I love that Gratz is writing these book so that kids and teens can learn about WWII. Having read so much non-fiction about the war, I found this a DNF
I love that Gratz is writing these book so that kids and teens can learn about WWII. Having read so much non-fiction about the war, I found this a little too young and oversimplified for me, but I would highly recommend it for younger readers....more
DNF Great topic, terrible writing. Much of the writing is choppy with Sahadi jumping from one thought to another and then back again. He breezes throughDNF Great topic, terrible writing. Much of the writing is choppy with Sahadi jumping from one thought to another and then back again. He breezes through the 1977 races between Affirmed and Alydar with hardly any details about the races, yet while discussing the beginning of the 1978 sesson, he gives a long quote from Barrera about the '77 Laurel Futurity. Why not include that when writing about the race to begin with? When discussing Alydar's last prep race before the Derby, he goes from the race to a quote from Larry Barrera about working with his father then back to a quote about Alydar's race from his jockey. It's awful. There's no organization to the author's thoughts. The text is terribly repetitive. How many times must readers be told that Alydar's owners are in their 80s and wheelchair bound? And that they are depending on this colt to save Calumet farm? Once is enough. Early on, Sahadi claims that 17 year-old Cauthen rides like a 30 year old. In Chapter 7, Sahadi says that Cauthen rides like a 34 year old. What distinguishes a 30 year old jockey from a 34 year old one? It's nonsensical. I am 83 pages in, and I don't know if I can keep reading this absolute mess. It needed an editor in the worst possible way....more
I couldn't finish this book. The writing was poorly done and very off-putting.I couldn't finish this book. The writing was poorly done and very off-putting....more
Knox: "God, I've been so pathetic." Yeah, that's how I would describe Knox, a character way too naive to survive on his own. I found him weak, whiny, aKnox: "God, I've been so pathetic." Yeah, that's how I would describe Knox, a character way too naive to survive on his own. I found him weak, whiny, and annoying. He's the reason I won't be finishing this one. Too bad because I liked the other MC....more
My first and last Dekker book. I can't get beyond the main character and the way he thinks the wife and daughter whom he abandoned are just going tDNF
My first and last Dekker book. I can't get beyond the main character and the way he thinks the wife and daughter whom he abandoned are just going to welcome him back with open arms. I think Ryan is insane. His approach to getting back his family shows a complete disconnect with reality, and I don't particularly like him as a character, so I don't have much stake in continuing to read this....more
This one ended up on the DNF pile for me. When I picked it up, I didn't realize it was fiction. There are so many nonfiction accounts of this war, so This one ended up on the DNF pile for me. When I picked it up, I didn't realize it was fiction. There are so many nonfiction accounts of this war, so many true, gripping personal accounts of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan that I don't really see the need to read one that is fictional, especially one that is not very engaging. The main character has such a dull overtone to his POV that the story comes across as dull and unintriguing. ...more
I bought this on a whim because I loved this show. Unfortunately, I do not love this book. I wonder if the writer ever watched the show because he doeI bought this on a whim because I loved this show. Unfortunately, I do not love this book. I wonder if the writer ever watched the show because he does not have a good sense of the characters. Their actions, word choice, and emotions are out of character. Liz comes across as a weak, overly emotional, basket case, which she never was in the show. I also can't figure out the timing because the skins are an issue, which makes me think it takes place between seasons 2 and 3, but Alex is alive, and didn't he die in the middle of the second season? I guess I'll never know because after 83 awful pages, I am throwing in the towel. If I keep reading, I think this book will ruin these characters for me....more
DNF I feel as though Zusak intentionally writes to confuse. So many sentences and phrases do not make any sense and there is no explanation for them. IDNF I feel as though Zusak intentionally writes to confuse. So many sentences and phrases do not make any sense and there is no explanation for them. I just don't get the point of writing like this. Does it get better? I remember feeling this way when I read the Book Thief too, and I think I gave up on that one. Just as I have given up on this one. I just can't read another nonsensical phrase. ...more
1. Rufus calls his best friend bae. For those who don’t know, Bae is a Danish word which means shit. TDNF
Four reasons I quit after the second chapter:
1. Rufus calls his best friend bae. For those who don’t know, Bae is a Danish word which means shit. That’s right. Bae = feces. Whenever I hear someone use this toilet term as an endearment, I automatically deduct 70 IQ points. So, here I am, mere pages into this story, and I already know the main character is an idiot.
2. If I had a devious little bae of a half-sister who had once appealed to me for help only to lure me into a beating by another devious half-sibling, not only would I not be inclined to help her, I’d tell her exactly where she could stick her cry for help, so I found it very hard to believe that Rufus would go to her aid and even more unlikely to go with the ex who broke his heart.
3. The author uses roughly five extraneous words in every sentence. If he’s trying to be creative or unique in his descriptions, he’s trying too hard. Less is more.
4. Rufus. He is so vain and vapid that he’s absolutely off-putting. Here he is at a crime scene where someone has died and all he can think about is whether his ex finds him hot with his new gym bod. Ugh, just yuck....more
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