JanB's Updates en-US Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:43:02 -0700 60 JanB's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg ReadStatus9268211200 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:43:02 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB is currently reading 'The Locked Ward']]> /review/show/7460500968 The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen JanB is currently reading The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
]]> Comment289087349 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:26:32 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB commented on Amy's review of The Quiet Librarian]]> /review/show/7357125565 Amy's review of The Quiet Librarian
by Allen Eskens

I struggled with this one too, but appreciated the emphasis on this war. ]]> Comment289087318 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:25:22 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB commented on DeAnn's review of The Quiet Librarian]]> /review/show/7046488157 DeAnn's review of The Quiet Librarian
by Allen Eskens

I did love the strong female characters. Great review DeAnn! ]]> Comment289087290 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:24:26 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB commented on Dorie - Cats&Books :) 's review of The Quiet Librarian]]> /review/show/6712851540 Dorie - Cats&Books :) 's review of The Quiet Librarian
by Allen Eskens

Glad you enjoyed it Dorie! Great review! ]]> Comment289087264 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:23:41 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB commented on Linda's review of The Quiet Librarian]]> /review/show/6654989579 Linda's review of The Quiet Librarian
by Allen Eskens

I’m glad this was such a stellar read for you Linda! Wonderful review ]]> Comment289087239 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:22:53 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB commented on Mary Beth 's review of The Quiet Librarian]]> /review/show/7397545071 Mary Beth 's review of The Quiet Librarian
by Allen Eskens

I’m glad this was a winner for you Mary Beth! Great review ]]> Review7422282822 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:32:45 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB added 'The Strange Case of Jane O.']]> /review/show/7422282822 The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker JanB gave 5 stars to The Strange Case of Jane O. (Hardcover) by Karen Thompson Walker
bookshelves: 2025-reads, netgalley
I've loved the author's previous books so jumped into this one without hesitation.

The story is told in a dual perspective between Jane and her psychiatrist. Together, they begin to unravel what happened to Jane.

Jane is unremarkable, an average Jane. But when she is found in a public place with no memory of how she got there, the authorities delve deep into her life. She's worried about her young son, who was left at his daycare when she entered a state of fugue.

Jane suffers from amnesia, premonitions, and hallucinations. She tells the story to her psychiatrist of how she saw a man who she knows to be dead. Jane has a photograph memory. She forgets nothing and can remember events in her past down to the most inconsequential details. There are a lot of details which must be pieced together to get a complete picture of her life.

Meanwhile, Henry, the psychiatrist, has secrets of his own.

What follows is a compelling story where the reader is never quite sure what is going on, but I was left so curious the pages flew by. I was completely immersed in their stories.

This is a chilling story that has threads of the pandemic in these pages but years before the actual pandemic of 2020. Time is fluid, which is a major theme in this book.

This is such a unique premise and beautifully written. I don't want to say too much, but this a compelling and mind-bending story that made me think. I love a book that delves into the inner workings of the mind and this book delivered! Speculative fiction can be hit or miss, but this was a complete hit for me.

I realize my thoughts are all over the place, much like this book. Read it for yourself!

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. ]]> Review7442489458 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:29:54 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB added 'The Quiet Librarian']]> /review/show/7442489458 The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens JanB gave 4 stars to The Quiet Librarian (Hardcover) by Allen Eskens
bookshelves: 2025-reads, audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, historical-fiction
My review is a bit of a mixed bag. 3.5 stars

I appreciate reading a book that highlighted the history of the Bosnian-Serbian War. The atrocities were horrific and difficult to read. This happened in our recent lifetime, and we should never ever forget.

I won't go into the plot, and the details of the Serbian-Bosnian War are easy to find and worth the rabbit hole I went down. We all need to be better informed.

HF is not a genre I prefer, for many reasons, which I won't go into. I've made no secret of the fact that I prefer non-fiction when reading about history. Yet, I still appreciate the author highlighting this period of history, which led me down a path to learn even more of this horrific war.

But, I didn't find this particular telling compelling. Yes, it was brutal and horrific, and yes, the revenge plot was understandable and based in truth. Yet, the revenge plot was predictable and was a slog at times. The ending, while unsurprising, was tense enough to bump my rating up to a 4.

HF readers will likely love this more than I did. My reading buddy, Marialyce, and I had a great discussion. It would make a terrific book club read. ]]> Rating843217637 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 20:16:11 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB liked a readstatus]]> /
JanB liked Taina’s status update
Taina Garcia Taina Garcia wants to read More or Less Maddy
]]> ReadStatus9264913575 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 20:01:23 -0700 <![CDATA[JanB is currently reading 'Say You'll Remember Me']]> /review/show/7458186698 Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez JanB is currently reading Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
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