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Review Date: 11/26/2012
I found this book a little slow at first, with the characters hard to follow. Then, when a major event occurs and introduces the girl across the street (Leah) to the people living in the house, my curiosity was peaked, and the story took off. I'm glad I stuck with the book, reading a tender, sometimes sad, yet hopeful tale of ordinary people pursuing their dreams.
Review Date: 10/1/2012
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book, as it gave me a glimpse into the way things were for women in a patriarchal society. I loved the "old" wisdom from Marie B. and thought the historical facts woven in throughout the story to be very interesting- the Halifax explosion, and the commonplace diagnosis of hysteria for any "female" issues...Dora Rare was a rare woman indeed, I'm sure the pun was intended! There are many benefits to midwives, as there are benefits to modern birth centers, but IMHO it usually depends on the situation and what people are comfortable with. At this time in history, the doctor is made out to be the 'evil' one bringing about unwanted change, versus the female domain of baby-catching in order to gain sympathy for Dora and Marie B. I loved the old wives' tales and the witchy parts described in the book, they were some things in there that my own grandmother (from New Orleans) used to teach me when I was young!
Review Date: 9/8/2012
Helpful Score: 1
Cute, quick read with lots and lots of sex and a predictable story. Although the storyline began as a believable plot and Daisy the dog was adorable, the characters repeated themselves a lot, the story deteriorated into Lily and Griffin having a lot of sex, not much was explained, Griffin has to figure things out, more sex, and I was a bit put off with the ending, which was wrapped up too neatly and quickly. Did I mention all the sex?? I was expecting more plot and good explanations for the magic stuff (why was Daisy magical?) like the Babes On Brooms Bk 1, which I thought was a much more interesting book, but was sadly disappointed.
Review Date: 1/21/2022
Helpful Score: 1
DNF at 28% and really at that point I was skimming it.
Well, I wish I'd read the reviews before getting this book, but I got taken in by the title! I will admit that I don't love the epistolary style of writing, but from the very beginning of the book, the main character Fawn with her emails, journal entries, combative and often fraudulent online reviews, texts, and tweets, is very unlikeable. She is a bit odd and says inappropriate things which turn out to be lies and things made up in her head. She's the kind of person who thinks that she's smart because of her extensive vocabulary and book knowledge, but she lies all the time to make herself feel good and her idea of being polite or being "truthful" is to give a lot of back-handed compliments. I wanted to give Fawn a chance so I kept reading hoping the story would improve but unfortunately, she just gets worse. Fawn is rude and deluded, totally lacking in business and financial sense, (did I already mention how she lies all the time?) and has a horrible sense of entitlement that makes her a total jerk to her staff, customers, her family, and most everyone she meets. Do not recommend.
Well, I wish I'd read the reviews before getting this book, but I got taken in by the title! I will admit that I don't love the epistolary style of writing, but from the very beginning of the book, the main character Fawn with her emails, journal entries, combative and often fraudulent online reviews, texts, and tweets, is very unlikeable. She is a bit odd and says inappropriate things which turn out to be lies and things made up in her head. She's the kind of person who thinks that she's smart because of her extensive vocabulary and book knowledge, but she lies all the time to make herself feel good and her idea of being polite or being "truthful" is to give a lot of back-handed compliments. I wanted to give Fawn a chance so I kept reading hoping the story would improve but unfortunately, she just gets worse. Fawn is rude and deluded, totally lacking in business and financial sense, (did I already mention how she lies all the time?) and has a horrible sense of entitlement that makes her a total jerk to her staff, customers, her family, and most everyone she meets. Do not recommend.
Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, Bk 1) (Movie Tie-in Edition)
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
96
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
96
Review Date: 1/31/2011
I haven't seen the movie, but was curious enough about the story. Rebecca is so cute and infuriating all at once, and I was compelled to keep reading and find out how the heck she was going to get out of the big mess she made for herself! Quick, fun read!
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
4036
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
4036
Review Date: 5/28/2011
Wow, I actually read the reviews AFTER reading the book, and I'm glad I hadn't seen them or I may have never picked up the book. Yes, I agree that the author is at times whiny and self-absorbed, but then again that's what the book is about-- HER journey! Yes, I agree that we should all be so fortunate as to be able to take a year off and not work, and travel and "find ourselves"; this is WHY I read the book- to live vicariously through what other people can afford to do! I don't quite understand why people are slamming the book and the author about her own personal experience. I liked the book. It had its funny moments and times when I could relate to her feelings (anyone who's gone through divorce can probably relate); tender moments with the people she met (the medicine man and the baby ritual towards the end was heart-warming) and I liked reading about the places where she traveled. The book was okay; not great, but I didn't find it boring either. I've also heard that the movie (while movies never can quite compare to a book), is good for actually showing the beautiful places Liz traveled to and rich scenery. I do plan on watching the movie just to add to the experience of having read the book.
Review Date: 4/6/2024
I enjoyed the book because the story was fast-paced and kept my interest with whatever was going to happen next with women being conniving, catty and jealous and it was fun to read from both Cat & Neena's perspective. However, I didn't care for the characters; they disappointed me in the many bad choices they made and had very little if any likeable qualities. Everything they did was for personal gain or status; they were very calculating players and despite being rich, they were awful, very vain, stereotypical snobs only worried about their appearances, distrustful, backstabbing, jealous, and not kind or seeming to have any redeeming qualities to their character. Except for Matt who is portrayed as a good guy albeit too much of a doormat, and even he at the very end is abusive to his wife (domestic abuse is never okay).
There was also an expression that the author used over and over regarding facial expressions: "pinched" his/her face "her face pinched" "his pinched face" and every time it came up, I just thought it was poorly written; she could have used different ways to describe their faces, but no, they were "pinched"! She used the phrase on most if not all the main characters. I know that may be petty, but it bugged me, and I pinched my face at the thought!
There was also an expression that the author used over and over regarding facial expressions: "pinched" his/her face "her face pinched" "his pinched face" and every time it came up, I just thought it was poorly written; she could have used different ways to describe their faces, but no, they were "pinched"! She used the phrase on most if not all the main characters. I know that may be petty, but it bugged me, and I pinched my face at the thought!
Review Date: 8/24/2023
I loved RoseMarie's narrative and heartfelt behind-the-scenes story of her life as JFK Jr's personal assistant for the 5 years she worked for him; she was so much more than an assistant to him, becoming a confidante and friend. Beautifully written, the story had a great pace and I enjoyed reading all the personal moments of her work with John, and her close friendship outside of work with him and his wife Carolyn. My heart broke with hers in the aftermath of the tragedy that took their lives. Very engaging read, it was hard to put down until I finished it!
Review Date: 3/9/2013
Helpful Score: 5
I usually read reviews *after* reading a book, because I don't want other people's views to influence my own enjoyment. If I cant quite get into the story, or finish the book, then I read the reviews to see if maybe some people say to stick with it.
Sothat being said although I finished reading this book #7, it was a very substandard story, as many other reviewers have mentioned. Even if it was easy to follow the story (not much to figure out), I could see what the mystery was about WAY before the main character Maggie (or others in the book) did, and the whole story seemed a bit boring. There wasnt a whole lot of the fun, magic or paranormal stuff either. I finished the book quickly, and was left feeling disappointed, like I wasted my time.
Sothat being said although I finished reading this book #7, it was a very substandard story, as many other reviewers have mentioned. Even if it was easy to follow the story (not much to figure out), I could see what the mystery was about WAY before the main character Maggie (or others in the book) did, and the whole story seemed a bit boring. There wasnt a whole lot of the fun, magic or paranormal stuff either. I finished the book quickly, and was left feeling disappointed, like I wasted my time.
Review Date: 9/23/2023
A magical house? I'm in! Add really interesting characters, a mystery and a twist, a betrayal or two, a bad guy, loves lost, possible romance and redemptions? This book has it all down to the very satisfying ending. I really enjoyed it.
Review Date: 5/28/2011
Incredibly amazing read! I literally couldn't put this book down, and read it in about 9 hours (hubby took care of kids, and I holed myself up in a room)! This was my first Lisa Scottoline book and I'm definitely a fan after this first one! It was riveting, fast-paced, very interesting, really made you feel what the characters were going through, tear-jerker at some points, and the ending was not anything I would have ever expected!
Review Date: 12/15/2012
Helpful Score: 1
Interesting fictional account on the biblical times and life of Dinah and her family. I admit it was difficult at first, I had to keep referring to the family tree in the front of the book (I'm a visual person!), but once the characters were fleshed out in my head, I could follow Dinah's very interesting and sometimes heart-breaking story. No spoilers here, but I will say that her story at times moved me to tears, and I was happy for her towards the end of the book. So give the book a chance, learn something about how life may have been like in Biblical times, understanding that people did things a certain way because of family tradition and obligation, and in the process, you can read an amazing story of strength and survival. In the end, I loved this book.
Review Date: 6/14/2014
This is not a book! This is a BOXED SET that contains the first three books in Michael Scott's series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Alchemyst, The Magician, and The Sorceress. At first I thought it was a different book from the series...
Review Date: 7/31/2012
Helpful Score: 1
I got this book because I was curious about it, and I always like to read the book before watching the movie. Makes it so that I get my own picture of the characters in my head instead of being led by the movie story. I was immediately drawn in to the story, and enjoyed the way it was told from Jacob as an old man looking back to his youth. Wonderfully descriptive, I felt his joy and pain and so many other emotions as he experienced life. It was very hard to put the book down, and I spent a very late night finishing it. I loved reading about the menagerie and the behind the scenes way of the circus. This one is a keeper for me!
Review Date: 9/1/2023
** spoiler alert **
Easily readable, the story was ok up until the surprise ending which was a bit too unbelievable for me, even as it does redeem the idea that Laurel was cheating on Jack. However, I rated it down because using rape as a plot device is lazy, and again, the biological father being who he is, was a stretch, that they kept in touch and knew who he was. As others have said this is a story about many kinds of forgiveness, but all the different issues (Jack/Laurel and the baby, Malcolm and Rain, Malcolm and Nathan, Uncle Joe, Matthew and his wife Monica, the priest, etc.) just happily working themselves out in the end was too neat, and not explained well throughout the book. Ugh, definitely the Hallmark Hall of Fame story here.
Easily readable, the story was ok up until the surprise ending which was a bit too unbelievable for me, even as it does redeem the idea that Laurel was cheating on Jack. However, I rated it down because using rape as a plot device is lazy, and again, the biological father being who he is, was a stretch, that they kept in touch and knew who he was. As others have said this is a story about many kinds of forgiveness, but all the different issues (Jack/Laurel and the baby, Malcolm and Rain, Malcolm and Nathan, Uncle Joe, Matthew and his wife Monica, the priest, etc.) just happily working themselves out in the end was too neat, and not explained well throughout the book. Ugh, definitely the Hallmark Hall of Fame story here.
Review Date: 2/5/2011
A good and imaginative story in theory. However, as much as I tried to get into the book, the archaic and very formal language, all the politics, and so much boring detail to get into the story, that I couldn't even finish it. I saw many reviews that say the book gets better when Dorothy arrives in Oz, but I didn't have the patience nor the time to get through to that point. Maybe I missed a good ending, and I'll try again some other time, but for now, this book was disappointing.
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