Review: Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't want to read this book. It seemed like one of those "book club" type of novels that it's easy to feel satisfactorily snobby about avoiding. Then I saw the preview for the HBO ministries and it looked really interesting. Gotta say, the story really drew me in and I had a hard time putting it down. I'd really like to read her other books. The only thing that bothers me is there was a bit of a cheat so you wouldn't be able to figure out the ending. I didn't like that at all.

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Review: My Year Without Meat

My Year Without Meat by Richard Cornish
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I wavered between giving this book 2 stars or my standard average of 3. It's getting 2 because it just felt like it had a hard time finding its rhythm. And for a book that was about a guy not eating meat, it was mostly about meat and meat farmers. It was still interesting but not what I thought it would be. Another issue is that it is Australian centric so a lot of the references were lost on me.

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

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Review: Ruff Love: A Relationship Building Program for You and Your Dog

Ruff Love: A Relationship Building Program for You and Your Dog by Susan Garrett
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Keeping a dog created most of the time for 7 weeks seems excessive. Not sure I'm onboard with this.

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Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So this is another version of Beauty and the Beast. Mixed with a bit of Twilight.
It sucked me in anyway and I really enjoyed reading this. Will have to get book 2 from the library soon.

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Review: I Will Send Rain

I Will Send Rain by Rae Meadows
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think I'd describe this best as achingly beautiful writing.

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Review: 18 and Life on Skid Row

18 and Life on Skid Row by Sebastian Bach
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's a technical thing but if you're really interested in looking at all the photos in this book (and he includes a lot! Very cool!) you may want to read the paper version of this book. I got mine as a digital loan on my kindle from my library and the photos were just really small. It was hard to tell what was going on in some of them.
That aside, this was a fun read. Skid Row was my favorite band when they came out so it was interesting going down memory lane a bit. Sebastian is a good storyteller, the only thing g that would have made this better is more of his sense of humor had come through. Everything he talks about defines a particular place in time, which is cool and important, but I'm guessing he has another book in him of just all the random and funny things he's seen and done over the years.

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Review: You Are Here: An Owner's Manual for Dangerous Minds

You Are Here: An Owner's Manual for Dangerous Minds by Jenny Lawson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not what I was expecting. The summary page says it's 128 pages. The copy I received was 3.

This review is in exchange for a free copy received from Goodreads giveaways.

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Review: Before the Fall

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow. Well done. This is one of those books that I had to force myself to ration so I wouldn't stay up for days straight just reading. I had a real hard time putting it down. The characters were great, the structure was perfect, and the tension really grabbed you.

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

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Review: The Brother

The Brother by Rein Raud
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I heard about this book on an NPR show and it sounded so interesting had to find a copy. I'm pretty sure this is the only book I've read that was translated from Estonia, so I can check that off my list.
Cool little story. Sucked me in and I read it all in a few hours. Would definitely be a good book for re-reading.

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Review: Rejected Princesses: Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics

Rejected Princesses: Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics by Jason Porath
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lots of interesting stories about women I'd never heard of as well as some cool new tidbits about some I did know.
My only issue is that the star mark used to indicate footnotes was too small and I didn't always not I e it.

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Review: The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet: Eat Plants, Lose Weight, Save Your Health

The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet: Eat Plants, Lose Weight, Save Your Health by Rip Esselstyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit, I enjoyed all the Star Wars references. It made me feel like I could already create to the author.
I had been planning on doing the whole 30 challenge but realized I already knew most of my food intolerances. I had also decided I needed to stick to a more heart healthy diet due to my family history. I'd gone vegetarian briefly last year and wanted to go back to it as I'd felt great while doing it. This diet is vegan and I'm not sure I'm ready to give up eggs yet but I may get there in the future. I have the other engine 2 book and plan on reading it soon, as well as some of the other books referenced in this one.

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Review: The Sun Is Also a Star

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story reminded me a bit of the movie Before Sunrise but definitely different enough to stand on its own. I really did love this story. I liked the way it was structured, short chapters progressing the story from different characters' point of view. Even the characters that you meet for a brief snapshot are wonderful and fully realized. Yoon's first book is still sitting in my TBR stack. I'm very much looking forward to digging it out and reading it.

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

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Review: Hild

Hild by Nicola Griffith
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Did not hold my interest.

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Review: The Alienist

The Alienist by Caleb Carr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book has been on my TBR list for a while now, I'm glad I finally got around to it. Very interestingly structured. I enjoyed following the characters as they put all the pieces together.

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Review: Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis

Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis by Anne Rice
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

As interesting as it can sometimes be, it feels like Anne Rice spends a bit too much time describing the clothes characters wear in each scene.

I think it is past time she retires this series. It's just gotten so bad. It's like a car crash though, I have to read them anyway.

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