Turtles All the Way Down

"Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

3/5 Stars

Finished 10/4/19 (catching up)

I definitely don’t think this is one of John Green’s better books. I enjoyed it and found the mental struggles of the main character interesting, but it didn’t draw me completely in. I wasn’t attached to any of the main characters or the story line for that matter. It was just a light read that kept me entertained. I will recommend it to my teenager though because she might enjoy it more.

Once Upon a River

"Once Upon a River" by Bonnie Jo Campbell

5/5 Stars

Read 9/16/19 (catching up)

What a wonderful book! I loved the main character, the setting, the storyline, the writing.....I just plain loved it. I worry for the future of Margo, but I know that whatever challenges she will face, she will find a way to overcome them. And I know she'll be happy.

The Twilight Wife

"The Twilight Wife" by A J Banner

4/5 stars

Read - 9/6/19 (catching up)

I truly enjoy a good book with twists and turns and this one provides that. This is a story of a young woman who survives a diving accident but lost all memories of the last 4 years of her life. As sights and smells start to bring memories back, she learns more and more about her recent past but can’t always match it up to the current life she’s living. Is her mind playing tricks on her or is she being fed lies? Or could it be a little of both?

Two years!!  Two years passed since I read a book!!  That's a sin!  Life just gets in the way sometimes I guess.  That's not excuse though.  Luckily I think the reading bug has bit me again :)  Reviews will be starting back up soon.

"Commonwealth" by Ann Patchett
Published by HarperCollins

Finished 7/11/17  -   3.5 / 5 stars

The story begins and ends with a bottle gin, with lots of family drama in between. A drunken kiss turns into an affair, separating 2 families yet bringing 6 children together. Well, at least for part of the summers and a little of their adult lives. With each chapter you learn a little more about each character through their current living situation, their memories of the past, and how that past shaped the person they are. Although related by either blood or marriage, each character is quite different and bring a different aspect to the story.

Although not my favorite Ann Patchett book, I did truly enjoy it. Initially I had a hard time keeping straight which child belonged to which adult but eventually that became much easier and it never took away from the enjoyment of the story. I definitely recommend it.

“I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere But the Pool”

By Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella

Finished 6/26/17 – 4/5 stars

“Life gets in the way” is an understatement when it comes to why I haven’t read a book in so long.  But you don’t want to hear about that…..you want to know what I thought about this book.  Well, I loved it!  As I do all the antidotal books this mother/daughter team puts out.  I’m about a decade younger than Lisa, but relate and find plenty of humor in her stories.  And although a different generation than Francesca, I enjoy her stories as well.  I truly enjoy them all and feel like they are family while I read these books.

These stories are just the dose of humor needed.  I’ve read a couple biographies of comedians this year and actually enjoy these books more.  Neither make you laugh ‘til you cry, but I find these stories more relatable and thus more funny and endearing.  They are an easy read to take you away from the chaos of everyday life.  And with it being a book of short stories, you can easily put it down and pick it back up without worrying about where you left off (or you can just read it in two days like me).

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

"Anything is Possible" BOOK REVIEW

"Anything is Possible" by Elizabeth Strout
Published by Random House


Finished 5/9/17  -  3/5 stars

Although I am a fan of some of Elizabeth Strout’s books, I was behind the ball and just recently finally read “My Name is Lucy Barton”.  I figured I should make sure to read it prior to reading the follow-up book of “Anything is Possible”.  “My Name is Lucy Barton” was only a 3 star read for me and unfortunately the same is true for this one.  I’m not reader of compilations of short stories and feel that was really what this book was - that probably influenced my rating.  I do enjoy some of the writing itself, but the characters and storylines just didn’t pull me in.  It took me way too long to read such a short book so that personally tells me a lot.  If I had loved it, I would have read a book this size in just a few days.  I’m truly hoping her next book, with a brand new set of characters, will make me fall back in love with Strout’s writing.

Thank you to Random House and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.