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Review Date: 10/31/2011
I really liked this book. Normally, Im a little hesitant about books that involve people who are attracted to someone who isnt their significant other, but this book is just too hilarious for words.
Every scene with Dodge the Neighbor is awesome. The neighbors are completely oblivious to their own ridiculousness. Who hasnt had a neighbor like that? And each neighbor is so nosy. You kind of want to smack them, but at the same time I couldnt get enough of those scenes because I needed to see what they were going to do next.
I already mentioned that I dont like the potential for cheating in any novel for the most part, but I did like that there were supporting characters who called April out on her behavior. I also liked how the novel ended. I dont want to spoil it, but it was quite unexpected. Im glad it ended that way rather than how I would have expected.
Kathleen Koles novels have yet to disappoint me and I eagerly wait for her next book.
Every scene with Dodge the Neighbor is awesome. The neighbors are completely oblivious to their own ridiculousness. Who hasnt had a neighbor like that? And each neighbor is so nosy. You kind of want to smack them, but at the same time I couldnt get enough of those scenes because I needed to see what they were going to do next.
I already mentioned that I dont like the potential for cheating in any novel for the most part, but I did like that there were supporting characters who called April out on her behavior. I also liked how the novel ended. I dont want to spoil it, but it was quite unexpected. Im glad it ended that way rather than how I would have expected.
Kathleen Koles novels have yet to disappoint me and I eagerly wait for her next book.
Review Date: 10/26/2011
Pretty much everyone knows the story of the Romanov dynasty and how it ended tragically, or has at least some idea of the mystery surrounding Anastasia for most of the last century.
Having not read anything from this period before it was quite interesting and Im glad I took the chance on it. This book was well researched and took some great risks as it explored a survival theory.
While the pacing of the novel was a little slow at times, the ending was amazing and it will BLOW YOUR MIND!! I thought I knew how things were going to end, but I was so far off it was ridiculous.
I learned a lot of things about this era and am going to have to do more research to find out if things in the novel were really true. I find it hard to believe that a family who were basically being held prisoner by rebels would have been so accommodating and good natured. I may have a new favorite genre.
There are some very gruesome scenes near the end of the book, which should be expected considering the circumstances. However, if are disinclined to very descriptive, graphic scenes, you would probably want to skip those scenes. I was a little shocked by the descriptions, and I was expecting the outcome. However, I would read more about the Romanovs as well as more from this author.
Having not read anything from this period before it was quite interesting and Im glad I took the chance on it. This book was well researched and took some great risks as it explored a survival theory.
While the pacing of the novel was a little slow at times, the ending was amazing and it will BLOW YOUR MIND!! I thought I knew how things were going to end, but I was so far off it was ridiculous.
I learned a lot of things about this era and am going to have to do more research to find out if things in the novel were really true. I find it hard to believe that a family who were basically being held prisoner by rebels would have been so accommodating and good natured. I may have a new favorite genre.
There are some very gruesome scenes near the end of the book, which should be expected considering the circumstances. However, if are disinclined to very descriptive, graphic scenes, you would probably want to skip those scenes. I was a little shocked by the descriptions, and I was expecting the outcome. However, I would read more about the Romanovs as well as more from this author.
Review Date: 11/1/2011
I've always been intrigued by Shakespeare; particularly his tragedies, histories and sonnets. A retelling of Romeo and Juliet intrigued me and I knew I had to give this one a shot. The major changes to the story are that Juliet is 18 rather than 14 and it takes place in Florence rather than Verona.
I was not overly impressed with this one. I couldn't really get into the voice of Juliet. At 18. she doesn't sound like a woman but her actions seemed very immature. I can put up with such behavior from a 14 year old, but at 18, it seems a bit much. I wasn't expecting to have such a strong reaction to that though.
Some of the chapters are told from Romeo's perspective, which I liked more than Juliet's but it still didn't mesh with me. What I did like about the novel was that Juliet was quite obsessed with the works of Dante. I love when characters in books love literature. It's a weird paradox, but I do love it.
I do think that the plot of the novel is pretty good and that there will be tons of people who would love this book. I am quite willing to concede that I am probably the exception and not the rule. I also wouldn't rule out reading more titles from this author. I think that reading a retelling is very hit or miss especially when it's characters that I've adored, I'm quite biased to preconceived ideas.
I was not overly impressed with this one. I couldn't really get into the voice of Juliet. At 18. she doesn't sound like a woman but her actions seemed very immature. I can put up with such behavior from a 14 year old, but at 18, it seems a bit much. I wasn't expecting to have such a strong reaction to that though.
Some of the chapters are told from Romeo's perspective, which I liked more than Juliet's but it still didn't mesh with me. What I did like about the novel was that Juliet was quite obsessed with the works of Dante. I love when characters in books love literature. It's a weird paradox, but I do love it.
I do think that the plot of the novel is pretty good and that there will be tons of people who would love this book. I am quite willing to concede that I am probably the exception and not the rule. I also wouldn't rule out reading more titles from this author. I think that reading a retelling is very hit or miss especially when it's characters that I've adored, I'm quite biased to preconceived ideas.
Review Date: 11/4/2011
Helpful Score: 1
I've adored Ann Rinaldi ever since I first discovered her works in 8th grade. She writes fascinating YA history. Sarah's Ground is no exception.
Sarah is a great character. She's a woman who is sick of having her family decide her fate, regardless of whether or not it is tradition. She feels that her family deciding which family member she lives with, or even which man is suitable husband material, is not that different than selling a horse at auction. So Sarah takes matters into her own hands and applies for a job as caretaker for George Washingtons house, which has fallen into disrepair since his death.
I thought that Sarah was such a strong character, and part of her appeal was that she doesnt realize her own strength until much later. She just thinks of herself as stubborn and trying because thats how her family had thought of her.
She not only has to deal with a meddlesome, prejudiced neighbor, but has to try to avoid scandal when her chaperone must go to attend her sick mother, just leaving Sarah with the servants and Mr. Herbert. But the real obstacles come when Sarah decides not only to keep her opinions neutral during the war, but to keep the grounds of George Washingtons estate neutral as well.
Its an intriguing read that I finished rather quickly and loved every moment of. The endings of Rinaldis books are always the best part. They leave you satisfied and ready to read the next great adventure.
Sarah is a great character. She's a woman who is sick of having her family decide her fate, regardless of whether or not it is tradition. She feels that her family deciding which family member she lives with, or even which man is suitable husband material, is not that different than selling a horse at auction. So Sarah takes matters into her own hands and applies for a job as caretaker for George Washingtons house, which has fallen into disrepair since his death.
I thought that Sarah was such a strong character, and part of her appeal was that she doesnt realize her own strength until much later. She just thinks of herself as stubborn and trying because thats how her family had thought of her.
She not only has to deal with a meddlesome, prejudiced neighbor, but has to try to avoid scandal when her chaperone must go to attend her sick mother, just leaving Sarah with the servants and Mr. Herbert. But the real obstacles come when Sarah decides not only to keep her opinions neutral during the war, but to keep the grounds of George Washingtons estate neutral as well.
Its an intriguing read that I finished rather quickly and loved every moment of. The endings of Rinaldis books are always the best part. They leave you satisfied and ready to read the next great adventure.
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