books so far! Lol! Book ruts happen!
Absolutely phenomThis is going to be one of my favorite books this year! Although I've only made it through four books so far! Lol! Book ruts happen!
Absolutely phenomenal debut by Tiffany D. Jackson! All the feels! This was probably one of the best audio's I have ever listened to. The narrator, Bahni Turpin, hits it out of the park! Truly brilliant! I will be listening to more of her audio's in the near future. That's for sure. She's so good!
Mary B. Addison is 15 and in a group home/halfway house. She "allegedly" killed a baby 6 years prior from where the story begins. Did she kill the baby? Does Mary get out and start her life? What happens to Mary in the home? Well I'm not going to say, but if you read this, you will go down the rabbit hole and into Mary's dark, sometimes funny and twisted world!
Even if you do not normally read YA you might love this one.
I am a mess! I mean an emotional wreck! I have a migraine from crying! This is the best book that I have come across since "A Little Life". If I couldI am a mess! I mean an emotional wreck! I have a migraine from crying! This is the best book that I have come across since "A Little Life". If I could give it 10 Stars I would! 11? I cannot believe that this is a debut novel!
I'm not going to give a plot summery. I think this book transcends it's plot. I want to share my feelings. This book moved me in a way I haven't been moved in so long. I listened to the audio version. For an audio to be this good it takes one heck of a narrator. Mark Bramhall told this story with such feeling. I can't even begin to describe how this book consumed me for the past few days.
I do want to share Larry Hoffer's review with you. Please read it. It gives a more thorough synopsis of the book and it is the reason I purchased this audio. Here it is...https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I don't understand why this is not on more people's radar!? It needs to be read!!! Forget the Devil accepting an invitation to come to this town in Ohio. This book is so much more!
Tiffany McDaniel has one Hell of a career ahead of her. No pun intended! Lol!
This book made me think a lot about what is going on politically right now. All the fear and hate. How love can conquer fear.
Put it at the top of your to read list!!!
** Note that there is the death of an animal in the book....more
I know that it is only April but I might have found my favorite book of 2016! Holy cow was this brilliant! I've never heard of Dominic Smith before thI know that it is only April but I might have found my favorite book of 2016! Holy cow was this brilliant! I've never heard of Dominic Smith before this book but he's a phenomenal writer and what a story this is! This novel has it all! Beautiful writing, well fleshed out characters, a wonderful story, and feels yes feels! I learned so much about the art world and about Dutch female painters in the 17th century. I listened to this book on audio. You know you are listening to a good audiobook when the writing is so equisite that you keep going back and listening to the chapters over and over again! The narration by Edoardo Ballerini is nothing shy of 5 stars!
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos is a novel about art, forgery, love and life lessons. The book has three intertwining stories taking place in three different continents in three different time periods: the 17th Century in Amsterdam, late 1950's in New York City and 2000 in Sydney. All of the stories I absolutely loved! My favorite being Sara de Vos (a fictionalized character. She was a composite of several different Dutch painters). Her story at times brought me to tears!
This book moves back and forth in time and from story to story seamlessly! The author does this masterfully. Not one time did I wonder what was going on. It was never awkward and for me it had a most satisfying conclusion!
Very highly recommended! I would not be the least surprised if this ends up on some top 10 lists of 2016!
Read it or listen to it but put it at the top of your list!...more
*This is a re-read. The sequel to Porcelain is coming out on May 2nd.* Yay!
I'd give Moby's memoir "Porcelain" 10 Stars if I could! This book is raw, r*This is a re-read. The sequel to Porcelain is coming out on May 2nd.* Yay!
I'd give Moby's memoir "Porcelain" 10 Stars if I could! This book is raw, real, honest and it made me feel. That's right! This is another book with all the feels!!! I had no idea what an impact this book was going to have on me. It packed a punch. One that I will never forget!
The book is broken down into 5 parts between the years of 1989 and 1999. It begins in Stamford, Connecticut. Moby is a passionate musician living in an abandoned factory. He is also a Sober Vegan Christian from a poor background teaching Bible Study to rich kids in Connecticut.
Moby goes from an aspiring musician to a successful musician to having much bleaker times in his career. His album Animal Rights was actually his "Big White Whale". During the middle of the book Moby gives up 8 years of sobriety and goes down a very very dark path of alcoholism and meaningless sex in public bathrooms with strippers and even one of Heidi Fleiss's call girls. Some of the book is so crazy that you couldn't make it up if you tried!!!
Moby is refreshing, candid, funny and sad. There were times I laughed so hard I was snorting. There were also times I felt such sadness for him that I cried and just wanted to give him a hug.
"Porcelain: A Memoir" turned out to be a very special book for me. Not because Moby and I are from the same part of Connecticut, not because I love animals, not because I love his music, but because I suffer from panic disorder. It's a tough subject to talk about, but he addresses it from his first panic attack in college, to getting panic attacks again years later while making the album Animal Rights, to panicking while on vacation in Barbados and feeling a need to flee the Island. This book is so raw that I could actually feel his angst when he was talking about his hotel in Barbados. I would have fled, too! He just shows such sincere honesty!
I listened to the audio version of this book. I highly recommend this version. Listening to Moby read his memoir made it all that more real. I listened to this book faster than I would have binged a season of one of my favorite shows on Netflix!!!
Re-read. This time via audio. Bryan Stevenson is in the Netflix documentary the 13th. I just watched it. I highly recommend it!
I'm late to the party sRe-read. This time via audio. Bryan Stevenson is in the Netflix documentary the 13th. I just watched it. I highly recommend it!
I'm late to the party so there is not much for me to say about this book that has not already been said. What I will say is that This is a Very Important Book! If you have not read it you must!!! It should be required reading for high school. I had no idea the injustice that occurred in this country when it came to death row. I live in a state in which the death penalty was abolished. I still can't get it out of my head that a judge in Alabama can override a jury's verdict for life in prison to a death sentence to this very day!
Bryan Stevenson is an incredible man for all that he has done for death row inmates. They are making this into a movie. I'm so glad they are!
Put it at the very very top of your to read list! It's that important!...more
Sniffle sniffle!!! 5 HUGE STARS!!! There should be a warning that comes with this novel: "don't listen or read the end without a box of tissues!" The Sniffle sniffle!!! 5 HUGE STARS!!! There should be a warning that comes with this novel: "don't listen or read the end without a box of tissues!" The Nightingale was fantastic!!! I didn't expect to love this book the way I did. I wanted to be Isabelle at times! Her bravery was remarkable! This is a GREAT audiobook! The narrator was phenomenal!
The Nightingale is basically about two sisters in Nazi occupied France during World War II. Vianne the older of the two sisters and the young and adventurous Isabelle. Although their stories are totally different they both endured tragedy beyond comprehension. What they endured was almost too much to bare at times. The novel goes back and forth in time to 1995, seamlessly. Although most of this book takes place during the War.
At times the book did seem a tad bit cliche but it was so wonderful that I'm not knocking it down by even half a star. This was my first Kristin Hannah novel but it certainly will not be my last!
I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE! It's being made into a movie and I'm putting it out there that Emily Blunt should definitely play Vianne and Melanie Laurent should play Isabelle! ...more
"Bull Mountain" is hands down my favorite book of 2015 and I doubt anything will top it! I haven't been so excited to tell people about a novel since "Bull Mountain" is hands down my favorite book of 2015 and I doubt anything will top it! I haven't been so excited to tell people about a novel since I read Terry Hayes' book "I Am Pilgrim".
Brian Panowich is an amazing writer! I was a bit trepidatious about reading Panowich's novel because it's been billed as "Hillbilly Noir" (that just didn't sound appealing to me) but I read some great reviews on GR and when I heard meth and dynasties I automatically thought of my favorite show of all time "Breaking Bad", so I had to give it a go. Boy am I glad I did! Yes, it is about hillbillies, but it is so much more!
This book is about three generations of the Burroughs family. The first chapter of "Bull Mountain" quickly sweeps the reader into what will be a dynasty filled with moonshine, marijuana and meth, yes, meth! All of this takes place in Northern Georgia. The black sheep of the family is on the other side of the law because he goes legit and becomes the local sheriff. The law can't touch these people because everything is done on a mountain where they fly under the radar.
The entire time I was reading this novel I was in awe of the way the whole story played out. It goes back and forth in time and from character to character just seamlessly.
There is also a twist in the middle that I didn't see coming. This twist sets the novel up for a truly great ending!
It's brilliant and a MUST read! Put it at the very top of your to read list!...more
This is not a happy Circus tale! It is also not a perfectly written novel. Know this...The Church of Marvels is freaking fantastic! The story is so soThis is not a happy Circus tale! It is also not a perfectly written novel. Know this...The Church of Marvels is freaking fantastic! The story is so so good! That's why I'm giving it 5 stars! I'm not going to say much about this one in fear of spoiling it for the reader. I just wanted to say that even though it takes time to develop, and might seem confusing, it all comes together at the end and has one of the best epilogue's, EVER!!!
"The Life and Death of Sophie Stark" was astonishingly good! Ann North is an incredible writer! I was so impressed with this book. Sophie is a filmmak"The Life and Death of Sophie Stark" was astonishingly good! Ann North is an incredible writer! I was so impressed with this book. Sophie is a filmmaker/genius/savant and her story is told through the eyes of the people who were most touched by her, but not always in a good way. Sophie used those around her to make her films the way she wanted. I found her manipulative behavior to be disgusting at times but other times I felt myself feeling very sorry for her. Twice she used people just because she needed a place to stay! I mean it was Sophie's World and the characters were just living in it!
Watching Sophie was like watching a train wreck, especially in the end, but I couldn't get enough of her.
Believe the hype on this one! It's so good! Highly recommended! This book will probably be on many people's favorites of 2015! ...more
"A Little Life" is one of the best books of the year, if not decade. It will be talked about for generations. What Yanagihara has created is unlike an"A Little Life" is one of the best books of the year, if not decade. It will be talked about for generations. What Yanagihara has created is unlike anything I have ever read. This book is Pulitzer material and sure to become a modern classic.
"A Little Life" is about 4 men who meet at a college in Massachusetts (Jude, Willem, Malcolm and JB) and they stay friends long after college is over. The book spans decades. Without giving away too much, it is truly about the character, Jude St. Francis, and what his life was like before he met these 3 friends, and how that life before affects everything and everyone around him. Slowly Jude's story unravels throughout the book. It is so masterfully done that at times I was weeping so hard I had to put the book down. It is about life, love, compassion, and kindness. There are other characters weaved into the story (Andy, Harold, Julia, Richard, etc). I think what makes this book even more impressive and actually takes it to an even higher level of brilliance is that Yanagihara is a woman! She is able to be the mind and soul of a man, Jude! It's unreal how brilliant this author is.
I don't want to say much more and spoil this experience. I will say that I was sucked into this book so much so that I felt like I was actually there with these characters. I could feel Jude's pain. It wasn't always pleasant, but it was a cathartic experience.
Don't let the 720 pages scare you away. It reads fast and is worth every page! A MUST READ!
This is a fantastic novel! I was hooked right from the beginning and just loved it. "The Long and Faraway Gone" should be on everyone's to read list!!This is a fantastic novel! I was hooked right from the beginning and just loved it. "The Long and Faraway Gone" should be on everyone's to read list!!! The novel is about two separate tragic crimes that take place in Oklahoma in 1986 and how the survivors are still searching for answers in the year 2012. The character development is fantastic! I loved the two main characters, especially Wyatt. I rarely say this about a book but this should be made into a movie! I actually could picture Wyatt being played by Edward Norton!
Read it and spread the word. Lou Berney is an incredibly talented writer, this is an incredible book, and it should be at the top of the NY Times Bestsellers List!...more
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