1 to 10 of 10
Review Date: 5/28/2018
I was disappointed in this. The premise was intriguing, and I think if the author had stuck to telling an alternate story of the royals it would have been a much better book. Instead, far too much time is spent on the narrator, the fictional Minuette, a girl who can apparently do no wrong and is surpassingly lovely, and every man in sight falls for her. Gag Gag. Then you have Dominic, the male version of Minuette. I don't generally care for historical romance, and this book showed me why. If that is your taste, then it's probably an enjoyable book, but it is not my taste. I decided not to bother with the sequels.
Review Date: 12/20/2013
Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't stand this book. Franzen's writing is pretentious and he seems not to understand the function of a period to end sentences. There was one sentence around page 40 that lasted longer than a page! I gave up. There are too many good books out there to waste time on one where none of the characters are people I like or respect, and where the author drones on about a pencil sitting on a desk.
Review Date: 5/28/2018
I enjoyed the book, it was a quick and fun read. Howver, I would have preferred more focus on Anita and the racial issues and the psychological and ethical difficulties involved in passing as white. It seems like a lot of the story was about Lottie who was basically just a spoiled brat, and a lot of girlish romance stuff and collegiate traditions. There were whole sections where it seemed like Anita was just any other student. But I did find it a gripping read and was hooked on the story, wanting to know how it would all play out. I was disappointed in the ending. Without giving anything away, I felt there was a major disconnect and I wanted to know why Anita made the decision that she made, but it all happened off screen, so it was very disappointing. That's why I did not give this book five stars. I do have to wonder if an African-American writer would have told the story very differently.
Review Date: 6/25/2014
I loved this book. Fans of "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier will recognize the opening line, and like Du Maurier's work, it is haunting with well-drawn characters. The Gothic elements never overwhelm the fact that it is a great story. Fans of Downton Abbey will love the setting and there's this same sense of the world changing and the characters having to come to terms with the old world being swept away by the war and the social changes of the 1920s. I love all of Morton's books, but this one remains my favorite.
Review Date: 4/28/2015
Helpful Score: 1
I read The Hunger Games because I wanted to know what the hype was all about. Talk about underwhelmed. The character development is shallow, with the focus being on graphic violence. I can understand, and have even occasionally liked, other novels of the dystopian genre...but The Hunger Games just seemed sensationalistic. As if Collins set out to deliberately make millions from a book (and movies) about kids killing kids. How sick is that. When I think what I was reading at age 14, it really saddens me to see trash like Hunger Games be so mega-popular. I read the sequels too, (I'm a glutton for punishment I guess) and believe it or not, Hunger Games is the best of the 3. I have to say I am awfully glad not to be a parent and have my kids reading this stuff.
Review Date: 8/22/2015
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed Longbourn. It's fun to see what life might have been like "downstairs" during the events of Pride and Prejudice. The author seems to have researched the period well and never loses the period voice the way other Austen spin-off writers sometimes do. I cared about the characters; they were well-drawn and seemed true to life. Baker also does a great job at not interfering with the Pride and Prejudice characters - again, something that other spin-offs are guilty of. It's clear from the book just how much the servants' lives hung on the family's choices, but how little the family knew of what was important to the servants.
Review Date: 5/9/2020
Helpful Score: 1
Sometimes it isn't just the book itself, but the time or circumstances in which you are reading it that makes a book go "click." Amid the very depressing and isolating Coronavirus pandemic of 2020, I gave up on reading my more serious book club books... Because after all, my book club isn't even going to get to meet. I had "The Love Letter" on my shelf, had read a few books by Riley in the past, and thought this was just what I needed. And it was. It's not serious. It's just simply well written, entertaining, and a rollicking good story that combines romance, intrigue, suspense, mystery, all surrounding a 70-year-old secret. The characters are well-drawn and it's easy to like them and understand their points of view. Given the nature of the fictional secret, it's no wonder that the book was originally published to a lukewarm if not outright disapproving response. I'm glad circumstances changed that allowed Riley to resurrect the novel. Because at bottom, it was just great entertainment. If you paid attention, many but not all of the developments were foreseeable, but I suspect I was maybe paying greater than average attention because I wanted to escape into the book, given the nature of life in 2020. And by no means all of the developments were foreseeable. Riley came up with some pretty satisfying plot twists at the end. I think if you take the book for what it is meant to be (pure escapist entertainment and nothing else), then "The Love Letter" will prove an enjoyable read. Don't make it out to be something it is not, and you won't be disappointed.
Review Date: 10/25/2015
This is an amazing book. I bought my copy in the gift shop at the Kalaupapa leper colony which I toured when I visited Moloka'i. Sat on the beach later that day, tears streaming down my face as I read. Yes, it is a dark story, but Rachel's courage and spirit shine through, so in the end, you are left with a sense of hope. I plan on re-reading this and suggesting it to my book club.
Review Date: 12/22/2013
Helpful Score: 1
I'm probably the umpteenth million person to say how wonderful Outlander and all things Diana Gabaldon are, so I won't go into any long summaries of the story. Instead, I'll just share some of the many things I love about Diana and the Outlander (and Lord John) series: First, I love her sparkling wit. Diana will come out with these one-liners that have me literally gasping for air, I'm laughing so hard. Sometimes they are snarky or sarcastic (but not in a mean way) and sometimes they are just plain FUNNY. She always does it in a way that is character-appropriate. Second, I love how she sets the stage brilliantly...I always have a clear mental picture. But at the same time, even though the books are close to 1,000 pages, I never feel like she's just droning on about each little detail. It's as if she just transports me there. I love living in Claire & Jamie's world. Third, I just love that her characters are PEOPLE. Flaws, quirks and all. Ok, well, Jamie is a bit larger than life, and a man I'd like to have (wouldn't all Diana's female readers want a Jamie for themselves???) but other than that, you feel like these are real people, with real emotions & real problems. At the same time, Diana never psychoanalyzes or psychobabbles. She just lets you get to know the characters for who they are. Fourth, following from this, is that the romance is romantic without descending into one steamy sex scene after another. Yes, the sex scenes that are in Outlander (book and series) are there, and they are HOT, but the books are so much more than the sex. Fifth, I love how the books defy description: is it historical fiction? romance? adventure? fantasy/SF/time travel? Mystery? Well...all of the above. Diana is just so skilled at telling stories of all types. She refuses to be bound by conventions that say "this type of book should be this so I am going to be safe and follow the formula." Nope, not Diana. And so the result is a truly unique book that has you staying up till all hours turning the pages. I've literally read Outlander about 6 times, and each time I find something new, unique and different. She's truly a master author. Take a chance - you won't be sorry. There's a reason so many millions of readers adore Diana.
Review Date: 7/19/2015
I generally like Rutherfurd's work and Rebels of Ireland was no exception. I preferred the Princes of Ireland, however. Largely because I was very disappointed in the ending of Rebels, and that's why I've given it only 3 stars instead of a solid 4. Without giving anything away, I felt that the ending was too abrupt. Furthermore, much of Irish history in the 20th century is significant, and by stopping Rebels in the 1920s, Rutherfurd missed out on a lot of "good stuff." It almost seems like he just got tired of writing, which after close to 2000 pages between both books, I can understand...but still. I wanted to know more about Ireland, especially since my goal of reading it was to learn more in preparation for my upcoming trip to Ireland. Still, it's worth a read, if you're interested in the subject, and I have to say, I did learn a lot.
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