Jenny

I really enjoyed this clever book. Warning: lots of obscure video game and 1980s references which may be off-putting to some. However, I thought the premise was fresh - most of the activity happens in a virtual reality world - and involves the main character working to solve a series of puzzles in order to win a massive competition. Also some thought-provoking themes related to what our world could become with the advent of virtual reality everything, the virtues of virtual reality v. living in the real world, relationships built in a VR world without appearances mucking things up and the importance of a new neutral environment. The book will soon be made into a movie and will be interested to see how Spielberg brings this world to life. I could also imagine several alternate endings to this story and curious whether the big screen version will stay true to story.

I was incredibly disappointed by the final book in the Divergent series. I found that by the middle of this final volume, I no longer cared what happened to the characters. I wanted to like this series as much as I did The Hunger Games, but I was just counting down the pages until I could be finished. The story being told alternately by Tris and Tobias confused matters, and the story was so far fetched even as compared to the first two books. Readers looking for a Hunger Games substitute will be let down.

I absolutely loved this book! I owe a huge thank you to Christine Mucker who gifted this to me. She hit the nail on the head when she said she saw this and thought of me. This is not your run-of-the-mill cookbook and is instead a heartwarming collection of recipes, stories, parenting tips and priceless guidance for semi-neurotic working mothers of two determined to gather the family at the dinner table every night. I can't wait to try so many of recipes in this collection like Yogurt-Marinated Chicken, Grandma Turino's Meatballs and White Pizza with Arugula, Parmesan, Ricotta and Lemon. But more importantly, I can't wait to try the author's umpteen suggestions for how to make mealtime more enjoyable for our littles from encouraging them to try new foods to encouraging them to volunteer more information about their day other than, “It was good.” Most excited about her mad-glad-sad trick. Want to know more? Read the book! It is organized, not by the traditional appetizers/salads/desserts chapter, but rather by the phases and stages of a fledging couple learning to prepare meals together through the introduction of two children into their lives to a more settled period where the kids can help select and prepare the meals (or at least be good company while preparing rather than wicked distractions). Truly, this book precisely describes my individual journey and perfectly captures the personalities of each of my beloved family members, and I am sure others who read this will feel exactly the same way!

This book is a comprehensive and fascinating glimpse into the mind of a genius. Steve Jobs was a visionary who literally changed the society that we live in and much for the better. His biography is well-written and engaging. Frankly, Steve Jobs was not a likeable guy but he was brilliant and he knew what consumers wanted. From his early beginnings to his ouster from Apple, his involvement in Pixar and his personal health decisions, there were twists and turns that kept my interest throughout the nearly 700 pages. Do NOT watch the Jobs movie with Ashton Kutcher (which was okay) and hunk you know all there was to know about Steve Jobs. The movie only covered maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the book. I highly recommend this to readers of al sorts.

I had high hopes for this book. While it was definitely easy to read and was very well-written, I was expecting the complexity of problem solving and discovery of Da Vinci Code but got a much lighter romp through San Francisco secret society with a strange and disappointing ending. Recommended for beach read or short attention span pre-bedtime reading.

2.5 stars. I picked this book up immediately after finishing Emily Henry's Beach Read, which I LOVED. I probably should not have read them back to back, because I was terribly disappointed by this one. Where Beach Read presented two main characters that I loved and empathized with, contained countless laugh out loud moments and witty repartee and all the elements of a rom com which I so desperately was in the mood for because life these days, I slogged through this story and until about 3/4ths of the way through had to force myself to pick it back up again each day. The only reason I finished is because I borrowed it from the library knew it would be nine weeks on hold if I didn't finish on time. I think I would have enjoyed it more if Beach Read hadn't established a vibe that I didn't want to end and was hoping to find again in this book.

Meh. Listened to this one on audiobook while on 12-hour car ride and while it was engaging enough to keep us awake and we're moderately surprised by how the ending unfolded, I was so distracted by all of the gratuitous foul language, that it brought the overall rating for this one down to 2.5 stars for me. I am all for a well placed F-bomb but it felt like every other word of the dialogue or mental dialogue of at least 3 characters was the F-word. Disappointed overall.

I have probably over-inflated my rating by half a star or so, but this was exactly what I needed to read in a 2020 post-holiday fog. It was light, entertaining and I could almost smell the holiday scents, feel the crisp, cold Nantucket air and envision the holiday decor of the island B&B that is the book's setting. This is first book in a series and last pages had me wanting to immediately begin the second book. If you're looking for a complex plot, deeply developed characters or rich writing, this is not the book for you. But if you need to be transported and distracted for a few hours, I can recommend.

I mostly enjoyed this slightly non-traditional memoir, which I listened to on audiobook so that I could hear the story told with the intended emphasis and inflection by Matthew McConaughey himself. I adore the sound of his voice. He shares some wild stories from his childhood, about his parentals, about adventures he had as he built his burgeoning film career and started to experience success. The memoir is equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking with a couple of head-scratcher moments thrown in. I even jotted down a quote or two based on McConaughey's proffered advice and plan to go back and watch some of his work that I haven't yet seen (e.g., True Detective) based on how he spoke about the experiences of his later acting career. Worth a read (or a listen).

I would give this book 3.5 stars if I could. This was the perfect vacation read. Laugh-out loud funny in parts. Looking forward to reading the next installment.

3.5 stars. I wish there was a way to give half a star because this book was better than a three star read but just not quite to a 4 for me. I loved reading about a geography, culture and time period I know little about and thought the author did a masterful job describing the dichotomy of Cuban identity of those who stayed in Cuba after the Cuban Revolution and those who fled Cuba when Fidel took over. And cheers to two strong female lead characters whose stories were beautifully crafted and had me rooting for both. I found the pacing of the story to be unbalanced - slow build over dual timelines that felt like it rushed to conclusion, leading me to give it 3.5 stars instead of 4. I still look forward, however, to reading the companion book that features one of the other intriguing women characters from this story.

So pleasantly surprised by this book and waiting with anticipation for the next book in the series to arrive on my doorstep to find out what happens next! A gripping moment early in the book grabs your attention and you cannot help but plow forward to puzzle out what has just happened and why. A seemingly plain non-descript young girl transforms into a principled, complex and devoted heroine grappling with who to trust after her life is up-ended and also with the developing feelings she has for her loyal, handsome childhood friend/neighbor and the enigmatic boy that is driven into her life by circumstance. You'll find plenty of action, plot twists, a love triangle, villainous characters, a wee bit of science fiction and heros/heroines you can't help but cheer for. Fans of the Twilight and The Hunger Games series will enjoy this book! Although there are parts of the story or themes that will feel reminiscent of the prior series (protective sibling, sacrificial parent, Team Beckett or Team Jack?), the story and characters are unique enough to invest in. Ms. Tankersley succeeded in converting a skeptic into a fan. Well done Heidi!

An amazing read that spanned all of my emotions - disgust for an oppressive system, laughter at the absurdity of certain situations, pride that there are lawyers willing to give so much of themselves to solve a societal ill, sorrow, enthusiasm for a hopeful future. I encourage all to read this non-fiction account of a non-fiction lawyer tackling issues of race and poverty and bringing attention to a population who is mercilessly ignored. This is a call to action.

This book was truly terrific! Part of me wished I had listened to the audiobook which I believe Trevor Noah narrates, but the book was a super-quick, engaging read that brings to life a post-apartheid world. Growing up during the time of apartheid, I had some vague awareness what it was but Noah does a masterful job describing just how oppressive the regime was while still introducing humor, perspective and admiration for what he and his family endured. His mother was a major influence in his life and you cannot help but to respect and empathize with this incredibly strong and resilient woman whose love for her children was undeniable. I internalized much about relationships, race, language and poverty and look forward to watching more Daily Show after this which will be all the more poignant because of the additional context I have now about Trevor Noah's life.

This book was not what I expected. I suppose I expected more of an espionage-type thriller, and although the book held my interest, it was instead a tale of relationships and trust rather than a whodunit. I appreciated the writing – the book whisked me back to the paranoid McCarthy-era Cold War sixties – but just couldn't get as worked up about what the author seemed to want us to care about. Quick, decent read.

This book is one that I read months ago, but still sticks with me. It was incredibly well written and the characters were complex and developed. The villain is sinister and totally twisted. Without giving anything away, I have never felt so manipulated by an author (in a good way, if that's possible) and was stunned by the way the book plays out. I understand that they are making this book into a movie and I am both thrilled and terrified by the prospect.

I was very disappointed with this book, which was incredibly formulaic. I essentially felt that Brown took the Da Vinci Code and plugged in a
handful of different characters and it took place in a different city but the plot is the same. The only interesting twist was that the “made you think issue” was a scientific one more akin to a Michael Crichton novel. Re-read Angels & Demons if you need a Brown fix.

Kept my attention and it was a quick read, but some similarity to Hunger Games which I liked better.

I loved this book! If I didn't have so many new books I wanted to read, I would add this to my “re-read” book. Reading this book made me want to meet Elizabeth Gilbert, and I got the distinct impression based on her writing style and sense of humor that she and I could be best friends. I very much enjoyed her journeys in Italy and Indonesia. The middle portion of the book that occurs in India was not as lively or enjoyable as the other two sections, but it wasn't intended to be. Those who haven't already read this should - it's a quick read!

Beautifully crafted memoir!

This book drove me berserk. It opens with a chapter that purportedly helps you to identify your inner voice. Well, mission accomplished and once identified, my inner voice kept me up at night! While I was excited about the premise of this book, it was way too philosophical and theoretical without enough practical and concrete suggestions.

Yummy! More accurately 3.5 stars. This book is a delicious collection of Lebovitz's blogs posts and humorous anecdotes about his experience re-locating to Paris from California. His descriptions are hysterical, from how to wait (or not) in a Parisian line to how to dress appropriately to take out the garbage to where to find the “best” chocolat chaud in Paris, and while the book clearly paints a picture of the difficulties Americans may face adjusting to the pace of Parisian life, it also makes you want to jump on a plane to sample the delicious pastries and French delicacies this cookbook author details in his book. Lots of bonus recipes included!

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I appreciated how meticulously Hilary Mantel researched this book and the re-telling of the Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn story from the perspective of Thomas Cromwell, an often overlooked figure. However, I struggled to get through this lengthy novel which at times seemed to get bogged down in unnecessary detail and did not find it nearly as engaging as Sharon Kay Penman's historical novels or Phillippa Gregory's. I am debating whether to read Mantel's sequel, Bring Up The Bodies.