Elizabeth Dean
Really enjoyed this series. The author did a good job with opening the story, expanding it with revelations and most notably, bringing it to an appropriate close. She really did a good job making the setting and plot details more specific as the characters learned more about their world. It's so rare that a postapocalyptic/dystopian setup has a satisfying ending, but this one did!
The second volume in the Divergent series truly thrilled me. I loved that the other factions (and the factionless) were introduced in this story. My favorite detail was the image of the factionless riding through the city on dark trains . . . and the idea that they'd been doing it all along, Tris had just never noticed. The book was action packed, but Tris's quiet internal struggles over who ally with and her developing empathy for her adversaries really drove the narrative. The first book seemed simplistic; this one was more nuanced and better for it. I loved it!
A lovely story by Chapel Hill author Barbara Claypole White, who specializes in “love stories about damaged people.” I really love how she normalizes mental illness and incorporates people who are affected by it (either themselves or in their families) into her novels. I look forward to reading more by her!
Robin Hood as set in 11th century Wales with the British resisting the French. It really dragged in parts, & the ending was unsatisfying. Robin is kind of interesting but mostly he is mopey & this is the least charismatic band of merry men I've ever seen. I bought the whole trilogy on sale so will at least try Scarlet, the 2nd.
Serena's character was compelling at first but then kind of ridiculous and less nuanced at the end. Or maybe that's just because I got to know her better and she lost her mysterious appeal! Rash's writing about the landscape and the people transported me to the Smokies, and the many depictions of the process and result of timber clearcutting just made my heart ache. Still, a great read, especially if you love NC Appalachian landscape, history and colorful characters.
This book exceeded expectations! It works as both an expat memoir & as a light parenting manual. Druckerman's observations of the French are spot on with many of the currently popular books on child development (NurtureShock, How Children Succeed). Paris sounds like a perfect place to raise children.
This series is ambling to a DULL conclusion. I still really love the mundane southern supernatural atmosphere Harris created, however, and I want to know what happens to them all. Looking forward to closing out the story with the next book. And I hope Charlaine Harris creates a new southern heroine sometime soon!
The story continues to develop & expand in interesting ways. Payne makes the second female “brother” and I am happy to have her in the group. I was happy that she was not a victim of sexual violence the way the first female brother, Xhex, was, both for my own comfort and because I hate the storytelling convention of making strong (physically) female characters former victims. I also welcomed the story of Xcor and the Band of Bastards. They have their own moral code and appeal which will be fun to get to know in contrast to the Brothers. The writing seemed sloppy in this one though, to the point that I started to wonder if Ward was farming it out to someone, but I don't think she produces at that high of a level. Onward!
This book has great reviews and likable, interesting authors/editors. Also, the cover and title are fabulous. I am just not particularly interested in religion in the way these authors present it. The authors are really interested in what it means to believe particular religious tenets. The book contains personal interpretations of the content & meaning of books of the Bible, interspersed with stories from the editors' road trip across the USA to meet/discover spiritually interesting and unusual people and places.
I'm giving up! Despite being impressed with the first four Outlander books, I don't think I can continue. This one is boring as all get out, even though it's set in a dreamy & exciting locale - colonial North Carolina! I read about what happens in this & subsequent books in the series (lots of 18th century medicine, lots of breastfeeding, more abductions & rapes of main characters) & decided not to go on. So if anyone wants to get lunch & fill me in on everything else that happens to Claire, Jamie, Brianna, & Roger, by all means, do tell.
Loved this one, although the violence of the lessers was a bit much/gross - I did skim those parts. I was impressed with some of the plot reveals/connections made at the end. I did not anticipate them! Other reviewers have commented that this series transitions from pure paranormal romance to more expansive urban fantasy after the first 5 or so books. This one is a particularly good example.
Basic findings from scientific research presented in this book:
1- Yoga does not improve cardivascular fitness.
2- Yoga is likely to cause you to gain weight, rather than lose it, because it decreases your metabolism.
3- Yoga significantly improves symptoms of anxiety and depression, across the board.
4- Yoga measurably, vastly improves your libido and sexual function.
5- Your brain on yoga, as measured by MRIs, is like your brain on spiritual inspiration and orgasm.
So don't do yoga to get in shape, physically, BUT - do it for all the other reasons. The evidence is there. It's a fascinating read.
Some books have characters you hate, and some books have characters you hate but still identify with and root for. This book was one of the former, and it's why I hated the book itself so much. There are many comparisons to Gone Girl - OK, yes, the characters are unlikable and the narrators are unreliable. But the people in this book aren't even entertaining or charming, or even interesting. (Their crimes aren't even creative for God's sake!) They're just bad people. Still, it was interesting enough to get me to read the whole thing, so that's something.
This book was all over the place! I like the investment Ward has made in multiple storylines but they kind of all dragged each other down. I am not a huge fan of the Symphath culture in these books because I can't find anything redeeming in it. Some virtue or honor in the species would make the books more readable! Otherwise, liked it and looking forward to the next.