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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Review: Evil At Heart by Chelsea Cain

Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I really liked the first two books in this series ... they were solid 4 star books for me. This one, however, was not quite as good as the first two in the series. Something about it felt off and maybe even recycled somehow. It feels as if there is a formula to this series and this one just went back and did what was done before with a few details changed. I didn't find the Archie/Gretchen pieces nearly as compelling as they were in the first two books. The sub plot around the media and public fascination with serial killers was much more compelling for me. I wish that has been expanded upon even more in the novel. Susan is really becoming one of my favorite characters in the series ... I hope that there are plans to further expand on her in future books. She's fascinating to me!


This one is as gory and disturbing as the entire series has been! It's not for the faint of heart. There were numerous times that I cringed as something was described. I read this one via audiobook as I have for the entire series. I think the narrator is incredible and I enjoy this type of book via audiobook!


If you liked the first two books in the series, you will probably like this one. But, I warn you, this one felt more gory to me than the first two books. It's definitely NOT a book for everyone!!


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Review: NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

 









NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I've had this book sitting on my bedside table since I won it in 2009 in a blog giveaway. It sounded interesting since I have two five year olds but I just don't typically read a lot of parenting non-fiction. I just rarely find it to be useful to me as a parent. I'm almost always bored half to death and come away with less than I'd hoped. I am almost constantly disappointed when I try the genre.


This one is a solid 3 star for me. It didn't blow me away but it was interesting and not a difficult read. There was some interesting information that has me re-thinking how I parent our children. It was a fairly interesting read ... I wasn't bored to tears as I usually am but I wasn't so compelled that I couldn't stop reading. In fact, I was pretty much ready for it to be over by the last chapter.


I think this is a better than average parenting book. But, frankly, nothing in it revolutionized the way that I parent our children.


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Review: My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

 










My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I should preface my review by saying that Pat Conroy is one of my all-time favorite authors. From the moment that I read his novel Beach Music, I was in love. That particular novel is probably my favorite of all time, closely competing with Little Women. I think he's fantastic, I love his writing style, his way with words. He's one of those writers that I just adore and spend the years between books wishing for a new one!


So .... when I heard that Pat Conroy was releasing a book about books and reading, I was over the moon! Two of my favorite things in one package! And he did not disappoint with this collection of essays! I didn't learn a lot about Conroy that I didn't already know because of my pretty obsessive love of him and his novels BUT I loved getting to read, in his words, why books and reading are such an integral part of who he is ... I could relate to quite a bit of it.


I found that this book really reminded me of what I love about books and reading. It re-inspired me and helped me to remember exactly what it is that I love about story. But, best of all, it also confirmed for me why I love Pat Conroy and his stories. His commitment to story and to the power of the novel really comes through in his writing and its what attracts me to his work.

I really recommend this book if you're a fan of Pat Conroy and/or a fan of books and reading. It's a really good collection that will appeal to a variety of readers!


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Review: Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes

 











Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a very intense, very dark novel that takes place in Vietnam. I have to admit that I very rarely read war books, particularly Vietnam books after a childhood experience that scared me. A family member was a Marine in Vietnam and came home with quite a few photographs of some very ugly, brutal scenes. My cousin and I came across them one day and it was the most frightening thing I've EVER seen. I was very disturbed and pretty much avoid things related to the Vietnam experience to the best of my ability. And, so, I really only decided to read this book after months of rave reviews by bookish friends who said it was a book to not be missed.


First and foremost, this book is intense and difficult to read and very long. It seemed to take a long time to read for me. It certainly wasn't a quick read. It's dark. It's twisty. It's frightening. It's sad. It's raw. And, frankly, it's brilliant. It's well written. Marlantes is a wonderful writer who knows exactly how to compel a reader to keep with a story even when its difficult subject matter to read. He did not pull any punches. I truly felt as if I was there with the characters on their journey. His writing truly brought to life the sounds, smells and horrific experiences of war. Perhaps it is his own time in Vietnam that allowed him to write about it in a way that brought it alive for me. And the stories he told were new ... it wasn't a rehash of all the other Vietnam novels and movies that we've all read/seen. It gave me an entirely new perspective on the Vietnam war and reiterated how horrific it really was. This novel just tore my heart out.


I'm having a difficult time saying that I liked this book or enjoyed it as its material makes it difficult to 'like.' But I do appreciate its value and am amazed at what a compelling novel this is. It's a difficult book to get out of your head both while reading it and after reading it. The characters in the novel will stay with me for some time. This is a phenomenal novel. It isn't for everyone but for those who can handle the difficult material, it is a novel to consider.


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Review: Cost by Roxana Robinson

 









Cost: A Novel by Roxana Robinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been wanting to read this one for a long time. It is not a book that I think is for everyone. It's a fascinating look a family that is dealing with a family member with heroin addiction. Although that is the primary focus of the novel, it's so much more ... it's about the complicated relationships that exist in most families to some degree or another. It's not for the faint of heart ... emotionally speaking. It's not gory or violent in any way but it is emotionally impactful and hits the reader in the gut!

The characters that Robinson presents in Cost are outstanding. They come alive for the reader. The author's beautiful writing and excellent character development really shine in this novel!

The narrative shifting device employed by Robinson was difficult for me to follow initially - throughout the narrative, the perspectives change randomly, making the narrative feel occasionally disjointed. I got used to it eventually but it was jarring in the beginning. In the end, I appreciate the shifting voices and how it contributed to the overall feel of the novel.

I really thought that the voice of the character with heroin addiction was done so well and it really helped me to better understand addiction and its hold on someone in a new way. I thought the novel really did a great job of showing the wide reaching impact of addiction on the entire family unit. And it really made me think about my own family and how the personalities within a family combine to create a unique, interesting, messy, crazy thing unique to that very family.

Although I enjoyed the novel, I did feel that the novel ended fairly abruptly. Robinson built up the story so well, only to end the story so abruptly as to be frustrating to me!

I enjoy Robinson's writing style but can definitely understand that it wouldn't be for everyone. It's a bit of stream of consciousness but with structure. It's almost clinical at times. Yet, I like it and find it interesting. At times it feels as if I am listening in to someone's inner voice. It's an ever-changing emotional dialogue of sorts - raw, uncomfortable, funny, sad, interesting, frustrating, and more.

In the end, this isn't a novel for everyone but I enjoyed it quite a bit. I left the novel having felt as if I learned something and felt something that I hadn't learned/felt before!

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Review: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

 









A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This novel is a mixed bag for me ... in some ways it was more of a 2 but in others it was more of a 4. So, I split the difference and am giving it a 3!


All in all, I found this to be a very readable novel. I was never bored. I never struggled with any aspect of reading it. I found the creative use of format throughout the novel to be interesting and kept me reading, curious to see what might come my way next. I really enjoyed the unorthodox-ness of the entire book - the format, the characters, the movement of the narrative, and even the prose itself! All of that deserves a strong 4!

Now for what I didn't find quite so interesting ... I found the unusual format of narrative to be confusing and sometimes difficult to follow. I worked it out but it wasn't always easy! And sometimes I felt that the work to keep it straight wasn't ultimately worth it. The characters were not compelling to me. It was difficult for me to care much about quite a few of them. I don't usually mind unlikeable characters but given the difficulty following the narrative, the character payoff just wasn't great for me.


All in all, an interesting read! I'm glad I read it but I'm not sure that I agree with all the raves that I'm seeing in reviews. I found that it was interesting enough to keep me reading but it fell flat in the end. It just wasn't as successful as it could have been.


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Review: The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and the Giants of the Ocean

 









The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean by Susan Casey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Yet another non-fiction surprise! I've been on a non-fiction roll! I really enjoyed this book all about waves and the ocean. When I heard Ann Kingman raving about this one on the Books on the Nightstand podcast, I couldn't resist giving it a read despite my complete and utter lack of interest in the ocean, surfing or waves. She made it sound fantastic! And she was right! It really was a great read overall.


I truly enjoyed the surfing components of the book. The other more commercial and scientific aspects were much less interesting. But, combined together, they offer a really interesting look at the ocean and its mysteries.


Given how much we DO know scientifically, this book really captures the fact that we know very little about the ocean. And it reminded me just how small we humans are in the big picture.


I really enjoyed this journey into all things ocean. I found Casey's writing compelling and interesting. I learned so much about surfing that I didn't know. It's a great read for anyone who enjoys a great non-fiction read!


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Review: Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand

 










Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've had this on my TBR for ages but never got to it but I'm so glad that I finally did! First - I should note that I have absolutely NO INTEREST in horses or horse racing. In fact, I would say that the idea of a book about horses and horse racing makes me want to roll my eyes out of boredom. And then came along Laura Hillenbrand!!!


It is her writing that really makes this book special - That makes it about more than a horse or a race or a sport. She makes the people and places come alive on each page. She made me CARE about what I was certain that I would never care about! She kept me turning the page late into the night when I really should have gone to sleep.


I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys good, solid writing and wants to be swept away by a fantastic story!


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Review: The Invisible Bridge: A Novel by Julie Orringer

 









The Invisible Bridge: A Novel by Julie Orringer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was a bit worried about this book despite the rave reviews I'd read from a few other bookish friends ... the size of the book was intimidating and I'm not sure I was up for another Holocaust book. But, wow, was I surprised! This book was nothing like I'd imagined. It was a wonderful read that I didn't want to put down for a moment. The novel was the perfect combo of great writing, storytelling and historical information! The book is a commitment due to its size but I felt the time was well spent!


I cannot believe that this is Julie Orringer's first novel. She is quite a talented writer and I cannot wait to see what she has for us as she grows as a writer. She has a way with words ... she kept a very long novel compelling to me in part because I wanted to keep reading her prose. Her writing is simply fantastic! Her ability to spin a tale is excellent. Orringer's ability to balance the optimism of the book with the inherent despair and darkness surrounding the characters without resorting to melodrama really makes this novel something special. It has all the elements of a good melodrama but none of the overdone emotion.


The novel is romantic, epic, painful, dark, difficult while also being informative. The characters were one of the things that made this novel just 'sing.' The dimension that each character (major and minor) have just jumps off the page! Yes, it is a Holocaust novel but it is also so much more. And, I would venture to say that its a Holocaust novel that is not like most other Holocaust novels that I've read. There is something special about this one! I had never fully understood Hungary's role in World War II so the historical aspects of the novel were quite new and interesting to me.


Although I certainly loved the book, there were flaws ... the book was not perfect. I think it could have been edited a bit and some of the novel could have been condensed without taking away from the overall novel. Although I didn't find the relationship in the novel to be sappy, I can see why some have described it that way. Sometimes the language did venture into the excessive - but I was not bothered by that because I really loved her writing overall. I enjoyed the level of detail. However, I can see why someone might be put off by that aspect of the novel, particularly given its size.


And so ... in the end, I recommend this book with a note that it is a commitment to read this book. It's not a quick, easy read. But, if you put in the effort, I think you will be pleasantly surprised!


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Mini Reviews ...

I thought I would do another set of mini reviews on some of the books that I read during my hiatus (I think I'm beginning to come out of that now lolol) ...

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

My rating: 3 and a half stars!

I am actually quite a fan of Emily Giffin's books. Although not great literary fiction, they are nice, escapist books that seem to always entertain me! This particular novel is not one of my all time favorites of her novels but I did enjoy it. I found it to be fairly predictable and it just wasn't as solid as her previous novels. However, I did enjoy it. It kept me interested throughout. I thought the story was nice, nothing earth shattering but a good solid story. There were a number of flaws i ...more I am actually quite a fan of Emily Giffin's books. Although not great literary fiction, they are nice, escapist books that seem to always entertain me! This particular novel is not one of my all time favorites of her novels but I did enjoy it. I found it to be fairly predictable and it just wasn't as solid as her previous novels. However, I did enjoy it. It kept me interested throughout. I thought the story was nice, nothing earth shattering but a good solid story. There were a number of flaws in the plot but nothing that made the book terrible. I didn't find the characters in this novel nearly as compelling as some of her previous work which may account for the fact that I didn't love this one as much as I'd hoped. I really struggled with rating this one and decided on 4 although its really more like 3 and a half. 

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins


My rating: 3 stars!


I didn't write a big review on this one ... mostly because I found it so disappointing especially since the first 2 in the trilogy were so fantastic. This one was just EHHH for me. Very sad, in my opinion.

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner


My rating: 4 stars!


Nice, solid beach read type of book. Interesting story that kept me reading. Definitely liked this one better than Weiner's last novel which I was a bit disappointed in. All in all, a good, worthwhile novel. Light, entertaining but not particularly complex. 

Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross

My rating: 2 stars!

I liked the idea of this novel much more than the reality of it. It had such promise but it just failed to engage me. Adam Ross is a good writer ... the story had a great deal of potential. The twist was really interesting but didn't have enough impact to save the novel as a whole for me.

  
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

My rating: 5 stars!

Very haunting novel with a big twist SO I'm not telling you much about it but its a fantastic read - compelling characters, a storyline that is realistic and frightening. Brilliant novel!

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner


My rating: 3 stars!


I was SO hoping for this one to be a 4 or 5 star read for me. Especially since the first in the series was a 3 star. Most of my issues with the first novel were NOT resolved in the second one. And the story itself (the Scorch Trials) was not quite as compelling as the one in the Maze Runner. That was disappointing. I will say that James Dashner does do a good job of making the reader want to keep reading, even with the material itself isn't particularly compelling. I still want to know what happens so I'll read the next one. But, I was a bit frustrated at the lack of growth between the first book and this one. It just didn't meet my expectations. I felt a bit let down. This book had potential and it just didn't make it ...

 
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford


My rating: 4 stars!


This is a really solid book. I've been hearing good things for a long time and it was definitely worth the wait! 

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

My rating:  4 stars!

Really fantastic book that I definitely recommend! This is a very accessible but very smart mystery with a strong sense of place. The characters are complex and captivating! Really great read ... very satisfying and compelling! I'm a big fan of southern fiction and this one is a standout of its genre! Although the mystery aspect of the novel is expertly done, it is the characterizations of the two primary characters that really make this book stand out for me. I was expecting something a bit more 'dumbed down' for some reason and WOW was I surprised - this is smart mystery writing in all the best ways! Don't miss out on this one!  

The Tiger by John Vailiant

My rating: 4 stars!

Had someone told me that I'd read a book about tigers and LOVE it, I would have thought that they were batty! However, this was a wonderful book - very engaging, well written, and interesting! I definitely recommend this even if you have no interest in tigers or animals. I was constantly surprised, based on the material, how John Vaillant kept me turning the pages so rapidly. I feel like I learned a lot while reading this book but I never felt as if I was learning! Great non-fiction book that even those who typically don't enjoy non-fiction (ME!!) will devour!



Thanks so much for sticking it out with me during my hiatus ... I feel like I'm getting back on a reading roll so look for more reviews and other bookish things to come! I love to hear what you think about the books that I'm reviewing so definitely post your thoughts in the comments!!

Review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

 









The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a person who isn't particularly interested in medical non-fiction, I found myself really engaged in this non-fiction account of HeLa cells and the woman whose cells have had such an impact on modern medicine. I'm not a huge non-fiction reader (primarily because I find it difficult to find compelling non-fiction) but this particular book is fantastic. It's very engaging, very accessible and not at all 'over my head.' The mix of science and human interest was blended so effortlessly by Rebecca Skloot. I was amazed at how readable the medical aspects were for me. How Skloot made those sections interesting and relevant to a non-science fan like me!


The human interest pieces were just heartbreaking for me. The honest look at poverty, racism, education and crime was very well done. Skloot's skill at weaving these more heartfelt pieces with the necessary biographical, medical and ethical pieces was just incredible! It came off so effortlessly to me as a reader.


I felt bad for Henrietta's children and the impact of her death and all that came after that for each of them. They did not/have not have/had easy lives. I definitely think that the anger that they expressed repeatedly through the book was directly related to poverty and a lack of education. It came off as almost being greed in some instances in the book but I think that it really comes down to the cycle of poverty and abuse. The family couldn't understand any of this to any level of depth which I think made it impossible for them to understand the nuances that are at play when it comes to compensation, ethics, etc. In the end, I am thankful that the Lacks had Rebecca Skloot in their life to help them gain a better understanding of things. It seemed to me that once the understanding was there, the anger began to dissipate. And they were able to move beyond the anger into understanding and pride that their mother's cells were able to help so many people.


I found a great deal of the socioeconomic aspects of the book just heartbreaking because of how difficult it is for someone surrounded by poverty, abuse and dysfunction to make the right choices that will lead down the right path. It happens but it is RARE. As a former social worker who worked with many families and individuals that struggled with escaping the cycle of poverty and abuse, it's very very very difficult even when opportunities come about. It's difficult to step out of your comfort zone (no matter how dysfunctional, depressing or heartbreaking it may be) to try to change yourself or your circumstances. I also think that any compensation for the family would not have actually help them economically or otherwise. They really needed to heal as a family and get perspective on something that was outside of their understanding.


In the end, I absolutely enjoyed the reading of this book and recommend it wholeheartedly. It's a fantastic book that will stay with you after you close the book. It will make you think. It will give you perspective. It's just wonderful.


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Review: Kings of the Earth by Jon Clinch

 









Kings of the Earth by Jon Clinch

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I've heard fantastic things about Jon Clinch so I was really looking forward to Kings of the Earth. It sounded like something right up my alley. And it really was a great read ... it was fantastic!


Jon Clinch is a very talented writer ... his writing just made the scenes come alive for me. I didn't want to put the book down ... the writing, the character development, the weaving of time ... it's all wonderful! Clinch brought the world of the three brothers alive for me and I felt as if I was part of the book myself at times. The squalor and poverty were so beautifully portrayed that I almost felt as if I could feel and smell the farm. At first I was worried about the way that Clinch tells the story - through multiple voices that jump around in time. However, it was ultimately a really effective tool and gave the book something special. And, I never became confused or frustrated by the jumping. Clinch did a masterful job of weaving the story together into a cohesive and outstanding story.


In the end, I was sad to put it down ... I didn't want the narrative to end. The complexity of the storytelling and the writing made this book one of my favorites of the year! I can't wait to go pick up Finn which I also hear is fantastic! This is a great novel that I definitely recommend!

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Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

 










Room by Emma Donoghue

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was really concerned that this book wouldn't live up to the hype that I kept hearing about it. The premise sounded amazing, the reviews were fantastic! I shouldn't have worried ... this one was fantastic! I wavered between 4 and 5 stars, ultimately settling on 5 because of the emotional impact this book had on me! It's a really strong book - one of my favorites this year!

The point of view in this book is AMAZING! Having a 5 year old narrator is the very thing that gives the book its impact and it could have gone very, very wrong! Fortunately for the reader, the execution of this book is FANTASTIC!

I've said it before but I rarely 'feel' a book. I rarely find myself emotionally involved to the point that a book brings me to tears, for example. But, this book did. There were moments when I just put the book down and sobbed, sad for this little boy and this woman who are having to deal with the effects of living in the Room. I think part of it was being the mother of two five year olds so they voice of the narrator was extremely impactful to me. I kept imagining my own children and how they'd react to the situation that Jack found himself in.

In the end, it was a good story that ultimately left me hopeful. It wasn't harrowing or frightening, despite the material/subject matter. It was fantastic. An excellent character study and a fantastic example of the use of voice in a story. WOW.

I will say that it took me some time to get into the book which surprised me but once I found a rhythm with the book, I began to fall in love with Jack and his view of the world. It did take me a bit to get there but I think the later impact of the book made the initial slowness of connection irrelevant for me personally. I don't think this is a perfect book but I do think it is an excellent book. Well worth the read!

I can't recommend this one enough. VERY good book, very good writing. Really impactful. Very timely, particularly since there have been several cases lately of this sort of thing around the world. It's left a mark on me and I suspect I'll carry this story and this narrator around with me for some time!

Hiatus

Hello everyone! I'm taking a bit of a blog hiatus because my life has gotten super crazy and busy. I just need to take a little time to get our schedule back on track. I'll come post reviews, etc. as I can but know that it may well be few and far between for a bit! Thanks for understanding!