Kirsten's Updates en-US Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:23:15 -0700 60 Kirsten's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg ReadStatus9369973723 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:23:15 -0700 <![CDATA[Kirsten wants to read 'The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember']]> /review/show/7530988491 The Walt Disney Studios by Rebecca Cline Kirsten wants to read The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember by Rebecca Cline
]]> UserStatus1054814204 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:17:13 -0700 <![CDATA[ Kirsten is 6% done with Big Little Lies ]]> Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Kirsten is 6% done with <a href="/book/show/26007349-big-little-lies">Big Little Lies</a>. ]]> Rating852470991 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:23:13 -0700 <![CDATA[Kirsten Burkard liked a review]]> /
Kirsten liked Laura Burkard's review of A Good American:
A Good American by Alex George
]]> Rating852470964 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:23:08 -0700 <![CDATA[Kirsten Burkard liked a readstatus]]> /
Kirsten liked Laura’s status update
Laura Burkard Laura Burkard wants to read The Paris Hours
]]> ReadStatus9367592081 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:23:04 -0700 <![CDATA[Kirsten wants to read 'The Paris Hours']]> /review/show/7529368355 The Paris Hours by Alex George Kirsten wants to read The Paris Hours by Alex George
]]> Review7517884123 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:17:16 -0700 <![CDATA[Kirsten added 'The Perfect Couple']]> /review/show/7517884123 The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand Kirsten gave 4 stars to The Perfect Couple (Nantucket, #3) by Elin Hilderbrand
bookshelves: audiobooks, made-into-movies, mom-books, the-most-good
OK but this was really entertaining. Like, literally the perfect audiobook to get me through a really rough, depressed weekend by motivating me to get out there and walk or fold laundry just so I could keep listening to it. The pacing was great, the narrator had a lovely speaking voice, and each "chunk" was the perfect size for picking this up and putting it back down a few times without losing the plot.

That being said, I should probably mention that I already had a pretty good idea of how this book was going to go since I had watched the Nicole Kidman Netflix adaptation earlier this year. Honestly, if I hadn't I would never pick a book with a cover like this. Similar to the illustrated romance covers, the aesthetics of this just make me feel gross, like when you run your hand over something dusty and it gets that weird sticky/glue-y feeling. Just not a fan.

OK, I digress. Point is that I already had an idea of where this was going BUT was pleasantly surprised to discover that the outcome in the show is not the outcome in the book. There were a few points in the novel (such as when we learn that [spoilers removed]) that kept me that much more dialled in because it wasn't what I expected to see.

Ultimately, I think the show runners made the right choice to change the things they did (especially the whodunnit part of this - [spoilers removed]), yet that didn't make the book any less enjoyable. We got to know a bit more about each of the characters and the book did a better job of painting everyone as a less-than-perfect person. Overall, the character development felt more balanced in the book than the show, and that made me hate everyone equally. A thrilling experience that sometimes I love to have, especially when the cover of the book doesn't betray ANY of that.

I'll definitely keep Hilderbrand in the back of my brain as a cottage read potential, and can absolutely see why she's been crowned the queen of the beach read. This was delicious, easy to digest, and a book I wanted to keep returning to. ]]> ReadStatus9366339216 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:59:34 -0700 <![CDATA[Kirsten is currently reading 'Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates']]> /review/show/7528498172 Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge Kirsten is currently reading Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge
]]> ReadStatus9366333750 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:57:56 -0700 <![CDATA[Kirsten is currently reading 'Big Little Lies']]> /review/show/7528494414 Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Kirsten is currently reading Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
]]> Comment290030587 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:56:22 -0700 <![CDATA[Kirsten commented on Amy's review of Identity]]> /review/show/7440976193 Amy's review of Identity
by Nora Roberts

Can't exactly recommend, but I don't not recommend...3/5 😂 ]]> Rating852356280 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:55:28 -0700 <![CDATA[Kirsten Burkard liked a review]]> /
Kirsten liked Amy's review of Identity:
Identity by Nora Roberts
"This is my second Nora Roberts book, and I think I need to read a sweet third to understand the genre. I can't help but hate-love her books! I'll admit I like to hate them, and almost enjoy the frustration and annoyance.

These books are always a reluctant return home, making their way and starting over, and finding love and settling back in! Small town, hallmark movie, chick flick stories.

Just a quick list of a few annoyances from this particular book:
- how Morgan calls her Mom (Audrey) and her Grandma (Olivia), her "ladies".... it feels a little lazy and not creative, and it's constant
- the overt and unnecessary stereotypes - Morgan is a woman, so she talks too much, (view spoiler), there are more, I just can't list them all here
- Morgan is super passionate about her job as bartender, she excels at it, and she has the Emily in Paris thing where every dumb idea is amazing and her bosses and colleagues and family think she is a genius for each one! And also, she (maybe jokingly) credits (view spoiler)
- there were lots of times where I felt that I had to reread sentences, especially while people were talking. It felt like over-talking and over-explaining, or the Gilmore Girls syndrome of fast and excessive talking... needed a second to digest all the extra context or obscure callbacks the characters were referencing

As I mentioned, I may need to read a third and Nora Roberts might be a good go to for cottage/beach fun in the future ! Can't exactly recommend, but I don't not recommend..."
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