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
Soooooo… Okay, I…liked this? Sometimes a lot, but I’ll be honest. The end kind of killed it for me. I reread it multiple times, but am still left withSoooooo… Okay, I…liked this? Sometimes a lot, but I’ll be honest. The end kind of killed it for me. I reread it multiple times, but am still left with a “huh?” kind of feeling. It just seemed so anticlimactic. Am I just too sleep deprived to get it?...more
Yeah, I really liked this one. It did lose me a bit at a few points, but it always sucked me back in pretty quickly, and I’m glad I stuck with it becaYeah, I really liked this one. It did lose me a bit at a few points, but it always sucked me back in pretty quickly, and I’m glad I stuck with it because I really liked the ending. It’s super overdue at this point though. Sorry, next person in line, I swear I’ll bring it back sometime soon!...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
Okay, so. I’ve been replaying Eternal Sonata, which is a very weird game in which Frederic Chopin is dying, and all the events take place inside his fOkay, so. I’ve been replaying Eternal Sonata, which is a very weird game in which Frederic Chopin is dying, and all the events take place inside his fevered dream…or something. Anyway, at the end of each chapter there are these slide shows that talk about various events in Chopin’s life, and one of them is about George Sand, who…I will admit I had maaaaaybe heard of, but I couldn’t remember anything at all about her. So I looked her up and she just sounded really fascinating, which made me think I’d better try reading a book of hers. And this is the book our library has.
1) I liked it! 2) The entire first half of this book is commentary on George Sand’s life. THE ENTIRE FIRST HALF. I thought I would never get to the actual story, but I eventually did, and the commentary really is pretty interesting. But be warned! 3) I am going to read more George Sand. But first, I have a biography on Chopin to read, heh. 4) That video game…is just so, so weird. And I totally wish there were more games like it!...more
While I knew who the bad guy was right off the bat, and felt vaguely dissatisfied with the way Kit’s situation is resolved, I still really enjoyed thiWhile I knew who the bad guy was right off the bat, and felt vaguely dissatisfied with the way Kit’s situation is resolved, I still really enjoyed this! I loved the friendship among the four girls, the coding parts are interesting, and I was hooked on the mystery too, even though I was pretty sure about my hunch all the way through. Ellie Marney is just great, and I already can’t wait for her next one....more
Lots of fun, as usual, especially the grand finale. Not enough Peterson, but Maxwell and Markham are always wonderful together! Already looking forwarLots of fun, as usual, especially the grand finale. Not enough Peterson, but Maxwell and Markham are always wonderful together! Already looking forward to the next one!...more
This might be one of my top three Silvia Moreno-Garcia books! Some folks seem to have found it really boring. I did not. Too sleepy to write more in aThis might be one of my top three Silvia Moreno-Garcia books! Some folks seem to have found it really boring. I did not. Too sleepy to write more in any sort of meaningful way at the moment, but suffice it to say, I loved it (duh)!...more
As usual, Nathan Hale does a good job of conveying complicated moments in history in a way that’s understandable and entertaining, and I found the warAs usual, Nathan Hale does a good job of conveying complicated moments in history in a way that’s understandable and entertaining, and I found the war correspondent’s perspective interesting. I liked that at the end Higgins points out that there are lots of different perspectives of the Korean War, and encourages readers to seek more out. Maybe Hale will revisit it someday?...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
A lot, a lot, a lot happens in this book, but at the same time, kind of...not that much? It definitely ended up feeling like an interstitial novel betA lot, a lot, a lot happens in this book, but at the same time, kind of...not that much? It definitely ended up feeling like an interstitial novel between two major plot points...a very definite turning point. Buuut, also not as much of one as it first seemed.
Mainly I will say that I’m really worried about Peterson! Just because he’s always had such terrible, terrible luck in his relationships, and now (view spoiler)[ he’s married! To Lingoss! And I’m very nervous that something will happen to her, or to him, and my heart will break all over again! Don’t you do it, Jodi Taylor (hide spoiler)]!
It was nice to have some good Max and Markham hijinks though, and I am looking forward to the direction things are heading now. But somehow...I’m sort of having more fun with the Time Police series starring Matthew at this point, so I hope she writes another of those first!...more
Okay, this one was pretty epic! A lot, a lot, A LOT happens here, but I think my very favorite thing is (view spoiler)[omg, Jane! And Grint! GrocklandOkay, this one was pretty epic! A lot, a lot, A LOT happens here, but I think my very favorite thing is (view spoiler)[omg, Jane! And Grint! Grockland! I just find them so very weirdly delightful, and I absolutely can’t wait for more of that in the next book (hide spoiler)]! I mean, there are plenty of other great moments, as well as a pretty good joke about 2020, but this just made me unexpectedly super happy.
I’m enjoying this series immensely—and not just for the romance hilarity. Things are getting tense and the stakes way higher, and I’m anxious to find out how Team Weird will handle it all. If you like time travel and humor mixed, and especially if you’re already invested in the Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, you should really give this series a try....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
I didn't think I could love this one as much as I do Paris on Repeat, but I certainly do! I really enjoyed Lucas and Vivi, and the lessons Lucas learnI didn't think I could love this one as much as I do Paris on Repeat, but I certainly do! I really enjoyed Lucas and Vivi, and the lessons Lucas learns during this magical time in Rome come so naturally and feel so satisfying! I ended up staying up late last night to finish it, and miiiight have had a tear or two in my eyes by the final page.
Okay, so, it's time for the usual disclaimer. Amy is my friend, and I read this book 3 or 4 times in its early stages. I liked it a lot then, but this final version? Wow, it's so good! I'm blown away every time I get to see her books evolve into their final, published forms.
Anyway, if you're looking for a middle grade book that contains struggles with school, loneliness, friendship, family, history, art, poetry, time travel and the power of Rome, this one's for you!
P.S. Suuuper excited for the next book in the series!...more
I did not bother to read the back cover of this book before I started it, and naturally it’s another one I just picked up at work because it looked coI did not bother to read the back cover of this book before I started it, and naturally it’s another one I just picked up at work because it looked cool. All that’s to say that I had a very vague idea of what it might kind of be about, and it was not ballet, so the entire first third of the book confused me a bit.
I ended up enjoying seeing the progression of both the band and of Val, but a lot felt very...sparsely described? Like, Kat and Rudie never really felt fully fleshed out to me, and the way Val and her mom’s relationship changes felt suuuuper quick and not terribly realistic.
It definitely brought back memories of being in high school in the 90s. I totally forgot that being straight edge was a thing...that my friends said I was, even though really I was just a nerdy goody two-shoes. And who didn’t get a bloody nose in a mosh pit at some point during that decade? And all the zines!
I wanted a little more depth in the end, but I still had fun reading this for sure....more
This was a lot of fun, in some ways, and I definitely loved Dora and Elias. But the ending...uh? The villain in this is so dumb it was really hard to This was a lot of fun, in some ways, and I definitely loved Dora and Elias. But the ending...uh? The villain in this is so dumb it was really hard to take him seriously at all, and then it felt like things just ended too suddenly and too easily. Plus the final paragraph just...why?
That said, this is one of the first new books in a long time I've been able to get through, and I really did enjoy about 80% of it! I'll possibly try another book of Atwater's at some point....more
This one is definitely another favorite of mine in the series! Hale's is simultaneously a much broader and much narrower focus on historical events thThis one is definitely another favorite of mine in the series! Hale's is simultaneously a much broader and much narrower focus on historical events than I ever got in school. I love the way he can hone in on the small details that are really interesting while still connecting events within the context of what's happening elsewhere and when in a way that makes sense of the whole. And he does such a great job of bring historical figures to life! And also of pointing out multiple perspectives.
Anyway, this one involves The Haitian Revolution, the Louisiana Purchase, Napoleon Bonaparte, yellow fever, stabbings, lots of beheadings, mosquitos, a heart in a jar...and some cats!...more
It took me a looooong time to make my way through this one; I think I started my reread sometime last the summer? I did not find reading the print verIt took me a looooong time to make my way through this one; I think I started my reread sometime last the summer? I did not find reading the print version nearly as enjoyable as listening to the audio narrated by Patrick Tull, but I still laughed out loud a number of times and am excited about re-listening to the rest of the series now. Aubrey and Maturin are just magic....more
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