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bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)
Man, this was not so good for me. I am way to close to the original trilogy films and I could not get over the stilted language and the lack of character development. I'm assuming the ROTJ script got handed to Kahn and he had to write a novel based off of movie he had not even seen? I hope so, because otherwise, woof.
I've read so many EXCELLENT Expanded Universe novels and this did not even come close. Perhaps if I had read this as a kid in 1983 with no other knowledge I would have been OK, because this was a HUGE bestseller in 1983. Huge.
When I read a novelization of a movie, I'm hoping for further insight into the minds of the characters, what they are thinking during moments of action, etc. In this one, the only moments I enjoyed were at the end, when Luke and Vader came to an understanding and we got to see a bit more of what was going through Luke's head during their confrontation. Oddly, Lando Calrissian was the other character I got a little more insight into, which I thought was an odd choice, but ok overall.
The Han/Leia romance was so off. For example:
"Han and Leia turned to each other full of feeling. All they'd struggled for, all they'd dreamed of-gone now...Han had never known love, so enamored of himself was he; Leia had never known love, so wrapped up in social upheaval was she..."
And,
"Han and Leia looked at each other, fixed their gazes deep in each other's eyes, swam there in the wells of their souls for a suspended, eternal moment, during which all was felt, understood, touched, shared."
Where's the charming banter?! Nope. Just too busy staring at each other.
Also, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT do this:
"'Ahrck grah rahr hrowrowhr," Chewbacca agreed.
or
"'Beed doop beep deep,' said Artoo."
Don't do it.
Read for the "year I was born" square on my work Book Bingo Challenge!
I've read so many EXCELLENT Expanded Universe novels and this did not even come close. Perhaps if I had read this as a kid in 1983 with no other knowledge I would have been OK, because this was a HUGE bestseller in 1983. Huge.
When I read a novelization of a movie, I'm hoping for further insight into the minds of the characters, what they are thinking during moments of action, etc. In this one, the only moments I enjoyed were at the end, when Luke and Vader came to an understanding and we got to see a bit more of what was going through Luke's head during their confrontation. Oddly, Lando Calrissian was the other character I got a little more insight into, which I thought was an odd choice, but ok overall.
The Han/Leia romance was so off. For example:
"Han and Leia turned to each other full of feeling. All they'd struggled for, all they'd dreamed of-gone now...Han had never known love, so enamored of himself was he; Leia had never known love, so wrapped up in social upheaval was she..."
And,
"Han and Leia looked at each other, fixed their gazes deep in each other's eyes, swam there in the wells of their souls for a suspended, eternal moment, during which all was felt, understood, touched, shared."
Where's the charming banter?! Nope. Just too busy staring at each other.
Also, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT do this:
"'Ahrck grah rahr hrowrowhr," Chewbacca agreed.
or
"'Beed doop beep deep,' said Artoo."
Don't do it.
Read for the "year I was born" square on my work Book Bingo Challenge!
A super fun audiobook for the work commute. Ansari did an excellent job narrating, and I found his insights into Modern Romance thoughtfully researched, cited, and explained. I've also read [b:Dataclysm: Who We Are|21480734|Dataclysm Who We Are (When We Think No One's Looking)|Christian Rudder|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407763834s/21480734.jpg|40787528] and found that a lot of the topics covered felt quite similar.
Worth a listen!
Worth a listen!
One of my favorite childhood books. I loved that Ferdinand just wanted to sit quietly and smell the flowers. He's a lover, and I love him.
Also, the spare, black and white line illustrations are lovely and so evocative of Spain. Maybe this is why I've traveled there twice.
Re-read (a million times) for the "Book I Read as a Child" square for our Library's staff Book Bingo Summer Challenge.
Also, the spare, black and white line illustrations are lovely and so evocative of Spain. Maybe this is why I've traveled there twice.
Re-read (a million times) for the "Book I Read as a Child" square for our Library's staff Book Bingo Summer Challenge.
What the hell did I just read? I picked this up after it was referenced in Ernest Cline's newest, [b:Armada|16278318|Armada|Ernest Cline|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377284428s/16278318.jpg|22378124]. The premise was sound, a common man seeks revenge in a space opera much like The Count of Monte Cristo, but the overall story was wonky and off for me.
There are so many cool ideas - jaunting, the different societies on different planets, revenge, double-crossing, etc, but then there a lot of TERRIBLE ideas-women as chattel BECAUSE of being able to jump through space, rape, naming your main character Jisbella and having her nicknamed JIZ.
I don't know. This was not my style of writing, these were not characters I enjoyed, and overall I felt the ideas were never as fully explored as I would like. I finished it, but I wouldn't ever read it again, or really recommend it.
Green Bay, WI is referenced a few times in this book as a place where characters live, so that is cool.
Just not really for me.
There are so many cool ideas - jaunting, the different societies on different planets, revenge, double-crossing, etc, but then there a lot of TERRIBLE ideas-women as chattel BECAUSE of being able to jump through space, rape, naming your main character Jisbella and having her nicknamed JIZ.
I don't know. This was not my style of writing, these were not characters I enjoyed, and overall I felt the ideas were never as fully explored as I would like. I finished it, but I wouldn't ever read it again, or really recommend it.
Green Bay, WI is referenced a few times in this book as a place where characters live, so that is cool.
Just not really for me.
Why was Nora invited to Clare's hen party? They haven't spoken in ten years, and they did not part on good terms. Despite her reservations, Nora goes off to the hen party in the woods, with disastrous results.
I super hate amnesia as a plot device, so that ticked me off straightaway. A fine mystery, and I knew it had to be one of the bozos, but this was no Girl on the Train. I also wish it were more British, because this book could have taken place in any woods, anywhere.
I super hate amnesia as a plot device, so that ticked me off straightaway. A fine mystery, and I knew it had to be one of the bozos, but this was no Girl on the Train. I also wish it were more British, because this book could have taken place in any woods, anywhere.
The artwork is simply out of this world, and I could stare at each page for hours. Unfortunately I did not connect with the writing as much as I did with the art. I enjoyed the characters and the world building, but felt this either needed to trend younger or older. There were many high brow references that kids would simply not get, but also some really crude humor.
I've been exploring the romance genre lately, okay, not just lately but broadening my scope and trying to really explore all the different sub-genres. This one came onto my radar from an NPR article I recently read AND from its place on the NPR list of favorite romance novels. This quote also cinched the deal for me:
Well, I wasn't as enchanted with this as I would have hoped. Perhaps it was over praised, but really I think that it felt just a tad too dated for me. The heroine is a pretty sad sally in the beginning, but DOES grow throughout. I ended up cheering for her. However, the hero did NOT do it for me. He came across as a bozo, and while I appreciate he was from the 1500s, I grew tired of his pomposity, his force, and his delight into turning a NO into a yes. This would have been better for me if it kept the comedic tone and had the heroine figuring out he was a bozo.
There was also this whole bit about their souls being connected and that's why they travel through time, and when they do it they go back to their time, but it wasn't explored to my liking.
Also, I guess the ending of this novel is super controversial, because it isn't a true HEA. I liked that part the best actually.
All you Outlander fans, take note: The story involves chivalry, bravery, time travel, and a bittersweet ending that romance fans still debate. I found it to be perfect, and remember crying over my copy of A Knight in Shining Armor when I read it.
Well, I wasn't as enchanted with this as I would have hoped. Perhaps it was over praised, but really I think that it felt just a tad too dated for me. The heroine is a pretty sad sally in the beginning, but DOES grow throughout. I ended up cheering for her. However, the hero did NOT do it for me. He came across as a bozo, and while I appreciate he was from the 1500s, I grew tired of his pomposity, his force, and his delight into turning a NO into a yes. This would have been better for me if it kept the comedic tone and had the heroine figuring out he was a bozo.
There was also this whole bit about their souls being connected and that's why they travel through time, and when they do it they go back to their time, but it wasn't explored to my liking.
Also, I guess the ending of this novel is super controversial, because it isn't a true HEA. I liked that part the best actually.
A slim, easy to read security manual for librarians. A handy reference to have available to staff, with some good tips and tricks. I especially liked the section on how to deliver instructions and ask patrons to change behavior, as his advice on not starting negative really rang true (and works).
This was a ton of hot steamy, spy-assassin fun. I loved that Ethan was the "Rookie," six years younger than awesome assassin and thief Juliet. Their banter was witty, the sexual tension perfect, and I enjoyed the storyline about how they had to band together to seek revenge against the men who murdered Juliet's brother. I'll look into the rest of this series.