A recently read another book that was vaguely similar to this in structure, generations of women, absent fathers, secrets, strength and persevering. IA recently read another book that was vaguely similar to this in structure, generations of women, absent fathers, secrets, strength and persevering. I’ll take it. Let all the women tell their stories....more
A *sweet* mystery in a Great British Baking Show setting, but called the Golden Spoon and set in Vermont. It was nice to want to keep reading and I woA *sweet* mystery in a Great British Baking Show setting, but called the Golden Spoon and set in Vermont. It was nice to want to keep reading and I would pick it up even if I only had 5 minutes to read. ...more
I read Family Lore for my book club, then missed the discussion! What a book to miss discussing; it had a lot to talk about. I had a hard time keepingI read Family Lore for my book club, then missed the discussion! What a book to miss discussing; it had a lot to talk about. I had a hard time keeping up with all the characters and for whatever reason couldn't get into the style/structure of the story, but I can see how someone could read it and just sink right into the story. Maybe I was in the wrong mood or mindset for it....more
This felt to me like a modern day, sad Bridget Jones. It has both the experiences unique to a woman of color, daughter of immigrants living in London This felt to me like a modern day, sad Bridget Jones. It has both the experiences unique to a woman of color, daughter of immigrants living in London and the reminder that some feelings and experiences are universal....more
Glassworks required some effort to read, but overall it was worth it. The idea of weaving working with glass through a story ultimately about family wGlassworks required some effort to read, but overall it was worth it. The idea of weaving working with glass through a story ultimately about family was a really interesting idea. It resulted in a solid two hour book club discussion, so as an art form evoking emotion it’s a success....more
My parents retired to the beach. I know for a fact that this book is accurate. Living at the beach is X% loving it and never planning to move and Y% bMy parents retired to the beach. I know for a fact that this book is accurate. Living at the beach is X% loving it and never planning to move and Y% bitching about what other people are doing with their property. The author/main character admit, on the page, multiple times, that it’s not an interesting topic. ...more
I’m reading reviews and people love the book, but I found it hard to stay interested since the reader knows the entire plot from the first few chapterI’m reading reviews and people love the book, but I found it hard to stay interested since the reader knows the entire plot from the first few chapters. If not for the book being a book club selection, I wouldn’t have finished- not out of spite or hating it; I just wasn’t into it....more
Well, wow, yikes. Not sure what to say about this, other than it was dark in a way that made the scenarios seem very plausible. It had a dystopian vibWell, wow, yikes. Not sure what to say about this, other than it was dark in a way that made the scenarios seem very plausible. It had a dystopian vibe, but it’s set in society as is, something that could pretty much happen any day. That makes it worse.
It’s going to be a good book club discussion!...more
I understand that every book can’t be a 700 page multi-generational family epic and I don’t necessarily have time to read a ton of books that length, I understand that every book can’t be a 700 page multi-generational family epic and I don’t necessarily have time to read a ton of books that length, but would have been something else if this book it had scanned 100 years in chronological order. It had really rich female characters and at so many points in the book I wanted it to go further with more detail....more
My book club meets on Monday night, and the Friday before I still has not started this book. I decided to try to read as much as I could anyway, even My book club meets on Monday night, and the Friday before I still has not started this book. I decided to try to read as much as I could anyway, even though I didn’t have a free weekend. I finished the whole thing!
The author flawlessly flipped back and forth between the past and present day, and she knew exactly where the story was. The heart of the story was -to me- in the past, and she didn’t get too bogged down in the present day characters while still weaving their stories in and enhancing the whole thing. Overall, great story, great book....more
All these years of John Green writing wildly popular books and I've never read one before now. What a treat to meet up with him in middle age for an eAll these years of John Green writing wildly popular books and I've never read one before now. What a treat to meet up with him in middle age for an existential pondering of sunsets and the Hall of Presidents, Indianapolis and whispering. Loved the experience. Five stars....more
1. Oooh, a book about a wedding planner for the excessively rich and their insane spending! 2. That’s not really My journey through Olga Dies Dreaming:
1. Oooh, a book about a wedding planner for the excessively rich and their insane spending! 2. That’s not really what this book is about. 3. I hope it’s not all backstory and gets back to the plot. 4. The story is moving forward again. 5. Who are these people? How am I supposed to feel about this book? Does the author want me to like these characters or understand them? I start ripping apart the receipt I’m using as a bookmark and marking things in an agitated way. 6. Oohhhhhhhhhh. I realize I have been expecting Olga to act in a way that does not match with her life experiences. The author basically has to explain this to me. 7. It all comes together. The book wraps up in a satisfying way....more
I’m not exactly sure what the technical classification is for the book- science fiction?- but it’s really a book about people not wanting to be lonelyI’m not exactly sure what the technical classification is for the book- science fiction?- but it’s really a book about people not wanting to be lonely. It’s very creative and a little confusing; I did a lot of going back to reread the last few paragraphs I just just read. The chapters are connected by the thinnest threads between characters so it’s hard to pick out the connections, although it doesn’t really seem to matter if you don’t catch every connection. I’m sure I missed some, but really like the way the author worked delicately with the ones I caught.
My “favorite� part was near the beginning with the roller coaster. (Favorite is a weird way to put it- it was just such a terrible thing to think up and write about.) It’s horrible, emotional, gut-wrenching.
Trying to sum up the book-? Difficult. I did like it. It’s intense. I’m looking forward to the book club discussion. ...more
At some point during reading I realized The Maid is a sweet book and not a thriller, but that’s okay! At the beginning I thought it could have gone eiAt some point during reading I realized The Maid is a sweet book and not a thriller, but that’s okay! At the beginning I thought it could have gone either way. I loved the use of the Olive Garden....more
I loved this book. It’s a retelling of The Great Gatsby (which I reread a few years ago) from the perspective of Jordan Baker, formerly the most forgeI loved this book. It’s a retelling of The Great Gatsby (which I reread a few years ago) from the perspective of Jordan Baker, formerly the most forgettable character from the book. It’s Jordan Baker, but so much more. The author had an idea for a book and she did it, 100%. It is a very cool book.
I had a bit of a book hangover when I finished it, so I picked up The Great Gatsby and started flipping to some of the scenes that overlapped to see how they compared- wow. This author is fabulous; I love the way she captured the original, expanded it, and went further.
I read Of Women and Salt in a 36 hour period and was thinking that I could have read it as an 800 page book filled with even more details about the chI read Of Women and Salt in a 36 hour period and was thinking that I could have read it as an 800 page book filled with even more details about the characters, more women in their family. But really, it’s the emotions of a 800 page book. It’s a book of women, it’s incredibly sad but full of strength and endurance. ...more
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