A text—a book—is a resting place for the memories of people who have lived before. A way for the memory to stay fixed after the soul has traveled on.
OA text—a book—is a resting place for the memories of people who have lived before. A way for the memory to stay fixed after the soul has traveled on.
One of my favorite things to do is to go to a rummage sale where books are $1 and pick up a book strictly because the cover intrigues me. It doesn't always work, but sometimes it does. I'd definitely heard of Doerr (I have "All The Light We Cannot See" from a previous rummage sale lol) but it was the sheer span of the synopsis that caught my attention. How can one novel be about the fall of Constantinople, the beginnings of the recent pandemic, AND futuristic sci-fi? And you know what, Doerr makes it work. I respect the heck out of that.
Perhaps it's because at the heart of [almost] all these is a love for stories and the power that they have to make us human. The running excerpts of the titular "Cloud Cuckoo Land" kept me glued to the page as all the pieces started to fit together. It surprised me a few times, drew actual tears from my eyes at the end.
It's not one of those books that I can really say I enjoyed (the story is often too bleak for that) but by golly I couldn't look away. It's one of those 5 stars where I simply have to say "this was masterfully done" rather than one where I scream from the rooftops how much I loved it.
It did earn 5 stars, though. It feels unfair to give it anything else.
**Content warnings for f-word usage, violence, depictions of war, and gay characters...more
I don't read a lot of non-fiction, so I don't really have a good way to rate it, but this held my attention and grabbed my heart, and I figure that's I don't read a lot of non-fiction, so I don't really have a good way to rate it, but this held my attention and grabbed my heart, and I figure that's enough for a high rating. Abigail Adams has long been one of my favorite historical figures, and I loved learning more about her here!...more
I needed something that would be fun and wouldn't stress me out too much, and Jess delivered as always. This was really fun and honestly one*3.5 stars
I needed something that would be fun and wouldn't stress me out too much, and Jess delivered as always. This was really fun and honestly one of the better ones from this series I've read so far! ...more
poirot and bob the wire-haired terrier are simply the most iconic duo I've ever read about I'm obsessed with thempoirot and bob the wire-haired terrier are simply the most iconic duo I've ever read about I'm obsessed with them...more
every year, since I have no valentine of my own, I pick an unread book from my shelves and spend the holiday reading about fictional romance. this typevery year, since I have no valentine of my own, I pick an unread book from my shelves and spend the holiday reading about fictional romance. this typically ends up being one of my favorite books of the year, or one of the worst I've ever read, but this year, the TBR threw me a curveball of "this book is absolutely mediocre" and that's a fun change, lol!
this book technically didn't do anything wrong, it just wasn't as For Me as I'd hoped it would be. I ended up more annoyed by Lucious than anything else, and quite frankly, he's not good enough for Georgie and doesn't seem all that interested in becoming good enough. Georgie, though, was the highlight of the story for me. she's young and passionate and devoted to her feathered friends, and I felt almost like I wanted to be her big sister and tell this man to back off, lol.
it's very readable, not too exciting or crazy, but I don't regret having read it, so huzzah for that! 3 stars from me!...more
my toxic trait is that I looked at this 1,060 page book and said "hmm... at 100 pages a day that's only 10 days." Then I thought, "Abby, that's ridicumy toxic trait is that I looked at this 1,060 page book and said "hmm... at 100 pages a day that's only 10 days." Then I thought, "Abby, that's ridiculous." Then I proceeded not to be able to drag my eyes away from the page for a week straight. So. That happened.
This is one of those books that I've heard of forever, with most people (myself included) too intimidated by the sheer size of the thing to actually attempt it, and those who have gone on the adventure insisting it's worth it. Happily, I now find myself in the latter group. Most of my knowledge of it came from Wishbone, a couple of mentions of it in other books, and that weird cameo The Count made in Once Upon a Time season 6 (in retrospect now the cameo is even weirder than it was before I really knew who he was... why did they do that... *sigh*) All that to say that after rocketing through the first 150 pages and reaching the end of everything I already knew happened, I simply had to know how there were NINE HUNDRED MORE PAGES and what they could possibly contain. (also I'm seeing people saying it should've been shorter and no. incorrect. I disagree most heartily. you gotta let edmond cook, okay.)
This novel originally being published serially explains so much, honestly. He had to keep the people coming back for more, and oh how I wish I could've been a fly on the wall as people discussed this in the 1840s, because it's INSANE. In the best way possible, but insane nonetheless. Dantès really needed to see a therapist, but who needs therapy when there's revenge, am I right?
He's a genius, though, tbh. I'm incredibly impressed. He doesn't even have to enact his own revenge, he just has to move a lil dirt and let the buried secrets reveal themselves. What an icon.
That's the thing that kept me hooked, I think. I like Dantès. I want good things for him. And I had to keep going, just on the hope that he'd get something of a happy ending. And, you know, the bandits and pirates and prison escapes and buried treasure and murder and all the DRAMA by golly I couldn't look away! (it's also SO funny? which was such a pleasant surprise, I laughed a LOT) The first part is more action/adventure, and then it switches to an almost Jane Austen-esque societal drama, and I ate ...more
revisiting this series in 2024 was so good for my soul. 10/10 time, I highly recommend.
is it ridiculous and silly and over-the-top? yes but it made up arevisiting this series in 2024 was so good for my soul. 10/10 time, I highly recommend.
is it ridiculous and silly and over-the-top? yes but it made up a significant portion of my personality from ages 13-16, and I'll always adore it for that. so. there we are....more
this one had a definite tone shift from the earlier books and I don't know how to feel about it tbh lol
it was decidedly more intense (not that the oththis one had a definite tone shift from the earlier books and I don't know how to feel about it tbh lol
it was decidedly more intense (not that the others didn't have dark elements, they did, but something about this one just seemed... harsher. I don't know how to describe it.)
but you know what it did do, it confirmed to me that I did actually care about this series. so there's that. I have a lot of Feelings about a lot of the Choices made in this book (some good, most bad) but I did really enjoy my first journey through Prydain. I can see myself visiting again someday. huzzah for that. 4 stars!...more
A lovely little story of family and choosing your own path. The autumnal vibes were on point, the magic system was weird, and the friendship was cute.A lovely little story of family and choosing your own path. The autumnal vibes were on point, the magic system was weird, and the friendship was cute. Probably not one I'm going to remember in 2 years, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. 4 stars!...more
“If you grow up with any kind of sense - which you sometimes make me doubt - you will very likely reach your own conclusions. They will probably be wr“If you grow up with any kind of sense - which you sometimes make me doubt - you will very likely reach your own conclusions. They will probably be wrong. However, since they will be yours, you will feel a little more satisfied with them.�
I picked this book up at a garage sale figuring I'd get to it someday but not sure when. In the classic way of the mood reader, my brain said "now, girl, read it now" and I, learning to listen to such urgings, went for it. Quickly I realized that I had no idea what this book was actually about, PFFT.
It's a classic fantasy, which is exactly what I wanted, so we love to see it. Taran is an absolute buffoon but he's a loveable buffoon, and everyone calling him out on his idiocy was delightful, I laughed a lot. Gurgi is giving Gollum but if Smeagol was in charge all the time. Eilonwy is a QUEEN and we stan. Fflewddur Flam is so fun. The Squad� is iconic, I had a wonderful time getting to know them.
Perhaps not the most memorable adventure I've ever gone on, but very fun nonetheless. 4 stars!...more
I think this has turned into a series where I love the world/the characters more than the actual books, lol. Like, Flavia and Dogger and their friendsI think this has turned into a series where I love the world/the characters more than the actual books, lol. Like, Flavia and Dogger and their friends in Bishop's Lacey have some of my fave platonic relationships ever, but the mysteries aren't... great... and I'm okay admitting that. This one had some lovely moments of Flavia growing up and coming to terms with her own grief and trauma, and I love that for her. 4 stars for this one from me!...more
like the first book, it's dark and very grim, but it also has a whole lot of heart. I liked this one more, probably because I liked Jack and Jill sliglike the first book, it's dark and very grim, but it also has a whole lot of heart. I liked this one more, probably because I liked Jack and Jill slightly more than Hansel and Gretel. still not confident I know who these books are written for, but I've enjoyed them. 4 stars from me!...more
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