Review: The A to Z of Skateboarding

The A to Z of Skateboarding by Tony Hawks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I can relate, to a small degree, to the author's problem. There is another Amy Smith in the town where I live and directory assistance used to route the collect calls she was getting from jail to me. Although they made for interesting stories, the messages on my voicemail were somewhat disturbing and often annoying. Thankfully, even though my name is common, I don't share it with a celebrity.

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Review: The Last Samurai

The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Ugh.

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Review: Drinks With Dead Poets: A Season of Poe, Whitman, Byron, and the Brontes

Drinks With Dead Poets: A Season of Poe, Whitman, Byron, and the Brontes by Glyn Maxwell
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Reads like the author is barely hanging on before succumbing to a midlife breakdown.

I received a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

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Review: The Immortals

The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Interesting concept but by the time I had read 10% I still wasn't very drawn in so I abandoned it.

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Review: Dr. Psenka's Seasonal Allergy Solution: The All-Natural 4-Week Plan to Eliminate the Underlying Cause of Allergies and L ive Symptom-Free

Dr. Psenka's Seasonal Allergy Solution: The All-Natural 4-Week Plan to Eliminate the Underlying Cause of Allergies and L ive Symptom-Free by Jonathan Psenka
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I've tried most of these ideas over the years with no results.

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Review: Stories for Ways and Means

Stories for Ways and Means by Jeff Antebi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Much different from what I was expecting but still pretty interesting.

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Review: Dumplin'

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wasn't very excited about reading this but it came through on my library list. I honestly really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more by this author.

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Review: Dumplin'

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wasn't very excited about reading this but it came through on my library list. I honestly really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more by this author.

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Review: How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals

How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Heartfelt and wonderful stories, but I felt she could have dug deeper and made the stories longer. They really only scratch the surface.

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Review: In Extremis: The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin

In Extremis: The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey Hilsum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very detailed and well told account of an extraordinary human being.

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Review: The Farm

The Farm by Joanne Ramos
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Grabbed my attention initially, but I started to lose interest as it progressed. Still, not a bad story.

I received a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

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Review: All the Castles Burned

All the Castles Burned by Michael Nye
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good coming of age story. Written from the point of view of juveniles but not a YA book. One of those tales with a continuous sense of impending doom. Well written and hard to put down.



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Review: Notes from a Small Island

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Parts of this were amusing and parts offensive. I stopped reading when he started in on his observations of fat people eating.

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Review: The Library Book

The Library Book by Susan Orlean
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Rambling narrative with no resolution. Made me feel like reading this book was not a good use of my time.

I received a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

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Review: Lila

Lila by Marilynne Robinson
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

There's something about this author's writing style that I just cannot get into.

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Review: The Story of a New Name

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Excellent continuation. Looking forward to book three.

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