Review: Hazards of Time Travel

Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Too many acronyms in the beginning of the book, I can't remember what they all mean. I suspect that was the idea, though, to make it ridiculous. As a resident of the Midwest, I found the punishment to be an interesting one. Interesting story though. I rarely wish for a book to be longer but I would have loved to see where it continued to go. Despite that, the ending was quite good.

This review is in exchange for a free copy received from the publisher.

View all my reviews

Review: The Diary of a Bookseller

The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. Very funny and dry. Ordered a copy for my collection from the author's shop.

View all my reviews

Review: The Diary of a Bookseller

The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. Very funny and dry. Ordered a copy for my collection from the author's shop.

View all my reviews

Review: Queen of Air and Darkness

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I think that was at least one hundred pages longer than it needs to be. I used to really enjoy these series but I'm kind of glad it's over.

View all my reviews

Review: Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Surprising and beautiful. I think I fell in love with its restraint.

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

View all my reviews

Review: Girl Waits with Gun

Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very entertaining read. I didn't realise until I finished the story that this was based on real people and events. I look forward to reading book two.

View all my reviews

Review: We the Animals

We the Animals by Justin Torres
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The writing was very good but the story was extremely depressing. I will not be watching the movie.

View all my reviews

Review: The Lost City of the Monkey God

The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first part of this book, dealing with exploration and some history, was very interesting and unputdownable. The second part, dealing mainly with disease, not so much.

View all my reviews

Review: Truthwitch

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A bit long and rambling, but not bad. I didn't like it so much that i have to read the next book right away but I hope to get to it eventually.

View all my reviews

Review: Educated

Educated by Tara Westover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book made me appreciate my relatively boring childhood.

View all my reviews

Review: Vox

Vox by Christina Dalcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well written but not very original. Seemed like well done Handmaid's Tale fan fiction.

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

View all my reviews

Review: The Ruin of Kings

The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found the footnotes to be a bit distracting, they really interrupted the flow of the narrative. This was particularly noticeable because the story really moved along at a nice place. The writing was great and the tale is epic in its scope. Can't wait to read book 2.

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

View all my reviews

Review: Brief Answers to the Big Questions

Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Alternately titled: "Long Ways of Saying 'No One Knows Yet.'"

This went over my head a few times, but for the most part, his writing is very accessible.

I received a free copy from Goodreads giveaways.

View all my reviews

Review: The Kremlin's Candidate

The Kremlin's Candidate by Jason Matthews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wouldn't say I loved these books but they were well written and the quality was consistent throughout. The narrative is probably scarily close to the truth.

View all my reviews

Review: The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell

The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell by Aldous Huxley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow, he really liked chairs when he was tripping.

View all my reviews

Review: Dog Smart: Evidence-Based Training with the Science Dog

Dog Smart: Evidence-Based Training with the Science Dog by Linda P. Case
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mainly about behavioural science. Very small section devoted to training tips.

View all my reviews

Review: Hope Never Dies

Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this would be funnier but it was still a really enjoyable read.

View all my reviews

Review: The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Meh. Not good enough for how long it was. Think I'll skip the movie and the rest of the series.

View all my reviews

Review: The Fifth Risk

The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not really what I was expecting. It was a really good book about the administration without spending all of its time talking about the core players.

View all my reviews

Review: The Shimmer

The Shimmer by Carsten Stroud
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Stroud seems a bit obsessed with the word "valkyrie." It got old. Story was just way too far fetched to enjoy.

View all my reviews

Review: The Witch of Willow Hall

The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very enjoyable read. Has a bit of everything: period drama/romance, ghost story, intrigue....

View all my reviews

Review: Witchmark

Witchmark by C.L. Polk
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sigh. Another good series I'm going to have to keep up with.

View all my reviews

Review: The Spider and the Fly: A Reporter, a Serial Killer, and the Meaning of Murder

The Spider and the Fly: A Reporter, a Serial Killer, and the Meaning of Murder by Claudia Rowe
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I found myself more disturbed by the author's behavior that her subject's. You expect appalling choices from a serial killer.

View all my reviews

Review: A Secret History of Witches

A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book until it got to WWII, then it went too far over the top.

View all my reviews

Review: House of Leaves

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow. Not really sure what this was but it was really impressive. I can't even imagine the work that went into this. I've never read a book that was also a labyrinth.

View all my reviews

Review: Grist Mill Road

Grist Mill Road by Christopher J. Yates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A little predictable but still not bad. Very compelling characters.

View all my reviews

Review: The Purloined Poodle

The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very fun. I love Oberon.

View all my reviews

Review: Zombies vs. Unicorns

Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Lost interest about a quarter of the way in.

View all my reviews

Review: Hollow City

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very good for book two in a series.

View all my reviews

Review: The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black

The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black by E.B. Hudspeth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Frankenstein on steroids.

View all my reviews

Review: The Terror

The Terror by Dan Simmons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I almost decided to put this aside for later when I saw how long it was but Simmons is really good at suspense and hooked me in. I'm not sure I loved the ending but it kinda works. I think I got Merrill of this story with the book and am going to skip watching the show they made of it, at least for a year or so.

View all my reviews

Review: Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders

Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders by Joshua Foer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great reference book for obscure and interesting places to visit while traveling.

View all my reviews

Review: The Silver Witch

The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It took me a while to get in to this but then I really enjoyed it. Even if there was a bit of LOTR preciousness.

View all my reviews

Review: The Wife

The Wife by Meg Wolitzer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The only other book by Wolitzer I have read was The Interestings. This was so much better. The writing, the characters, the plot arch, all brilliantly done. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie.

View all my reviews

Review: The Invisible Library

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lot of fun. Definitely want to continue with this series.

View all my reviews

Review: The Battlemage

The Battlemage by Taran Matharu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very satisfying.

View all my reviews

Review: Norwegian Wood

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm quite certain I don't understand everything there is to take away from Murakami's writing but he sure crafts one hell of a tale.

View all my reviews

Review: Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition

Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition by Mur Lafferty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not a bad story. But I haven't seen the movie yet and I'm guessing it's 99% the same, like all the other Star Wars tie in books.

View all my reviews

Review: Bad Stories: What the Hell Just Happened to Our Country

Bad Stories: What the Hell Just Happened to Our Country by Steve Almond
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Nothing that hasn't already been discussed but a decent collection.

View all my reviews

Review: Old Man's War

Old Man's War by John Scalzi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not sure I want to read the rest of the series. This stands well enough on its own. I think it will make a good movie..

View all my reviews

Review: The Immortals of Meluha

The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Found the writing style to be too distractingly bad to enjoy the story.

View all my reviews

Review: The Inquisition

The Inquisition by Taran Matharu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book borrowed a bit too much from Tolkien. Otherwise, not bad for a middle book.

View all my reviews

Review: Bright Ruin

Bright Ruin by Vic James
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The ending of this story was very anti-climatic. Taken as a whole, I feel like this trilogy wasn't all that great. It could have been better, the potential was there.

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

View all my reviews

Review: Hexed

Hexed by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As thoroughly enjoyable as book one. Time to find a copy of number three.

View all my reviews

Review: Equal Rites

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Continued wonderfulness.

View all my reviews

Review: Her Body and Other Parties

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I liked the first story but couldn't get in to the rest.

View all my reviews

Review: Montaigne in Barn Boots: An Amateur Ambles Through Philosophy

Montaigne in Barn Boots: An Amateur Ambles Through Philosophy by Michael Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this line: "here I sit, reading at face value, with a limited capacity for judgment, continually suspicious of my own conclusions, philosophizing at freshman dorm stoner level without the weed." I can relate to that description perfectly!! Nailed it, Mr. Perry.
I don't know if it's a trick of geography, but everything Michael Perry seems very relatable to me. From old trucks to philosophers, everything is accessible through his lens.

View all my reviews

Review: Number One Chinese Restaurant

Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I just couldn't get in to this. It felt like it really needed to be about the relationships but the drama kept butting in.

View all my reviews

Review: Lord of Shadows

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book had elements that reminded me of Harry Potter. It also had some moments of thick, gooey, cheesiness. Not the best in the series but it's still worth reading if you like the other books.

View all my reviews

Review: Turtles All the Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't cry at all reading this one. Odd.

View all my reviews