I loved Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library so I was very excited to read his latest. Like in The Midnight Library, you have to suspend reality in order I loved Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library so I was very excited to read his latest. Like in The Midnight Library, you have to suspend reality in order to really get swept up in this story. Once you do, the writing, the message, the characters� growth�. all of it is pure perfection. Up next: planning a trip to Ibiza!...more
Interesting idea, poorly written. Hardly a “sequel to the Firm”�- seemed like Grisham just happened to give the names Mitch and Abby McDeere to entireInteresting idea, poorly written. Hardly a “sequel to the Firm”�- seemed like Grisham just happened to give the names Mitch and Abby McDeere to entirely new characters (minus a quick completely unrelated to the plot 15 page detour to Memphis). The plot was so slow�- meeting after meeting, flight after flight described in painstaking detail. The conclusion was abrupt and incomplete. I actually turned the page thinking there would be at least another chapter. ...more
After recently watching & thoroughly enjoying the movie again (last time I saw it was a very, very long time ago) I thought it would be interesting toAfter recently watching & thoroughly enjoying the movie again (last time I saw it was a very, very long time ago) I thought it would be interesting to read the book that inspired it. The book gets a bit technical and has *so many* additional characters that various sections get pretty tedious, but it is such a great story that I’ll still say 4 stars. ...more
**spoiler alert** Interesting premise & really good, engaging storytelling. The characters were complex and interesting. My only stuck point is that I**spoiler alert** Interesting premise & really good, engaging storytelling. The characters were complex and interesting. My only stuck point is that I don’t believe Helen would have made the mistake that she did toward the end. She’s been protecting her daughter for too long to slip like that. Otherwise, really interesting plot and character development....more
I love Ann Patchett’s storytelling. Beautiful words, beautiful flawed characters. I love the framework of Lara telling her daughters the story of her I love Ann Patchett’s storytelling. Beautiful words, beautiful flawed characters. I love the framework of Lara telling her daughters the story of her youth� simultaneously a reflection on young love and on motherly love....more
4.5 Easily my favorite of this series. Elements of a locked-door mystery plus so many interesting side characters. Like my experience with most of Hor4.5 Easily my favorite of this series. Elements of a locked-door mystery plus so many interesting side characters. Like my experience with most of Horowitz’s books, I didn’t guess the correct murderer, but this time I was *really* close! ...more
3.5 I loved the Dictionary of Lost words, so I was excited to see this companion novel at the bookstore. While this story takes place at the same time 3.5 I loved the Dictionary of Lost words, so I was excited to see this companion novel at the bookstore. While this story takes place at the same time in history with a slight overlap of characters, the plot of this one dragged for me and the characters were less likable. I enjoyed the minor characters of Tilda, Gwen, and others, but I found Peggy to be tiresome. Like Dictionary of Lost Words, this offered an interesting window into the history of the printing houses in the early 1900s� the craft of bookbinding was meticulously researched and poetically described. ...more
3.5 This book had triple story lines: younger Mallory, older Mallory, Hannah. Normally I am a fan of multiple timeline novels, but the connection betw3.5 This book had triple story lines: younger Mallory, older Mallory, Hannah. Normally I am a fan of multiple timeline novels, but the connection between Mallory’s stories and Hannah’s seemed a bit forced and switching between Mallory & Hannah disrupted the flow of the story. That said, I enjoyed each of the stories independently; perhaps this would have been better as 2 stand-alone books. I also spent most of the book mad at Mallory for keeping her child a secret from the father. The author alluded to the reason but didn’t reveal it until the last pages. Revealing this sooner would have allowed for more empathy & understanding of Mallory’s choices instead of being kind of baffled by them for most of the book....more
SUCH a fun book! Vera is a force to be reckoned with, and each member of the rest of the ensemble is memorable & lovable in their own way. The twist aSUCH a fun book! Vera is a force to be reckoned with, and each member of the rest of the ensemble is memorable & lovable in their own way. The twist at the end was definitely unexpected, but at that point, I had kind of forgotten about the mystery part as I was so wrapped up in loving the characters. ...more
As you can see by the number of days it took me to read this one, it was pretty put-down-able. To a certain extent, the story was interesting with theAs you can see by the number of days it took me to read this one, it was pretty put-down-able. To a certain extent, the story was interesting with the interweaving of Amanda and Charlie’s stories, but it lacked the intensity and suspense of a spy thriller. For a thriller, not so thrilling. ...more
What a fantastic book!! Anne, Frankie, and Aiden are amazing characters and I was rooting *so hard* for them as soon as I met them. What a hope-filledWhat a fantastic book!! Anne, Frankie, and Aiden are amazing characters and I was rooting *so hard* for them as soon as I met them. What a hope-filled story of grief, love, forgiveness, and finding one’s way. The author did a fantastic job drawing her character who is on the autism spectrum and complicated emotions of his parents. Just beautifully written. Not to mention, so much cool information about crows!! I will never look at these birds in the same way just as I see bees differently after this author’s book Music of Bees. Another reviewer wrote “I trust this author�, and that really resonated with me. And, added bonus: this is the second year in a row I have read one of this Oregon author’s books on a trip to Oregon. Reading about Hood River and a hidden lake in the Cascades while gazing at the Cascades is just about perfect. ...more
I was about 20 pages from the end when this book and nothing was resolved. Then all of a sudden everything got tied up in a neat little bow. No thanksI was about 20 pages from the end when this book and nothing was resolved. Then all of a sudden everything got tied up in a neat little bow. No thanks. ...more
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