I guess I’m just not in a place where I can focus on this at the moment; I started it, read like five pages, and then completely forgot about it for aI guess I’m just not in a place where I can focus on this at the moment; I started it, read like five pages, and then completely forgot about it for a month, and now my ebook hold is expired. I think partly I’m a little bored with this series, but have still just felt compelled to keep on going with it for whatever reason. Maybe this will convince me to let it go? Or maybe sometime in the future I’ll decide to pick it up again. Time will tell!...more
I’m about to run out of time on this one, buuuuut I sort of don’t think I care. I’ve made it about 3/4 of the way through, and there are some things II’m about to run out of time on this one, buuuuut I sort of don’t think I care. I’ve made it about 3/4 of the way through, and there are some things I like about it, but you guys, the romance is just completely killing it for me. It just makes zero sense to me, and every time it pops up I find myself rolling my eyes and making yuck faces. Sorry!
Also, there’s hardly any info on the parts of this world that are actually interesting to me; it just doesn’t feel like it has any depth.
I’m going to try to finish before my hold runs out, but if it doesn’t happen, oh well!...more
I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to push through this one. I did not read the premise before I started it and had no idea what it was going to be I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to push through this one. I did not read the premise before I started it and had no idea what it was going to be about, and I am just SO uncomfortable with what the main character is doing. It is really stressing me out that at this point in the book she has seen this guy three times and has still not told him she’s not who he thinks she is. REALLY STRESSING ME OUT! Which I think is probably the exact opposite effect reading this book is supposed to have. I’m going to try a little longer, but…
Okay, nope. I have completely stalled out on this one, which, yes—it’s super dumb that I am THIS UNCOMFORTABLE about it, but I am just dreading reading it at this point. And I hardly read anything at all anymore because I am so tired and unfocused, so I’m going to at least let the things I do read not give me panic attacks. Ha!...more
First of all, I really wish Katakis hadn't narrated this himself. It's not exactly that he's terrible at it--I mean, he doesn't stGuh. I tried, but...
First of all, I really wish Katakis hadn't narrated this himself. It's not exactly that he's terrible at it--I mean, he doesn't stutter or mispronounce words. But he does read everything very, very slowly and deliberately, which I found pretty irritating.
Also, the first story made me angry, and then the next several stories seemed...overly poetic, somehow, but like he's trying to say something really deep and meaningful, and isn't quite managing it. After the fourth or fifth story, I found myself saying out loud, "ugh, this is stupid!!!" I was already so frustrated with it less than 10% of the way through that I figured it wasn't going to get any better from there.
It may be that I wouldn't have been so bothered by this if it had a different narrator or if I'd read the print version, but as is? I just can't stomach it.
Merged review:
Guh. I tried, but...
First of all, I really wish Katakis hadn't narrated this himself. It's not exactly that he's terrible at it--I mean, he doesn't stutter or mispronounce words. But he does read everything very, very slowly and deliberately, which I found pretty irritating.
Also, the first story made me angry, and then the next several stories seemed...overly poetic, somehow, but like he's trying to say something really deep and meaningful, and isn't quite managing it. After the fourth or fifth story, I found myself saying out loud, "ugh, this is stupid!!!" I was already so frustrated with it less than 10% of the way through that I figured it wasn't going to get any better from there.
It may be that I wouldn't have been so bothered by this if it had a different narrator or if I'd read the print version, but as is? I just can't stomach it....more
I have the audiobook version of this book and well...I just can't handle the narrator, unfortunately. The way he reads the girls' voices DRIVES. ME. CI have the audiobook version of this book and well...I just can't handle the narrator, unfortunately. The way he reads the girls' voices DRIVES. ME. CRAZY. I hate it. But the story actually sounds pretty interesting, so I will probably track down a print copy to read at some point. But man, I can't recommend the audio version at all.
Merged review:
I have the audiobook version of this book and well...I just can't handle the narrator, unfortunately. The way he reads the girls' voices DRIVES. ME. CRAZY. I hate it. But the story actually sounds pretty interesting, so I will probably track down a print copy to read at some point. But man, I can't recommend the audio version at all....more
Guys? Um…this thing is 678 pages, at least of stuff that’s not just lists of sources and all the music Chopin ever wrote and the index and all those sGuys? Um…this thing is 678 pages, at least of stuff that’s not just lists of sources and all the music Chopin ever wrote and the index and all those sorts of things. 678 pages! I have not read a book this long in yeeeeears (I dunno, Sanderson or Malazan or something like that?). It is 2.5 inches thick! I’m gonna be here awhile…
And yeeeahhh, I made it like a tenth of the way through before stalling out. My brief obsession was Chopin just could not stand in the face of this book. I’m sure in another phase of life I would have devoured it, but these days I just don’t have it in me. Sorry, Chopin! This book was just not compelling enough to push me through....more
Uh…I completely forgot I was reading this and apparently my loan expired ages ago. I just wasn’t drawn in enough to fully commit, I guess. Honestly, IUh…I completely forgot I was reading this and apparently my loan expired ages ago. I just wasn’t drawn in enough to fully commit, I guess. Honestly, I’m not even totally sure why I started it in the first place, being a person who generally dislikes short stories. I think I made it three or four stories in before I lost focus, but I don’t really remember much of anything standing out. But then, I read them months ago now, soooo…???...more
My mother-in-law saw this somewhere and grabbed it just in case it might come in handy for helping Elijah learn how to read. There might be some helpfMy mother-in-law saw this somewhere and grabbed it just in case it might come in handy for helping Elijah learn how to read. There might be some helpful activities—I’ll definitely try to give it a fair shake—but WOW is it dated! Husband/wife relations seem to come straight from the 1950s and are kind of weird and gross. That’s making it really hard for me to focus on the actual learning methods, but other people seem to be swearing by it?
I’m really not feeling any pressure whatsoever to teach my kids to read by a certain year or whatever, I mostly just want to be able to help them learn whenever they’re interested and ready. I like that this does at least seem to have the goal of making it fun for the kids. Will it be fun for me as an adult to read far enough to get to that point? We shall see…...more
Okay, so for some reason this was recommended to me, and since the library had it I figured I’d give it a try since I finished all of Kuroko’sUhhhhhh…
Okay, so for some reason this was recommended to me, and since the library had it I figured I’d give it a try since I finished all of Kuroko’s Basketball already, dangit. But I could not even finish the first volume. It is so dumb!
Everything happens so quickly, there is zero depth, zero chemistry, zero interesting things happening so far other than random dudes CONSTANTLY showing up to kidnap or kill or just generally threaten the main character. For real, three or four already in only that many chapters.
I guess the art is nice, but that’s really the only other thing I have to say about it. Sorry! People do seem to love this one, so maybe it improves? But I just can’t tolerate any more of it so I’ll probably never find out....more
I may try this one again someday, but I’m not enjoying the audiobook really at all. I only made it through maybe two chapters? But something about lisI may try this one again someday, but I’m not enjoying the audiobook really at all. I only made it through maybe two chapters? But something about listening to it already feels like chore to me, and after reading other people’s reviews I feel like probably this just isn’t the book for me. I can handle non-fiction about historical events like this book is apparently based on, but I often can’t handle gritty/dark fiction at all. Like, I couldn’t finish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and I only made it about 10% of the way through Song of Fire and Ice. So. I’m guessing I won’t be able to hack this one. But maybe I’ll be in the mood to give the print version a try one day, just in case?...more
I think I've burned myself out on this one. These things are just too big and too dense to work my way through at this point.
I still really like the I think I've burned myself out on this one. These things are just too big and too dense to work my way through at this point.
I still really like the idea of this series, but it's probably better if you already have an intimate knowledge of all the players, and I...don't, and I don't feel like I'm getting the depth from this that I'm wanting. Everyone is running together, and I feel like some people get mentioned like one time and then just disappear forever. Which is maybe real life, but it makes for an overcrowded and confusing story.
Maybe I'll revisit this someday, but for now I'm putting it down for something a little lighter....more
I don't know if I'm going to make it through this. I just got through the first perspective and on to the second and I'm not loving either of them so I don't know if I'm going to make it through this. I just got through the first perspective and on to the second and I'm not loving either of them so far. But maybe it will get better? ------------- Sooooo, I made it to chapter 3? But I hated chapter 1 and the author's interaction with a bunch of book club bitches, and then I hated chapter 2 even more, with the Southern girl whose hubby doesn't pay enough attention to her and gives her all this unwanted jewelry but she has a random hot British friend (with a very terrible British accent, thanks for that, narrator) with whom there is obviously ROMANCE DRAMA (ugh), and then I got to the thief on her last job and I was just done. You already know the last job always goes horribly wrong, and this one takes place on the freaking Lusitania!
I should not be so annoyed at this book so early on, but...I am. I hate everything about it so far. I might have enjoyed it more had I not been listening to it--I find I don't like any of the narrators--but I think really this is just not my genre. I don't really know what I thought it was going into it, but whatever I thought it was it was not this.
I'm getting myself off this sinking ship!
Uh, sorry. Dumb joke. I couldn't help myself....more
Sooooooo, my mother-in-law's best friend gave me this book, which was super thoughtful of her, but...wow, I can't do it. There is actually some decentSooooooo, my mother-in-law's best friend gave me this book, which was super thoughtful of her, but...wow, I can't do it. There is actually some decent advice in here, but it's also very steeped in stereotypes, and the way it's written is so obnoxious and condescending and presumptuous and gross to me, starting with the introduction:
"You've always dreamed of having that precious little daughter--one who is a little replica of you. You dream of the close relationship you'll have as mother and daughter, watching her taking her first step, buying her first tutu for her ballet recital, arranging her hair for her first date... (Nope, never really dreamed of having kids for the vast majority of my life, and the times I did think about it, I definitely imagined a boy, and I definitely, definitely never wanted a little replica of myself--ew! And ALSO, ballet and hair arranging, yay, these are clearly the best girl things!)
"And then you show up at the doctor's office for your sonogram. (Again, nope! Not every mom does this.)
"'What's that?' you say, pointing at a little something you can't quite place on the blurry black-and-white image.
"And the doc says, 'That's a penis.' (I have never been able to even discern a baby in sonogram images, how on earth would I manage to spot a penis?)
"You frown, not understanding. 'My daughter's got a penis?' (WHY IS HE MAKING ME SOUND LIKE SUCH AN IDIOT???)"
This is how the book begins, and by the end of the first page in the book I already wanted to throw it out the window. I did force myself to read a little farther, and have flipped around among later chapters to see if maybe once he's past the intro stuff it gets a little less annoying, but sadly it does not.
As I said earlier, there are some good pointers, although almost all of the ones I'm thinking of (don't let your child get away with murder, don't tell your kids that talking about sex or their sexual organs is bad and should not be done, don't let your emotions get the better of you when dealing with your kid's misbehavior) really apply to any child, not just boys.
And on the other hand, he comes down pretty darn heavily on the side of women should be stay at home moms, and does so in the most patronizing way.
I still want to throw this book out the window....more
I'm just kind of exhausted with this series already. It's interesting in a way, and I like the art, and I want to enjoy it, but there is so much work I'm just kind of exhausted with this series already. It's interesting in a way, and I like the art, and I want to enjoy it, but there is so much work and so little payoff so far. Too many characters with little to zero development, perplexing villains that we still don't really know anything about, no humor, incomprehensible action... It feels like there's a story in there somewhere, but I just don't have the energy to dig for it. This was part of a comics humble bundle I purchased awhile back, so I already own the next several volumes, and maybe I'll come back to it at some point and give it another try, but for now? I'm out....more
I may just not be in the mood for this one, and also... Honestly, the premise isn't usually my thing, but I still feel compelled to read books about pI may just not be in the mood for this one, and also... Honestly, the premise isn't usually my thing, but I still feel compelled to read books about prom from time to time, I don't know why. Maybe because it's such a big cultural thing, even though I did not participate in it as a teen?
I like main character Liz. But I can't quite get a grasp on any of her friends, and I'm not real crazy about Mack, and all the prom stuff...I just don't care, and I should probably quit making myself read books about it! And this prom seems suuuuper ridiculous. I just cannot believe the amount of money involved, especially in such a small town. But who knows, maybe that's actually a real-life thing? It was not in my neck of the woods.
Anyway, I definitely don't dislike this book, but I'm also not really enjoying it, and naturally it's already several days overdue (WHY DO I KEEP DOING THIS?), so I'm going to just let whoever is behind me in line have it. If they are prom fans, maybe they will love it like it's meant to be loved! ...more
I have had this checked out for ages, but I have been reading so dang slowly that I just never got around to giving it a try until today when I realizI have had this checked out for ages, but I have been reading so dang slowly that I just never got around to giving it a try until today when I realized it’s now 4 days overdue. Oops! Since I won’t be back in the building for a couple of days I figured, well, I have time to at least start it and see if I want to put a hold on another copy once I turn it in.
Turns out I...do not. I’ve made it 50 pages in, and while the premise sounds super interesting, and I enjoyed Yoon Ha Lee’s books for adults, this is just...too messy and dumbed down for me. Yes, I realize this is a book for children. But I feel like characters’ actions should still make some kind of sense, and Min’s just don’t. At all. She jumps from one situation to the next with little thought at all, and it all feels too shallow and rushed to even get any kind of clear picture of the stakes.
Maybe it gets way better late on—there are a million super positive reviews out there for this book, so maybe if I hung on a little longer I’d find myself sucked in and loving it too. But I doubt it based on what I’ve read so far, and I have about 49 other library books at home waiting for me to start 4 days after they’re due!
Again, love the sci-fi/fantasy/Korean mythology aspects, but the execution is just not working for me at all. I’m only finding myself more and more annoyed with it, and have already caught myself skimming twice, so I’m going to just pass it on to someone else. Maybe they’re not a grouchy jerk and will love it just as much as everyone else on Goodreads does! ...more
Man...I really expected to love this, but something about it is not working for me at all. I haven’t even managed 100 pages yet and I’ve been reading Man...I really expected to love this, but something about it is not working for me at all. I haven’t even managed 100 pages yet and I’ve been reading it for a week, but every time I pick it up I’m almost immediately bored and find myself looking at junk on my phone instead.
I don’t really like the main character, I’m not super interested in the family dynamics or the surgery plot, and I feel like certain aspects of the story are just super confusing to me. Like...the painting that Emma Caine gives to Trisha in the first chapter. I mean...what the hell? I don’t get it! Why? It’s so weird to me!
I think partly, this is just not my genre. I occasionally enjoy a romance, but only occasionally, and I’m frequently super picky about the characters and the writing. Right now, even the idea of these two characters getting together kind of grosses me out. There’s absolutely zero chemistry between them from their first meeting, so I keep finding myself hoping DJ meets someone else instead.
I’m going to just let this one go. I really like the idea of it, but the execution? Not so much. I have way too many other library books checked out to spend this much time puttering around online just to avoid this one. I’m going to go read one of them instead.
I am walking away from this one for now, but through absolutely no fault of its own. I actually started reading it, um...weeks ago? And I really enjoyI am walking away from this one for now, but through absolutely no fault of its own. I actually started reading it, um...weeks ago? And I really enjoyed how it starts out, and I feel like at any other time in my life I would be all over it. But for whatever reason right now I am just unable to focus on anything, and reading new books is kind of stressing me out, and so the only books that are working for me are ones I've already read. I fully plan to come back to this one at some point, once this phase has passed, but since it's a library book, I'll stop being a jerk and return it so the next person in line can have it. ...more
I'm sorry, I'm calling it on this one. I'm super not enjoying it. It's slow, it's dark, and like...there's only so much rape and baby skull crushing II'm sorry, I'm calling it on this one. I'm super not enjoying it. It's slow, it's dark, and like...there's only so much rape and baby skull crushing I can take, you guys. I know people are loving this one, but...not me!...more
Pretty helpful so far, only in what the heck year was this written? Let the father bond with the baby, and even change a diaper or two? Uhhhhh...I donPretty helpful so far, only in what the heck year was this written? Let the father bond with the baby, and even change a diaper or two? Uhhhhh...I don't think so. This is MY baby! ALL MINE!!!!!!
Sooo...I wrote the above at like 3 weeks or something, but by this point we've pretty much abandoned this book. Every now and then I'll remember that we have it and pick it up and try to figure out what on earth week we're on now at almost 8 months, but I'm finding it less helpful and more duh these days. I think partly because of the weird way they include stuff that's not really related developmentally? It'll be more like general info that they just put in wherever, and by the time we see it we're like, well, thanks, that would have been really helpful to know 17 weeks ago when we were figuring it out on our own!
That said, the information is good. I just struggle with the organization. And also with general laziness--it's just easier to internet things I have questions about, ha....more
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