A book about book lovers and books and lovers. Fast and easy to read - but with good characters and an interesting plot; I really enjoyed this book anA book about book lovers and books and lovers. Fast and easy to read - but with good characters and an interesting plot; I really enjoyed this book and read it in two days....more
A quick fun read but after all the hype, I was disappointed to figure out the plot within the first 100 pages, but from there I gave it a fair shot toA quick fun read but after all the hype, I was disappointed to figure out the plot within the first 100 pages, but from there I gave it a fair shot to check the character development. Parts were excellent, parts fell flat. The G&T's in a can sounded great, though! Definitely a fun read, plenty of twists and turns, lies, drunks, deception, cheating, good cops-bad cops, trains and G&Ts!...more
It is what it is. This is not great literature, does not touch on deep issues or delve into controversial subjects. It is just a good read, with greatIt is what it is. This is not great literature, does not touch on deep issues or delve into controversial subjects. It is just a good read, with great characters, all flawed, all human. The plot is somewhat predictable, but the dialog and the human interaction are brilliant.
Not having seen the movie, I have nothing to compare the book with. What I can is say that I hated the narration. I found when the narrator tried to dNot having seen the movie, I have nothing to compare the book with. What I can is say that I hated the narration. I found when the narrator tried to do Holly's voice, it just grated on me and diminished my enjoyment of the novella. Had it not been for that, 4 stars. ...more
I needed a good page turner for a very long, overnight flight and this book fit the bill perfectly. I thought it was a suspense-thriller type book, buI needed a good page turner for a very long, overnight flight and this book fit the bill perfectly. I thought it was a suspense-thriller type book, but it wound up having more romance than suspense. Weird but still enjoyable on a long flight. The setting is at the start of WWII, the characters include, a well-to-do Facist family, a couple of headstrong daughters, a thief, a flight engineer, a couple of disgruntled siblings, and? Who am I missing? The Pan American Clipper Sea Plane, which almost acts as a character in the book. The whole thing was quite superficial, historically light, the plot was thin and the sex was heavy. Fun, but...I was not amused at the way he portrayed the females in the book. They were all sex deprived and ready to hit the sack with guys they had just met. Great for a page turner, but not much more....more
Very quick, somewhat superficial read about the rise and demise of the woman dubbed as "Typhoid Mary." Having had typhoid as a young 22 year old womanVery quick, somewhat superficial read about the rise and demise of the woman dubbed as "Typhoid Mary." Having had typhoid as a young 22 year old woman, I was very interested in her tale as I knew nothing. I got enough information and quite a bit of background detail on the life and times of a cook in turn of the century NYC. Maybe not a great work of historical merit, but plenty to quench my interest in this infamous character. ...more
Excellent novella, gripping and poignant, about an American patrol in the Vietnamese jungle who gets toyed with by a female sniper. Read it in one sitExcellent novella, gripping and poignant, about an American patrol in the Vietnamese jungle who gets toyed with by a female sniper. Read it in one sitting and well worth the hour of my time....more
Honor Bright, jilted and embarrassed in her hometwon in England joins her sister Grace on a voyage to Ohio where her sister is to marry. Along the wayHonor Bright, jilted and embarrassed in her hometwon in England joins her sister Grace on a voyage to Ohio where her sister is to marry. Along the way Grace dies and Honor winds up living in a house where she clearly feels awkward and strives to find a place in this area of the country frequented by runaway slaves on their way to Canada.
While I thought the plot was a bit weak, and certain relationships under-developed, and a certain romp in the hay ridiculous, given the religious nature of the characters, it was a quick read which could lead to further, more in-depth reading on the subjects. As I am not a quilter, her references to quilting were adequate for me. What I thought she did well was to showcase life on an Ohio farm., the differences between life in England and life in a small town Ohio village, as well as Quaker customs.
An enjoyable read, though not complex nor in depth enough for me. The topics of slavery, living up to one's principles, life in 1850's Ohio, the Quaker religion, the history of quilting were all touched upon, but not in sufficient detail to walk away with any sort of understanding of the era. ...more
I have to wonder whether the author has ever traveled to any of the places she mentions in the book - Argentina, Chile and Antarctica. I found her desI have to wonder whether the author has ever traveled to any of the places she mentions in the book - Argentina, Chile and Antarctica. I found her descriptions flawed and that spoiled the last bit for me.
Other than that I enjoyed the book, found Bernadette, her husband and daughter to be complex, multi-faceted individuals. Loved the prep-school antics and Audrey's personality which fit right in with the crowd.
Good story about a mixed race (I hate that term as I feel like it's one race - human) family (he's black, she's white) with two kids (he's gay, she's Good story about a mixed race (I hate that term as I feel like it's one race - human) family (he's black, she's white) with two kids (he's gay, she's straight) who move from San Francisco to the burbs. At times funny, at times poignant, at times very real - it was well worth the read. ...more
why were dogs put on this esrth and why do we form such strong and enduring attachments to them? In a roundabout way this novel answers the question fwhy were dogs put on this esrth and why do we form such strong and enduring attachments to them? In a roundabout way this novel answers the question from the dog's point of view. His loyalty, trust, friendship, companionship explained in a poignant way by this dog who resembles in small but significant ways, every dog I've ever owned or been close to.
>Sweet book, but I cried all the same. i'm a sucker for a dog story....more
OK, so not exactly of the caliber of Jane Austen, but a decent continuation of the life of Georgiana. Predictable, yes. Entertaining enough, also ye
OK, so not exactly of the caliber of Jane Austen, but a decent continuation of the life of Georgiana. Predictable, yes. Entertaining enough, also yes. The diary format lent itself well to the narration and there were bits here and there that were actually pretty good. For a free kindle book, worth the time. ...more
Dalton Jackson graduates college and jumps into his first job - teaching science at a high school. He's given a class that has broken seasoned teacherDalton Jackson graduates college and jumps into his first job - teaching science at a high school. He's given a class that has broken seasoned teachers and writes candidly about his first two years there. Each chapter is a different experience, most of which are difficult and describe all the ways in which schools are failing not our the students they are supposed to teach, but also how they are failing to support the teachers who are there to do a job.
In the end, it’s just one person’s view of why our schools are failing--but it’s a well thought out view with excellent examples of why the current system fails our students and discourages even the heartiest teachers....more
A very quick look into the mind of a serial killer who haunted the Chicago streets at the turn of the 20th Century. Excellent follow up to Devil in thA very quick look into the mind of a serial killer who haunted the Chicago streets at the turn of the 20th Century. Excellent follow up to Devil in the White City.
I wish it had gone into further detail, however as a long article, or short book, it was very good.
I just gave it another read after having a discussion about this guy and not being able to remember the details. Jan 8, 2016...more
Great book for a freebie, amazon deal-of-the-day. Light, witty, and populated by a spicy Spaniard with a lopsided smile, it has a lot going for it. ItGreat book for a freebie, amazon deal-of-the-day. Light, witty, and populated by a spicy Spaniard with a lopsided smile, it has a lot going for it. It's not a book about great cooking, or great romances and the main character, Rachel Goodman, is a bit of a disappointment in her journey out of the fog of divorce and back into the real world. At times I just wanted to smack her around and ask her to grow up. But - I read it to the very end and was entertained by this quick read....more
I'm not sure that this is a 4 star book, but for me it's a new genre and one that I don't usually like. And I thoroughly enjoyed this "cozy mystery" sI'm not sure that this is a 4 star book, but for me it's a new genre and one that I don't usually like. And I thoroughly enjoyed this "cozy mystery" set in a little town close to Montreal. The characters were real, the situations credible and there was some meat to the book without weighing it down too much....more
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