This was an autobiography about a young woman who moves to Paris for love and food. I really don't know why I picked this book up a few months ago except for the fact that I LOVE food and want to spend two weeks in Paris at the earliest possible opportunity--as in, there is a piggy bank on my dresser with coins and dollars earmarked for Paris.
Anyway, this book had recipes as well as some great stories. I liked the descriptions the author gave about the food in France, but honestly I felt as though the story was more about her frustration with her lack of a career and the difficulties of living in a different culture. I would have appreciated a lot more about the food in and around Paris.
This review was short because there really wasn't much to say about it. Almost a third of it was recipes, not many of which I think I'll try, just because they don't seem to be that creative or unique. I would give this book a three out of five.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Thumped by Megan McCafferty
Because I'm a little behind in my posts, there are two today!
This was a sequel to the book "Bumped," a teen novel set in the future that has a virus which renders men and women infertile around their early twenties. This has caused a wide market to pop up in which teenagers can be matched up by agencies in order to produce the best babies so that older couples can have children. While I'm not explaining the plot well, these two books were fantastic. I don't want to spoil the plot of the first book for you, so stop reading now and go buy the first one!
In "Thumped" twin sisters Melody and Harmony are living their lives separately. Melody is falling in love with Zen and Harmony is trying to live her life back in Goodside while trying to avoid Jondoe. Pregnant with twins, Harmony is feeling overwhelmed and a little bit detached from the situation.
This book was good, but not as good as the first one in the series. This one took place over the course of a few days, and I honestly felt like the action was forced. It just didn't flow as well as the first book. I enjoyed seeing how the characters worked their way through the situations, but there was not enough depth to them. I really didn't empathize with any of them. I found the plot to be interesting, but not gripping. I finished in a little over a day, but mostly only because the book was so short.
This author also wrote the Jessica Darling series, which I enjoyed until the fourth book and then never finished. I like her writing style and plots but I guess I feel as though her books are stretched out too far.
Bumped: 4.5 out of 5
Thumped: 3 out of 5
This was a sequel to the book "Bumped," a teen novel set in the future that has a virus which renders men and women infertile around their early twenties. This has caused a wide market to pop up in which teenagers can be matched up by agencies in order to produce the best babies so that older couples can have children. While I'm not explaining the plot well, these two books were fantastic. I don't want to spoil the plot of the first book for you, so stop reading now and go buy the first one!
In "Thumped" twin sisters Melody and Harmony are living their lives separately. Melody is falling in love with Zen and Harmony is trying to live her life back in Goodside while trying to avoid Jondoe. Pregnant with twins, Harmony is feeling overwhelmed and a little bit detached from the situation.
This book was good, but not as good as the first one in the series. This one took place over the course of a few days, and I honestly felt like the action was forced. It just didn't flow as well as the first book. I enjoyed seeing how the characters worked their way through the situations, but there was not enough depth to them. I really didn't empathize with any of them. I found the plot to be interesting, but not gripping. I finished in a little over a day, but mostly only because the book was so short.
This author also wrote the Jessica Darling series, which I enjoyed until the fourth book and then never finished. I like her writing style and plots but I guess I feel as though her books are stretched out too far.
Bumped: 4.5 out of 5
Thumped: 3 out of 5
Glaciers by Alexis M. Smith
Do you ever notice how it can take you longer to read a one or two hundred page book than it does a 500 page book? Glaciers was that kind of book. This was a different style than most of the popular fiction that I read, but I adore these kinds of books. The sentences tell so much, but are sparse. The author lets you read between the words and feel the story instead of just telling it.
The story takes place over the course of one day in the young librarian's life and also flashes back to when she was a child growing up in Alaska. While short, this book was beautiful and memorable. The author carefully worded each sentence. Each word was meaningful, the sentences lyrical. I was not so in love with this book because of the plot, but more the way it was written. I appreciated the time that the author took to make the words dance on the page.
Five out of five, no doubt.
The story takes place over the course of one day in the young librarian's life and also flashes back to when she was a child growing up in Alaska. While short, this book was beautiful and memorable. The author carefully worded each sentence. Each word was meaningful, the sentences lyrical. I was not so in love with this book because of the plot, but more the way it was written. I appreciated the time that the author took to make the words dance on the page.
Five out of five, no doubt.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster
I discovered this author as her fourth book was coming out. I started with her first one "Bitter is the New Black" and instantly fell in love. I laughed so hard I cried in many situations and literally tripped over my own feet in an effort to get to Amazon.com to order her next ones. I have seen Jen Lancaster in person twice and sincerely regret missing her latest book tour with her seventh book. This post is about her seventh book, but also about her books as a whole.
I loved her first three books, but didn't relate quite as well with her fourth one. But her fifth one snagged me right back in again. When she wrote a novel, I jumped in with two feet and didn't enjoy it quite as much as I thought I would. It was definitely a similar feel to her autobiographies, but I enjoyed her first person point of view rather than a fictional character's. I also can't get enough of her, Fletch and their wild pets.
When her latest book came out I didn't pre-order it because I assumed (that's the word where the trouble comes in) that Wal-Mart would have it. They didn't. But I bet you saw that coming. I was able to purchase a copy a week later when we went to Barnes and Noble. I actually made us late for the baseball game we were attending just so I could purchase the latest book.
And then, it was a little bit of a letdown. I already follow Jen on Facebook and her website, so I was severely disappointed when many of her stories had already been told through those venues. There were more details to these stories in the book, and there were other stories from her life, but I just felt like I had kind of read it before.
Now, that's not to say that I didn't completely enjoy this book, because I did. I still laughed and completely related to her. Perhaps it was lacking because I didn't get to see in her person this year? Because let me tell you, if you get a chance to go to one of her events, clear your calendar and get your girls together! She is her books. She reads pieces out loud exactly as I had read it in my head. I loved that about her!
So the moral of the story is that you should check this lady out. Her books are hilarious and the perfect pick-me-up at the end of a stressful day. My favorites will always be her first three, but I definitely recommend all of them to you for the simple fact that they are all great.
I loved her first three books, but didn't relate quite as well with her fourth one. But her fifth one snagged me right back in again. When she wrote a novel, I jumped in with two feet and didn't enjoy it quite as much as I thought I would. It was definitely a similar feel to her autobiographies, but I enjoyed her first person point of view rather than a fictional character's. I also can't get enough of her, Fletch and their wild pets.
When her latest book came out I didn't pre-order it because I assumed (that's the word where the trouble comes in) that Wal-Mart would have it. They didn't. But I bet you saw that coming. I was able to purchase a copy a week later when we went to Barnes and Noble. I actually made us late for the baseball game we were attending just so I could purchase the latest book.
And then, it was a little bit of a letdown. I already follow Jen on Facebook and her website, so I was severely disappointed when many of her stories had already been told through those venues. There were more details to these stories in the book, and there were other stories from her life, but I just felt like I had kind of read it before.
Now, that's not to say that I didn't completely enjoy this book, because I did. I still laughed and completely related to her. Perhaps it was lacking because I didn't get to see in her person this year? Because let me tell you, if you get a chance to go to one of her events, clear your calendar and get your girls together! She is her books. She reads pieces out loud exactly as I had read it in my head. I loved that about her!
So the moral of the story is that you should check this lady out. Her books are hilarious and the perfect pick-me-up at the end of a stressful day. My favorites will always be her first three, but I definitely recommend all of them to you for the simple fact that they are all great.
Monday, June 18, 2012
I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
This book was about a young woman that loses her engagement ring and her phone all in one day. She then finds a phone in a trash can and picks it up, using it until she can get a replacement phone in case anyone finds her ring and calls her. The plot goes on from there in a typically funny, chick lit way.
I thought this was a great summer read and I finished it in about three days. I, again, felt as though this book was dragged out just a tad, but overall it was a funny, good book. I liked the main character, Poppy. She was a sweet, relatable girl that I fell in love with. Sam was an okay guy that felt very unapproachable at first but I warmed up to him.
I found the idea of sharing a phone to be an interesting one in this day and age. When we keep so much of our life on the phone the thought of sharing it can be quite intimidating. While I thought the plot of two strangers sharing a phone for any length of time was a bit far-fetched, I thought this was a funny book with a great main character whose problems could belong to a normal person.
This was a great chick lit book that I would recommend. While I liked Sophie Kinsella's 'Shopaholic' series better, I still enjoyed this book and would give it a 4 out of 5.
I thought this was a great summer read and I finished it in about three days. I, again, felt as though this book was dragged out just a tad, but overall it was a funny, good book. I liked the main character, Poppy. She was a sweet, relatable girl that I fell in love with. Sam was an okay guy that felt very unapproachable at first but I warmed up to him.
I found the idea of sharing a phone to be an interesting one in this day and age. When we keep so much of our life on the phone the thought of sharing it can be quite intimidating. While I thought the plot of two strangers sharing a phone for any length of time was a bit far-fetched, I thought this was a funny book with a great main character whose problems could belong to a normal person.
This was a great chick lit book that I would recommend. While I liked Sophie Kinsella's 'Shopaholic' series better, I still enjoyed this book and would give it a 4 out of 5.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
The Yard by Alex Grecian
I just finished this book this morning. It took me about a week to read this at 400 or so pages. The plot was good and I love historical novels so that was a plus. I especially appreciate historical novels that take place in times or locales that aren't overdone. Not that I don't appreciate a good WWII novel or one set in the Civil War, but I digress.
Set just after Jack the Ripper struck in London, England, the book's blurb had me excited about it from the start. Two policemen work on different cases which end up colliding. It started out good, but was a bit drawn out. I like a long book, but only when it is necessary. This book should have ended around 370 pages. But the last fifty pages sped back up and pulled me through to the end.
The descriptions in some of the scenes were so-so, leaving me a bit confused. I also had a problem really connecting with any of the characters with the exception of Constable Hammersmith. I felt the characters of Cinderhouse and the two prostitutes could have been delved into further. If you're going to draw the book out, let me really see some of the more interesting characters.
Overall, I liked the book and would recommend it to a friend. It was the author's first work and I would love to see more from him, hopefully with a less dry period in the middle. But I will say that the plot was tightly written throughout, everything was explained and I honestly didn't see a couple things coming, so that was nice. If I were doing this on a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give it a 3.5.
Set just after Jack the Ripper struck in London, England, the book's blurb had me excited about it from the start. Two policemen work on different cases which end up colliding. It started out good, but was a bit drawn out. I like a long book, but only when it is necessary. This book should have ended around 370 pages. But the last fifty pages sped back up and pulled me through to the end.
The descriptions in some of the scenes were so-so, leaving me a bit confused. I also had a problem really connecting with any of the characters with the exception of Constable Hammersmith. I felt the characters of Cinderhouse and the two prostitutes could have been delved into further. If you're going to draw the book out, let me really see some of the more interesting characters.
Overall, I liked the book and would recommend it to a friend. It was the author's first work and I would love to see more from him, hopefully with a less dry period in the middle. But I will say that the plot was tightly written throughout, everything was explained and I honestly didn't see a couple things coming, so that was nice. If I were doing this on a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give it a 3.5.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Introduction
This is a new blog that I'm starting because I love books and I want to provide honest, unbiased book reviews. I'm not just reviewing the newest books, I'm reviewing what I have found at my local library or books that I've purchased. I read a wide variety of books and have since I was a child. I love reading and writing. This is a place for me to detail books that I have read and my opinions about them, as well as a place for people to read honest reviews. Maybe your views will be similar as mine and we can both discover new books.
A little bit about me: I'm 23 this month, I am a writer and budding photographer. I am married to a wonderful man and have a 14 year old black cat and a 4 years old adorable shih tzu. I live in the Midwest. I have a passion for reading that began at a very young age. I love reading, cooking, writing, scrapbooking, photography, DIY projects and eating delicious food!
I can't wait to build a readership and hopefully readers can tell me books that they recommend.
A little bit about me: I'm 23 this month, I am a writer and budding photographer. I am married to a wonderful man and have a 14 year old black cat and a 4 years old adorable shih tzu. I live in the Midwest. I have a passion for reading that began at a very young age. I love reading, cooking, writing, scrapbooking, photography, DIY projects and eating delicious food!
I can't wait to build a readership and hopefully readers can tell me books that they recommend.
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