This story ebbs more than it flows. Only the protagonist is fleshed out.
In the “Dirty Thirties”, families were torn apart by poverty and dire circumstances. The found family, hardships, and resiliency of the characters was wonderful.
In the “Dirty Thirties”, families were torn apart by poverty and dire circumstances. The found family, hardships, and resiliency of the characters was wonderful.
The characters were shallow versions (even more shallow than the original) Bonnie and Clyde. There were too many characters and not enough depth.
I liked this one but the story felt very familiar as well as fairly forgettable.
An unlikable protagonist with tough friends is determined to solve the mystery of her sister‘s disappearance. The ending was pat.
If this author was ever familiar with the term arterial bleed, you wouldn‘t know it from this implausibly plotted novel. One of the major subjects in the story was irrelevant, Apparently only there for shock value.
If you don‘t know how to move the story forward, just kill off a character. If your protagonist is completely unable to grieve or show much in the way of emotion, great, it won‘t bog the story down in sentimentality. Of course, it also won‘t feel genuine. The solutions were farfetched and there was no suspense as the murderer just as well have been wearing a giant M on his shirt from the first.
The writing wasn‘t as gripping as one might hope but the atmosphere and ideas were amazing. In the depths of destruction, these characters do more than survive. These characters wring every ounce of life, joy, and community they can from a chaotic, grim reality. Even in despair, there is magic. #CanadaReads2024
There are some plot holes but if you can set those aside, this twisty, gothic tale written in a lively, engaging manner is great fun.
If you are looking for fun, spicy romances with smart, successful protagonists, this is the book for you.
While parts of this story connected, much of it fell flat. It is more art than story and while that art is gorgeous, it didn‘t grab me. CanadaReads2024
This was amazing. Miles used Ashley‘s sack as a touchstone around which she based the history and livelihoods of enslaved men and women. This is on the long list for the women‘s prize for nonfiction.
With strong characters, a creepy atmosphere, and writing which begs to be read aloud, this is a strong contender for Canada Reads 2024.
The moral of this story could be: “you suffer, occasionally meet interesting people, and then you die” set against the backdrop of lovely Ireland.
Whereas “There There” was rapid bursts of characters which eventually connected, “Wandering Stars” is a slow, concentric, unending ebb and flow of relationships and secrets. At tomes, I was lost in the dreamy haziness but Orange‘s artistry is always worth checking out. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an arc.
I really didn‘t like this but I have horrible luck with short stories so it is probably my own bias. Grim and gritty, these stories leave the reader gasping for mercy
The ending was satisfying and the mother-daughter relationship was bittersweet. However, the bouncing timeline was inefficient and jarring.#CanadaReads2024
I am not a horror fan but this one somehow found its way into my TBR. A horror/dystopian mix of monster butterflies and rabid humans. Well written with sympathetic characters and tense action scenes. If you have issues with body horror, a hard no. This book may turn me into a prepper.
An atmospheric adventure story. A band of misfits must work together to save one of their friends. I loved the atmosphere, the character growth, and the blossoming romance. Touching and tense. The ending felt a bit rushed and cool.
I think this will be fun. So far, the snarky tone and sense of atmosphere is fantastic.
Interesting. Would be nice if it works.
A whimsical and cozy ghost story with great characters and atmosphere galore. A fairly loe stakes story.
Adventure and danger. Character growth and atmosphere. This has social commentary about fanaticism, power, and corruption. It has everything I like and yet it took half of the book to pull me into the story.
This would be a great tale of sadness and triumph, well-written and interesting in details of a historic nature, except it feels as if we are traveling back to this time of inhumanity towards the poor and vulnerable.
A fairly complex mystery with great characters and a well paced plot. The humor hits.
Well, the cover is cool. The omniscient narrator‘s over-the-too humor was tedious and the plot overwrought.
I dread sports books. I read them so I have new books to recommend to young patrons but I dread them. This book is all basketball, all the time. It is also all heart. Great friendships, a family who is actively surviving the eldest son‘s death, and a community that just needs one win. This was fantastic. I gave a basketball novel five stars!!!😳
This is packed with action. It is stressful. There is no time for character depth or growth. If you are in the mood for a fast paced thriller, this will probably hot the spot. TW: gun violence
An interesting but much abbreviated look at episodes of American paranoia. The Salem Witch Trials info should have been fleshed out more but was riveting. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an Advance digital copy.
A thoughtful look at a difficult subject. The protagonist learns leaning on her friends does not make her less strong or smart. TW: addiction and drug use.
A strangely compelling story of an investigator who solves cases with the philosophy of a vague, existential sort while using drugs and isolating herself. Trigger warnings for self-harm and drugs
Dark humor, a zombie apocalypse, and teen cannibals. The plot is decent and fast moving. The characters weren‘t deep but were likable (for cannibals). Horror isn‘t my jam but if it is yours, give it a go.
The weaving of intergenerational trauma from the 1930s Ukrainian famine and the Covid epidemic was interesting but unrelentingly dark and depressing.
The United States was formed out of dissent and its path to progress has ebbed and flowed based on the reasons for dissent by its citizens. Young is comprehensive in his descriptions of protest movements from the past; whereas, the more recent episodes sometimes feel glossed over as in the case of the barely mentioned Keystone XL protests by indigenous communities. Thanks to Edelweiss & the publisher for a DRC. This is informative and interesting.
Thanks to Edelweiss for an advance digital copy. Jim was a strong, compassionate, and wise character in The Adventures of Huck Finn. In the first half of James, there wasn‘t an appreciable difference of story or character; however the second half gives James the time and space to fully inhabit all of the complexities of his character and life.
Using the most boring, fictional, town in Nebraska, the Author‘s quirky characters and audacious plots keep the novel moving right along. With compassion and understanding in some cases, and overreaching ambition in others, Simon tries to continue to survive a school shooting. A wonderful tale.
Very cheesy. Lots of chemistry mentioned in dialogue, very little on the page.
There were many good threads of a story that never found their destiny.
I loved the Marrow Thieves by this author so I was excited to read this. Paid full price. About half way through and I just find it flat. To continue or no?
A young boy named Hercules is given a Herculean task as homework. As he works to complete his daunting assignment, he befriends neighbors and classmates and begins to come to terms with the horrid tragedy which changed his life. Friendship and responsibility and grief are major themes. I will enjoy recommending this.
A beautiful story about friendship, family, chronic illness, growing up, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. That sounds heavy. However, this book is more than a book about growing up with Cystic Fibrosis. It is a loving portrayal of someone who is coming to realize all of the limitless potential stored in themselves and nurtured by others.
After someone calls him fat in forth grade, Will spirals. He loses friends, isolates and loathes himself and experiences disordered eating. This book is intense. It could definitely trigger people with eating disorders while it could also help others realize they are not alone. Would I recommend it? I am honestly not sure.
An adventure tale with dire consequences hanging over Jim‘s head. Huck comes to terms with the unjust enslavement of Jim. Tom Sawyer‘s character is a romantic putz with no moral character. Percival Everett has a book about Jim coming out next year, “James”. I wanted to refresh my memory before then.
There are no villains in this story. There are; however, great characters, which include ghosts, mice, and a cat, and a wonderful library focused mystery. This would be a fantastic, gentle read aloud.
It was very exciting to get another murderbot story. The pacing was a bit off in this one. The first half is all emotional upheaval and slow angst; whereas, the last half is breakneck action. Still love this series.
Lively, simple writing. A parted lovers novel set during an outbreak of the plague. Characters are many and described well. Much commentary on politicians and infection control. It felt very 2020.