The Starless Sea: Erin Morgenstern

This was a phenomenal book. I added it to my list because of how much I enjoyed The Night Circus by Morgenstern, and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. When I finished reading, I was not excited to start a new book because I wanted to live in this world for a while. That to me is a huge success.

It's written in very much the same style as The Night Circus; the word that keeps coming to mind is psychedelic, but maybe that's not a good word for books. However, it is the word I will use: it's twisty and confusing and colorful and spinning.

I had to take many pauses to stop and think about what I just read. There were a lot of twisty and confusing details, and I'm sure I missed a lot of those that I'll have to catch on a reread. 

I've heard some people complain that it takes too long to get into the book, but I found that to be untrue. Zachary is a compelling narrator who keeps the story moving even when he isn't doing much. He definitely grabbed me right away. 

I also enjoyed the structure of the book: Morgenstern told the larger story in between the second story. The alternating chapters were different "books" which helped the reader understand The Starless Sea slowly as they read.

The House of Kennedy: James Patterson

 This was a pretty good read! Patterson continues to write well, even in the nonfiction sector. 

I was pretty skeptical throughout the beginning of the book because Patterson didn't seem to have anything to add to the sources he was quoting. He had no first hand quotes or research; he compiled information from already written books. However, I found that got better as the book went on. Although Patterson hadn't interviewed any Kennedy, he added more thought or insight into later portions of the book.

The premise of this book is not just one Kennedy character or even the Kennedy dynasty. Rather, Patterson focuses on "The Kennedy Curse," so this book is solely about the tragedies and misfortunes in the Kennedy clan. Thus, it is a rather depressing book. There are no happy endings, and there is no joy. Granted, this is truly what the Kennedy family experienced. 

Anyway, this helped this Kennedy biography feel different from other books that focus on the success and legacy of the family on a positive note. This takes all the bad. Patterson doesn't try to explain it, he just lays it out for his readers in a succinct and logical way. 

I enjoyed reading this. It took me a while, 10 days, I think, because I needed to take breaks to read happier books. 

The 2020 Book Hoarders Reading Challenge

The only reading challenge I set for myself at the beginning of the year was to read some Pulitzer prize winning novels. I didn't do that at all. Not even a single one... Oops.

I was browsing around for a reading challenge to do in 2021, and I found a group on Facebook called The 2020 Book Hoarder Reading Challenge. I joined the group and while the 2021 challenge hadn't been posted yet, the 2020 was still up and available to do. I looked through the different prompts and realized that I had a few books I could use for this challenge. I went through my Goodreads, looking at books I'd read this year and when I was done, I only had five empty prompts. This was the week of Thanksgiving. I challenged myself to finish the challenge, and by the next week, I had. 

My two favorite books from this challenge were Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah and Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale Jr. The first was an emotional roller coaster and the second was fun and had been on my list to read since watching the movie many, many years ago. It felt really great to finally check that off my list, and it made me want to watch the movie again.

My least favorite was Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo: it just went on and on and on. The writing was dull and the story was not engaging. I struggled to finish that one. 

One of the last prompts I needed was number 12, Rainy day. I stumbled upon The Children Act by Ian McEwan and was so glad I did. It was a very interesting read and this occurrence reminded me why I participate in reading challenge. Those random finds are often pretty good. 

Here is the list of prompts along with the book:

1. Star on the cover or in the title: Secret Star by Nora Roberts

2. You Liar! Word Liar or Lies in Title: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott

3. Flower on the cover or in the title: The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton

4. Read in October: Plain Jane Wanted by Rose Amberly

5. State name in the title: New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb

6. Read in April: The Bridges of Madison County by James Robert Waller

7. Five star read: Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks

8. Over 350 pages: The Prince of Wales by Jonathan Dimbleby

9. Finally! On TBR forever: Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale Jr.

10. Red-Cover or title: Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

11. Make it a movie: The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff

12. Rainy Day-umbrella or rain on cover: The Children Act by Ian McEwan

13: House on the cover or in the title: Captive Star by Nora Roberts

14. Just a girl (Only a girl on the cover): The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin

15. I've lost my head (head chopped off at nose): Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts

16. Just walk away (person walking away on cover): The Suicide Killer by Zach Lamb

17. Read in a day: Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks

18. Love or Hate in the title: Speaking the Truth in Love by Kenneth C. Haugk

19. Random Read: The Au Pair by Emma Rous

20. Clouds on the cover or in the title: Murder at the Village Fete by Catherine Coles

21. Number in the title: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

22. Freebie: Try Easy by Jill Brashear

23. Food or drink on the cover or in the title: The Bake Shop by Amy Clipston

24: Two female authors: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings)

25. Not Your Norm Genre: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

26. New to you author: Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead

27. Trees on cover: Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin

28. Time of day in title: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

29. Over 1000 ratings on Goodreads: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

30. Seasonal: Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

31. By an author you'd love to meet: Hidden Star by Nora Roberts

32. I can relate (relate to main character): You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Bonus:

1. Won in a giveaway: One Writer's Beginnings by Eudora Welty

2. ARC: Trade Secrets by V.K. Tritschler

3. Over 475 pages: Pieces of Her by Karen Slaughter

4. Non Fiction: Elizabeth the Queen by Sally Bedell Smith

5. Never Ending Story: Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

I didn't write reviews for all of them because sometimes I forgot, and sometimes I just didn't have much to say. I did give them all a rating on Goodreads, so check them out there!

The President is Missing: James Patterson & Bill Clinton

James Patterson is an excellent writer, and to have a former president on your team as you write this presidential novel was an excellent move on his part. 

As I was wondering what to write in my review, I thought of a roller coaster. They most often start slowly, climbing up the steepest hill, and once they drop, there are rarely pauses or chances to catch your breath. This is how I felt reading this book. It took a while to get going, to the point where I was worried I would be disappointed by Patterson. But then the drop came, and it never stopped. 

The thrill and urgency is keenly felt by readers as they go along with President Duncan, trying their hardest to keep up, keep their breath, and solve problems alongside the POTUS. It was definitely a fun ride.

The many twists and turns kept me on my toes and meant that rereading chapters was occasionally necessary to make sure I caught each minute detail as we all tried to nab the "bad guy," so to speak. 

President Duncan was a fun main character, a great narrator, and an all around clever "detective." He was brave and bold, while having seriously human qualities: fatherhood, widowhood, sickness, etc. He was a real human, a character we can get behind and root for, a character we desperately want to see win. If I'm being honest, I definitely pictured him as President Bartlett from The West Wing and placed several other members of the staff in the book as well. That also made it fun.

I'm really glad I picked up this book from a Goodwill. It was a truly delightful read and kept me up later than I intended.

The Diplomat's Wife: Pam Jenoff

This was a very well-written, thrilling saga of a brave woman who was arrested by Nazis for her work in the Polish resistance during World War II. After being rescued and losing her fiance and the father of her unborn child, she marries a British government worker and begins a job as his secretary. The British government needs her help in locating a Communist spy and send her back to Germany on an undercover mission.

Apparently this is book number two in a series (I did not know that), but I haven't read the others. I didn't notice missing information, so reading the other books is not necessary. I'm guessing that you just get more background on some of the minor characters in this book. I am interested enough to now go back and read the first book. 

This book was engaging right off the start. We start with Marta in prison and have no idea where the book will go from there, even with the summary on the back. Each character we meet is brave and not all what they seem. They are each real and well-written: easy to understand, empathize with, and track growth. Some have said that the middle of the book is hard to track with, and I can agree. Our main heroine becomes a nobody, weak and cowardly, just doing what her husband tells her to. Only when we need the plot to pick back up does she become the woman she was at the beginning. 

My only complaint with this novel is that each chapter begins at a different, undisclosed time. Sometimes weeks have passed, sometimes years, and sometimes only seconds. I do wish each chapter had begun with a date/year header to keep readers informed of where we were. It was hard to start each new chapter trying to discover where in time we were.

Winter Garden: Kristin Hannah

Wow. 

This was by far the most emotionally moving and draining book by Hannah I've read. Heartbreak after heartbreak. It's the story with very little happiness, which makes those happy moments even more powerful.

It's the story of sisterhood, of motherhood, of love, of survival. A cold relationship between Anya and her daughters is tested when the father dies. All they have left is unfinished fairy tales. As Anya finishes the story, the girls learn who their mother really is.

Hannah weaves a story well, changing between narrators and narration style by throwing in a fairy tale throughout. This keeps the story moving and keeps the reader reading because of the desire to understand what everything means. The setting is beautifully and sometimes painfully described which helps readers visualize along with the daughters as Anya tells her story. I also love when they go to Alaska, and I now know that I need to visit there soon. It sounds lovely. 

I would highly recommend picking up this book soon, and others of Hannah's if you haven't read much by her. She always does a great job weaving together a story and tearing apart your emotions. 

House of Correction: Nicci French

 Tabitha is in prison for murdering Stuart. She claims she didn't do it but doesn't remember anything from that day. Her lawyer wants her to plead guilty, so Tabitha fires her. Now she has to build her case and discover the real murderer all from inside the House of Correction.

Great premise. I think it's clever! The Nicci French team pulls it off very well. If I had disappointments, which I suppose I did, they were in the reviews on the book/the way the book was advertised. It claimed to be a page-turning, nail-biting suspense. I found that to be incorrect. Most of the book is reading along while Tabitha searches for evidence either by reading papers, talking to people, or watching street cams. This isn't what I would consider thrilling. It's dramatic, for sure, and interesting, but not "nail-biting." I was prepared for a "keep-the-lights-on" thriller. 

I did not enjoy Tabitha as a person. She was impossible to relate to, and this led to it being somewhat difficult to feel badly for. I couldn't understand why the first half of the book consisted of her rejecting help from all avenues, and attacking everyone who approached her. I can't imagine what it's like to be in her position, so maybe this is just a reaction to that, but I think she could have been more appreciative and more forthcoming. But my hunch is that this is to let Tabitha shine on her own in court.

Speaking of court, this is where the book finally picks up and gets interesting, maybe even "thrilling."  It was exciting, it was fast-paced, it was emotional: all the things I wanted in the beginning and middle of the book. Tabitha had a great "enemy" in the prosecuting attorney; he was well-written, as was the judge. They made those scenes much fun to read. 

Tabitha was interesting as a character there as well. She had a spine and grit and fierceness. When listening to her interview and when hearing of her high school experiences, we're left believing that she has no backbone and lets things roll off her as they come. Even in town she's painted as a quiet loner, which makes this courtroom Tabitha difficult to understand. Where did she come from? Wherever she was hiding, she was impressive and well-written in the end.

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Karen Abbott

 This was an excellent read. Abbott writes like fiction, and I had to remind myself several times throughout that these women were real people. 

Abbott used journals and letters and other quotes well to make this read like a story instead of a report. The descriptions throughout the book make the story come alive in the mind as well. Even though this was a nonfiction, it was still very much a page-turner, as I was excited to learn what each woman would do next, and whether or not they would be successful.

The interweaving of the women's stories helped carry the book along. I appreciated the change in characters, even in the middle of chapters sometimes. This helped keep me interested, as I was always changing women and even changing sides in the war which leads to another point.

It was very interesting to me that of the four women, two were with the Confederacy and two were with the Union. It was very educational to have both insights and get "insider" information on both sides.

I'm amazed at what people can do when it comes to standing up for their beliefs, and it's even more fascinating when those people are women. Each woman has an excellent story to tell, and I'm glad Abbott was able to share their tales so well!

Hood: Stephen R. Lawhead

The tricky thing with this book is that it is clearly the first book of the trilogy. I have to read the rest to know if this is truly the case, but most of this feels like set-up, the foretaste of the story to come. I felt like I finally understood the plot as I read the final few chapters, and that was the point when I realized I did, in fact, want to read the rest of the trilogy. 

It is a quick read, shouldn't take too much time to read it, even though it is longer. It also definitely feels like a young adult/teen read, perhaps because of the Robin Hood connection. 

This was a slow moving book. There are many moving pieces and many characters telling stories, so the plot takes its time getting along. This is what added to it feeling like an introductory book. The last 100 pages or less felt like actual adventure and action, so that was where I really enjoyed it. 

It's advertised as a retelling of Robin Hood, so that was the lens through which I read it. I almost wish I had come upon that on my own, instead of trying to read the book as though I was reading Robin Hood: that made it complicated for me to get into the book on my own. 

I also wish there was a table of contents. I quickly lost track of which baron was who and what "side" they were on. I couldn't keep up with all of the players, partly because the switches in narrative were quick and partly because the names were unpronounceable for me. That always makes it difficult for me to follow along with the cast. I have to be able to speak their names in my head for me to connect who they are. 

I'm starting the second one now: hopefully that one is good! 

Catch Me If You Can: Frank Abagnale Jr.

 This was an excellent read. I've been meaning to pick it up since I first watched the movie adaptation 10 years ago, and finally got around to it. This did not disappoint.

Abagnale is a fascinating human, and this is a fun foray into his mind, his thinking, his creativity, his decision making, etc. 

This is well-written and easy to read: I read it in a day. It made me laugh and cringe, and it left me wondering what Abagnale's life was really like. It left me wanting more, which is a great thing for a book to do. 

I was disappointed when it ended, because I wanted more of what Abagnale did later. I wanted the rest of the story, but I understand that the book has to end somewhere; I just wasn't ready for it. 

Trade Secrets: V.K. Tritschler

 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 

I thought this was a great premise for the book, so I was pretty disappointed when the direction it was actually taking became clear to me. 

It was easy to get into the story right away. Tritschler pulled me in to the world she was spinning. I jumped into the office life with Emily quickly. Tritschler also does a great job with descriptions: it was easy to visualize the story along with Emily, as she walks through the office and notices her coworkers. It was easy and quick to read with fun character quirks.

However, I had such a difficult time with the main character. Emily is just SO dramatic. Way over the top. I rolled my eyes at her so much my eyeballs got sore, and I had to take a break from reading. I think her character was just overdone. There was too much anxious teen in her, I think. I understand that Tritschler wanted to emphasize the point that Emily was a young, inexperienced character who had a lot of growing to do, but I think there was too much of this. Often times, Emily was just a limp leaf of a character, getting crushed by everything and everyone, in ways that I didn't find relatable, for example, getting 40 emails on her first day of work. That's just what happens in the job world, and she let that knock her flat, according to one of the last sentences of the first chapter: "Maybe she wasn't cut out for this position." That's too dramatic for me. 

Early on in the book, I wrote in my notes, "Are we supposed to believe she's [Emily] attracted to her lecher of a boss?" Jimmy was written too inappropriately in the beginning to be an actual potential romance for me, so I was very disappointed that this was the route taken. He was too gross, especially as someone in a position of power. His character should have been toned down a bit in the inappropriate behavior for me to believe that Emily would be interested in him. The "sexual chemistry" was not enough for me to understand their connection.

A lot of the plot points in this book were poorly written and missing a lot of resolution. Harry needed more resolution, and instead, he just dropped of the face of the book. Emily's family showed up for a few pages and a medical emergency, but disappeared after less than a chapter. The Carter case, the main plot of the story, had zero resolution, as far as I could tell. 

Overall, I was disappointed in the ending, frustrated by every single character (and not in a good way) and confused by the disappearance of plot points. 

Murder at the Village Fete: Catherine Coles

 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is definitely an easy, cozy read. It's a fun little "whodunit" with a lovely husband and wife duo.

Most of what I struggled with in this book was the uncertainty of what I was missing from the first book of this series. I haven't read the first, jumping instead right into the second book. I missed learning more about Tommy and Evelyn which I think would have helped me enjoy them more as characters. I do not think this serves well as a stand-alone book, but that's my fault. 

It was hard for me to grasp the character of Evelyn. I definitely felt as though she was more prevalent than Tommy, but even then, I didn't get enough of her to feel connect or understand her. I think Coles could have explored Evelyn more, especially when bringing up the issue of whether or not to have children. That was dropped as a side note a few times, and there was never a conversation about it, we never hear her struggle or her discussing her fears, so it's impossible to understand how she grows out of that struggle. 

I would have also loved to see more between Evelyn and Tommy. They are written to be a loving, cute, and fun couple, but we aren't given much interaction between the two. That would have helped me believe in their happy marriage a bit more (not that I doubted their happy marriage, but something was missing there). 

There were a few areas in the story that felt very forced. The main one I can point out is the relationship between the investigator, the investigation, and the Christies. I didn't understand why Evelyn and Tommy needed to solve the case (aside from them being the main characters, but I need more of a reason than that). The inspector was written as a very knowledgeable guy and clearly had it all together, so why were Evelyn and Tommy in conflict with him, "fighting" over the investigation? Why did they need to do work behind his back? Their involvement in solving the crime seemed to only exist because of the need to write the book. I think more could have been done to convince us that the Christies needed to solve the mystery themselves. 

Overall, this was a fun and easy read, definitely a cozy-mystery. More could be gained by reading the first book, as I should have done before embarking on the sequel. 

Plain Jane Wanted by Rose Amberly

 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a heart-warming happy read! Overall, this was a lovely book and a fun journey to read with fun characters and a fantastic setting.

The best thing about this book, in my mind, was the setting. I totally want to live on the island of La Canette. It sounds beautiful and is the perfect place for a romance story. 

I enjoyed the plot- it was very usual for a cozy-romance novel, which made it pretty predictable, but in this case, I don't mind so much. That's part of the enjoyment of cozy-romances: you know where the book will end, but you don't know how the characters will get there.

The characters were well written: Millie especially. She grew and developed a lot throughout the book. George grew mostly in the last 20 pages, which is frustrating. It would have been nice to see the growth spread out a bit, to convince me that he really did change. I would have like to been invited to the conversations between him and his father at the end to understand and watch their relationship develop. I think that would have been fun. 

The biggest issue I had reading this book was the typos. Letters were missing from words, and more frequently (like twice per page) there was a space after the first letter of a word. That made it frustrating to read. Each time that happened, I would be taken out of the story, simply because this glaringly obvious mistake caught my attention.

I also struggled with the change in fonts the author used to show the narrator's thoughts. I understand why the author did that, but it took me away from the story. I was distracted by the different fonts, especially George. His was always capitalized, which made me think he was always shouting, which is obnoxious, especially when he wasn't angry but just thinking. I would have preferred a different way of showing character's thought. 

The Suicide Killer by Zach Lamb

 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It took a while for the plot to get going and for me to warm up to the plot, but when I did, it was fun to follow the story and guess what would happen. It's nice that I didn't expect the ending, but it's also unfortunate because I didn't necessarily like the ending, nor did I think that it fit with the story. 

I was disappointed that the story had no hero, no main character, no protagonist. It was difficult to figure out which character I should pay attention to, which character's story I should follow the closest, and which character I should care about. That meant that I didn't really care about any of the characters which does make it hard to connect to a story. 

This book was also pretty gruesome, which I don't like, but I think that was made clear in the genre and book description. I just didn't expect it to be as gruesome as it was. 

Another challenge was the cadence of the writing. It was very forced and stiff. I think one minor issue that caused that was a lack of contractions. He often said "I will" instead of "I'll," and I think that makes it much harder to imagine the characters as people. It was robotic sounding. 

The overall plot and story is fun, especially if you're a fan of Criminal Minds or any of the CSIs.

Mistborn: Brandon Sanderson

 Whoa. Good read. Can't wait to read the rest.

It definitely feels like an intro book for the first 1/3 or 1/2, but then things pick up and get moving and it's awesome.

I love Kelsier; he's a fantastic hero. Vin took some time for me. She was a grating character in the beginning, but as the plot picked up, she got better for me. I suppose she's a pretty good hero too.

I also love Allomancy and think that whole concept is fascinating. All of the magic is interesting, and I want more. Sanderson has a way of bringing this completely unheard of thing to life, and that's what readers need for books like this. Imagining that I, too, can fly through the air with just a handful of pocket change is just so fun!

My biggest complaint is being unable to visualize the creatures in this world. I had such a hard time immersing myself in the world because I just couldn't picture it. What the heck do Inquisitors even look like? But that's just an aspect of fantasy that I need to get used to.

The Christmas Invitation: Kate Kasch

I received a free copy for review from Voracious Readers Only.

This book was just like a Hallmark Christmas movie, and I love Christmas Hallmark!

It was a very easy read, lighthearted and happy. Ella is a fun character who is full of life and joy and takes fun chances, and Wyatt is a character who need opening up a bit, and has firm development throughout the story.

I didn't understand the conflict between Wyatt and his family. That felt forced as a plot point. Because there was no resolution between him and his family, it didn't make sense to include it, other that he needed a reason to not be excited about Christmas. However, he wasn't even against Christmas, just didn't care until Ella, so that felt like a weak point.

The conflict with Marissa was weird. she was a weak villain who tried to destroy things but didn't try very hard, so I didn't feel much anger towards her. Again, I understand the need for her as a plot point, but I found her to be lacking as a villain.

I love the happy ending, and I loved Marney as a mother figure and friend. I definitely want to shop at The Book Nook. I wish we had gotten more from Ella's mother. She wasn't much of a mother figure until the end when she jumps in and tells Ella how to be happy. To make that more believable, we needed more of her at the beginning.

All in all, this was a very fun Christmas read. If you like Hallmark movies, you'll love this light, happy, festive read.

Try Easy: Jill Brashear

 I received a free copy via Voracious Readers Only.

This was a good book to read on a quick vacation on the beach. It is one that I won't be reading again. While the story was fun, and books that take place in exotic, beach locations make me happy, I wasn't thrilled with a lot of points in this book.

I don't like when authors write in dialects. While I understand that the authors do this to help the readers immerse into the book and characters, I find it takes me away from the story. I have to bring myself out of the narrative to translate what the author is trying to say which frustrates me. I don't enjoy having to work to read a book, especially one that is supposed to be as easy as this.

I felt a lot of the plot drivers were forced and faked. None of them seemed realistic, and if they are realistic, the characters don't react in realistic or understandable ways. It works to move the story along, but it doesn't work to tell the story.

The characters were pretty frustrating as well. I liked Lou a lot in the beginning. I like characters who are photographers. I think it's a fun way to paint the pictures of the story. However, she was overall a weak character with no backbone. She spends a few pages gushing about her blossoming relationship with Paul, but within 24 hours of her vacation is making out with an islander, and that is obnoxious (on that note, this book was much more inappropriate than I can enjoy). 

All in all, it is a book I won't pick up again. It was quick to read and had some positive notes, but the negatives outweighed the positives for me. 

The Moments Between Us: Natalie Banks

I received a free copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only for review.

I was very intrigued by the plot of this book. To know what the future holds and be unable to change it is such a scary thought, especially when the future holds what Claire's future held. I was motivated to keep reading because I wanted to know how she would handle it and whether or not she would be successful in her attempts to change the future. This plot reminded me of the plot in 11/22/63 by Stephen King: completely different writing styles, but similar concept: can we change the future or will that ruin things, i.e. The Butterfly Effect.

I did not like the writing or character development (or lack thereof).

Claire is such a shallow character who experiences very little growth. I thought, by the end, that she would have changed some considering the events of the story, but I failed to see any change in her. Sure, she becomes connected to her family more, but that was because of those characters' development, not hers. All of them had to approach her and force forgiveness out of her, and she required a reason from all of them for reconciliation. She was overly harsh on herself, to the point where it quickly became annoying instead of sympathy-evoking. 

I also found it very difficult to get in to the story because of the repetitive sentence structure. Banks doesn't write with an ebb and flow of various sentences. Each sentence is a rigid march through the story instead of a smooth flow. It was difficult to involve myself in this strict storytelling.

The way she uses the past, present, and future storytelling was also difficult to read through. The transitions were insufficient and didn't carry me along in the time travel. It wasn't a smooth narrative of story but a choppy past, present, then future ride. 

All in all, while I liked the basis of the story, I couldn't get past the choppy and detached writing method enough to get involved. I didn't like the characters either, so I was not invested in what happened to them.  

The Thirteenth Tale: Diane Setterfield

Holy buckets. What a fantastic read! This was one I definitely need to read again, now that everything (mostly) makes sense.

I am quite proud to say that I guessed the "twist" mere seconds (or should I say "words") before it was revealed. I wouldn't call it obvious, but there was only one plausible solution, only one way in which the story made sense.

I did have a very difficult time understanding Margaret as a character. Her suffering was not clear, and Setterfield began to truly lean on her pain towards the end of the novel. I preferred the Margaret at the beginning of the novel, who was fascinated with words and the many lives created by words. But I've never been in her position so relating to her would be difficult.

I definitely would recommend this book. Keep at it when you want to give up; I had a few of those moments myself. It's completely worth it.

Little Fires Everywhere: Celeste Ng

 This was a hard read for me. It was selected for a book club I just joined, and I didn't research too much into the description. However, had I known some of the large themes included infertility, miscarriages, abortions, and other pregnancy things, I would have chosen the other book. Especially considering the relaxed attitude the author portrayed with these subjects, it was very difficult to read those.

However, the book was intriguing. It brought up several difficult points: teenage sex, single-parenting, biological vs. adoptive parentage. 

The characters were well-written. It was easy to hate the "villain" throughout the whole book. It was rather disappointing that Mrs. Richardson never had her comeuppance. One could argue, I suppose that Izzy was her comeuppance, but I disagree. The author wants us to have sympathy for her at the end, but I find that impossible. She just isn't driving enough to convince me that she was a victim. Sorry, but she brought it all upon herself. 

I also am a huge fan of happy endings, so this ending was fairly unsatisfying. There needs to be so much more content so that I can get some resolution. This, however, is more of a personal preference complaint, so it isn't fair for me to take away from the rating because of that. I think that's just how this type of story ends, so I shouldn't have expected otherwise. 

The Devil in the White City: Erik Larson

They say don't judge a book by its cover: I need to stop judging books by the descriptions on the back. I started this book expecting something very different. The description on the back cover lead me to believe it was about murder happening in the White City. I expected a connection between Holmes and the fair, but there wasn't really. Holmes came to Chicago and then the fair's construction work began. These two stories were told independently in the same book which was a disappointment to me. 

Expectations aside, however, this was a well-written and exciting read, for about 50%. The parts about the construction of the fair were not exciting. It seemed that the author really wanted to write a book about Holmes but felt the need to tamper the excitement with construction work. I mostly skimmed those sections because I don't care how much steel was used in the construction of the first Ferris Wheel. 

But. The chapters on Holmes. Wow. What a sick, twisted man. It was so hard to remind myself continually that this was true. It read so much like a fiction, and because of the horror, I desperately wanted to believe it was a fiction. Larson had a way of introducing each murder that was twisted in itself. The murders often felt like an afterthought. At the end of the chapter, he would say, "Oh yeah, and she was never heard from again." Or "The next time any of her family saw her, she would be unrecognizable because it would only be a skeleton used for education purposes." WHAT. Thus, imagine my disappointment when I would then have to read 20 pages on someone's sore tooth and the damage caused by water and wind to half built buildings. 

When the fair finally kicked off, it was much more exciting: reading everything about the fair, the exhibits, the people who came, that was fun and exciting. I just wish less was spent on the pre-fair and more time was spent on the fair, especially considering that was what the cover described.

I do plan to read more on Holmes, and I might read more about the fair: just hopefully no more on the construction.

Into the Water: Paula Hawkins

This was a great read! I enjoy Hawkins' writing style immensely. She's a captivating writer. and she weaves thrilling tales. Her characters invoke so much emotions, both hatred and love. She is quite talented.

I appreciated many things about this book. First, I enjoyed the way Hawkins broke up the story by using several different narrators, several different time periods, and even different narration types. In this way, I was never tired of a narrator, and I ended each chapter wanting more from that person, causing me to read on.

Hawkins makes a fantastic villain, and even better, she makes several villains. There are many horrid, hateful characters; as I read, I kept longing for their downfalls, and even by the end, I'm uncertain as to who is truly the villains of the book.

As is the case with many thrillers, I was kept guessing through the book. This was even better because at the end, I was left with three guesses, and it wasn't until the very last paragraph that I had my answer, and it wasn't who I thought it would be. That was surprising, and I always like a surprise!

You Are Not Alone: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Another great thrill by Hendricks and Pekkanen. This was a page turner that I had to finish in one sitting because I could not stop reading.

These two are just a great team that can weave stories of such intrigue.

It sucks, but I think we can all imagine falling for the same things the main character here did. Shay was a pretty every-day character. She was like me, and I'm guessing she was kinda like you. She wants desperately to have good friends, so it doesn't take much to create deep friendships (on her part). It's easy to pick out reasons why they shouldn't be your friend, but you can't help falling for it regardless.

I expect this from Hendricks and Pekkanen by now, but that twist at the end still got me. I know that things are never as they appear with these two, and yet I was still thrown. I had to reread a few chapters to catch up/figure out exactly what was happening.

I'm ashamed to say that I totally fell for the false ending, but I love that in book. Fool me as many times as you can!

I can't wait to see what these two come up with next.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Stieg Larsson

I've been meaning to read this book for years, and finally, I put all other books away and made myself focus on this book. I'm glad I did, I think.

24 hours after finishing, and I'm still not sure how to feel about this book. Larsson is a fantastic writer, I think we can all agree. This was thrilling and riveting. I had to keep reading even though there were several points where I wanted to stop.

There was suspense, sure. I didn't know who was the "bad guy," and I wasn't sure what happened to Harriet. I had my suspicions, some of which turned out correct, but I was mostly left in the dark. That definitely kept me going, but the suspense wasn't the driving force for me. I kept reading because I enjoyed the writing, and I enjoyed the characters. I wanted more of the characters, more of their background, more of their dialogue, more of their action. The suspense was just a bonus.

Another reason I kept reading was because Larsson kept the two main characters separate for so long. They had minor crossovers, but it wasn't until about halfway through when they started working together. I knew they would make a good team, so I had to continue to see when they would become a team.

I also wanted to know (and still want to know) why Larsson chose to name the book after Salander. It doesn't seem like she's the main theme in the book, so it confused me a bit, and I kept reading to see if she would play a larger role in the book. I'm still curious, and I'm wondering if it's about the next books in the series.

This book handled some seriously dark topics, and that was rather difficult for me. This was why I wanted to stop. It was hard to read about the violence and the sexual abuse several characters faced. Larsson almost seemed to write about it lightly. Like it wasn't a big deal. I didn't want to keep going after some of those revelations or plot points. I still don't fully understand why Salander's character went through what she did. I'm guessing there's something in future books?

I'm usually excited when a book I read has a movie adaptation, and I can't wait to watch after reading. In this case, I really don't think I want to watch. There's too much horror that I do not want to see on screen. I think I'll leave this one just as a book and forget about the movie. I still haven't decided if I'll read the next two books. It was fantastic writing, but it gave me nightmares, left a pit in my stomach, made me afraid to leave the house, and made me horrible sad to know that while this is fiction, these things really occur in this sinful world.

The Light Between Oceans: M.L. Stedman

This beautifully woven tale left me really questioning the differences of right and wrong. Sometimes the lines are really blurred, making it hard to tell the difference. Even though many times I knew what the right thing was, I understood exactly why the characters made the decisions they made.

Stedman has a beautiful writing technique. This book was captivating and reading through it was easy and smooth. I could put it down and take breaks, but I definitely did not want to. His characters are real and human. Their feelings are relatable. Their pain hurt me.

I enjoyed that this book had no real enemy. Just when you think an enemy has appeared, that character does something to throw them back in your good graces. You might think that a book without a villain is not worth reading, but trust me. It's as if each character is his/her own villain and no true villain is needed. Or is the villain truth?

The Clockmaker's Daughter: Kate Morton

The premise of this book is gripping, which is why I wanted to read this book. Unfortunately, the premise ended up being way more interesting than the story itself.

I was frequently bored throughout the book; it just took so long to get to the meat of the story. I enjoyed that Morton slowly added more depth and more twists to the plot, but it just took too long for those various points to come together. I was frustrated that so many new characters were popping up and I had no reason to care about them, which lead me to skim through their sections, making me lose a bit of the story (my fault, surely). I just didn't care about them because I had no reason to, and I was already overwhelmed by the different times, places, and people Morton dumped on me. I'm sure that was the point, but it was so jumbled and disoriented, as if she dumped scraps of paper with ideas onto a plate and wrote in the order they fell.

Because of all the jumping around, I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. There was not much for me to grasp for any of the characters. Just when I thought I was getting somewhere with someone, Morton jumped to someone new. It was hard for me to appreciate her characters when I didn't get enough time with any of them.

I did appreciate the ending of the story when all the points finally joined to one place. It is a testament to Morton's writing that she can bring so many different plots into one woven tale. I just didn't appreciate the way she went about it.

I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't enjoy reading this book because I do enjoy Morton's other books. This one just wasn't up to par with the rest, I think.

The Other Woman: Sandie Jones

Excellent writing. This was captivating and thrilling, as promised. I knew something was up as I read, but I couldn't quite figure it out, which helped me enjoy the process of reading. 

I really didn't like Adam in the beginning; I thought he was kind of a jerk. That being said, I didn't see the end coming until I was too late. That's the mark of excellent writing! I'm really impressed with Jones' writing style and greatly enjoyed the pace at which the story ran. It was riveting. The characters were nicely written although since we were supposed to like Adam, I think he could have used a little work.

This book was easy to read, and the speed of took made it difficult to put down, so I finished reading it the same day I started, while I made dinner.

I would recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Gone Girl, The Woman in the Window, The Couple Next Door, etc., as these all have the same, quick pace.

Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch: Sally Bedell Smith

This was a fascinating glimpse into the life of a woman who seems so far beyond anything I can reach. Smith makes Queen Elizabeth human; I won't go so far as to say she brings the Queen to our level, but she makes it easier to see that yeah, underneath all the reality, Elizabeth is a person beyond just a monarch.

Biographies are often thought to be dry, scholarly writing, a true bore to get through. Smith does a great job making this more than just a recounting of facts. This is a story, a tale, of a life. It was fun to read! Sure, there were dull moments; paragraphs about politics that I didn't fully understand or enjoy, but even those were written for enjoyment rather than strictly learning.

One aspect of biographies, especially when it comes to the royal family, is that I have to pay attention to who is writing the book and what his/her goal is. I only recently learned how much that can taint the glasses the book is being written through. For example, I love Lady Di. I'm inspired by her story. I'm angered by her death. I'm awed by her life. There was always a part of me that was angered by the royal family for their actions or lack thereof. It was easy to find a villain in Charles. After reading this book (and watching documentaries done by members of the royal family's press), I had to accept that there are two sides to the story of Lady Di and Prince Charles. How much of either side is true? We probably will never know. I just have to be more open that maybe Charles isn't the monster I'd concluded him to be. Thanks, Smith, for helping me realize this.

I've always been interested in royalty, and I've made it a goal to read more about the royal family. This was a great jump into the family, and I can't wait to keep reading.

Personally, I'd love more pictures...

The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton

Bolton has an incredible way of writing that sends shivers down my spine and has me looking over my shoulder. This whole book is just creepy! There were several times when I regretted that I was alone while reading this book.

In the first half of the book especially, Bolton does a great job stringing me along to keep me invested. She provides just enough details to make me keep reading- never too much information, and never enough information, even at the very end. I'm so excited to read the sequel, but I'm not sure how I can wait until December...

I do remember at about halfway through the book I strongly considered giving up the book because I was getting bored. However, I now realize that the middle of the book was all information to set up the ending, making it more important than I gave it credit. I sure am glad I kept reading.

I'm incredibly happy when a book is able to take me by surprise, and this one did! I didn't see the ending coming at all, and I never guessed the villain, although upon further reflection, I should have known better. Bolton gave me the answer in the first few pages, but then spent the rest of the book proving why that answer was wrong. Very nicely done!

Jack and Jackie: Portrait of an American Marriage by Christopher Andersen

What an excellent read. Before starting this book, the only think I knew about the Kennedy family was that JFK was assassinated in Dallas, TX. I picked it up because I want to be more learned by reading more nonfiction. This one sounded interesting, and I was correct.

It is well written and moving. Andersen does an excellent job telling facts like he's telling a story, making the book feel like a fiction piece. And I learned quite a bit. Andersen moves along the lives of Jack and Jackie, beginning with birth and ending with death. He describes events as if he was there, drawing the reader in and helping us to feel present as well.

I wish he had included more pictures because several times I had to put the book down and look up a picture that he was describing or a moment he shared. I know, however, that space is limited and he had to pick just a few pictures.

The book has definitely changed my idea of JFK. I always thought since he was president and was killed that he was an exceptionally good person, flawless and perfect. I know better, especially now. He was flawed, he made many mistakes, and he was a very selfish person. But so was Jackie. To see their relationship this way, to travel along their marriage as they did, shocked and enlightened me. I'm very glad I chose to read this book.