So good! I really look forward to getting my hands on a book by Kate Morton. I have read three, and so far none of them have been a disappointment. I So good! I really look forward to getting my hands on a book by Kate Morton. I have read three, and so far none of them have been a disappointment. I will say that this one is just as good as The Secret Keeper and better than The Lake House. I really love how there are so many different threads that come together by the end several of which I don't even realize right when I'm reading it but come to me later when I'm mulling over the book. ...more
I never had to read this in high school, so this is my first reading. I don't know that I would have liked it then simply because I would have had a hI never had to read this in high school, so this is my first reading. I don't know that I would have liked it then simply because I would have had a hard time getting past some of the horrible things happening to get to what the book was really about. It was told very well, and I plan to read the others in the series....more
This is the most random book I've ever read, but in a good way. I read it when I was a teenager and remembered liking it but almost nothing else aboutThis is the most random book I've ever read, but in a good way. I read it when I was a teenager and remembered liking it but almost nothing else about it. Consequently, when I read it this time there were a lot of "Oh yeah!" moments. I don't think I've ever read the rest of the series... I'll have to get going on that....more
I liked this one ever so slightly more than the first two. It went places that I wasn't expecting. I'll read the next one when it comes out.I liked this one ever so slightly more than the first two. It went places that I wasn't expecting. I'll read the next one when it comes out....more
I read this with my kids for the first time, and we really enjoyed it. A couple of years ago, my son and I read every Roald Dahl book that our libraryI read this with my kids for the first time, and we really enjoyed it. A couple of years ago, my son and I read every Roald Dahl book that our library has (we missed at least two). I think we're going to have to do the same with the Neil Gaiman books....more
The eye rolling bits were a bit more frequent in this book than the first, and the funny bits were less frequent. However, it is still more of a 3 thaThe eye rolling bits were a bit more frequent in this book than the first, and the funny bits were less frequent. However, it is still more of a 3 than a 2 star and still enough to keep me interested in the next book....more
On the back of the book, it was called a masterpiece. I don't think I would call it that. It was good, but it was also overly long without a particulaOn the back of the book, it was called a masterpiece. I don't think I would call it that. It was good, but it was also overly long without a particular reason for being so. The characters I liked the most were not the main characters. I kept getting distracted by little things. For example, it said she read Little Dorrit, but I'm not sure that book would have been available to her. The book was published then, but I don't know when the first publication in the US would have been and the Civil War was going on, so even if it was available in some places in the US, it might not have been available in a small town in North Carolina....more
Very funny, but not one that I could recommend to everyone. There is a lot in it that people could be offended by. Cursing, jokes about genitalia, etcVery funny, but not one that I could recommend to everyone. There is a lot in it that people could be offended by. Cursing, jokes about genitalia, etc. If you would be offended by that, don't read it....more
This was entertaining enough that I plan on reading the others in the series. Parts of it were really funny. Parts of it were eye roll inducing. We'llThis was entertaining enough that I plan on reading the others in the series. Parts of it were really funny. Parts of it were eye roll inducing. We'll see how the others in the series go....more
I wanted to love this book. I've heard good things about it for a long time. I just didn't. I felt like the author was trying to say that any powerfulI wanted to love this book. I've heard good things about it for a long time. I just didn't. I felt like the author was trying to say that any powerful woman must, by definition, be alone. This doesn't just happen once but several times throughout the novel. The women who are powerful, only stay powerful while they are alone. As soon as they have someone that they love they are less powerful. There was almost an exception, but the love interest was relatively brief and then her lover died because of a battle that she urged him to go to. Morgaine admits later that the only people that she loved or who loved her are either dead because of her or now hate her because of her meddling.
I also didn't like Gwenhwyfar's character. I realize that there are people that are as bigoted as she is. However, it seems to me that usually they have very little interaction with the people who they are bigoted against, or if they do the interaction, as a whole, is negative. In this case, Gwenhwyfar has very positive interaction with the very people that she thinks are evil, devil worshipers and every reason to doubt her own opinions but only grows stronger in her beliefs of her own superiority. It is rather frustrating.
I'm somewhat familiar with Arthurian legend but not to the point where I would know how far Bradley strayed from various legends surrounding Arthur. I did find it interesting that Merlin was not a person but a title and also that various actions were assigned to two different characters that in the telling I am familiar with were actions by the same person. Namely that Morgan le Fay's actions are split between Morgaine and Morgause. This book has it's moments, but overall it was only okay for me, not great. I do want to go read more about King Arthur and the surrounding people and events as a consequence of this telling....more
This is one of those books that makes you want to read everything that the author has ever written. I LOVED it. I couldn't help but compare it to the This is one of those books that makes you want to read everything that the author has ever written. I LOVED it. I couldn't help but compare it to the movie Big Fish (I haven't read the book of the same name), but I liked this one better. In recounting what happens in the book, I realized that describing it to someone else makes it sound incredibly sad, and while there are many horrible stories involved, there is so much more. Plus, who couldn't love a little girl who wears a Gryffindor scarf everywhere she goes?...more
This was a very thought provoking read. I'm still mulling some of it over in my mind. I actually enjoyed the parts about psychology more than the partThis was a very thought provoking read. I'm still mulling some of it over in my mind. I actually enjoyed the parts about psychology more than the parts about politics, although there was quite a bit of overlap. I might have to read this one again in a few years and see how well a second perusal goes....more
I'd give the first half of this book 3 stars, but the second half I'd give 5, so I'll go with 4 overall. It's one of those books that skips back and fI'd give the first half of this book 3 stars, but the second half I'd give 5, so I'll go with 4 overall. It's one of those books that skips back and forth through time and through varying characters. I found myself wishing the author would just stick with the 1960s because I liked that story better than the present. But by the end... It was lovely....more
I enjoyed this series. I think I'll have to read them again in the future but actually read them this time (I listened). With the exception of readingI enjoyed this series. I think I'll have to read them again in the future but actually read them this time (I listened). With the exception of reading the Harry Potter books aloud to my kids, it's been a while since I read fantasy. It was good to read it again....more
This book was good, but not as good as the first. This may be due to me having to finish a book club book, taking a break of a week or two in the middThis book was good, but not as good as the first. This may be due to me having to finish a book club book, taking a break of a week or two in the middle of the book (in other words, it might be me and not the book). I enjoyed the new characters, and I'm excited for the final book....more
This was mostly a collection of stories. Some of them heartbreaking, others heartwarming. I think this book could be very controversial to some, much This was mostly a collection of stories. Some of them heartbreaking, others heartwarming. I think this book could be very controversial to some, much more than Goodbye, I Love You. In Goodbye, I Love You, there is simply a story she is telling, and the reader is left to come to their own opinions. In No More Goodbyes there is little doubt as to her political opinions and her opinion on how the attitudes of people in the LDS church should change. I enjoyed it, as much as a book like this can be enjoyed....more
I had to put this book down several times because crying. Sometimes when I read a memoir, I come away feeling as if I've just spent time with a close I had to put this book down several times because crying. Sometimes when I read a memoir, I come away feeling as if I've just spent time with a close friend. This was one of those times. I wasn't familiar with Tracy before reading this, but two of my friends read her blog during the time this story took place. While I think people who did keep up with her blog would especially want to read this, it was amazing even knowing nothing about it to begin with.
Despite my situation and hers being vastly different, there were circumstances in the book I related to. I would highly recommend it....more
I have a hard time with how to review this book. First, I should say that it is well written and is very insightful.
The reason I have a hard time reviI have a hard time with how to review this book. First, I should say that it is well written and is very insightful.
The reason I have a hard time reviewing it is because it left me with a feeling of hopelessness. So many of the books that are written about a very difficult situation are about someone that managed to rise above that, and this one is not. From reading this book, it appears that for most people who live in this horrible situation in which no one should have to live, there is no way out. There are funds that are dedicated to helping the people in the slums of Mumbai, but most of those funds are not reaching their intended recipients. Near the end, there was an accident involving horses that received media attention. Consequently, several horses were taken from their owner, and the owner was charged for cruelty to animals (they were malnourished). Some of the boys in the slum were puzzled by this "since they considered Robert's horses the luckiest and most lovingly tended creatures in the slum." By way of contrast, police didn't even investigate a murder of a boy from the slum and instead said that his death was due to tuberculosis.
I don't want to fault this book for telling true stories or bringing to my attention a dreadful situation, but at the same time when I finished reading I felt rather depressed....more
Loading...
