Catching up

Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Textbook is so many things, including a cute play on words. I've never read anything quite like it and maybe because I am such a fan of AKR's writing, I loved all of it.

I bought this book shortly before the author died and finished it after attending a celebration of her life in Chicago, which may explain why it was so very moving to me to read her last work.

I recommend reading Textbook with your phone in hand, and please follow all the text prompts and links. Especially, listen to the soundtrack while reading her end notes and keep tissues handy.

I'm sad this book isn't more popular and sadder that Amy's voice is gone from this world. She left us a lovely and inspirational goodbye letter.

#Makethemostofyourtimehere (  )

    flag7 other reviews | Aug 16, 2017 | edit | 

Mothers and Other Strangers by Gina Sorell

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

The first sentence of this novel intrigued me, but unfortunately, the remainder of the story failed to hold my interest. I could not connect to the characters and found myself too impatient with them and the story to finish more than halfway. (  )

    flag11 other reviews | Jun 27, 2017 | edit | 

The Topography of Tears by Rose-Lynn Fisher

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

A fascinating look at tears through microscopy. A bit more art than science, which left me wishing for more detail about the tears and their corresponding emotions. Good for contemplating, but not understanding the mystery of human tears. (  )

    flag10 other reviews | May 30, 2017 | edit | 

11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King

It's been a long time since I've read a Stephen King novel, and I had forgotten what a fantastic writer and story teller he is. I enjoyed this book much more than I expected, and was sorry to see it end. It is a fine twist on the time travel genre, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it translates to film with J.J. Abrams at the helm. Highly recommended, especially for a vacation read, as it is almost 900 pages. (  )

    flag530 other reviews | Mar 22, 2017 | edit | 

Ill Will: A Novel by Dan Chaon

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. I couldn't put it down, and rate it very high on the page turning scale. The characters, plot and technique were complex and sometimes confusing, but never failed to hold my interest. There are some unusual writing techniques I have not encountered before, especially the columned pages, but I found they added to the story and character development. I needed to know who done it, although I guessed, but could not have foreseen the ending, or how much the disturbing story would stay with me days after I finished it . This is a book to share and talk about with friends and book clubs - a gripping and nerve wracking psychological thriller with deeply flawed but mostly sympathetic characters. I recommend it highly, with the caveat that you probably won't like how it ends. (  )

    flag103 other reviews | Mar 22, 2017 | edit | 

Dark Matter: A Novel by Blake Crouch

Great read, crazy plot, fast pacing, believable characters, and an interesting spin on the time travel genre. I read it in a day and was certain the movie rights must be optioned, and was happy to see they were. (  )

    flag225 other reviews | Jan 20, 2017 | edit | 

The Grownup: A Story by the Author of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

A very slight, but very well written creepy short story that kept me guessing all the way through. (  )

    flag61 other reviews | Sep 9, 2016 | edit | 

Valley of the Moon: A Novel by Melanie Gideon

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Valley of the Moon was an enjoyable read in the time travel genre. Reminiscent of Brigadoon, or the Time Traveller's Wife, the story bounces between the turn of the century and the 1970's. The characters were interesting, the story pacing very good, and despite a few obvious plot turns, the ending was a surprise. I expect this book to be well received, and a great book club choice. (  )

    flag54 other reviews | Sep 6, 2016 | edit | 

Why Am I Here? by Constance Ørbeck-Nilssen

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

The cover illustration of a small child with a lemur and the book title enticed me to request this selection from the early reviewer program. I was not prepared for the dark, monochrome tone of this apparent children's book, and found much of the art to be bleak, lonely and depressing, depicting themes of abandonment, isolation, disaster, pollution and war. Not at all what I was expecting, and certainly not a happy bedtime book to read with kids, unless an existential crisis is desired. I'm not sure who the target audience is for this book, but I know it is not me. (  )

    flag9 other reviews | Aug 25, 2016 | edit | 

Sleeping Giants (Themis Files) by Sylvain Neuvel

Sleeping Giants was on the top of my wish list and I finally bought it when the kindle price dropped. I'm glad I didn't pay full price because I was left wishing for a better book. I really love the plot premise, and enjoyed the first few chapters, but the interview format of the book became a frustrating distraction, as did the character motivations and plot plausibility. I finished the book and am curious how the sequel will unfold, but won't rush to buy it.

I really enjoy reading science fiction and character driven plots, but it was hard to invest in these often flat characters given the sparse format to get acquainted with them. Contact, The Martian, World War Z and almost everything Michael Crighton wrote are among my favorites, and the comparisons and hype fall a bit short for me. I was left feeling this book was a great concept that needed to be much better written. (  )

    flag73 other reviews | Jul 24, 2016 | edit | 

I Will Send Rain: A Novel by Rae Meadows

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Well written historical fiction set in the Dust Bowl years. The main characters are compelling in their struggles with the climate, their faith and each other in the face of unrelenting adversity. The events that shape the Bell family and their community are heartwrenching to witness, but the story is inspiring and at times uplifting and unforgettable. I could not guess which way the plot would unfold, and couldn't wait to finish reading. Highly recommended for book clubs as there are many topics for discussion. (  )

    flag36 other reviews | May 19, 2016 | edit | 

In Wilderness: A Novel by Diane Thomas

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

I changed my mind several times on this book. It is well written, with lovely descriptions of nature and the characters are initially interesting, but they and the plot fell flat and frustrated me by the last third of the book. Too little character development and too much romance novel implausibility and borderline abusive doomed relationship for my taste. (  )

    flag76 other reviews | Apr 5, 2016 | edit | 

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Page turning mystery, great characters and pacing. Written by a screenwriter, well done. (  )

    flag118 other reviews | Apr 5, 2016 | edit |