This is my first graphic novel, strongly suggested by one of my kids as it is one of their favorite books. I found the illustrations interesting, the This is my first graphic novel, strongly suggested by one of my kids as it is one of their favorite books. I found the illustrations interesting, the writing clear and strong, and the plot satisfyingly twisty. I needed to think a bit after this one, which is always a good sign....more
I was also trolling the bookstore aisles looking for easy reads so I could hit my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Challenge for 2024. BINGO! I cracked up when I flipped thrI was also trolling the bookstore aisles looking for easy reads so I could hit my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Challenge for 2024. BINGO! I cracked up when I flipped through the pages and am now racked with envy. Why didn't I think of this? The author has published several other novels and if I am struggling to hit my goal, I'm going back to the bookstore to search more of Sam Austen's books... Oh, this is a quick and easy read despite the 300+ pages. If you love cats, you'll love this....more
I don't read a lot of fiction but I found Shirley Jackson a masterful storyteller and clear, concise writer who painted beautiful images that I could I don't read a lot of fiction but I found Shirley Jackson a masterful storyteller and clear, concise writer who painted beautiful images that I could easily see, my favorite being Flower Garden. Some stories fell flat for me but many are still vivid despite their age of 70+ years. This collection is easily digestible for those time constrained. It will provide much to think about....more
Have not seen the musical but did see the 2019 film. I wanted to understand the characters of the film better, the classic reading-the-book-after-seeiHave not seen the musical but did see the 2019 film. I wanted to understand the characters of the film better, the classic reading-the-book-after-seeing-the-movie situation. I thought the poems fanciful and lovely, despite the Asian rasicm. I found the illustrator owes a LOT to Maurice Sendak. A pleasant, light read....more
This was my first Agatha Christie book and I think I was just hoping for so much more. The short story format did not allow for understanding and/or lThis was my first Agatha Christie book and I think I was just hoping for so much more. The short story format did not allow for understanding and/or liking the main characters. I found many of Poirot's (correct) assumptions leading to solving the mystery to be unbelieveable. I read the entire book, hoping the stories would get better, but they did not. I hope the next Christie title I pick up will be better......more
This is my second Laura Lippman book - both I listened to as summer "reads" and both times I was kinda wondering if I liked them or not. I've been livThis is my second Laura Lippman book - both I listened to as summer "reads" and both times I was kinda wondering if I liked them or not. I've been living in Baltimore over a year now, so that part was interesting. This one, I really did not connect with the main character. She seems like a woman who plans things to her advantage, so I could not understand why she decided to ditch her life when her kid was in the middle of high school. Two more years and the separation would have been much simpler. I worked in newspapers around the same time the author did, so that was interesting, too. But the different POVs were tiresome for me. The way everything kinda wraps up in the end was expected - I just didn't know HOW it was going to happen. Maybe this will be my last Lippman book, I'm feeling irritated just relating this......more
Quick paced plot and a fairly fast read but I found many things unconvincing: the malevolence of the Gretchen Teigler character, the strong friendshipQuick paced plot and a fairly fast read but I found many things unconvincing: the malevolence of the Gretchen Teigler character, the strong friendship forged between Leon and Anna/Sophie, the overwhelming relationship between Gretchen and Dauphine/Violetta, and just the physical endurance of anorexic Fin. My husband can't find me in the Safeway. How can these two characters be tracked so easily across Europe? I read it over the course of 3 nights. The end, mercifully, came swiftly, but I wondered if it was worth all the time....more
I don't generally read graphic novels but the cover of this one was so pretty and, at 140-some pages, I didn't think it would be that big of a time inI don't generally read graphic novels but the cover of this one was so pretty and, at 140-some pages, I didn't think it would be that big of a time investment. Weird stories, sometimes uncomfortable illustrations. I thought I'd try something different but it was just okay for me. I couldn't believe it's a New York Times bestseller, frankly....more
Good writing, the author painted some beautiful scenes in my head, and compelling story - until the last quarter of the book when every thing is reveaGood writing, the author painted some beautiful scenes in my head, and compelling story - until the last quarter of the book when every thing is revealed. I don't understand all the other reviewers talking about the unreliable narrator! I have maybe half a drink per week and can't remember what I ate for dinner last night. She can have multiple bottles of wine most days, plus a "healthy" sprinkling of prescriptions, and STILL remember a conversation from several days ago. Superhuman? And the kid? Yup, very Gone-Girl-ish, which was a worry I had when I saw the Gillian Flynn endorsement. ...more
My kid insisted I read this. Very good and clever writing, but not my thing - trolls, vampires, werewolves, gnomes and all - though that was much lessMy kid insisted I read this. Very good and clever writing, but not my thing - trolls, vampires, werewolves, gnomes and all - though that was much less prominent than in other books my kid has insisted I read. I just could not suspend belief. No spoilers here, but what are the odds of EVERYTHING falling in place so perfectly imperfectly?...more
**spoiler alert** This is my first Ruth Ware book and I was disappointed. The book starts off very slowly and we are stuck inside the main character's**spoiler alert** This is my first Ruth Ware book and I was disappointed. The book starts off very slowly and we are stuck inside the main character's (Hal) head for most of the beginning as her interactions with others are very limited. I thought Hal's desperate need for cash and the surprise letter bringing the promise for some was too, too much coincidence to be believable. I don't know how wills are done in Great Britain but I've never heard of a "will reading" following a funeral anywhere but in the movies - and this book. As more characters were introduced, I found myself getting the uncles/brothers confused. And when I realized that the Maud/Maggie characters grew up in the 1970s - and mostly locked away, at that - I thought this was too much to be believed. Would such a strong character as Maud really toss her education to read tarot cards on a pier? Wouldn't she figure out a way to raise a child and go through school? Is it realistic to think that in that entire huge house, Hal would find a photo album of her mother and uncles? Or that Abel would give Hal a photo of THE EXACT DAY that Maggie writes of in her diary? And, please, was it really necessary to kill Mrs. Warren? ...more
This was a good choice to listen to on a summer road trip, engrossing but not too detailed that you missed out on stuff if you had to deal with traffiThis was a good choice to listen to on a summer road trip, engrossing but not too detailed that you missed out on stuff if you had to deal with traffic. It's an interesting read, but I did find it convenient (for the author and the narrative) that the two main characters had blind spots that allowed the story to continued on it's twisted way. Having just moved to Baltimore, I enjoyed the hometown connection....more
Fabulous! If you are a David Sedaris fan, this is a must listen! He reads several of his short stories, there's a brief interlude of question and answFabulous! If you are a David Sedaris fan, this is a must listen! He reads several of his short stories, there's a brief interlude of question and answer, and then a couple more stories. He has the perfect voice to read these stories, and his comic timing is impeccable. Although this audiobook is too short, I'll take what I can get!...more
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