Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Joanne wrote: "Juli wrote: "#17 Magician: Master

5/5 stars

The second book was just as great as the first."

Oh love this series!!! Love pug"

I love how many people end up having read this series. I had heard no one ever talk about it until I started reading the first book.

#22 Elevation

4/5 stars

This story was endearing. I was angry at people's closed-mindedness. I was touched when Scott stepped up to defend his neighbors. And I was happy when friendships began to develop and certain people overcame their prejudice. The ending was sad but inevitable.

#23 Breakfast at Tiffany's

4/5 stars

This was a lovely read. Truman Capote's writing is something else - airy yet deep at the same time. I love the movie and I really love this novella. They're the same but also different. Either one is special in its own way.

This book contains three additional short stories that I very much enjoyed as well.

#24 The Silent Patient

3/5 stars

I found myself annoyed for most of the book. The narrator/protagonist talks down to the reader. There was a lot of psychoanalytic textbook jargon and it felt like the author was just quoting words from one of Jung's or Freud's books. That feeling resolved itself at the end as I think the author just (clumsily) used this to make the main protagonist look arrogant. There was a nice (although somewhat predictable) twist at the end.

#25 Lady Susan

4/5 stars

What a fun and gossipy kind of read!

#26 Siege and Storm

4/5 stars

This one made me more emotional and I always like when a book can do that. I enjoyed it slightly more than the first one. Nikolai is so sarcastic! Mal is difficult - at times I love him, at times I hate him - great character writing! And then there is The Darkling and I just want to love him :p .... I wish this were a multiple character POV story - I just want to now what they're all thinking.

Juli wrote: "#22 Elevation

4/5 stars

This story was endearing. I was angry at people's closed-mindedness. I was touched when Scott stepped up to defend his neigh..."

I really liked this one! It packed a punch for being so short.

#27 Steppenwolf

4/5 stars

Hesse is a master at the "nesting doll" sentence. You have to digest every word he says, as it comes with a qualifier somewhere along the way. I loved the story of Harry. I loved its greyness and deep despair. But I also loved the enlightened moments. We all have souls made up of millions of pieces. Our souls can shatter like a mirror and we have to learn to put them back together in a beautiful way.

#28 Winter in Paradise

3/5 stars

Fast read. Sort of cliffhanger at the end. I almost hated some of the characters and some were just endearing. The writing was done very well.

#29 While You Sleep

5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This story was masterfully written! From the first sentence on, I felt leery, uncomfortable, and probably a little paranoid. Stephanie Merritt kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. This disturbing novel just wanders along in a slow burn constantly eluding to something could be happening at any time. I loved it!

The topic itself is not novel - we have an unreliable protagonist (is Zoe delusional?), we have a sort of 100-year-old witch hunt story (was Aisle McBride mad or misunderstood?), and we have a very isolated, most likely haunted house on a remote island in Scotland filled with superstitious and slightly hostile townsfolk.

What drew me in was the mysteriousness of Zoe's back story (why is she taking refuge in this place that isn't very welcoming to outsiders?), her slowly developing friendships with the elusive Charles and the overeager Edward (with their own secrets!), as well as her reoccurring eerie and foreboding dreams. The dreams specifically show Merritt's genius in creating an atmosphere with words. I loved how they slowly escalated blurring the line between fiction and reality. We never really know what are the signs of a madwoman and what are paranormal or maybe even perfectly explainable occurrences. The spooky events taking place at McBride house could be the evil doings of spirits, the delusions of a single woman, and the deeds of a sick perpetrator, or something completely different.

This story is complex. No one answer can explain it all. Or can it?

As a side note, I don't think the current synopsis on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ does the book justice. It gives too much away and not enough. It slightly, but enough to be confusing, misrepresents what this book is actually about. The less you know the better it will be.

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#22 Elevation

4/5 stars

This story was endearing. I was angry at people's closed-mindedness. I was touched when Scott stepped up to def..."

That's how I felt!!!!! I have read a few of his short stories and I think this is so far my favorite.

Juli wrote: "#29 While You Sleep

4.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange f..."


Oooh sounds good!

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#29 While You Sleep

4.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel ..."

1) This book somehow needs to be a movie. 2) I want everyone to read it. 3) I wish I could read it again for the first time.

Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#29 While You Sleep

4.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy ..."

Well, now I REALLY want to read it!

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#29 While You Sleep

4.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my a..."

I can't wait to hear what you think!

Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#29 While You Sleep

4.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the a..."

Hopefully NG approves me. lol

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#29 While You Sleep

4.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publis..."

Fingers crossed!

#30 Brief, Horrible Moments: A Collection of One Sentence Horror Stories

3/5 stars

Some of these were really great, some were just kinda meh.

Also, I read the Kindle edition and didn't see any of the illustrations others had mentioned.

Juli wrote: "#28 Winter in Paradise

3/5 stars

Fast read. Sort of cliffhanger at the end. I almost hated some of the characters and some were just endear..."


I enjoyed this series. By the time you finish the 4th and final book you feel like you are really going to miss the family.

Andrea wrote: "Juli wrote: "#28 Winter in Paradise

3/5 stars

Fast read. Sort of cliffhanger at the end. I almost hated some of the characters and some wer..."


Huh, I didn't realize the whole series is already out or do you have ARCs?

Are you by any chance talking about the Winter series?

Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#29 While You Sleep

4.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGall..."

Approved! Gah, one more book to add to the top of my pile! lol. I've got a busy book weekend ahead of me!

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#29 While You Sleep

4.5/5 stars

I would like to ..."

Yassssss!

Oh no, I got confused!!! I was thinking of the winter series :(

Andrea wrote: "Oh no, I got confused!!! I was thinking of the winter series :("

No worries. I might check out that series as well!

#31 In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It

4/5 stars

I just adore Lauren Graham. Her writing is witty and fun. Her messages seem genuine and authentic to her person. This book encompasses something we all need to hear and tell ourselves more often: you are enough.

#32 The Exorcist

5/5 stars

Well, what can I say? I am not sure that I can describe my thoughts in a way that makes sense. This was simply magnificent. It was nothing like what I had expected having watched the movie only a million times. The writing and atmosphere reminded me of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. In fact, if you would've told me this is a report of actual events, a true crime novel, I would've believed you. It felt like I was reading an eye witness report with dialogue so real that I thought I was eavesdropping. Yet this "report" was laden with deep insight into the human condition. Blatty created a masterpiece. The main characters were incredibly believable, so perfectly imperfect. The events slowly built up in intensity, which made me suffer along with each protagonist. I felt myself getting more worried with each page that I turned wanting to find out how this will conclude. I knew how the movie ends but I had no idea where the novel was taking me, .... and BAM, the ending - so damn flawless!

#33 The Mermaid

5/5 stars

This was quite different than her Alice in Wonderland retellings: much airier and lighter. But don't be fooled by a less dark tale, The Mermaid had a lot of depth. I dare say maybe even a bit more than Alice or Red Queen. It questioned societal norms. It questioned the standings and expected roles of women in 19th century America. IT questioned the things and beings we exploit for our own entertainment. This story is one of love: love for your heritage, love for the unknown, romantic love, and most importantly love for yourself.

Juli wrote: "#33 The Mermaid

5/5 stars

This was quite different than her Alice in Wonderland retellings: much airier and lighter. But don't be fooled by a less..."

Yesss! I can't wait for her Red Riding Hood retelling, it definitely promises to be very dark! The Girl in Red

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#33 The Mermaid

5/5 stars

This was quite different than her Alice in Wonderland retellings: much airier and lighter. But don't be foo..."



YASSSSSS! I am super excited about that.

#34 Let the Right One In

3/5 stars

I have been thinking about this book since I finished it. This was one of my most anticipated reads last year that I didn't get to. I was so excited when it was voted the February read in the horror aficionado group. This should've been a book I loved. It has all the things I look for in a good horror novel: bleakness, murder, despair, vampires, creepy and complex characters, and did I say vampires already?! In isolation each one of these was brilliant but together they didn't work. It's like the gears were slightly warped so the whole machine kept getting stuck rather than run smoothly.

#35 The Gunslinger

5/5 stars

Re-read: I listened to this in preparation for the second book. I think I didn't fully appreciate all the symbolism the first time. I loved all the tarot references. Truly a great book.

#36 Rebecca

5/5 stars

Brilliant! Rebecca and unnamed wife #2 at first glance represent exactly two opposite women, and yet they have more in common than they would probably admit to themselves. This novel is rife with socioeconomic criticism, societal observations, and a clear stance against molds and norms that women are forced to adhere to. All of this is hidden in a web made of romance, suspenseful mystery, and deep love for a house. It lies beneath the poetic prose and vivid imagery of the English countryside. Yet, it cannot be contained and creeps to the surface as the story unfolds. du Maurier exquisitely crafted her characters: the ever-present Rebecca, the invisible 2nd Mrs. deWinter, the evasive husband, and the house staff and villagers with their own agendas but most importantly the imposing and timeless mansion, Manderlay, which may be the most significant character in the novel. This book is dark. It carries you with it into the depth of human despair. It makes you wish for things you know are not right. You're rooting for characters that in the light of day are just plain icky. This is a book, I bet, that can be read over and over again and each time will connect differently with its readers allowing it to be rediscovered once more.

Sidenote: I highly suggest you read the afterword by Sally Beauman who perfectly analyzes du Maurier and her novels.

Juli wrote: "#36 Rebecca

5/5 stars

Brilliant! Rebecca and unnamed wife #2 at first glance represent exactly two opposite women, and yet they have more in common th..."

I loved it too! No afterword in the audio edition though, bummer! But this book is something I will want to experience in the physical form as a re-read in the future.

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#36 Rebecca

5/5 stars

Brilliant! Rebecca and unnamed wife #2 at first glance represent exactly two opposite women, and yet they have more..."

I wonder if we could find the afterword online. It is so good!

#37 Ruin and Rising

5/5 stars

Well dang! Leigh Bardugo had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. I was worried. I was teary. I was angry. You'd think the plot would be predictable but, bam, it is not!

#38 Geekerella

3.5/5 stars

Ok, this was super adorable. It's a great, quick read, with lots of geeky fangirling. It definitely isn't geared toward my age group but were I *cough* cough* 20 *cough* years younger, I definitely would've felt understood.

#39 On the Come Up

4/5 stars

This was my first Angie Thomas book. Yes, I know, how did I not read The Hate U Give? The hype is real though. On the Come Up - culturally significant and impactful; exactly what I had heard about The Hate U Give. I guess I will be picking up that one as well.

#40 Beast

3.5/5 stars

This book has a lot of heart. The story is pretty predictable but the characters make up for it. They are unique, relatable, and very human.

Juli wrote: "#39 On the Come Up

4/5 stars

This was my first Angie Thomas book. Yes, I know, how did I not read The Hate U Give? The hype is real though. On ..."

I loved, loved, loved The Hate U Give. I hope you read it.

Carol wrote: "Juli wrote: "#39 On the Come Up

4/5 stars

This was my first Angie Thomas book. Yes, I know, how did I not read The Hate U Give? The hype is rea..."

It's on my TBR now. :)

#41 Can You Keep a Secret?

4/5 stars

This story was quite a surprise with its insightful plots and its quirky characters. The main character is all of us 20 or 30 something women trying to figure out our mark on this world. Her romantic interest (view spoiler) felt a bit cliché but the author made up for it by giving us glimpses of his flawed nature and his own insecurities. Honestly, while it is a romance novel, that portion wasn't really what kept me entertained and wasn't really what seemed to be the main focus of the story anyway. What stood front and center were Emma's doubts and fears, her struggles to fit in, her desire to be more than she perceived to be, her hopes to balance her expectations of herself and the world's expectations of her, and her smartness and wit, her kindness, her stubbornness and at times pouty behavior, and her love for life. I could relate more than once, and that makes for good reading.

#42 The Scorpio Races

3/5 stars

This book grew on me. I think that's the best way to sum it up. I was bored and confused for probably the first half but then started getting invested in the characters and this mysterious race. The mythical sea horses were weird, dangerous, dark, and unpredictable - something that felt bogus in the beginning but took shape throughout the novel and became more authentic. I wish Stiefvater would've spent more time setting up the story of these creatures, made me care for them, made me curious, and then introduced the race and the humans.

#43 My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel

3/5 stars

This was a fun read, like reading People Magazine fun. I loved the choose-your-own-adventure aspect but it was hard to navigate the additional stories in eBook format.

#44 The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

5/5 stars


Review Um, this was super emotional. I was fascinated right from the beginning. I loved getting to know all the different individuals and how they were affected by the events. I loved getting to know the town of Gander and its inhabitants. I loved the conversational writing style the author employed. This is a wonderful piece of nonfiction literature.

P.S.: I listened to the first 10% as an audiobook and I highly suggest this as an audiobook if you feel up for it. I just ended up becoming too impatient (my listening time is limited) and finished reading it in bed last night.

Juli wrote: "#42 The Scorpio Races

3/5 stars

This book grew on me. I think that's the best way to sum it up. I was bored and confused for probably the fi..."

Glad you finally got into it! I don't think it'll end up on my 2019 list.

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#42 The Scorpio Races

3/5 stars

This book grew on me. I think that's the best way to sum it up. I was bored and confused for pr..."

Yeah, I almost DNF'ed it but really wanted to read something by Stiefvater and it fits one of the Popsugar categories.

#45 The Mermaid's Daughter

4.5/5 stars

This was a really lovely and quite dark retelling of The Little Mermaid. The opera plotline was smart and gave the whole book a heavy but atmospheric feel. I can't speak to any of the music references and their correctness but I enjoyed the parallels between composing and writing fairytales. Some things bugged me a little. It took me a bit to get used to the italicized intermissions of the "other witchy type creatures" but I understand that they propelled the plot forward. I also feel 50/50 on the sort of afterword about the fictionalized meeting of Hans Christian Andersen and his mermaid. It didn't need to be there but I do like Fand's personality. Overall though, I really liked this novel. Harry and Kathleen were interesting characters. Kathleen's condition and her suffering was a captivating take on the little mermaid's sacrifice. The interludes of past mermaids and their journeys gave this book depth and showcased many different types of characters. Some of it taking place in Ireland is as always a big plus for me.

#46 Hope Never Dies

3.5/5 stars

This was so deliciously corny!

#47 Will Haunt You

2.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This story is meta! It begins with a warning to the reader that were you to proceed there is no turning back and bad things will happen to you � at times “the author� even speaks directly to you. If you continue reading, you’ll be sucked into whatever craziness this is. Of course, that immediately drew me in. The book starts off with a bang. We get to meet disillusioned guitarist, Jesse, who now writes commercial jingles instead of touring with his former heavy metal band. He is barely scraping by trying to support a wife and a child with a disability. Immediately after a one-time reunion concert, he is giving his drunk friend (and frontman of the band) a lift home �. and now things get weird. As Jesse is driving down the road, ominous creatures appear out of nowhere, subliminal messages stream over a radio station, are they hunting him? why does the radio host know his name? and his friend bizarrely sleeps through all of this. Are these events related to a book Jesse recently read and who’s warning he blissfully ignored (same as you, the reader)? Or is he going crazy and all of this is happening in his head? Or could this be an elaborate prank orchestrated by his former band members? You, as the reader, may never find out. All you do need to know is that a journey through a funhouse on steroids begins and a hunt for survival begins. Honestly, that is where the author lost me. The chaos was so extreme and elaborate that I didn’t have time to even imagine the scary stuff that was happening. I was confused and irritated. I couldn’t follow the story. I know that this was done on purpose so I could experience what Jesse is experiencing but it just didn’t work for me. I wanted to be scared so badly but I never got there, and I am usually super susceptible to this kind of horror.

I am sad that this novel left me wishing for more. Great concept, much much less great execution. What I appreciated the most are the parallels between the things that happen to Jesse and his past steps to sobriety. His alcoholism led him to many questionable life choices, which he regrets but has to live through one more time.

Sometimes I Lie#48

3/5 stars

Fast read with mostly unlikable characters. It started off strong but then fell flat. Maybe too many plot twists? Is that even a thing?! Several of them were predictable but I was still entertained the majority of the time.