Review: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first heard about this book on one of my favorite podcasts, Guys Can Read. Their description and review of the book intrigued me but I wasn't sure that I would actually take the plunge and read it due to massively disparate reviews by friends on Goodreads. People seemed to love it or hate it. In the end, I decided to give it a shot, in hopes that I would love it. And, boy, did I ever love it!

I have heard a few people compare this book to Twilight and I just don't see it. So, please don't let those comparisons stop you from giving this one a try. This is NOT Twilight. It had more of the feel of the Outlanders series by Diana Gabaldon to me, although even that isn't a great comparison. The storytelling and world building were definitely in the same ball park as Gabaldon so perhaps that is why that comparison keeps coming to mind for me.

Although other reviewers keep talking about Deborah Harkness's writing not being particularly good, I cannot say that I felt that way. I felt her writing was quite good. She kept me engaged throughout the novel and kept things moving along fine for me. Her characters are outstanding and just jumped off the pages for me. I wanted to sink into a comfy chair and read it in one sitting!

This is a novel that has a bit of it all - history, the supernatural, romance, adventure, and even mystery. And it is all done well, in my opinion. The research that Harkness had to do to weave this wonderful tale must have been immense! She wove the tale so successfully - each and every piece of the puzzle came together as the story moved along. I truly did not want to put it down.

And now, I cannot wait for the next 2 books in the series. She left this first installment in a wonderful place and I cannot wait to pick back up with these characters in 2012 when the second installment is scheduled to be released. I don't think that any review that I can write will do this book justice but I'll just say that its one of my favorite books of 2011!

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Review: All That Is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir by Ashley Judd

All That Is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir by Ashley Judd

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

For some reason, I've always felt a kinship of sorts to Ashley Judd. I'm not really sure that I can explain it but when I'd hear her interviewed, she always reminded me a bit of myself. I've always wondered what it must like to be the daughter of Naomi Judd and the sister of Wynonna! When I heard that Ashley was coming out with a memoir, I was very intrigued to get her perspective on her life and all of the work I had heard she was doing all over the world.

Overall, her memoir tells two stories - one is the story of her childhood and her recovery from depression, abuse and dysfunction. The other is the story of her social justice work around the world on behalf of PSI and NGO. I found myself connecting a great deal to the first story and less so with the second.

Much of her childhood abuse and dysfunction was written so eloquently in this book and I felt that it gave me some perspective on what has made Ashley Judd who she is today. I also realized what it is that I connect to with Ashley. She and I have a great deal in common. I found that I like and respect her even more after reading about her journey. She's come so far and made such a commitment to taking care of herself and healing. I think she is an amazing woman doing amazing things around the world.

Although I was engaged during the stories of her social justice work, it became a bit monotonous to me as the book moved forward. I learned a great deal about injustice and the state of women throughout the world. It was certainly enlightening and eye opening. I really admire this woman for putting her life and career on hold to do what she feels is her life's work - helping make the world a better place.

I never felt that the book was overly emotional or heavy handed. It all felt very real to me. I appreciated that she didn't try to 'fix' it all in the end, but instead, focused on how healing is an every day endeavor. As someone who struggles with depression myself, I appreciated her perspective on healing and growth. It gave me a great deal to think about and incorporate into my own recovery.

Although I can understand that her faith is critical to her daily life and recovery, and part of each and every thing she does, I did feel it became a bit 'too much' at some point during reading. I found that faith was interwoven into every single aspect of the novel, which is fine, but it wasn't as effective to me as it probably will be to people who are more interested in that sort of thing.

I believe that this book could have used a bit of editing which is part of the reason that it didn't get 4 or 5 stars. I just think that there was a lot of repetition that was unnecessary. The same story could have been told more effectively in a more condensed form.

I think this is a powerful memoir that has the ability to show the reader an inside look at depression, recovery, healing, social injustice and poverty. I feel that I came out of reading the book understanding myself and this world a bit more clearly. It is because of this that I recommend the book, particularly if you're interested in depression/recovery or social injustice. This book contains a powerful message that we should all hear again.

In the end, I feel that I've found, in Ashley's story, a kindred spirit. It's nice to know that there is someone else out there who feels so deeply and is finding away to use her sensitivity and thoughtfulness to help the world become a better place.

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Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I went into the reading of this book with VERY high expectations given all of the buzz that I was hearing about how wonderful it was. The book was good but it wasn't GREAT. I enjoyed it but it just didn't quite make it to great for me.

I think the book was insightful and compelling but the pacing felt off to me. It was so slow and repetitive at times (I know that a large part of the plot insists on the repetitive aspect of the narrative but it didn't add to the reading experience for me). Character development (and growth) was GREAT - it was really what made this book special. I really felt like all of the characters were well drawn, in all of their complexity.

Although I'm an adult, the inner dialogue and life experiences of a teenager that were described in the novel felt very 'true.' I was taken back to my own high school experience a number of times while reading the novel.

I love the message of the novel and I think that its a message we should all be reminded of ...

Overall, a great YA novel that I think teens AND adults would enjoy! I definitely recommend it.

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Review: The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Overall, I liked the novel. But, I cannot forget the fact that it took over 100 pages to even remotely get my attention. I'd even go so far as to say the first 100 pages bored me to tears and could be one of the major flaws of this book as it makes it entirely easy for readers to give up! I'm glad I came back and tried it again but that first 100 pages made it a must less impactful book than it could have been. So, the rest of what I say is about the parts of the book AFTER 100 pages.

I really enjoyed this book - very gothic, creepy and unique. There is a lot of intrigue throughout the book, it kept me on my toes. Although the character development was a WIN of this book, in my opinion, I did think that the level of detail was a bit extreme. There were moments where I was so overwhelmed with the detailed descriptions that I just rushed through to something more 'meaty.' So, I may well have missed nuances of the story as a result. Less detailed descriptions would have eliminated the possibility. These detailed descriptions make the plot feel like it creeps along soooo slowly sometimes. It's just not a positive thing for the reader.

However, the character and the sense of place in the novel were outstanding. They really made this book come alive for me. There were parts of the book that were truly creepy. Don't want to turn off the light creepy. Looking behind you creepy.

A great deal of the novel focused on the themes around post-war Britain and the downfall of aristocracy. This wasn't as interesting to me as it might have been to some. That aspect of the novel was interesting of course but not what really stuck out to me. It's the psychological aspects of the story that really connected with me.

Overall, this was a nice gothic tale but it wasn't all that I'd hoped it would be. It's a bit slow, a bit creepy and a bit intriguing. And, ultimately, a very difficult book to rate ... I'm going with 3 although part of me feels that I'm being too generous. I recommend this one but with a lot of reservations due to the pacing issues and the sheer horribleness (is that a word??) of the first 100 pages. It's slow, the first 100 pages especially - if you stick with it, it gets better. If you like gothic stories, this may be just the book for you!

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Review: The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In true Diane Chamberlain style, this book was full of twist and turns, compelling me to read and read and read. Just when I'd think I figured it all out, she'd throw out another twist and make me rethink it all. I don't think its the most unique story that I've ever encountered but Diane Chamberlain did amazing things with it! She has a way of capturing the relationships and emotions of her characters in a way that makes you feel a part of the very world she's creating for you.

In this book, her illustration of the mother-daughter relationship and the bond of friendship was really well done. Certain aspects of the plot really made an impact for me and I found myself getting quite emotional. Diane Chamberlain knows how to pack her novels with an emotional punch that just hits you in the gut and doesn't let go until the end! This novel has a bit of it all - love, betrayal, friendship, grief, secrets, and redemption.

This novel is well written, has excellent characters and really keeps the reader engaged! I love the choice that Diane Chamberlain made to develop the story through the multiple perspectives of narrators. I thought it gave the plot more punch and moved the story along so successfully! This is a book that I definitely recommend if you like a fast moving story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

NOTE: I received the galley proof of this novel from the publisher for review consideration.

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Review: Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore

Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have really struggled with rating this one. It's more of a 3 1/2 than a 4 but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and rated it a 4.

This was a nice little book with a bit of mystery and a bit of romance. This appears to be Kristin Gore's effort to move away from the more 'fluffy' writing of her earlier book. This one is much more serious and really focuses on social issues.

Overall, I think this was a nice little book. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I really liked the main character, Jiminy. She was a very likeable and genuine character that I enjoyed spending time with while reading. The novel was VERY readable. It had the feeling of a lighter book but really focused on heavier material. I think that Gore did a great job of showing the reader the different mindsets of different generations about social injustice.

I've read more than one reviewer mention how its similar in some respects to The Help. I'm not sure that the two are anything like one another except that they both focus on issues of race and injustice. The tone of each book is VERY different. The execution of The Help is much more effective.

My primary issue with this novel is that it often felt rushed. The pacing felt off in some way and I felt that Gore raced through each and every thing to the point that she lost some of the narrative effectiveness along the way. In addition, the mystery itself wasn't particularly difficult to figure out which made the overall novel less effective. I knew very quickly what had happened and it bothered me a bit. I was hoping for a few more twists and turns. The romance was nice but it could have been great had Gore spent a bit more time fleshing it out. It felt rushed and unsatisfying to me. Overall, I felt that the novel could have been so much more than it ultimately was. I found myself a bit disappointed ... there was so much potential in the material but I felt Gore raced through the novel so quickly that much of that potential was squandered.

I'm glad that I read it and I do think it was an enjoyable book. I just wish it had lived up to its potential a bit more!

NOTE: I received the galley proof of this novel from the publisher for review consideration.

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Review: Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon

Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It takes quite a bit to freak me out and get under my skin. Authors are rarely able to put me in a place of discomfort but Jennifer McMahon had me there from the moment that I opened the book. First of all - the cover which is VERY unnerving. That little girl is intense! It is difficult to look into her eyes for very long. Second, the intrigue and suspense begins on page 1 and does not lay off until the final word of the novel. The hair on the back of my neck was up SEVERAL times during this book. It's just very creepy in places, making you feel like something very dangerous is coming your way. Yet, I could not put it down, even if I had wanted to!

This novel is a bit difficult to categorize for me ... suspense, mystery, paranormal, psychological thriller! It's all in this book. And, best of all, its all done well. Jennifer McMahon really pulled all of these pieces together beautifully. It never felt heavy handed or unbelievable. The twists and turns are handled expertly by McMahon who kept me guessing throughout the novel, giving me enough information to keep me interested but never enough to allow me to solve anything definitively!

This book stayed with me, even after I put it down. I kept thinking back through the story and trying to determine what was truly going on. Then, I would rush to pick it up again so I that I could fall back into the world that McMahon creates in order to get more information to help me determine what was going on. Very compelling and interesting read, particularly for those who enjoy a novel that intertwines the real and the paranormal. This is one that I definitely recommend!

This book will be released by the publisher on May 17, 2011.

NOTE: I received the galley proof of this novel from Harper Collins for review consideration.

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