I wish I knew going into this novella that it was A. A story told through poetry and B. A story told through the perspective of a Weeping Angel. We doI wish I knew going into this novella that it was A. A story told through poetry and B. A story told through the perspective of a Weeping Angel. We do get some insight into the life and thoughts of an Angel, as well as their origins. Eleven doesn’t show up until the very end, and even then only sparingly. I would highly recommend watching all of Amy and Rory’s era of the TV show, as the Angel mentions them frequently. The poems also won’t make sense if you haven’t watched Angels Take Manhattan, Amy and Rory’s final outing with the Doctor. All in all, it was fine, but I wish that I knew what I was getting into beforehand. ...more
"I realized that the party that once held my loyalty was gone. It had been replaced by a fascist cult of personality built upon decades of ever more "I realized that the party that once held my loyalty was gone. It had been replaced by a fascist cult of personality built upon decades of ever more extreme partisan politics and cultural warfare."
I don't often pick up political books, especially having to do with the Trump era, because the whole thing stresses me out. I'm not so much a democrat reading a book by a republican, I'm a person reading a book by a brave man who did the right thing when his morality was called into question. Adam Kinzinger could rightly be called a hero- and not just because of his tours of service in the Air Force, but also for standing up to a bully, for voting against him even though he knew it would mean his own political career suicide, and for sitting on a committee to fully investigate and bring into the light what happened on that dark day in January of 2021. For what he did for the country, the man deserves ten stars, not just the five offered by Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. However, his narrative Renegade could have been better. Kinzinger spends the right amount of time discussing his childhood and upbringing, giving the reader just enough insight and backstory to know what they are working with. He sets the stage with the republican party of the past, how the extreme right began and took off in the Obama presidency. He then spends much, much too long on his time in the service (three chapters and more than 60 pages to be exact) which is great if that's what you like, but that's not why I picked up this book. He then details his time in Congress, Jan 6, the aftermath, and his position on the committee. These last few items go by much too quickly, and it almost makes the reader feel like Kinzinger was focused on the wrong things. I value hearing what the man has to say on CNN and late night talk shows, and I am still a fan of his. His book though? Just okay. And I think I'm okay with that. ...more
Like others have noted before me, this was a messy, difficult read. The story is not told chronologically, and it's hard to determine at times who PerLike others have noted before me, this was a messy, difficult read. The story is not told chronologically, and it's hard to determine at times who Perry is talking about, what time period, what movie or TV show, or what stint in rehab he's referring to. Practically his entire life he's been in self-sabotage mode. From what I could gather, he would be doing okay enough to get into a relationship with someone, dump them before they dumped him (because he has abandonment issues), then feel like crap so he would start using (alcohol, pills, or both) and he would downward spiral until he ended up in the hospital or in a rehab center. The man had standards though; he would take up to 55 vicodin pills a day, but refused to touch heroin, because that stuff was 'bad'. He would constantly get mad at "normies" (sober people) and wonder how on earth we could all go around living our lives without using. He would brag about how he was always the funniest person in the room, and how many women he was constantly sleeping with. These points, among many others he would cycle on repeat. He also blames his divorced parents and working mom for making him a latchkey kid, and cites that as the reason he started using. Sweetheart, I've got news, millions of kids grew up that way and didn't end up using. He does mention working on Friends and how it was the best thing that ever happened to him, but he was constantly attempting to sabotage that too. We get some good behind the scenes nuggets, but it wasn't worth slogging through the rest of this mess to get to it. Sorry, Perry. This book is depressing, haphazard, and really difficult to follow. Unless that's the point- seeing life through the mind of an addict. I hope that somehow he's found the peace he so desperately sought in life but never achieved....more
Finally, a fun cozy mystery with a cat and a librarian! Of course we also have the small town (Chilson, Michigan) populated with interesting and eccenFinally, a fun cozy mystery with a cat and a librarian! Of course we also have the small town (Chilson, Michigan) populated with interesting and eccentric characters, and a murder mystery that our MC feels the need to solve. Minnie drives the bookmobile, does library outreach, talks to her cat like a person and lives in a houseboat. She's got a best friend who is a perfectionist chef, a surgeon boyfriend that lives hours away, and she manages some quirky employees. Throughout this book, Minnie isn't just trying to solve the murder of a cranky old patron, but she's also gearing up to host the town's first bookfair. Due to all the goings on, the pages fly by as the mystery deepens and issues keep cropping up with the fair. While the murderer was rather obvious, their connection to the victim and their 'why' was more difficult to uncover. I have not read the first three in this series, and I had no problem diving into book #4. I have a feeling I'll be reading more of Minnie and Eddie's adventures in the future....more
This book truly surprised me. I wasn't sure what I was expecting from this narrative, but found family, end-of-an-era, kidnapping of children and seveThis book truly surprised me. I wasn't sure what I was expecting from this narrative, but found family, end-of-an-era, kidnapping of children and several near-death experiences wasn't it. Willa is part of a dying breed of Faeren (night spirits) called a Wood Witch. She can camouflage into her surroundings, speak the old language of the forest, and encourage flora to bend to her will. Her way of life is changing in the year 1900, as day folk (indigenous people and white people) are encroaching on their land (great smoky mountains). Her people are encouraged by the leader to speak english and learn the ways of the day-folk to evolve and survive- thereby forgetting the old magic ways. Willa meets a homesteader named Nathaniel, and they strike up an uneasy (at first) friendship where they teach each other their ways. The narrative then turns on its head as it becomes a rescue mission and uncovering of the truth of her people. I really enjoyed tagging along with Willa on her adventures and the way she lived and thrived in the forest and with the animals. Her way of life and magic were described just enough, without going too far in depth and losing the reader. The writing style was clear and concise, with just enough metaphor and not so much that it wandered into purple prose territory. This was a wonderful, magical historical fiction/fantasy and I look forward to reading any other books in this series about Willa and her family. ...more
While I'm torn about Creech penning an indigenous book while not being indigenous herself, the story is well done. I enjoyed the dual stories and timeWhile I'm torn about Creech penning an indigenous book while not being indigenous herself, the story is well done. I enjoyed the dual stories and timelines and how they complemented each other. Sal's journey across the United States to locate her mother is not unlike Phoebe's journey to understand hers. Both leave. One comes back, one does not. I appreciated how Sal told Phoebe's tale, how she wove in mystery, and how she described her friends and neighbors. Ultimately, Walk Two Moons is a story of self-discovery, but it is also a story of how we allow others into our lives, homes, and hearts, and how they become our family. I just wish there was more. It feels like by the end we are seeing Sal and Phoebe's lives through a keyhole, and we are only allowed to observe so much. I want more about why Sal's mother left, and what she was feeling- I think a diary of hers would have added a much needed layer to the entire story. While it does feel as though it lacks depth, it is still a decent, quick read, and I know it will stay with me for awhile. ...more
Sometimes you need a little Hallmark movie chick-lit cheese. It's good for the soul in small doses. I can see how some folks don't like this. It's a sSometimes you need a little Hallmark movie chick-lit cheese. It's good for the soul in small doses. I can see how some folks don't like this. It's a story we've all read before, the prose is nothing that will take home awards, but it just *feels* good. It's got a cozy vibe to it, and the mystery portion helps move the narrative along. Had this just been a story about a fast-paced New York lawyer falling in love with a small town and its residents (and one in particular) I don't think I would have been as interested. Ellen discovering her Grandmother's life and secrets is what kept me involved in the story and wanting to turn the next page. I also appreciated that there was nothing wrong with her fiance at all- he was a perfectly nice man who did love Ellen. I can't stand when they villianize people who love living in a city environment and are used to enjoying fancy and expensive things. There's nothing wrong with that. There's a little bit of that here, but not nearly as bad as I've seen it in the past. Yes, the story is rife with stereotypes, and there's nothing new, however, the story is just fun. It's light and bubbly and you know how it's going to end, but sometimes you just need a book like that in your life. ...more
DNF @ 60%. Okay, look. I gave this a solid try. I know the movies and the TV show are popular, but they must be much different than this, because YIKEDNF @ 60%. Okay, look. I gave this a solid try. I know the movies and the TV show are popular, but they must be much different than this, because YIKES. The writing is poor, the characterization is poor, and the plot is frustratingly slow. Jack Reacher is your typical macho one-man-army action hero. He's ex-military and just roams the country doing whatever he wants, not living anywhere, no masters, no strings. He's ridiculously smug and judges everyone he meets against himself. (Hardly anyone measures up, by the way. I'm sure you've figured that out by now.) The plot consists of Jack just happening to show up in the town in the US where his brother was murdered the night before, and gets embroiled in the investigation. Reacher has sex with cop Roscoe, they find a lead, they run down the lead, someone gets killed, and they fall back into bed. Conveniently, Roscoe and Jack were just about to figure out what was going on, what the conspiracy is about and why so many people are getting killed when the person who was going to spill the beans gets offed. Rinse, repeat. When I stopped reading, I still didn't know what was going on, who was behind it, or why. I could make guesses, but this was no mystery novel where there are clues sprinkled and you can put it together. They give you nothing and string you along hoping you'll get answers, but then the next person dies. It would be comical if it wasn't so frustrating. I don't care enough to read ahead to find out what happens and how the story wraps up. I've seen enough, hard pass. ...more
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