jenniferyoung

The Almost Moon

The Almost Moon - Alice Sebold Have to admit - SO DISAPPOINTING! It was tough to get through with all the bouncing around, and truth be told, the book could have summed itself up in about six chapters. And what was up with that ending...?

The Swallows of Kabul

The Swallows of Kabul - Yasmina Khadra Hm. It was a little slow and going through it until right at the end, and then you're left with the 'what the ...?' feeling at the end. If the rest of the book was as quick a read as the end, it would have made for a better read. But then again, the detail added to being more shocked in the end.

Heave

Heave - Christy Ann Conlin This was another one that bounced around a lot I found. It took me my whole two week vacation to get through, and at the end of it; can't say I would recommend it to anyone.

Lake of the Prairies by Cariou, Warren published by Doubleday of Canada Paperback

Lake of the Prairies by Cariou, Warren published by Doubleday of Canada Paperback - N/A- -N/A- It was okay. Felt like a Grandpa was telling the story which was nice. A relaxing read, but not a page turner.

River, Cross My Heart (Oprah's Book Club)

River, Cross My Heart (Oprah's Book Club) - Breena Clarke It was okay ... sad beginning which caught you right away and made me want to read all the way through hoping for a similar shock throughout the story, but didn't get it. Kind of dragged on.

Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office

Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office - Jen Lancaster Absolutely LOVED it! Hilarious throughout and well worth the out loud chuckles while reading at the gym.

Obama: The Postmodern Coup - Making of a Manchurian Candidate

Obama: The Postmodern Coup - Making of a Manchurian Candidate - Webster Griffin Tarpley, Bruce Marshall, Jonathan Mowat Real and honest portrait. Went into the book wondering if I would vote for him if given the opportunity, and came out thinking that yes, definiately I would have.

The Last Summer (of You and Me)

The Last Summer (of You and Me) - Ann Brashares Very quick read which made me both laugh and cry! Loved the characters, and the intensity of the story between them.

The Birth House: A Novel (P.S.)

The Birth House: A Novel (P.S.) - Ami McKay Loved it, loved it! Definitely gives you the insight in the difference between midwifery and modern medicine and how times have changed.

The Office of Desire

The Office of Desire - Martha Moody I have a rule; if I'm not interested within 50 pages, it's not worth finishing (I read too much for work as it is - the novel must intrigue me). I read to page 129 thinking this book would EVENTUALLY pick up. It didn't. Skipped to the last five pages and guess what ... didn't miss much of anything. Felt like a long boring sitcom that I could catch up on even if I skipped the past three episodes. Not sure I'll read Best Friends, but people do say that was the better of her two books ... we'll see.

The Tracey Fragments

The Tracey Fragments - Maureen Medved Confusing, interesting, fast-paced read. But I'm left confused in some areas ... so hoping as other reviewers have noted, that the movie will explain things.

The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd Loved, loved, loved it! Movie was good too (but book always better).

The God of Small Things

The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy Based on a friend's advice, I finally read this - took it on our honeymoon to read while on the beach. The first chapter was still tough (this was my fourth time picking up the book), but I drew a family chart on the back cover and it helped me get through it. It also helped to have concentrated quiet time to get through the detail in the book - not only were the characters detailed, the plot was as well, and it went back and forth from time to time. It still took me some time to get through it, and I wondered throughout what made this book so special ... then you get closer to the end and it all comes together. Well worth putting the time in.

Sister Salty, Sister Sweet: A Memoir of Sibling Rivalry

Sister Salty, Sister Sweet: A Memoir of Sibling Rivalry - Shannon Biro;Natalie Kring It was just okay.

Good Grief: Love, Loss, and Laughter

Good Grief: Love, Loss, and Laughter - Gabriel Constans, Dianne Helm What an honest, enjoyable read! Excellent plot, with characters you can really relate to.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter: A Novel

Dead Spots - Melissa F. Olson This was a great book. The other reviews are correct that the first 150 pages or so are the best. The story does drag on a bit beyond that, and you begin to wonder what's the point. But it all works itself out in the end. Interesting twist toward the end which I didn't expect. At first thought the twist was a little off-the-wall compared to the rest of the story ... but the ending pulled it all back. Would definitely recommend to others.