Loved this! It’s funny, but as much as I have enjoyed and mostly continue to enjoy the original Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, I have somehow enjoyeLoved this! It’s funny, but as much as I have enjoyed and mostly continue to enjoy the original Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, I have somehow enjoyed the spin-offs even more. I was quite sad to see this one end, but I really hope there will be more Smallhope and Pennyroyal to come! ...more
Uh. This was okay, I guess. Not really much resolution, and the mystery just seemed a little too bizarre in the end. But I do always enjoy listening tUh. This was okay, I guess. Not really much resolution, and the mystery just seemed a little too bizarre in the end. But I do always enjoy listening to these....more
Man, Lawrence Anthony was so cool! I've just really loved all of his books, and his stories about basically being a badass for wild animals. I'm sad tMan, Lawrence Anthony was so cool! I've just really loved all of his books, and his stories about basically being a badass for wild animals. I'm sad that he's gone.
In this book he talks about rehabilitating the Baghdad Zoo in the middle of a war zone, and dealing with a severe lack of resources, violence against Westerners, and the difficulties of rescuing animals of all sorts and the politics surrounding that. His dedication and the dedication of the Baghdad Zoo staff was pretty amazing!
And I like how, at the end of the book, he brings things back around to what we can all do in our own homes and communities to make the world a cleaner, better place for humans and animals alike, and stresses waking up and doing what we can to turn the environmental problems we face around. Definitely a message I can get behind....more
First of all, I definitely can’t say that I liked it. And I can’t see myself ever rereading it. And I felt so…icky and diGuh. How to review this one!
First of all, I definitely can’t say that I liked it. And I can’t see myself ever rereading it. And I felt so…icky and disgusted for so much of it that it was not a pleasant reading experience at all. And it’s one where I got to the end and thought…wait. Did I somehow accidentally skip the last few chapters? Shouldn’t there be more? Is this really where it ends??? And yes, it is.
And yet…
It’s just so well done. It shows how easily someone can be sucked into a relationship like this and how quickly they can lose everything—home, family, friends, all control. How someone can seem jovial and supportive and yet still be a narcissistic controlling nightmare. And the ending…it’s horror novel stuff. What will happen to Lucy? We mainly have Vera’s example, Miss Entwhistle’s prediction, and the extreme discomfort felt even reading about Wemyss to guide the imagination. It’s bleak. And brilliant.
Palate cleanser needed badly after this one, but boy am I still all in with working my way through von Arnim’s other books. Only 19 more to go, ha!...more
This definitely does not seem to be one of Van Arnim’s more popular books, and a number of reviews kind of say to skip it unless you’re a huge fan. AmThis definitely does not seem to be one of Van Arnim’s more popular books, and a number of reviews kind of say to skip it unless you’re a huge fan. Am I? I actually feel like I might be, even though this is only the second book of hers that I have read. Anyway, I’m glad I didn’t read those reviews before I started this book, because I personally loved it.
I’m not even completely sure why I did. On the very surface it is basically a romance, which is most definitely not my thing. But…there’s so much more than that going on underneath. There’s the obvious commentary on age, and why there’s such a difference when the man is much older than the woman than when the woman is much older than the man. There’s the commentary on appearance, and how much more that seems to matter in a woman than in a man.
But even more than that, I think I can boil the reasons I loved it down to two main ones: the characters (not even the main ones), and the ambiguous ending.
So, the characters I am mainly talking about are Virginia and Stephen. They…are not very likable. At the beginning of the book, you hear about how they get together, and ew. And then you see them together, and ugh. They are just so pious and boring and I never could blame Christopher for disliking them immensely. BUT. It’s clear that despite their ages and the way they get together, they really do respect and love each other. And later, when Stephen goes off the rails and is a total judgmental jerkwad, I loved how fiercely Virginia defends her mother and how clear her view of the situation is, and how Stephen (after he gets over himself) listens, reflects, and tries to fix things with her. He is super not perfect, and neither is she, but that is what I loved about them. Does that even make sense to say you love something about characters you don’t actually like? Well, but that’s how I feel.
And the ending! So perfect! I feel like maybe most people do NOT think that. It is certainly not a happily ever after ending. It’s a slightly hopeful let’s-try-to-figure-this-out-and-hopefully-we-don’t-go-down-in-flames ending. But it feels so real! Like, this is such a hard problem that Christopher and Catherine are dealing with, and let’s face it, Christopher is kind of dumb. There’s just no way for there to be an honest happily ever after for them, I don’t think. But when is real marriage ever just a happily ever after? Marriage is hard, and there’s always conflict and things you have to try to figure out together, and there are seasons of happiness, but also seasons of grief and loneliness and discord…
I guess these things just made me really respect von Arnim as a writer, aaaaaand now I’m already moving on to yet another book of hers. I think it’s pretty safe to say she’s my latest literary obsession....more
I had no idea what this book was about when I started it, only I’ve seen copies of the movie lying around in various places for about as long as I canI had no idea what this book was about when I started it, only I’ve seen copies of the movie lying around in various places for about as long as I can remember, and so when it came up as a suggestion on Audible I figured why not check it out? I’m glad I did. I ended up really enjoying it—so much so that I’ve just jumped right on into the next book of von Arnim’s that came up on Audible without looking at what it’s about either.
Anyway, this book. What did I like so much about it? Not a whole lot actually happens on the surface, other than a group of four women who don’t know each other all decide to rent a castle together for a month for various reasons, and then find themselves changed by the time their stay ends. But…I just grew to like them all so much, even that crotchety jerk Mrs. Fisher! And it’s just…I don’t know. Sweet. I could definitely see myself (how Lottie of me) reading this again before too long....more
Silvia Moreno-Garcia can do no wrong in my book! I should be expecting something completely different from her every time by now, and yet I’m always sSilvia Moreno-Garcia can do no wrong in my book! I should be expecting something completely different from her every time by now, and yet I’m always surprised and delighted anew by how this woman can tackle pretty much any genre and write something amazing.
This is probably not one I’ll reread over and over like certain others of Moreno-Garcia’s, but I still had a hard time putting it down. Naturally, I’m already looking forward to whatever it is she does next!...more
Dang, this was good, and also exactly what I needed. I was so sad to get to the end because I felt so invested in the characters—Chono especially—and Dang, this was good, and also exactly what I needed. I was so sad to get to the end because I felt so invested in the characters—Chono especially—and while some reviewers have seemed to really dislike everybody, I found their…complicated natures really refreshing. I mean, starting off with Esek’s POV? Bold move, and I totally loved it! Now I just have to wait (ugh!) for the next book to come out! ——- So good I already read it a second time! The audiobook is excellent. I feel like if you like Ann Leckie and Arkady Martine, this should be riiiiight up your alley. ...more
Oh yeah, I actually did finish this one! And it was entertaining. And as always I liked listening to Zachary Quinto reading it. Um…I think that’s abouOh yeah, I actually did finish this one! And it was entertaining. And as always I liked listening to Zachary Quinto reading it. Um…I think that’s about all I have to say about it. I feel like this series is a good palate cleanser. Not that my brain really needs that these days, but the fact remains!...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
Looks like some folks super did not like this one. I did, though not as much as the original trilogy. One of the complaints I’ve seen is that there’s Looks like some folks super did not like this one. I did, though not as much as the original trilogy. One of the complaints I’ve seen is that there’s too much relationship drama, and yes, that is a thing. But I found it pretty easy to ignore, and I did find the mystery pretty interesting, although the conclusion felt a little eh. I just really like Stevie and her interactions with Janelle, and Vi, and especially especially ESPECIALLY Nate. If I’m honest, my main complaint about this book is that there is not enough Nate. Nate is my fave. David…blahhhhhh.
I feel like I probably should have rated this three stars with what I’ve actually said about it, but the fact remains that I get so much enjoyment out of this series, even the books that are kind of less good. I’m very much looking forward to the next one, even though…well, probably more relationship drama to come. David…blahhhhhh....more
I’m still trying to figure this one out—I feel like there’s more going on in it than it seems at first? But in any case, there’s always something in SI’m still trying to figure this one out—I feel like there’s more going on in it than it seems at first? But in any case, there’s always something in Sylvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing that I love. This isn’t one that I can see myself wanting to revisit anytime soon, but it’s so short that…maybe? ...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
Sighhhhhhhhh! I love Ann Leckie so much. I loved finding out so much more about Presger Translators and how that all works (sort of). I loved Reet andSighhhhhhhhh! I love Ann Leckie so much. I loved finding out so much more about Presger Translators and how that all works (sort of). I loved Reet and Qven and Reet’s beautiful, wonderful family. I loved Enae, and how she finds herself over the course of the book. I loved how several characters at the end were like, “oh thank god you have coffee, all this tea business is the worst!” I loved seeing Sphene again, and Dlique, and just…seeing how the conclave is affecting things all over the universe. The only thing I don’t love is the wait until the next book, wah. I listened to the audiobook first, but will probably read the print version almost right away just to see if there’s stuff I missed because sometimes I get interrupted when audiobooking and am too lazy to go back. But this book made me happy. I’ve missed this world! ...more
Woo, several twists I did not see coming (although also a couple that I did)… This is still a great series, even though those Gutmunssons totally creeWoo, several twists I did not see coming (although also a couple that I did)… This is still a great series, even though those Gutmunssons totally creep me out. Both of them! The ending definitely makes it seem like there’s a book 3 in the works, of which I wholeheartedly approve....more
Guh, so so good. And also, this was the first time in like ten years a book has made me sleep with the light on, haha! ——— Aaaaaaand already read it agaGuh, so so good. And also, this was the first time in like ten years a book has made me sleep with the light on, haha! ——— Aaaaaaand already read it again for the second time, this time in audio format. I loved it just as much, if not more! I should probably actually say something about the plot or the characters or something, but I just don’t really have the energy for it these days, so instead I’ll just say that Moreno-Garcia never disappoints!...more
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