Review: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

She's done it again! I love Sarah Addison Allen and keep expecting for her to release a book that I don't fall in love with! Lucky for me ... she never lets me down! Every single on of her books were the kind of books that pull me right in and don't let me go until the last page. They are the kind of books that you want to carry around with you until you finish every last moment. Yet, I'm almost depressed when they end and I have to wait for the next one! This novel was just like they all are for me ...captivating, interesting, and lovely!

These are lighter books - certainly not great literature - but definitely worthy if you appreciate a good story that is written well. Although I'm not a fan of magical realism, Sarah Addison Allen ican pull me into the magic of the worlds she creates. I never question it, it never feels out of place. She has a way of mixing magic and southern charm in a way that blows me away every single time!

If only she would write longer novels .... I'll be here, waiting for the next one!

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Review: An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How nice it is to revisit the characters of this fantastic series in yet another Outlander novel! I was skeptical about it and worried that I wouldn't love it since the more recent novels of the series have been less than stellar. But, overall, I was skeptical and worried for nothing! I think this one is considerably better than the last two in the series. However, the primary fault I have with this one is the same as with those ... it's too long. There is too much that could have been eliminated that was not. Some of the content didn't particularly add anything special.

It took me a bit to get engaged in the novel but once I did it was fantastic! Just a warning - the first 100+ pages are not Gabaldon at her best BUT stick with it. It comes together. The William sections in the early part of the novel simply aren't as engaging as what is to come!

I will say that this one felt much more like the earlier novels with a build up of story and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. Although I knew the way that things would end up (because of a review I read that told me too much), I was intrigued and excited to see what was coming up next! It had the 'feel' of the earlier novels in a way that I'm having a hard time expressing here.

I also felt like the ending was a tad rushed ... it felt like we'd built up to so much and then were left with so little. As if Gabaldon was in a rush to hurry up and get it out so she could start on the next.

As always, its the characters that really draw me in - Claire, Jamie, Brianna, Roger, Ian, and so on! They are the reason that I keep caring about the overall plot! They are some of my favorite characters in all of literature so its almost like visiting with old friends.

The actual war/battle parts of the novel were much less interesting to me than anything else although I do think the ability to see inside the American Revolution via this series is really well done!

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to the next. There are a number of plot lines that were left hanging so I'm interested to see how it all gets resolved in the next book!

NOTE: I'm a huge fan of the series and have a difficult time not loving them. I can overlook quite a bit just because I love the characters so much! Just know that about my review - it comes from someone who is a big fan!

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Review: Intensity by Dean Koontz

Intensity by Dean Koontz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sometimes Dean Koontz surprises me. I haven't read one of his novels in awhile because I was getting to the point that it didn't feel worth reading his books anymore. They tend to be overwritten, sometimes trite and a bit repetitive. However, I was looking for something to listen to via audiobook and found this particular novel in my search of library audiobooks.

This novel was a surprise in some ways. It really freaked me out at moments. The premise and story, in and of themselves, were very compelling. The characters were fantastic. I was on the edge of my seat at certain points in the plot. The story and characters may make it one of my favorite Koontz stories to date.

There were also very severe flaws in the novel which is why I've rated it lower than I usually would for a novel that I liked as much as I did this one. First and foremost, I was not a fan of the narrator of the audio book. Her voices were not particularly effective, in my opinion, I found her more obnoxious than not. But, the biggest flaw in this book was the inane overwriting. Ugggh. There was so much unnecessary inner dialogue in the novel that I couldn't help but to feel annoyed by the barrage of flowery descriptions and overwrought emotion. It was just entirely too much for me. It went beyond descriptive into clunky and frankly awful!

I can't imagine that I'd have made it all the way through the book if I'd been reading it rather than listening. I stuck with it only because I could tune out the irritating aspects of the novel. I hear that there was a tv movie made of the book that was pretty good. I'm not sure if that is available anywhere but I can see how this story might make a good movie. The material is interesting. I just wish that Koontz hadn't taken good material and written it less than eloquently. It's a shame.

In the end, I'm not sure that I can recommend the book. It's just not that great. If you are a big Koontz fan and really do like a suspenseful novel, you may want to check it out. However, go into it knowing that it has a number of flaws.

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Review: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me state up front that I believe that Laura Hillenbrand is an amazing writer. I truly believe that she could write about paint drying and find a way to make it interesting and compelling. She has an amazing gift and I will read anything and everything that she ever puts onto paper.

That said, let's get on to reviewing this book. WOW. That about sums it up. Just WOW. It's an incredible read ... interesting, captivating and informative. I can't believe that I'd never heard of Louis Zamperini. His story is simply amazing. From beginning to end, his story just captivated me. He was remarkable.

Due to some personal family stuff, I have an interest in WW2 and the impact the war had on those fighting in it and those at home waiting for their loved ones to arrive back home. I felt this book really brought WW2 alive and gave me a real feel for what it was like at that time.

I'm not going to go into any details around the story because I liked watching it unfold as I read the book rather than knowing what I was getting into ... just trust me, it's a great read!

I got a lot out of this story - personally, I found it to be life affirming and inspiring. The book truly shows the power of the human spirit. You really don't want to miss this book. It's one of the best books I've read so far this year! I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone and everyone!

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Review: The Illumination by Kevin Brockmeier

The Illumination by Kevin Brockmeier

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The rating of this novel was really quite difficult for me because I felt that it was a very mixed bag. It was very readable and fairly interesting overall. But, it was uneven and there were times when I just wanted to put the book down and walk away. Not because it was bad but because it just wasn't good. I was sucked right in at the start but somewhere along the way, Kevin Brockmeier lost me. I just slowly began to care less and less and less. In the end, its hard to say it was a bad book because I don't think it was bad. I just don't think its great.

To his credit, Kevin Brockmeier is a fantastic writer! The actual writing is beautiful and wonderful to read. And the idea of having physical wounds illuminate is really interesting and unique. I liked what the novel seemed to be saying about pain and beauty - I thought that was an interesting exploration. Unfortunately, the overall flaws made the exploration less impactful as I think it could have been because I began to quickly disengage as it became less and less interesting to me.

This is hard to explain but it felt to me as if the novel began in one place but meandered around and around and around into new places and territories, making me wonder why we didn't just stay in the place we began because that place was interesting!

In the end, I just cannot recommend this novel. Someone else mentioned in their review that this book was unremarkable and frankly I have to agree. It just isn't worth the time and energy given the thousands of books out there waiting for me.

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Review: Set This House In Order by Matt Ruff

Set This House in Order: A Romance of Souls by Matt Ruff

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was initially drawn to this novel because of my own interest in psychology and my years working as a social worker. I am specifically interested in multiple personality disorder after I counseled a woman who was diagnosed with MPD for about a year. Working with her was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

I wasn't sure if this book could live up to its premise as it focuses on not one but two people living with MPD. But, Matt Ruff simply amazed me with what he created in this novel. First and foremost, it resonated very closely to my experience with the client that I worked with who lived with this disorder. He obviously did a great deal of research while working on this novel ... it certainly rings true psychologically and emotionally. The novel is constructed in such a way that, when looked at as a whole, its amazing what the author has created with this novel. It's really a masterpiece of fiction in that respect. All of these threads come together throughout the book to make a fantastic story that came alive for me, taking me along for a ride that I never expected. There were twists and turns throughout. Each twist and turn was believable and resonated with me as a reader.

Matt Ruff is a good writer and his ability to take a complex disorder and make it readable and understandable is just not something that every writer can do effectively. Mr. Ruff excelled at this. The characters were also believable, understandable, complex and compelling. EXCELLENT character writing! I'm not going to get into the plot because one of the best things about the reading experience for me was discovering the plot as it moved me along. This is a book best read with very little information. It will grab you and not let go until the final sentence. It's that good.

This is a book that I didn't want to put down. So much so that I spent most of Sunday reading it despite having a TON to do around the house. I felt unable to do a thing until I'd finished the book. I couldn't do the mundane stuff of life while I had this amazing, incredible story waiting for me.

I definitely, without a doubt, recommend this book. Particularly if you are interested in mental health issues and the social and emotional impact of those mental health issues. This is probably my favorite read of 2011 so far ... one that you should definitely look into reading!

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Review: The Drowning Tress by Carol Goodman

The Drowning Tree by Carol Goodman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first Carol Goodman novel and I think I'll go back and read her earlier work. This was a really good novel. This is such a well written book - the imagery created by the author is just wonderful! I enjoyed the intermix of the modern mystery and the ancient with the use of mythology throughout the book. Really effective way to tell this particular story!

This wasn't an 'easy' read yet it wasn't what I'd characterize as difficult either. It felt a bit academic but perhaps that was more about the location of the novel and the mythology pieces. In a few reviews, I noticed it was compared to Donna Tartt's The Secret History. I can see where that comparison comes from but this is the better book in my opinion.

The sense of place is done so well with this book. The place just seemed to come alive for me with each word. The gothic feel of this novel really makes it special. Goodman paces the novel very well, giving you enough to stay interested but not enough to ruin the final 'aha' moment at the end of the novel. I also really liked the strong characters in the novel ... they were very well done and real in their complexities. I wish that Goodman had spent a little more time on character development but it was adequate for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more of Carol Goodman's work. If you like well written mysteries, especially those that are more focused on human complexities than just a good old fashioned 'who done it,' then this may be a book for you to pick up. Also, if you have an interest in mythology and novels that interweave mythology with story, this may be a book to read!

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Review: Keeper of the Keys by Perri O'Shaughnessy

Keeper of the Keys by Perri O'Shaughnessy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This novel had a lot of potential but ultimately just wasn't as successful as it could have been. Although interesting enough to keep me reading, it never completely grabbed me in the way that O'Shaughnessy's books do. This one felt as if it were rushed or something. The plot was on the thin side. Although the central mystery was compelling enough that I wanted to find out what happened, I was underwhelmed by the final result. It just didn't feel completely satisfying to me. I was expecting much more suspense from O'Shaghnessy. Unfortunately, it just fell short for me. There were a lot of pieces and parts to this novel that just didn't work out for me. If you're a big mystery fan, it might be worth the read but otherwise you'll find other novels that will be much more satisfying!

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Review: Shaking the Family Tree by Buzzy Jackson

Shaking the Family Tree: Blue Bloods, Black Sheep, and Other Obsessions of an Accidental Genealogist by Buzzy Jackson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As a family history buff, this book just jumped off the shelf at me as I was browsing the library. I figured that, if nothing else, I may be able to find some new genealogical resources in the reading of the book.

I found Buzzy Jackson's search for her family roots to be interesting on the whole. I did learn a few new resources as a result of reading this book and I'm hoping that information will help me in my own search. Overall, the book was a patchy read for me ... parts were fascinating and others were, umm, NOT. I sped through parts, eager to read and found myself forcing myself to keep reading in other parts. The book wasn't consistently good for me.

If you're a family history/genealogy buff, this might be an interesting read for you. If not, then you'll probably want to look elsewhere!

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Review: Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a nice surprise for me ... I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with this one but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! It's such a readable book, I plowed through it very quickly. It's an easy but compelling read.

I thought that it was an excellent exploration into what its like to be a new immigrant to America, with little money and resources. It gave me a new perspective on how difficult it must be, particularly for children and teenagers as they maneuver through school. The difficulty understanding the nuances of language, the difficulty of making and keeping friends, the difficulty in fitting in.

The characters are so vivid that they just jump off of the page. The emotional impact of the novel is what is really sticking with me ... the relationship between Kimberly and her mother, their struggles, their triumphs. Their story was fascinating and I didn't want it to end.

This was a well-written book with great character development and story line that kept me turning the page late into the night. I didn’t want the book to end. I hope that we'll see a lot more from Jean Kwok in the future. This is a book that I would recommend for anyone. It's a fantastic read!

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Review: Decoded by Jay-Z

Decoded by Jay-Z

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not a rap fan ... although I can appreciate why others like rap, I don't typically love it. There are some rap songs that I like but that genre tends to be of less interest to me. So, why did I read a book by Jay-Z? I'm not sure but I was intrigued by a mention of the book by Ann Kingman on the Books on the Nightstand podcast. She made the book sound compelling, even to someone who isn't an avid rap/hip hop fan.

Ultimately, I am very glad that I read this book ... it gave me a new perspective on hip hop. Although still not my favorite genre of music, I can see why many enjoy it. I see its value to society in a new way. However, I just don't think that I'll ever be a real rap fan.

This book also gave me a new perspective on Jay-Z. I think I had some preconceived notions about him based on what I've 'heard' about him. This book helped me understand him a bit more. He is a very successful businessman and this book gave me some perspective on WHY he has such staying power!

I enjoyed reading his breakdown and decoding of his songs. It's easy to dismiss rap as just noise but I liked seeing his reasoning for the various choices he made during the writing process. It made hip hop come alive for me in an entirely new way.

This is a good book but not a GREAT book. Perhaps it would have been a four or five star for me if I'd been a Jay-Z fan going into reading it. I recommend it because its a unique book that really opened me up to something new.

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Review: Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's been awhile since I've read a Stephen King novel but after hearing his name over and over on some of my favorite books/reading podcasts during the Halloween season, I thought it was time to revisit him! As he had a new collection of short stories release in November, I thought that might be the perfect place to start. And it was!

I was pleasantly surprised by this collection. It is a dark/creepy/gruesome collection but I found it to be very good. I cannot deny it ... Stephen King is a really good writer. He can take the reader to incredibly dark places with his well written descriptions of violence and the depravity of men and women. There are 4 stories in this collection - 3 of which I really liked and 1 that was just okay. All in all, a really interesting collection of stories. The primary flaw that jumped out to me is that there were some plot points and situations used that I've seen before in other places so they felt a bit tired.

All in all, I really enjoyed the stories. I didn't want to put the book down and stayed up later than I wanted to a few nights to get to the end of a particular story. These four stories focus on the darkness that can be lurking around the corner ... that we invite in and that we encounter unexpectedly. I found a few of the stories gave me a great deal to think about beyond just being good stories in and of themselves.

If you're a horror fan, you'll enjoy this collection. If the dark/macabre isn't your thing, you should avoid this one. I'm really glad that I read this one! It's revived my interest in Stephen King. I may need to go back and read a few of his more recent novels!

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Review: Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been less and less interested in this series, particularly after the last book which was BAD! Really bad. This book was better, a little more like the series was earlier on. Although it's not as good as it could be. I listen to these books via audiobook now because I love the narrator. And, she really helps to make these books come alive for me even when the content itself is less than it could be!

There are definitely flaws with this one but I did laugh out loud quite a few times (usually because of Lula who I adore!). It was a very quick book ... I finished it in no time. It's an escapist series that I use as a filler between heavier books. And this one was definitely better than #15 but not as good as some of the earlier books! If you're a Stephanie Plum fan, I recommend it! Otherwise, you may want to find something else to read.

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Review: Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman

Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. This is a Newberry Award winning book about Abraham Lincoln. This book is written for 5th - 8th graders and its fantastic - the writing and tone are spot on for that age. Very appropriate for that age but it does not make the material 'simple' for the reader. I was fascinated with the book and didn't want to put it down. I thought I actually knew quite a bit about Abraham Lincoln but still learned quite a bit from this book. I think its a wonderful read ... fascinating and informative! I recommend this for anyone and everyone over the age of 10!

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Review: The Ruins by Scott B. Smith

The Ruins by Scott B. Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is definitely a creepy horror genre book that I've been hearing about in a variety of places. I don't read a ton of horror these days (although I did read quite a bit when I was younger) so I was interested in seeing why this particular novel seemed to be mentioned in a variety of places.

I struggled with how to rate this book because although I think it was a fairly good book for the horror genre and that it had some assets (super scary and creepy, not terribly written, definitely successful horror writing). It also, however, had a lot of flaws. The lack of character development was disappointing - the characters were definitely not much beyond simple caricatures. But, I was most disappointed with the lack of follow through and answers. I don't need detailed answers but I was disappointed that rather than any answers, we got pages upon pages of watching these characters and their deaths play out. I didn't mind the gore myself but I wanted to mention it because it could certainly be off-putting for those who dislike gore. There were passages that literally made me feel sick to my stomach. I still feel icky just thinking about some of the story.

All in all, I think its worth reading for horror fans. If you aren't a horror fan, I think this is probably not going to wow you.

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