This was a quick, predictable cozy mystery centered around a poisoned cupcake in a small college town where everybody knows everybody. I did enjoy theThis was a quick, predictable cozy mystery centered around a poisoned cupcake in a small college town where everybody knows everybody. I did enjoy the predictability to an extent because it's one of the first times I've ever been able to solve a murder mystery which was a fun experience, and the story itself was engaging enough. I wouldn't say it was the most memorable mystery I've ever read, and the pacing was a bit disjointed, particularly toward the end, but I did appreciate the cozy, Christmastime atmosphere and the nods to Jane Austen and other literary icons throughout the novel. ...more
I generally prefer Roald Dahl's longer books, but this quick read was adorable. Billy is so disappointed when the candy shop The Grubber closes but isI generally prefer Roald Dahl's longer books, but this quick read was adorable. Billy is so disappointed when the candy shop The Grubber closes but is curious when his favorite shop turns into a ladderless window cleaning service, run by an extraordinary giraffe, pelican, and monkey. Acting as their manager, Billy & the animal crew befriend a duke whose home has windows that have not been cleaned in over forty years. Thievery ensues, followed by some quick thinking, and a very cute happy ending. ...more
This was a cute read about two women from polar opposite worlds who accidentally swap gym bags, thereby switching shoes. Both Sam and Nisha find theirThis was a cute read about two women from polar opposite worlds who accidentally swap gym bags, thereby switching shoes. Both Sam and Nisha find their lives change the moment they are forced to wear the other's shoes, and things won't return to any semblance of normal until they manage to find each other.
I like Jojo Moyes. She has a casual writing style that is easy to enjoy, and this story was lighthearted, though not the most memorable. I had mixed feelings on the characters, especially on Nisha, but the plot was interesting enough for me to want to continue reading. ...more
This was a tough one, and probably not the best choice to start January off with. While I enjoy crime novels, this was less thriller or cozy mystery aThis was a tough one, and probably not the best choice to start January off with. While I enjoy crime novels, this was less thriller or cozy mystery and way more of a literary fiction crime novel. There are many novels I read for their beautiful writing-crime novels would not fall into that category for me, so there were several points in which I found this story to be a slog.
As for the plot itself, it was interesting enough. Adam "Rob" Ryan is a detective in Dublin who, as a child, was the only one of his trio of friends to escape a disappearance in the neighborhood woods. Yet Ryan has no memory of what actually happened to himself or to his friends, and the friends have remained missing for over twenty years. When Ryan and his partner Cassie Maddox get a call to investigate the murder of a 12-year-old girl in those same woods, the memory gates swing open slightly. The investigation process was interesting enough, and overall, I didn't mind the characters, though Ryan was increasingly unlikable, as he is supposed to be. He definitely suffers from arrested development, and seems to have stopped maturing at the age in which his friends disappeared, and as the plot progresses, this becomes a major problem for his character.
I did feel that some of the "twists" were incredibly obvious and had seemed likely since the beginning of the book.
I've read many reviewers who felt the ending was unsatisfying. I overall didn't mind how the novel ends-more of my issue was with French's very slow, overly poetic writing style which, again, would not bother me, had the novel been a different genre. French is a talented storyteller and I'm tempted to pick up another book by her someday, but I think that attempt will be a long time from now....more
I read this as a read aloud book to my lower elementary students, and it was an absolute hoot. Pippi Longstocking is an unconventional child who livesI read this as a read aloud book to my lower elementary students, and it was an absolute hoot. Pippi Longstocking is an unconventional child who lives alone, doesn't go to school, and has very unique takes on how one should behave in society. She moves in next door to Tommy and Annika who are simultaneously appalled and intrigued by her shenanigans and, eventually, are along for the ride that is friendship with Pippi Longstocking.
My students really enjoyed this book, as did I. There were moments where I had to stop reading because I was laughing so hard. While there isn't a deep message within this story, it still raises some good classroom discussion and gets the students invested in listening to the events that unfold. ...more
I first read Crime and Punishment 10 years ago. I remember greatly enjoying it; however, I barely remembered the plot. When I casually picked it up agI first read Crime and Punishment 10 years ago. I remember greatly enjoying it; however, I barely remembered the plot. When I casually picked it up again back in November, I thought I'd read a couple of chapters. Instead, I was gripped into rereading the sweeping epic of a story in its entirety.
The story follows Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, a penniless, nihilistic student who has a theory that the world is divided into ordinary and extraordinary men. For the lucky few who are deemed to be extraordinary, Raskolnikov theorizes it is their right to commit whatever crimes are necessary in order to insure their greatness is achieved. Deeming himself to be in this class of men, Raskolnikov murders an old, greedy pawnbroker. Thus begins Raskolnikov's mental and physical downfall and further disconnect from humanity.
Dostoevsky was a master of human psychology and of character development. Each of his characters has such a distinct personality, with such complex motivations and beliefs, that reading this novel often felt as if you were reading the biographies of real people. Raskolnikov alone is an incredibly layered character who is full of contrary beliefs and ideologies.
Despite its complexity and the tackling of some incredibly dense philosophical concepts, many of which are purposely left open-ended for the reader to continually ponder upon, this is a very readable and engaging novel. The plot is fast moving, the characters fascinating, and the payoff well-worth the length of the read....more
I have learned over the years that Roald Dahl's shorter stories are not nearly as engaging and well-plotted as his longer works such as Matilda, The BI have learned over the years that Roald Dahl's shorter stories are not nearly as engaging and well-plotted as his longer works such as Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. They are still great concepts with loads of magic, but they lack the same level of investment I have when reading his longer stories.
I had a similar reaction to George's Marvellous Medicine as I had to the books Esio Trot and The Twits. This was a fun, fast read about a boy with a miserable, nagging grandmother who decides to create a wild concoction of a drink to replace the old woman's usual medicine. Chaos ensues. While fun within reason, the characters were all quite unlikable and the ending fell pretty flat for me. If I was going to choose a Dahl read aloud book for my lower elementary students, this one would not be it. ...more
Possibly my favorite Christie mystery to date. The buildup to even the murder-which happens quite far into the book- in this one is fantastic, and thePossibly my favorite Christie mystery to date. The buildup to even the murder-which happens quite far into the book- in this one is fantastic, and the cast of characters is well fleshed-out. The secondary characters are also very likable, and the twists and turns, combined with the building suspense, made for a truly fantastic read....more
This was a fast-paced thriller about a woman who, seeking to escape a bad situation at home, travels to Paris to temporarily live with her older brothThis was a fast-paced thriller about a woman who, seeking to escape a bad situation at home, travels to Paris to temporarily live with her older brother. When she gets to his high-class apartment, however, she finds that he is missing and that his strange neighbors may know more about his disappearance than they are letting on.
This book had some really good twists in it, especially in the middle. It also contained enough intrigue to keep me reading and wanting to know more about each of the mysterious and unlikable characters. That said, the writing of this book was not great. It is repetitive and the author over-explains herself, leaving little to the imagination in order to get her point across. Despite their being a solid twist at the end, the ending also kind of fell flat for me and, because of all the prior buildup, felt rushed.
This is the second Lucy Foley novels I've read. While I think her writing style could use more subtlety, she definitely knows how to craft a fast-paced mystery that leaves you turning the pages....more
The Dark Half is Stephen King at his finest. Thad Beaumont is a writer/college professor who has achieved literary success under his own name, but litThe Dark Half is Stephen King at his finest. Thad Beaumont is a writer/college professor who has achieved literary success under his own name, but little financial success. Instead, his financial success has soared under a pen name he created years ago, George Stark. A well-kept secret for many years, Thad decides to ditch the pen name once someone tries to blackmail him upon learning that Thad and George are one in the same.
The ditching of George Stark ends up being a morbid joke-a magazine article is written in which Thad Beaumont reveals himself to be the true George Stark, and Thad and his wife "bury" George Stark in a cemetery where there summer home is located. All's fun and games until the deceased Geoge Stark takes on a vengeful life of his own.
This novel really explores the concepts of duality and what it means to have a pen name, creating a lot of interesting questions for the reader to ponder. The horror aspect was well-done, especially the climax of the last 20 pages. Definitely not one I will be forgetting the details of any time soon.
King LOVES to write incredibly long, conversational stories. At times, this can go on for an inordinate amount of pages, to the detriment of the novel. In this case, I felt this was the perfect length for the story. I also really enjoyed the characters in this one, not something I can always say for a King novel. ...more
This high fantasy novel is the first of 5 set in the Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons & Dragons. It follows Cadderly, a young cleric who unwittingThis high fantasy novel is the first of 5 set in the Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons & Dragons. It follows Cadderly, a young cleric who unwittingly unleashes a chaos curse on those living in the Edificant Library. The novel follows Cadderly as he attempts to stop the curse and bring order back to his home while his enemies try to incite further chaos.
This is not a book I would typically read as I am generally not a fan of high fantasy. However, it was a fast-moving, entertaining novel with likable characters and a very strong female protagonist. Tonally, the book seemed unable to fully find its footing. There were parts of this story that were incredibly humorous, but this humor would quickly shift to a seriousness that became somber and jarring. I personally would have enjoyed this story more if it played further into the humor.
Though I do not plan on continuing the series, I would definitely recommend this novel to Forgotten Realms fans as this story is filled with descriptive world building. ...more
Solid beginning, great ending, absolutely bonkers middle.
When the novel is focused on the horror of the shark attacks, it is riveting. Unfortunately, Solid beginning, great ending, absolutely bonkers middle.
When the novel is focused on the horror of the shark attacks, it is riveting. Unfortunately, for more than half the story, Benchley's Jaws turns into a small-town drama, complete with infidelity, a cringey dinner party, and a mafia-inspired subplot thrown in for good measure. While there is nothing inherently wrong with any of those things, the execution of each is terrible. The characters were so insufferable, you found yourself rooting for the man-eating shark. The dialogue was painfully stilted, and there tended to be a lot of telling when it came to the feelings of the characters.
Similar to The Godfather, the film takes the best parts of the novel and turns them into an iconic movie, leaving out all of the extraneous and bizarre written material....more
This book is definitely a useful resource for parents of children struggling with executive functioning skills. Though this book is much more of an atThis book is definitely a useful resource for parents of children struggling with executive functioning skills. Though this book is much more of an at-home parental resource, I'm still glad I read it as a teacher because it's a good recommendation to have for parents trying to help their children with these skills.
Smart but Scattered breaks down examples of each executive skill, creating quizzes so that you can determine which skills are weaknesses and which are strengths for your child. There is even an adult version of the quiz so that you can find your own strengths and weaknesses. Being able to identify your own, as well as your child's, strengths and weaknesses is incredibly helpful, especially to see the similarities and differences between you and your child.
The book also had a variety of intervention scenarios for each skill. Most of these relied on incentive systems which act as positive reinforcers for the child. They also relied on heavy parental commitment and direction, at least to start. Though a lot of these tips and tricks were beneficial and could work if methodically implemented with follow-through, there were times where I felt the incentive systems in particular were over complicated to the point of being unrealistic. Some of the points systems were borderline confusing, but I do think parents can take the overarching ideas and reconfigure them to fit their family's needs. Additionally, because there is such a large commitment on the parents' part, these strategies require families to be all-in on the interventions. If the parent isn't all-in, the child, already struggling with a specific executive functioning skill-certainly won't be.
I do think, overall, that this book is a good starting place for families trying to help their children develop some of these trickier skills. ...more
The Devil in the White City is really two stories in one: the creation of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and the gruesome crimes committed by serialThe Devil in the White City is really two stories in one: the creation of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and the gruesome crimes committed by serial killer H.H. Holmes. The logic for intertwining these stories is that Holmes killed primarily during the World's Fair in a hotel "castle" he had built in Chicago.
Larson is an extremely detailed historian, and his writing style is more along the lines of narrative nonfiction, similar to Truman Capote (indeed, in his Notes section, Larson mentions Capote's In Cold Blood as a text he used to help him recreate some of his Holmes chapters). As a result, this book is chockful of information: everything from unions to the creation of Ferris wheels, from Chicago's troubling clay soil to detailed accounts of the Fair's expenditures and deficits is covered. In certain respects, the book read like a history museum...minus the artifacts, photographs, and movement to keep the museum-goer interested.
The sections about Holmes, while deeply disturbing, had a much more coherent flow to them, likely because Larson was honed in on one specific person with one specific goal, versus trying to recreate the entirety of the World's Fair in 400 pages. Essentially, I felt this book was overly detailed and trying to cover way too much. While many tidbits were interesting and informative, especially within the context of the 21st century, the flow of the narrative was too bogged down in the minutiae. That said, I would be willing to read another book by Larson, but I would choose one with a narrower scope. ...more
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