ralovesbooks's reviews
1431 reviews

Would recommend: Maybe

It's been a few days since I finished this book, and I'm still thinking about it, but I can't decide whether that's a good thing. The word I'd use to characterize this book is "difficult." It was difficult to read in that the perspective kept switching between characters, the time period changed, and even the voice wasn't consistent between first and third person. I know the choice to name a lot of the characters Dorothy was intentional, but that added to my confusion, and I had to keep a finger in the page that listed the family tree (thank goodness for that). The content was also difficult because it dealt with generational differences, women's struggles over the years, and overall family angst. So, this book was hard for me to read in a lot of ways, but it was really well done. I just can't recommend it enthusiastically because it was a mildly unpleasant experience to read it.

Would recommend: Maybe

I really liked the majority of this book, which takes place on an island in Papua New Guinea (which I had to look up), ravaged by civil war and blocked from international commerce. I enjoyed getting bits and pieces of the story, and the language is sort of seductive and lilting, especially the commentary on how escapist reading can be. The book makes many references to Great Expectations, as in the title, but I don't think there's much lost if you haven't read it. However, just before the end, the plot took a sharp, violent turn that took me by surprise and left a sour taste in my mouth. The last portion seemed so different from the rest of it, and I'm still not sure what to make of it.

Would recommend: Yes, but it's very specific in audience

I read this book as a sort of entry-level medical industry book, and it's very accessible. In it, the two authors tell their stories of breaking into the medical writing field, and it's encouraging and conversational. There wasn't much new content for me because I have met the authors and heard them speak, but I have a lot of sticky notes stuck in its pages for action items to tackle.

Would recommend: Probably

This "affectionate memoir," as the subtitle says, was written by the Whites' secretary, Isabel Russell, who handled their personal correspondence, errands, and other tasks at their home in Maine. It's not the best-written book I've ever read, but the subtitle is apt. It's charming and folksy, with a lot of sincerity at and after the point of Katharine White's death. the best thing I got out of it was a whole list of titles to read by EB White, particularly his collections of essays and letters. Not bad at all for picking it up at a used book store in Boulder, CO, on a whim.

Would recommend: Maybe

So, obvious things first: this book is full of profanity and graphic descriptions, but I think that's what Bourdain is kind of known for. However, I enjoyed this book well enough, despite all of that, and I am further confirmed that I never want to work in a restaurant kitchen, not that that was ever a strong urge for me. To me, the most impressive part of this book was Bourdain's consistent style throughout. I'd definitely use this as an example of strong tone and voice.

Would recommend: Maybe

I should start by saying that this book is really well-written, and Krakauer does a great job setting the scene and describing everything that happens. I admire him very much as a writer.

However, this book was painful to read because he states at the start that people were going to die on Everest. Reading about their struggle makes it so much sadder than simply going from start to finish. Mount Everest is its own punishing, demanding character, and after reading this, it makes me wonder why anyone would take on this challenge at such a high risk.

Would recommend: Maybe

I guess I had low expectations of this book when I grabbed it off our shelves ("I need something quick, something nonfiction... okay!"), because I realized that after I had finished it, I thought it was better than I thought it would be, but it still wasn't that great. There are moments of greatness, but it felt very "Anthony Bourdain works the front of the house" to me, and maybe I read this too quickly after Kitchen Confidential. In any case, there is a ton of profanity, as would be expected from the food industry, and I skipped a chapter after getting squeamish from a description of mad cow disease. So. Fair warning.

Would recommend: No

I really liked Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, a previous novel by Lisa See, and so I picked this one off the shelves at the used book store during my most recent trip. Unfortunately, it was really disappointing; I believe I was one-third through the book when I thought aloud, "This is completely pointless."

Although I enjoyed the author's use of language, the plot was totally uncompelling to me. To be sure, I'm not the prime audience for a story about maidens wasting away out of lovesickness, but still. It was annoying. I wasn't sure if I'd even finish the book, but I decided to give it until the end of the weekend, and I finished it with a big eyeroll.

This book earned the 2-star rating because I can't give it 1.5 stars, and it really wasn't so bad as to earn 1 star. I was just so bored the whole time. I'm glad it's over.

Would recommend: Shrug

This book was better than I expected and not nearly as wrenching as the premise led me to believe. I thought it dealt with grief in a thoughtful way. But still, it was a run-of-the-mill contemporary novel, and it gets points against it for the formulaic "The X's Y" title structure, in my book.

Would recommend: I guess, since it's a classic

Realizations while reading this book:

- I have not read a mystery book since I quit Nancy Drew novels in 5th or 6th grade because I got so traumatized about her infuriating habit of getting locked in things.
- Sherlock Holmes is NOT a doofus, as I erroneously thought.
- Holmes is ... kind of a jerk. I found him annoying.
- This book is narrated by Dr. Watson! I had no idea.
- I am apparently not a huge fan of mysteries.

So, my conclusion is that the Sherlock Holmes books would be fun reads - assuming you like mysteries - since they are mostly innocuous in content and everything gets wrapped up in the end. I also have a sneaking suspicion that they might be a good option for middle-school-aged, reluctant-reader boys. Has anyone tried that?