5 out of 5 stars Transporting, inspiring, and nearly indescribable, Shantaram is all at once simple and profound, action-packed and ultimately peaceful. Goodreads.com: Shantaram (Shantaram #1), by Gregory David Roberts Shantaram is so vast a novel that I feel unqualified to express the experience it gave me. It's a thinly veiled biography, too wild and … Continue reading Review: Shantaram
Review: TRUEL1F3
2.5 out of 5 stars This series started strong, fell apart at the end. Goodreads.com: TRUEL1F3, by Jay Kristoff (Lifelike #3) I really like everything I've read by Jay Kristoff. His work with Amie Kaufmann is great, and the LIFEL1K3 series had an incredible start (LIFEL1K3 and DEV1AT3, both 4 stars). Sadly when it came … Continue reading Review: TRUEL1F3
Review: The Plot
3.5 out of 5 stars Is this book really good? Or really bad? It depends on how you feel about "the plot" at its heart. Goodreads.com: The Plot, by Jean Hanff Korelitz Jacob Finch Bonner is a Writer. Or, more accurately, he wrote one thing of some significance and is now paralyzed by the fear … Continue reading Review: The Plot
Review: Fable series
3.5 out of 5 stars A steady, satisfying sail along with a very efficient author. Goodreads: Fable (4 stars), Namesake (3 stars) by Adrienne Young Adrienne Young has a signature simple writing style that I really enjoy. As in the Sky in the Deep (4.25 stars) series, her plots have more than enough action, but … Continue reading Review: Fable series
Review: The Essex Serpent
2.5 out of 5 stars Not even picturing Tom Hiddleston as the male lead could save this story. Goodreads.com: The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry Upon learning that Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston were making an AppleTV+ adaption of The Essex Serpent, I convinced my book club friends to make it our next choice. Then … Continue reading Review: The Essex Serpent
Review: The Atlas Six
1.5 out of 5 stars A little LOT less conversation, a little LOT more action, PLEASE. Goodreads.com: The Atlas Six, by Olivia Blake (The Atlas #1) It's been a good, long time since I hated a book. The Atlas Six ended that streak. So I'll cut to the chase: TOO MUCH TALKING. My high school … Continue reading Review: The Atlas Six
Review: The Lies of Locke Larmora series
4.5 out of 5 stars A magnificently rollicking, heisting, conning, scheming, and hilarious series featuring one of the most enjoyable casts of characters I've ever read. Goodreads: Gentlemen Bastards - The Lies of Locke Lamora (4.5/5 stars); Red Seas Under Red Skies (4.5/5 stars); The Republic of Thieves (4.5/5 stars) From his days as a … Continue reading Review: The Lies of Locke Larmora series
Review: System Divine Trilogy
4.5 out of 5 stars A young adult space western historical epic that has Broadway show tunes ringing in my head? Vive la revolution! Goodreads.com: Sky Without Stars (4.5 stars); Between Burning Worlds (4.5 stars); Suns Will Rise (4.25 stars) Now THIS is the kind of reimagining I want! It's (quite) loosely based on Victor … Continue reading Review: System Divine Trilogy
Review: The Library Book
4.5 out of 5 stars A book about books, to reading about reading, by one of the greatest writers of modern nonfiction. Goodreads.com: The Library Book, by Susan Orleans In 1986, a perfect storm of unfortunate circumstance caused a raging blaze at the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. One of those circumstances … Continue reading Review: The Library Book
Review: Monsters of Verity Duology
3.5 out of 5 stars Goodreads.com: This Savage Song (3.5 stars), Our Dark Duet (3 stars), by Victoria Schwab In the world of Verity, evil has a consequence: it spawns monsters. Non-lethal violence births hive-minded wraiths called Corsai, and killing spawns a higher order of monster, the Malchi. They both want to kill and eat … Continue reading Review: Monsters of Verity Duology