3.5 stars. A fun little story. I think my favorite part is that we get the aliens' side of things as well as the human's.3.5 stars. A fun little story. I think my favorite part is that we get the aliens' side of things as well as the human's....more
Hmm. Heard a lot of buzz about this one, plus they're making a movie. Personally I had a terrible time getting settled into this story, but then againHmm. Heard a lot of buzz about this one, plus they're making a movie. Personally I had a terrible time getting settled into this story, but then again partway in I got Covid and my concentration was absolutely shot for several days. I did finally get more sucked in, but the story got crazier and crazier and by the end I felt like my head was spinning - I swear there were like six different solutions to the mysteries and I can't quite believe how it actually ended. on top of that, the things these pensioners get up to are just appalling. Elizabeth should have been arrested about twelve times.
Having said all this, I would probably give book 2 a shot....more
I've only read one other Dave Eggers book (Zeitoun) and honestly, literary fiction really isn't my thing. This book is aimed at children and is definiI've only read one other Dave Eggers book (Zeitoun) and honestly, literary fiction really isn't my thing. This book is aimed at children and is definitely an animal story, told from the perspective of very fast dog Johannes.... but the whole tale is slathered in a very heavy layer of literary philosophizing. (Honestly, I can't imagine Eggers writing in any other way.)
The high-level vocabulary could definitely be off-putting for many kids - or maybe they will just learn some new words. They're not going to get any explanations in the book, though.
The tale itself is fun, and Johannes is a great narrator....more
Soooo sooo good. I didn't guess the end and there were so many red herrings masterfully woven in. I love Miss Marple.Soooo sooo good. I didn't guess the end and there were so many red herrings masterfully woven in. I love Miss Marple....more
This is a very exciting story, and I'm fascinated that it was based on real people and the stories that got passed down to later generations.This is a very exciting story, and I'm fascinated that it was based on real people and the stories that got passed down to later generations....more
Another Newbery winner, this time from 1939. It's written by Elizabeth Enright, who drew on personal experiences spending time on her uncle Frank LloyAnother Newbery winner, this time from 1939. It's written by Elizabeth Enright, who drew on personal experiences spending time on her uncle Frank Lloyd Wright's farm in Wisconsin (her mother was FLW's younger sister).
It's a nice story, following the exploits of Garnet Linden and her family and friends. The things Garnet gets up to, my goodness. This girl gets into a lot of scrapes, and yet somehow nothing bad ever happens to her and she never really gets in trouble, either.
It does give you a nice vivid picture of life in late-'30s rural Wisconsin....more
Ok, I totally fell for the bit here. I saw the trailer for the movie and thought it looked awesome. It has a great cast. Then I found out there was a Ok, I totally fell for the bit here. I saw the trailer for the movie and thought it looked awesome. It has a great cast. Then I found out there was a book.... so I read it. And I couldn't figure out why none of the frame story about the author etc. was in the book - it's because the book is a pure fiction by the fictional author in the movie - in short, it's a movie prop.
And it's just... not that great of a book.
I still really want to watch the movie, though....more
This is my first Iain M. Banks novel, and it won't be my last. I think it's fascinating how he wrote this series that is all tied together by "The CulThis is my first Iain M. Banks novel, and it won't be my last. I think it's fascinating how he wrote this series that is all tied together by "The Culture" and yet the first book centers on a main character who detests it and is fighting against it.
This isn't my idea of a perfect book (for me). It's pretty dark. It's fairly gory in places. Dark stuff happens, and sad stuff, and that ending.... woof. But it kept my attention, and I *cared* about the characters. The worldbuilding was intriguing and I want to see where the series goes....more
Read for the Hammer Time Book Club on Patreon, March 2025.
This is not something I would have picked up on my own. The characters and subject matter weRead for the Hammer Time Book Club on Patreon, March 2025.
This is not something I would have picked up on my own. The characters and subject matter were interesting enough but something about the way it was written drove me a little crazy. I think it's the constant method of saying things like "this one little piece of information would change her life" and then NOT TELLING WHAT IT WAS for like, half the book. Information got doled out in little dribs and drabs and by the end I was yelling WHAT'S ON THE JAR in my head like Brad Pitt in Seven (WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!)
I am not really the kind of person to love a book that spends so much time going over someone's breakup and previous relationship over and over and over, and that didn't help either.
At least I learned about pottery made by enslaved people in South Carolina, and that was interesting....more
The artwork is nicely done and at least Azlin Rell made a little progress here. I'm still ticked off about the storyline from volume 2 and it will proThe artwork is nicely done and at least Azlin Rell made a little progress here. I'm still ticked off about the storyline from volume 2 and it will probably always affect my enjoyment of these characters....more
It's fine. It was fine. I like Ty Yorrick and I was glad to get more of her backstory and get some resolution there too. Also, Lene Kostana! I hate toIt's fine. It was fine. I like Ty Yorrick and I was glad to get more of her backstory and get some resolution there too. Also, Lene Kostana! I hate to say it, but Kip Soh comes off as a real idiot in this story. Glad to finally get his story thread wrapped up, though.
As someone who reads a lot of sci-fi, I would only VERY loosely put this in that category. It is literary fiction based in real present-day science, eAs someone who reads a lot of sci-fi, I would only VERY loosely put this in that category. It is literary fiction based in real present-day science, examining the experience and thoughts of astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station.
There is no plot, really. A couple of specific events happen, but the text is all about feelingsand philosophies and memories in a sort of stream-of-consciousness that hops constantly between all six characters.
It was interesting, a quick read, and I liked it even though literary fiction is not really my cup of tea....more
I was very excited to get a continuation of Reath, Cohmac and Amadeo searching for the Exho Stones/Rod of Ages. The art is sometimes stunning (especiaI was very excited to get a continuation of Reath, Cohmac and Amadeo searching for the Exho Stones/Rod of Ages. The art is sometimes stunning (especially in the first issue), but the faces are very inconsistent....more
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