My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 91.
How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
Summary (via Goodreads):
Though they have the vote and the Pill and haven't been burned as witches since 1727, life isn't exactly a stroll down the catwalk for modern women. They are beset by uncertainties and questions: Why are they supposed to get Brazilians? Why do bras hurt? Why the incessant talk about babies? And do men secretly hate them?
Caitlin Moran interweaves provocative observations on women's lives with laugh-out-loud funny scenes from her own, from the riot of adolescence to her development as a writer, wife, and mother. With rapier wit, Moran slices right to the truth - whether it's about the workplace, strip clubs, love, fat, abortion, popular entertainment, or children - to jump-start a new conversation about feminism. With humor, insight, and verve, How To Be a Woman lays bare the reasons female rights and empowerment are essential issues not only for women today but also for society itself.
My Opinion:
I love hearing all sorts of opinions, as long as the person sharing them realizes they're just opinions and it's okay to agree/disagree with them. When opinions are presented as facts and anyone who disagrees is ridiculed, I'm done. If I want to be preached to, I know where to go; I don't need it to sneak up on me in a book.
While some chapters were better than others (I especially liked "I Am In Love!"), my overall opinion is that I just read a 301 page sermon.
Although her intentions seem to be good, I don't think the author is as doing as much for feminism as she thinks she is. Giving up the list of stereotypical "do's and don'ts" is a great idea; the problem is that she then inserts her own list of "do's and don'ts". I admit my instinct was to begin naming the expectations of hers that I disagreed with but that's hypocritical and unproductive, so I will just say the way her opinions were presented led me to feel extremely judged when I disagreed with them. Since most of the women I know may have similar disagreements, I can't recommend this book to them; feeling judged is extremely unpleasant.
Quote from the Book:
"But the problem with battling yourself is that even if you win, you lose."
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
I Don't Want to Kill You
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 90.
I Don't Want to Kill You by Dan Wells
Summary (via the book jacket):
John Cleaver has called a demon - literally called it on the phone - and challenged it to a fight. He's faced two monsters already, barely escaping with his life, and now he's done running; he's bringing the fight to them. As he wades through the town's darkest secrets, searching for any sign of who the demon might be, one thing becomes all too clear: in a game of cat and mouse with a supernatural killer, you are always the mouse.
In I Am Not a Serial Killer, we watched a budding sociopath break every rule he had to save his town from evil. In Mr. Monster, we held our breath as he fought madly with himself, struggling to stay in control. Now John Wayne Cleaver has master his twisted talents and embraced his role as a killer of killers. I Don't Want to Kill You brings his story to a thundering climax of suspicion, mayhem, and death.
It's time to punish the guilty.
And in a town full of secrets, everyone is guilty of something.
My Opinion:
This was an excellent trilogy, and this book may be my favorite of the three. The author does a great job of building suspense, breaking the tension, then building it up again. And the ending...wow. Even though it wrapped up really well, there was just enough of the old "The End???" trick creepy movies use to keep me thinking after the book was closed.
It was very visual and I think it would translate well into a movie. I wouldn't watch it because I hate scary movies, but I think other people would enjoy it.
Recommended to someone looking for quick but dark reads.
Quote from the Book:
"Yes, finding a killer is easy. Finding someone before they kill is almost impossible."
I Don't Want to Kill You by Dan Wells
Summary (via the book jacket):
John Cleaver has called a demon - literally called it on the phone - and challenged it to a fight. He's faced two monsters already, barely escaping with his life, and now he's done running; he's bringing the fight to them. As he wades through the town's darkest secrets, searching for any sign of who the demon might be, one thing becomes all too clear: in a game of cat and mouse with a supernatural killer, you are always the mouse.
In I Am Not a Serial Killer, we watched a budding sociopath break every rule he had to save his town from evil. In Mr. Monster, we held our breath as he fought madly with himself, struggling to stay in control. Now John Wayne Cleaver has master his twisted talents and embraced his role as a killer of killers. I Don't Want to Kill You brings his story to a thundering climax of suspicion, mayhem, and death.
It's time to punish the guilty.
And in a town full of secrets, everyone is guilty of something.
My Opinion:
This was an excellent trilogy, and this book may be my favorite of the three. The author does a great job of building suspense, breaking the tension, then building it up again. And the ending...wow. Even though it wrapped up really well, there was just enough of the old "The End???" trick creepy movies use to keep me thinking after the book was closed.
It was very visual and I think it would translate well into a movie. I wouldn't watch it because I hate scary movies, but I think other people would enjoy it.
Recommended to someone looking for quick but dark reads.
Quote from the Book:
"Yes, finding a killer is easy. Finding someone before they kill is almost impossible."
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Mr. Monster
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 89.
Mr. Monster by Dan Wells
Book 2 in the John Cleaver trilogy
Summary (via Goodreads):
In I am not a Serial Killer, John Wayne Cleaver saved his town from a murderer even more appalling than the serial killers he obsessively studies.
But it turns out even demons have friends, and the disappearance of one has brought another to Clayton County. Soon there are new victims for John to work on at the mortuary and a new mystery to solve. But John has tasted death, and the dark nature he uses as a weapon - the terrifying persona he calls "Mr. Monster" - might now be using him.
No one in Clayton is safe unless John can vanquish two nighmarish adversaries: the unknown demon he must hunt and the inner demon he can never escape.
My Opinion:
John is such an authentic character that I worry about the mental health of the author. All of the little details, like using "it" instead of "he/she" when referring to people, were spot on.
The mystery was great; it was unusual and the supernatural tinge wasn't overdone. But what kept me turning the pages was John's inner turmoil (again, perfectly written). As he relaxes his rules and pushes his limits, will he still be able to control Mr. Monster? I'm ready to jump right into the third book and find out!
I would recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers, but it is necessary to read "I am not a Serial Killer" first to get the full experience.
Quote from the Book:
"Was it possible to be two people, one good and one bad, or was I forced to be a mix of both - a good person forever tainted by evil?"
Mr. Monster by Dan Wells
Book 2 in the John Cleaver trilogy
Summary (via Goodreads):
In I am not a Serial Killer, John Wayne Cleaver saved his town from a murderer even more appalling than the serial killers he obsessively studies.
But it turns out even demons have friends, and the disappearance of one has brought another to Clayton County. Soon there are new victims for John to work on at the mortuary and a new mystery to solve. But John has tasted death, and the dark nature he uses as a weapon - the terrifying persona he calls "Mr. Monster" - might now be using him.
No one in Clayton is safe unless John can vanquish two nighmarish adversaries: the unknown demon he must hunt and the inner demon he can never escape.
My Opinion:
John is such an authentic character that I worry about the mental health of the author. All of the little details, like using "it" instead of "he/she" when referring to people, were spot on.
The mystery was great; it was unusual and the supernatural tinge wasn't overdone. But what kept me turning the pages was John's inner turmoil (again, perfectly written). As he relaxes his rules and pushes his limits, will he still be able to control Mr. Monster? I'm ready to jump right into the third book and find out!
I would recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers, but it is necessary to read "I am not a Serial Killer" first to get the full experience.
Quote from the Book:
"Was it possible to be two people, one good and one bad, or was I forced to be a mix of both - a good person forever tainted by evil?"
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Takedown Twenty
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 88.
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
Book 20 of the Stephanie Plum mystery series (not counting the novellas)
Summary:
More Stephanie Plum shenanigans.
If you're a reader of the series you already know the basics. If you've never read the series, what the heck are you doing trying to jump to number 20?
My Opinion:
Knowing my dwindling enthusiasm for this series, a friend asked if I was planning to read this book. My response: "Yes, I commit to series to the bitter end".
Now that I've read it, I can confirm what I knew going in...I'm bitter. Oh so bitter.
I guess I should say *spoiler alert* but to me these aren't spoilers because NOTHING happened that would surprise anyone that's read this series.
- Although she comes thisclose to choosing (and c'mon, we all know who she's going to end up with anyway), she doesn't.
- A car is destroyed.
- Granny is inappropriate.
- There's a random animal subplot.
- Everything implausibly wraps up in the end through no talent or skill on Stephanie's part.
Normally negative reviews are very hard for me to write but I had no trouble with this one. The author is an established writer who will end up on the bestseller list no matter what she churns out...it's time to stop phoning it in and wrap this series up already.
Quote from the Book:
"I'd been saving the champagne for a special occasion, and it seemed like seeing a giraffe running down the street qualified."
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
Book 20 of the Stephanie Plum mystery series (not counting the novellas)
Summary:
More Stephanie Plum shenanigans.
If you're a reader of the series you already know the basics. If you've never read the series, what the heck are you doing trying to jump to number 20?
My Opinion:
Knowing my dwindling enthusiasm for this series, a friend asked if I was planning to read this book. My response: "Yes, I commit to series to the bitter end".
Now that I've read it, I can confirm what I knew going in...I'm bitter. Oh so bitter.
I guess I should say *spoiler alert* but to me these aren't spoilers because NOTHING happened that would surprise anyone that's read this series.
- Although she comes thisclose to choosing (and c'mon, we all know who she's going to end up with anyway), she doesn't.
- A car is destroyed.
- Granny is inappropriate.
- There's a random animal subplot.
- Everything implausibly wraps up in the end through no talent or skill on Stephanie's part.
Normally negative reviews are very hard for me to write but I had no trouble with this one. The author is an established writer who will end up on the bestseller list no matter what she churns out...it's time to stop phoning it in and wrap this series up already.
Quote from the Book:
"I'd been saving the champagne for a special occasion, and it seemed like seeing a giraffe running down the street qualified."
Saturday, December 7, 2013
The Bitches of Brooklyn
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 87.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Chestnut Hill Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.
The Bitches of Brooklyn by Rosemary Harris
Summary (via Goodreads):
Four friends from Brooklyn await the arrival of a fifth at a Cape Cod bungalow where they spend an all-girls weekend every summer. But this time the fifth woman doesn't show. Instead she sends a note that reads - "I've run off with one of your men".
Fast, funny and filled with Harris' trademark snappy dialog and quirky characters forced to reevaluate their friendships, their marriages, and their memories.
My Opinion:
I'm pretty neutral about this book - neither great nor bad, it didn't generate much emotion for me either way. I thought the premise was intriguing but it had less bite than I expected based on the title and description. A quick, light read; I was definitely interested in who the man was but the big reveal didn't knock my socks off.
Quote of the Blog:
*Since I read an ARC of this book, I can't quote directly from it as I normally would. Instead, I've found another quote that seems fitting.
"Talk between women friends is always therapy..." ~ Jayne Anne Phillips
I would like to thank NetGalley and Chestnut Hill Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.
The Bitches of Brooklyn by Rosemary Harris
Summary (via Goodreads):
Four friends from Brooklyn await the arrival of a fifth at a Cape Cod bungalow where they spend an all-girls weekend every summer. But this time the fifth woman doesn't show. Instead she sends a note that reads - "I've run off with one of your men".
Fast, funny and filled with Harris' trademark snappy dialog and quirky characters forced to reevaluate their friendships, their marriages, and their memories.
My Opinion:
I'm pretty neutral about this book - neither great nor bad, it didn't generate much emotion for me either way. I thought the premise was intriguing but it had less bite than I expected based on the title and description. A quick, light read; I was definitely interested in who the man was but the big reveal didn't knock my socks off.
Quote of the Blog:
*Since I read an ARC of this book, I can't quote directly from it as I normally would. Instead, I've found another quote that seems fitting.
"Talk between women friends is always therapy..." ~ Jayne Anne Phillips
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
I am Not a Serial Killer
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 86.
I am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
Book 1 in the John Cleaver trilogy
Summary (via Goodreads):
John Wayne Cleaver is dangerous, and he knows it.
He's spent his life doing his best not to live up to his potential.
He's obsessed with serial killers, but really doesn't want to become one. So for his own sake, and the safety of those around him, he lives by rigid rules he's written for himself, practicing normal life as if it were a private religion that could save him for damnation.
Dead bodies are normal to John. He likes them, actually. They don't demand or expect the empathy he's unable to offer. Perhaps that's what gives him the objectivity to recognize that there's something different about the body the police have just found behind the Wash-n-Dry Laundromat - and to appreciate what that difference means.
Now, for the first time, John has to confront a danger outside himself, a threat he can't control, a menace to everything and everyone he would love, if only he could.
My Opinion:
This book was full of suspense but it doesn't come from guessing who the Clayton Killer is. That is revealed fairly early in the book, and what a jawdropping twist it was! The suspense comes as John tries to figure out how to stop [the killer - no pronoun spoilers here!] and the cat/mouse game they play.
This is the first book in a trilogy and I'm jumping right into the second - after the way this book ended, I'm interested to see what direction the author goes.
Not for the squeamish, but not because of the killings. John works in a mortuary and there are very detailed descriptions of the process of preparing the body, especially embalming.
Quote from the Book:
"The lack of emotional connection with other people has the odd effect of making you feel separate and alien...this drives some sociopaths to feel superior, as if the whole of humanity were simply animals to be hunted or put down; others feels a hot, jealous rage, desperate to have what they cannot. I simply felt alone, one leaf sitting miles away from a giant, communal pile." ~ John, describing his sociopathy
I am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
Book 1 in the John Cleaver trilogy
Summary (via Goodreads):
John Wayne Cleaver is dangerous, and he knows it.
He's spent his life doing his best not to live up to his potential.
He's obsessed with serial killers, but really doesn't want to become one. So for his own sake, and the safety of those around him, he lives by rigid rules he's written for himself, practicing normal life as if it were a private religion that could save him for damnation.
Dead bodies are normal to John. He likes them, actually. They don't demand or expect the empathy he's unable to offer. Perhaps that's what gives him the objectivity to recognize that there's something different about the body the police have just found behind the Wash-n-Dry Laundromat - and to appreciate what that difference means.
Now, for the first time, John has to confront a danger outside himself, a threat he can't control, a menace to everything and everyone he would love, if only he could.
My Opinion:
This book was full of suspense but it doesn't come from guessing who the Clayton Killer is. That is revealed fairly early in the book, and what a jawdropping twist it was! The suspense comes as John tries to figure out how to stop [the killer - no pronoun spoilers here!] and the cat/mouse game they play.
This is the first book in a trilogy and I'm jumping right into the second - after the way this book ended, I'm interested to see what direction the author goes.
Not for the squeamish, but not because of the killings. John works in a mortuary and there are very detailed descriptions of the process of preparing the body, especially embalming.
Quote from the Book:
"The lack of emotional connection with other people has the odd effect of making you feel separate and alien...this drives some sociopaths to feel superior, as if the whole of humanity were simply animals to be hunted or put down; others feels a hot, jealous rage, desperate to have what they cannot. I simply felt alone, one leaf sitting miles away from a giant, communal pile." ~ John, describing his sociopathy
Monday, December 2, 2013
4 to 16 Characters
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 85.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lemon Sherbet Press for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.
4 to 16 Characters by Kelly Hourihan
Summary (via Goodreads):
Fifteen-year-old Jane Shilling's best friends don't know her real name. In fact, they don't know anything about her at all. Jane's life has collapsed in the last few years; following the death of her mother, her father turned to drinking, and Jane is reeling from the double blow. To escape, Jane devises a number of online personas, each with a distinct personality, life history, and set of friends. But things become trickier when she finds herself drawing close to some of her online friends, and winds up struggling with the question of how to maintain a real friendship while masquerading as a fake person. With the help of Gary, a socially awkward classmate and competitive Skeeball player who is Jane's only offline friend, and Nora, her therapist, Jane begins to sift through her issues. The only catch is that that involves taking a long, hard look at what her life's like when the computer is shut off, and that's a reality she's been fighting for years.
My Opinion:
This was a very emotional book, and I felt it. I hated it for being so real and raw as I read it with sweaty palms, while at the same time I loved it for being so real and raw because it made the book so readable. It was almost annoying how perfectly the author wrote teen angst. This isn't a criticism of the writing; the opposite, actually. She captured teen drama so accurately that I rolled my eyes as I remembered how important and life-changing things felt at the time but looking back now...not so much.
Some may complain about the format (presented entirely through online material like e-mails, instant messages, private blog entries, etc.) but I think it really worked for the story, a girl who spends all of her time online to escape reality. The private blog entries are just the new version of the "Dear Diary" books I read when I was younger...same concept, updated format. Also, being able to share her therapy sessions by having the therapist talk to her via IM to make her more comfortable...brilliant.
Two things dampened the overall experience for me. First, the ending was a bit "Pollyanna". I'm not a monster and I'm glad things started looking up, but the speed at which everything came together felt a little rushed after I spent the majority of the book praising its authenticity and honesty. Second, the characters around Jane were a little one-dimensional. Jane was written so fully and well, I was disappointed that the same thought didn't go into the people she was surrounded by.
Overall, I liked this book. I would definitely recommend it to high school girls but it could be a little too emo-dramatic to have a big impact on an adult audience (although the writing is great and the emotional appeal is there).
Quote of the Blog:
*Since I read an ARC of this book, I can't quote directly from it as I normally would. Instead, I've found another quote that seems fitting.
"I'm so much cooler online" ~ Brad Paisley, lyric from the song "Online" (which was running through my mind as I read this book)
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lemon Sherbet Press for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.
4 to 16 Characters by Kelly Hourihan
Summary (via Goodreads):
Fifteen-year-old Jane Shilling's best friends don't know her real name. In fact, they don't know anything about her at all. Jane's life has collapsed in the last few years; following the death of her mother, her father turned to drinking, and Jane is reeling from the double blow. To escape, Jane devises a number of online personas, each with a distinct personality, life history, and set of friends. But things become trickier when she finds herself drawing close to some of her online friends, and winds up struggling with the question of how to maintain a real friendship while masquerading as a fake person. With the help of Gary, a socially awkward classmate and competitive Skeeball player who is Jane's only offline friend, and Nora, her therapist, Jane begins to sift through her issues. The only catch is that that involves taking a long, hard look at what her life's like when the computer is shut off, and that's a reality she's been fighting for years.
My Opinion:
This was a very emotional book, and I felt it. I hated it for being so real and raw as I read it with sweaty palms, while at the same time I loved it for being so real and raw because it made the book so readable. It was almost annoying how perfectly the author wrote teen angst. This isn't a criticism of the writing; the opposite, actually. She captured teen drama so accurately that I rolled my eyes as I remembered how important and life-changing things felt at the time but looking back now...not so much.
Some may complain about the format (presented entirely through online material like e-mails, instant messages, private blog entries, etc.) but I think it really worked for the story, a girl who spends all of her time online to escape reality. The private blog entries are just the new version of the "Dear Diary" books I read when I was younger...same concept, updated format. Also, being able to share her therapy sessions by having the therapist talk to her via IM to make her more comfortable...brilliant.
Two things dampened the overall experience for me. First, the ending was a bit "Pollyanna". I'm not a monster and I'm glad things started looking up, but the speed at which everything came together felt a little rushed after I spent the majority of the book praising its authenticity and honesty. Second, the characters around Jane were a little one-dimensional. Jane was written so fully and well, I was disappointed that the same thought didn't go into the people she was surrounded by.
Overall, I liked this book. I would definitely recommend it to high school girls but it could be a little too emo-dramatic to have a big impact on an adult audience (although the writing is great and the emotional appeal is there).
Quote of the Blog:
*Since I read an ARC of this book, I can't quote directly from it as I normally would. Instead, I've found another quote that seems fitting.
"I'm so much cooler online" ~ Brad Paisley, lyric from the song "Online" (which was running through my mind as I read this book)
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