bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)

I finally read the book after binging on the Netflix series a few months ago. I definitely noticed differences between the much sensationalized and fictional show and Kerman's actual account, but this did not detract from the power of her tale. I really appreciated her focus on the injustices of the justice system, especially long, fixed minimum sentences. Kerman also did a wonderful job of humanizing the people she served time with.

**Review based off of a digital ARC received from www.netgalley.com

Darrow and his fellow Reds toil in the brutal mines of Mars, enslaved by the cruel Golds who promise their labor will someday make the surface habitable. Hope for a better future keeps the Reds working, but an incredible tragedy reveals Darrow’s entire world is a lie. To expose the Golds’ treachery, Darrow is thrust into an epic role of espionage. Can he trick the Golds and save his people?

I am super impressed by this work. I thought it would just be another dysopian tale (just set on Mars) but it has such deeper roots, including nationalism, rise against castes, and more. Darrow is a dark hero and I'm interested to see how his journey will go over the course of this series. I worry he will forget his roots, but I can't wait for more!

While throwing up before a public harp performance, Dee meets Luke, a dreamy and otherworldly boy who goes on to play a duet with her on stage. From then on they have an immediate attraction and odd things start happening to Dee, including but not limited to four leaf clovers sprouting all over her lawn, visitations by other "odd" beings, and telekinesis. Plus, it turns out Luke may have an ulterior motive to wooing Dee. And there's fairies. Lots and lots of fairies.

Not my favorite Stiefvater book by far, but still a lyrical tale. Love that happenes immediately just isn't my kind of story; I want to be hoping and praying for that first kiss just as much as the characters (see Raven Boys/Dream Thieves). I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment.

What a mystery! Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn reminded me of some of my new favorite TV Shows, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Arrested Devlopment. Why you ask? Well those TV shows are cutting edge for their writing and hilarious, yet you do not like the the characters. They are not good people, and generally don't have many redeeming qualities. I found this to be true in Gone Girl. I actually hated the characters, yet the mystery kept me involved till the end.

Definitely one of those books you need to read (because everyone is) so you can have some watercooler chat. I recommend, but not everyone will enjoy reading this. Thankfully I read fast so I didn't have to spend too much time in Flynn's world; once you start you will not want to.

Aptly titled, this was a great volume of Sandman! I enjoyed this volume better than the first as I felt a clearer theme and knew the characters better. I'm intrigued to learn more about Dream's extended family. What a darn, dirty bastard that Desire is!

After a raging bender, Iggy Parrish wakes up with horns growing out of his head. Thinking he has finally lost his mind after the brutal rape and murder of his girlfriend Merrin Williams, Iggy soon finds out that his horns have a strange power over people. Will he finally be able to clear his name and find Merrin's real murderer?

This story started out super promising for me, but began to drag when the narrative became muddled due to many changes in time and POV. While I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and the audiobook narrator was excellent, I never really got the sense there was a meaning to all of it. Iggy got horns, yes **SPOILER ALERT** he got his revenge after several mishaps and I think he had a somewhat happy ending. I don't know, I was just a bit underwhelmed and found my attention wandering after one too many descriptions of violent acts. There was also a bit too many "leap of faith" moments were I wasn't really able to fully suspend my disbelief. I MUCH preferred N0S4A2.

Gentle, sweet story about a girl starting "real" school in the 9th grade, her motley crew of brothers, and trying to figure out where she fits in. There is also a ghost.

Review to come...

The story of Pudge and his fellow boarding school friends hit me like a punch in the gut. Sometimes a really horrible thing happens and Green did an excellent job of sussing out how sometimes you really are never going to understand why.