Review: American Woman

American Woman by Robert Pobi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've always said that the hallmark of a good mystery is when the reader does not figure out the plot before the main character. This book fits the bill. It was really well constructed: unique plot driver, well rounded characters, and compelling and believable story. You were given just enough back story to explain motives and not mired down with superfluous details. I'm really interested in reading some of this author's other work now.

This book was received through the GoodReads First Reads promotion.

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Review: H is for Hawk

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting combination of literary criticism, memoir, and book about coping with loss. Wasn't at all what I was expecting. It reads like a novel at first and it's very easy to forget that all of this really happened to someone. The story did take a little while to grow on me as I wasn't sure where to place the importance on her tangents. It all ends up going together very nicely though and is a very well-expressed portrait.

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Review: It's So Easy: And Other Lies

It's So Easy: And Other Lies by Duff McKagan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Guns n' Roses came onto the scene when I was a teenager and just discovering what my tastes in music were. They blew my mind. They were so different and the music was really unique. I ended up seeing them in concert during the second leg of the Use Your Illusion tour. I'd heard about the long waits and we had to wait about 2 hours before Axl decided to come out. I always wondered about the band dynamic and this book offers a great insight into what was going on. It's obvious Duff was frustrated by a lot of things that went on but he is never mean in his narrative. Not only is this an interesting perspective on the music scene of the times but this is a great cautionary tale about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. It's very impressive the way McKagen was able to conquer his demons and not only continue on with his music but pursue his education and begin business and writing careers. Very well-written.

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Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


There are a few passages in this book that are taken verbatim from Mockingbird. It's like listening to an old relative talk who tells the same story every time you see them. It's my impression that this was an alternate tale to Mockingbird, not necessarily meant to be a sequel. This must be the case as the trial depicted in Mockingbird has a different outcome in this book. This being the case, I think Mockingbird was the correct version to be chosen for publication and this could well have stayed stuck in a safe. Also, the shock over Atticus's behavior wouldn't have been as great if this were the book initially chosen, so this one doesn't work as well without the other. I don't think this book was really great but it was not horrible. Where Mockingbird relied on events to propel the story, this one is mainly driven by Scout's thoughts and inner turmoil. It's a much more interior story.



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Review: Grey

Grey by E.L. James
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

If you can't make a bad thing better, you should be bound and gagged and get electric shocks every time you touch a keyboard.

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Review: Armada

Armada by Ernest Cline
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun read. Cline is an amazingly charismatic storyteller. He is now on my short list of writers I will follow diligently. This book, however, was just not as much fun as his first novel (Ready Player One). There isn't as much comedy and it's a bit darker. Still, good story.


This review is in exchange for a free copy received from bloggingforbooks.org.


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Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I have no idea why this book is considered a classic. Considering how self-absorbed the main character was, she didn't seem to have many thoughts that weren't planted in her head by men. She's horrible to the one person who is unconditionally kind to her. The prose rambles to the dramas of side characters and you find yourself wondering if Flaubert just couldn't choose who he really wanted to write about. It makes for well-rounded characters but superfluous exposition. I was glad when it was over.



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Legend by Eric Blehm

Legend: A Harrowing Story from the Vietnam War of One Green Beret's Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines by Eric Blehm

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I thought Blehm's last book was better put together but this was very interesting. The first third of the book was a little hard for me to follow but you get really sucked into what was going on when the actual events start to get described. It makes you wonder how many feats of heroism have gone unrecognized, I'm sure there must be many.
A lot of people skip over prologues and epilogues but you should not skip over the epilogue of this one, you find out what happened to all the soldiers you read about.

This review is based on an ARC received from the publisher.



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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I apparently remembered very little of this book from when I read it as a young teenager. I'm finding it interesting to think of the way birds are used. I don't remember discussing it in school but we must have. I didn't know Finch was an old family name for Harper Lee. Seems more pertinent to think of finches as being a breed of diversity, as there are so many types. They are also harmless songbirds, much like the mockingbird.

I don't think I appreciated this book at all the first time I read it, it didn't make much of an impression on me. It was homework. I am very glad I re-read it. Wonderful story.



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The Strangler Vine by M.J. Carter

The Strangler Vine by M.J. Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was an interesting read. I have mixed feelings about historical fiction but I thought this was really well done. Everything I know about Thugs comes from what I saw in Indiana Jones (so nothing really), it was interesting to get a better perspective on their story. I highly recommend reading the "historical afterword" section on the book if, like me, you found yourself with questions about which side of the story was true while reading the novel.

This review is in exchange for a free book received through Goodreads First Reads.



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Living with Intent by Mallika Chopra

Living with Intent: My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace, and Joy by Mallika Chopra

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is one of those books full of common sense wisdom that we are all so good at forgetting. Advice about taking time for yourself, being mindful and grateful, telling people you love them....these are all things we know we should do but we get so wrapped up in stressing out about things that don't matter that we forget about the things that do. This book is a good reminder. It's the little things that matter so much and most of what we worry about not only does not matter but often does not even exist.

This honest review is in exchange for a free book from bloggingforbooks.org.



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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Ernest Cline is the immortal mage of awesomeness. I'm so glad my coworkers raved about this book so much or I wouldn't have heard of it. I can't think of a bad thing to say about this book. Going to order his next book right now.

READ IT!



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Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was really beautifully written. Each word was perfect for its purpose. But it just felt like the story was missing something. I honestly have no idea what it was, I can't put my finger on it. Maybe I just bought into the hype too much, saw it on one too many "best of" lists for it to ever reach my expectations. It was a fun spin on the apocalyptic genre, to have the survivors that you follow through the tale be a traveling acting troupe. Really loved that. Just didn't fall in love with the story as a whole.



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Every Day by David Levithan

Every Day by David Levithan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Very interesting idea. I'm curious to see where the author takes it from here. I was trying to imagine this as a movie but I think the casting budget would be crazy!



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My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I absolutely loved this book. It may be one of my new all-time favorites. I'm recommending it to everyone.

What more can I say? Read it!

This review is in exchange for a free e-galley from Netgalley.com.



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