Jenn
I don't think this was a terrible book. It has a very interesting concept and format. I think I just didn't connect with the character of Addison Stone. To me, she was not very likable and therefore, I wasn't interested about hearing of her life and the mystery of her death. None of the other characters seemed to have any real depth either, so it ended up being a bit of a chore to slog through to the end.
I think the format and presentation of this story was intriguing and clever and wouldn't mind seeing it again.
I read Artemis when it first came out, and I was a little disappointed that I didn't love it the same way that I loved The Martian.
Re-reading it, I was able to appreciate Jazz a bit more and understand more of the nuances of the story. It is a different kind of story than The Martian, but still very smart and well-crafted.
After this re-read, there is definitely a redemption thread that ties all of the book's events together, which I largely missed on the first read.
This was a very interesting and evocative tale. Thought-provoking and reflective in tone, it was a good book to listen to during my long commutes to and from work.
The ending was a little surprising, at least in POV.
SpoilerI'm sad that we didn't get to know what happened to the handmaid in the end.
I watched the first two episodes of The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu last night, after reading the book. I don't want to give out any spoilers, but I think the TV show is creepier than the book! I enjoyed the take on the characters. I'll have to remember to update this entry after I've seen the entire series.
This book, unfortunately, took me quite a while to finish. And - to be honest - I skimmed the last couple stories. While the stories themselves were different, they all had a common theme and a similar feeling: almost a dissociated feeling, like something was just not quite right or you were in a dream state. It was a disturbing feeling, which probably was why it took so long for me to work through it. There was always something wrong with the relationship between the man and woman in the story; these were not your typical relationships.
Hmm.... How do I feel about this book? I have to really think about that. It was a good book, but I guess what makes me rate is lower is that I did not like any of the main characters.
Cassie, while appropriately cautious about the culture and the military rules, is bitter about a lot of things in her life and almost seeks to bring Margaret down at times. A horrible personality flaw, but one that rings truthful, especially in military circles. Women can be vicious. How she acts toward her own husband, and with Margaret's husband is also troubling. Her holier-than-thou attitude, even when she was technically correct, made me want to slap her.
Margaret is a little bit more likable and sympathetic of a character. Her naiveté is sometimes annoying. Almost like she knows better but acts clueless sometimes. She does not properly understand the implication of her actions, even when they get her into significant trouble the first time.
Both men are also flawed and have flawed interactions with their wives. Sad, but again often the case in military marriages.
Overwhelmingly, these characters felt like their story was written in a vacuum. There was minimal interaction with other characters on base. Possibly just because the story was focused on them, but it felt a little off. Usually on a base, there are way too many people up in your business. In this book, it felt like the Hugos and Brickshaws were on a military base on the moon and there were no other military spouses around. It was portrayed that Cassie felt alienated because she didn't have any children, but all of it felt oddly disconnected. Even in a scene where a base party was thrown, there was minimal discussion of the other guests.
Ultimately, I think my relationship with this book feels like Cassie's feelings toward Margaret. They would not have normally been friends, but due to a sense of military obligation you do your duty. You may not entirely like the other person, but you do want to help them out. At the end, I just wished that I had liked the book a little more. It was well done, but just didn't capture me the way I really wanted it to.
Fantastic book! I think all women need reminders like these. We are all too often caught up in the busyness of life and rarely stop to really savor life. Emily writes in a very real, honest way that brought me to tears many times as I read. You feel for her, you feel with her, and you just want to hug her! The important things in life are not usually the ones marketed to you. And you are enough, just as you are. God gives you His grace, all the time. Learn to look for it and be grateful for it. In this, you will realize contentment and joy in your day to day.
This one was hard to get through. It was just so far from reality and quite predictable. The premise was far-fetched and nothing that would actually be condoned by school officials - I don't care how much money it generates for the school. The fact that every character in the story was fabulously wealthy and could drop thousands without batting an eye and lived in enormous houses was also just too much.
It read like it was written by a very inexperienced author and there were many grammatical errors throughout.
This was a great read. But, more than that, it was an important read. The characters, relationships, fears, and hopes were absolutely believable. The book dealt with the serious issues without being preachy or trivializing them for the sake of the plot. The ending was realistic and hopeful for the future.
The events in this book both horrified me and got me to be very emotionally invested in the characters. I would definitely recommend it.
All of Colleen Hoover's books suck you and and do not let you go until you have finished reading the last word. I loved the playful as well as serious aspects to the relationships portrayed in this book. I think Ridge is one of the most honorable and integrity-filled characters that I've read about.
I think this is a series... I'll have to see... I might be buying the next book sometime like right now.... :)
I could see this book being made into a movie, and the entire journey of the narrative was described so vividly, you could see Zoey's world as you read. I really identified with Zoey as a character and was rooting for her. There was great character development and just the right amount of explanation that you were neither frustrated at not understanding, nor were you bored with the tedium of the world-building.
The book could have ended here and been a satisfying read. However, I am looking forward to the subsequent novels. It could go in any direction and I'd like to be there for the next part of Zoey's journey.
I enjoyed reading this book. We know from the outset that it's about a girl whose twin sister has cancer, but this isn't quite like other books which focus on a disease or tragedy.
SpoilerI love that the book does not end with Jena's death. It leaves it open-ended, so that we can imagine her surviving or not - it's up to us. Plus, I think it changes the focus of the book. We shouldn't be worried about death, we should be working on living.
The cover is actually a little punny. You'll get it once you read the book.
Personally, I was confused by this book. The big twist/surprise didn't make any sense to me and I felt that it wasn't explained very well. Some of the “regular” parts were nice to read. I think the story would have been better without the twist.
At least it was a library book and I can return it.
This was an odd-feeling book. I felt as lost and confused as Rio, and when the revelations happened, they happened softly, and not really like revelations. So, for me, it lacked some needed fire. The connection between the sisters wasn't as strong as portrayed as I think it was meant to be in truth.
Overall, I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters.
