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jenbsbooks's Reviews (2.41k)
I liked this a lot. It kept my interest all the way though ... I'm just not sure how much I'll remember, and if it will stand out in my memory from all the other WW2 novelizations out there. Here the focus was "women as spies" and it was interesting. I especially appreciated the Author's Notes at the end, on what was based on fact, and some of the different real-life women used for inspiration for the characters here. I feel like I learned a little more of the history (wireless operators, some random tidbits about Christian Dior, John Wayne) but am not sure I know the difference between the OSS, the SOE, etc.
This was all 1st person, Anna's POV - past tense. Chronological, dates listed in some of the chapter headings (just basic numerical chapters in the TOC). Included in KindleUnlimited, read and listen (text and audio) I went with the audio and enjoyed the narrator. Her voice was familiar, I had heard her before. I don't speak French, but some of the French accent/dialog sounded properly done to my untrained ear (better than my imagination). I stopped and made a few highlights. Clean, no proFanity, and while some sex happened, it was closed door. I'd give it a thumbs up for anyone interested in WW2 fiction, especially about women's roles. There was some romance, but not as much as in this author's other work The Beantown Girls.
This was all 1st person, Anna's POV - past tense. Chronological, dates listed in some of the chapter headings (just basic numerical chapters in the TOC). Included in KindleUnlimited, read and listen (text and audio) I went with the audio and enjoyed the narrator. Her voice was familiar, I had heard her before. I don't speak French, but some of the French accent/dialog sounded properly done to my untrained ear (better than my imagination). I stopped and made a few highlights. Clean, no proFanity, and while some sex happened, it was closed door. I'd give it a thumbs up for anyone interested in WW2 fiction, especially about women's roles. There was some romance, but not as much as in this author's other work The Beantown Girls.
I loved "In an Instant" from this author. I liked this, but didn't connect as much, although I had no trouble finishing. Included in Kindle Unlimited, read and listen (text and audio). Several POVs, and other than a letter as the Prologue (2002) everything was 1st person/present tense. In audio, there were different narrators (six) for the various POVs ... Marie, Penelope, Hannah, Leo, Brendon and Davina. Little Penelope's voice was SO cute. I'm not a fan of Kate Rudd as a narrator (she does a ton, and I know others like her, just some odd inflections and timing) and she voiced Marie. Marie (the mother) was a little hard to like, even knowing her personal story/mind (she gets a really bad wrap from others who only know part of the story here). Pen and Hannah, and Davina, were all extremely likeable. Leo was a little vanilla, and Brendon had some issues. Complex characters and situations.
I don't know how I would have attempted to pronounce the last name of the family - Egides. I listened to the audio ... but I can't remember the pronunciation, other than thinking "how is that spelled?"
The chapters were listed numerically, and the Table of Contents indicates the POV, also included as a header at each chapter/POV change. There was an Author's Note (not included in the audio) that was interesting (a bit about some of the inspiration for the story). There were discussion questions included in the Kindle copy too, and I appreciated them. There were some that gave me pause and made me think and delve a little deeper.
I was a little bugged that (did I miss it?) it was never really explained (and I don't think this is a spoiler because it's talked about right at the start) why Davina and her mother fled from her father, what the situation was.
I don't know how I would have attempted to pronounce the last name of the family - Egides. I listened to the audio ... but I can't remember the pronunciation, other than thinking "how is that spelled?"
The chapters were listed numerically, and the Table of Contents indicates the POV, also included as a header at each chapter/POV change. There was an Author's Note (not included in the audio) that was interesting (a bit about some of the inspiration for the story). There were discussion questions included in the Kindle copy too, and I appreciated them. There were some that gave me pause and made me think and delve a little deeper.
I was a little bugged that (did I miss it?) it was never really explained (and I don't think this is a spoiler because it's talked about right at the start) why Davina and her mother fled from her father, what the situation was.
I was excited about this one ... I'd loved "West With Giraffes" by this same author, and love "To Kill a Mockingbird". Here ... I liked it, I had no trouble finishing it, but it just didn't really hit. I'm not sure how much I'll remember.
There's a little ... prologue? It's not listed as such, but it does give a quick "wrap up" of what this book is about. There's 20 chapters (basic chronological listing), 3rd person/past tense. We are in the head of Kate/Corky the most, but the POV shifts to quite a few characters ... including the dog, Roy Rodgers. Felt a little reminiscent of the dog chapter(s) in "Lessons in Chemistry".
The book "To Kill a Mockingbird" plays it's own role (Corky reads it, her brother reads it, she gives it to America to read) and also had it's parallels (even happening 30+ years after the book was set, segregation and different treatment for blacks, a 13 year old protagonist and her brother as MCs). Baseball also played a big part ... so there were some "Sandlot" (the movie) similarities. There was a little TOO much baseball. At one point as the game is being played, and we are getting a play by play, I lost some interest. I think it would be different if I was watching it (tv or movie) but all the details and descriptions just didn't have the same effect for me.
I feel like I learn from historical fiction ... when there are characters you care about, it's easier to absorb the things happening and learn from them. I felt like this provided a pretty good representation of the racial situations of the time (based on other reads/info). The "separate but equal" and how some see color, the different treatment.
There was a sudden shift at the end - as it jumped to 2020, right in the middle of Covid. Switched to present tense ... the tense felt super awkward to me, very unnatural and jolting. The Covid inclusion felt a little odd (I think I'd have preferred it to happen a little beforehand, wrapped up pre-Covid). I mean I guess the Black Lives Matter movement, showing there are STILL issues so many years later probably was why it was set then ... it was an interesting way to wrap up.
Included in KindleUnlimited, text and audio. No proFanity. Some discussion of rape (well, not much discussion, just the word brought up because of TKAMB) and some race/violence. I thought perhaps this was going to need a trigger for "animal death/cruelty" but I hope it's not a spoiler to say nothing too bad happens to Roy Rodgers although there are a couple close calls.
There's a little ... prologue? It's not listed as such, but it does give a quick "wrap up" of what this book is about. There's 20 chapters (basic chronological listing), 3rd person/past tense. We are in the head of Kate/Corky the most, but the POV shifts to quite a few characters ... including the dog, Roy Rodgers. Felt a little reminiscent of the dog chapter(s) in "Lessons in Chemistry".
The book "To Kill a Mockingbird" plays it's own role (Corky reads it, her brother reads it, she gives it to America to read) and also had it's parallels (even happening 30+ years after the book was set, segregation and different treatment for blacks, a 13 year old protagonist and her brother as MCs). Baseball also played a big part ... so there were some "Sandlot" (the movie) similarities. There was a little TOO much baseball. At one point as the game is being played, and we are getting a play by play, I lost some interest. I think it would be different if I was watching it (tv or movie) but all the details and descriptions just didn't have the same effect for me.
I feel like I learn from historical fiction ... when there are characters you care about, it's easier to absorb the things happening and learn from them. I felt like this provided a pretty good representation of the racial situations of the time (based on other reads/info). The "separate but equal" and how some see color, the different treatment.
There was a sudden shift at the end - as it jumped to 2020, right in the middle of Covid. Switched to present tense ... the tense felt super awkward to me, very unnatural and jolting. The Covid inclusion felt a little odd (I think I'd have preferred it to happen a little beforehand, wrapped up pre-Covid). I mean I guess the Black Lives Matter movement, showing there are STILL issues so many years later probably was why it was set then ... it was an interesting way to wrap up.
Included in KindleUnlimited, text and audio. No proFanity. Some discussion of rape (well, not much discussion, just the word brought up because of TKAMB) and some race/violence. I thought perhaps this was going to need a trigger for "animal death/cruelty" but I hope it's not a spoiler to say nothing too bad happens to Roy Rodgers although there are a couple close calls.
The audio (a set of the first three books) was included in AudiblePlus. It was rated quite highly, so I figured I'd give it a try. KindleUnlimited had the text included for the series (it's like 40+ books!) and I grabbed the first one.
Um, what? I guess this is one of those, love it or hate it books/series, and unfortunately, I fell into the latter camp. I pushed through to the end of book 1, as it wasn't even 200 pages, but it was an ordeal! The narrator in the audiobook was good, in fact, I wouldn't have been able to stick with the book had I read it myself. There is no table of contents ... because there are no chapters (there are chapters, 15 of them, inserted spacing in the audiobook). It's almost all dialog. Without the narrator and his talent for distinctive voices, I wouldn't know who was saying what based on the text (it's just statement after statement after statement, no credit to who is speaking).
And ... this was so over the top ridiculous. I guess some people liked that. I am not one. The constant banter and bad jokes. SNAGFART. Caveman. Space Cadet. The "primitive" brought up by both parties over, and over, and over (ok, only 28 times in this short book). Just every. single. thing.
It really reminded me of [book:A Gift of Time|32622432] - which I almost gave up on because the female alien "Lovely Pebble" who doesn't look human but can alter her appearance/changes into a clown suit at one point. Also happens to crash on an older gentleman's property, and he also happens to have the knowledge, connections and ability to help out. The cartoonish silliness also was a bit reminiscent of [book:Dungeon Crawler Carl|56791389] ... which is another long series that others rave about, but I had to push through just to finish the first book and stopped there (although I liked it better than this one).
Some of the silly names, Major Rottum, Dingus ... Nikki is better than Benikkious Slongum. Snitz. I literally groaned aloud when one of the characters said "With friends like you, who needs an enema?" ... later on it's said "this bunch of idiots will snatch up any excuse for a joke, so even if they don't say anything, you can be sure there is evil afoot in their minds" ... and ANY excuse for a joke is right. Bad jokes. Worse than Dad jokes.
So here on Storygraph, while I did listen to the audio, I'm marking the ebook copy (which I also had and looked through, shaking my head even more) because the audio is only in a combo unit for the first three books. I'm not sure if I'm more concerned about the extra credit for pages that would give me ... or if I just want to be sure it is noted that I ONLY READ THE FIRST BOOK and did not continue on. For those who love it ... have fun and snagfart!
Um, what? I guess this is one of those, love it or hate it books/series, and unfortunately, I fell into the latter camp. I pushed through to the end of book 1, as it wasn't even 200 pages, but it was an ordeal! The narrator in the audiobook was good, in fact, I wouldn't have been able to stick with the book had I read it myself. There is no table of contents ... because there are no chapters (there are chapters, 15 of them, inserted spacing in the audiobook). It's almost all dialog. Without the narrator and his talent for distinctive voices, I wouldn't know who was saying what based on the text (it's just statement after statement after statement, no credit to who is speaking).
And ... this was so over the top ridiculous. I guess some people liked that. I am not one. The constant banter and bad jokes. SNAGFART. Caveman. Space Cadet. The "primitive" brought up by both parties over, and over, and over (ok, only 28 times in this short book). Just every. single. thing.
It really reminded me of [book:A Gift of Time|32622432] - which I almost gave up on because the female alien "Lovely Pebble" who doesn't look human but can alter her appearance/changes into a clown suit at one point. Also happens to crash on an older gentleman's property, and he also happens to have the knowledge, connections and ability to help out. The cartoonish silliness also was a bit reminiscent of [book:Dungeon Crawler Carl|56791389] ... which is another long series that others rave about, but I had to push through just to finish the first book and stopped there (although I liked it better than this one).
Some of the silly names, Major Rottum, Dingus ... Nikki is better than Benikkious Slongum. Snitz. I literally groaned aloud when one of the characters said "With friends like you, who needs an enema?" ... later on it's said "this bunch of idiots will snatch up any excuse for a joke, so even if they don't say anything, you can be sure there is evil afoot in their minds" ... and ANY excuse for a joke is right. Bad jokes. Worse than Dad jokes.
So here on Storygraph, while I did listen to the audio, I'm marking the ebook copy (which I also had and looked through, shaking my head even more) because the audio is only in a combo unit for the first three books. I'm not sure if I'm more concerned about the extra credit for pages that would give me ... or if I just want to be sure it is noted that I ONLY READ THE FIRST BOOK and did not continue on. For those who love it ... have fun and snagfart!
I've read a few by this author (included in KindleUnlimited with text and audio), they are generally 3-4 stars, not anything super memorable. Same here. I think with the title/cover, I was expecting more of a psychological thriller, which this wasn't (which is probably good, as that's not a favorite genre for me personally). There was some mystery, but it was more "Lifetime movie"esque. It dealt a lot with abuse in relationships. I think I liked the story more while I was in it, but as I finished, reflected, checked out some of the other reviews ... there were things I had issues with.
This was mostly 1st person/present tense, from Maisey's POV. It starts off with one chapter where she is a child (1982), then shifts to "present day" (2017). At some point, Maisey discovers her mother's journal, and then there are journal sections included, they don't get their own chapter number, but are placed between chapters (not between every one, but there are a lot of the "journal" sections, 17 or so). Listening to the audio version, I think I would have preferred a separate narrator, just to give a different voice to Maisey and Leah. Even though the sections were marked, the narration wasn't distinct between the two "voices". On print, the Leah Journal sections were in italics, so a read with the eyes would create more distinction that the audio version did. They were mostly memories/past tense, but a little speaking to someone in the present too. Add to that, there were a few chapters throughout that suddenly switched to Tony, in 3rd person (no header or note, so it took me a minute, I had to stop, rewind, check the text ... what just happened? Whose head am I in?) Same narrator. I can deal with the same narrator if it's 3rd person (I can NOT if it's first person, it needs its own voice, and if the character is male, needs a male narrator ... that's just my opinion). Even in 3rd person, I would have preferred a male narrator for these chapters. Tony with his own voice. Still present tense for these sections.
There is possible abuse between Maisey's parents ... purposeful or just because of aging? It's uncovered that there was some abuse with Maisey's EX, and then Leah's journal reveals extreme abuse in an early relationship. So if domestic abuse is a trigger, heads up ... there were some "profound revelations" (although from a non-abused person, so I'm not sure if I'm that great of a judge) but it sounded good and inspiring.
One thing I note - songs in books (how the audio/narrator addresses it). Here, the narrator sang. The "Whisper Me This" was a song, and then there was "Amazing Grace" as well a little later on. Here, I very much appreciated the melody, as a straight patter-speak of the words would not have had the same effect at all. For those who despise music in audiobooks (of which I am one), this is not "music" per se, just narration with melody.
There were some "Book Club Questions" included at the end of the Kindle copy (not in audio) which I do appreciate. The questions here were good and made me think. I little proFanity (x4), some abuse, some slight sexual situations but nothing explicit.
This was mostly 1st person/present tense, from Maisey's POV. It starts off with one chapter where she is a child (1982), then shifts to "present day" (2017). At some point, Maisey discovers her mother's journal, and then there are journal sections included, they don't get their own chapter number, but are placed between chapters (not between every one, but there are a lot of the "journal" sections, 17 or so). Listening to the audio version, I think I would have preferred a separate narrator, just to give a different voice to Maisey and Leah. Even though the sections were marked, the narration wasn't distinct between the two "voices". On print, the Leah Journal sections were in italics, so a read with the eyes would create more distinction that the audio version did. They were mostly memories/past tense, but a little speaking to someone in the present too. Add to that, there were a few chapters throughout that suddenly switched to Tony, in 3rd person (no header or note, so it took me a minute, I had to stop, rewind, check the text ... what just happened? Whose head am I in?) Same narrator. I can deal with the same narrator if it's 3rd person (I can NOT if it's first person, it needs its own voice, and if the character is male, needs a male narrator ... that's just my opinion). Even in 3rd person, I would have preferred a male narrator for these chapters. Tony with his own voice. Still present tense for these sections.
There is possible abuse between Maisey's parents ... purposeful or just because of aging? It's uncovered that there was some abuse with Maisey's EX, and then Leah's journal reveals extreme abuse in an early relationship. So if domestic abuse is a trigger, heads up ... there were some "profound revelations" (although from a non-abused person, so I'm not sure if I'm that great of a judge) but it sounded good and inspiring.
One thing I note - songs in books (how the audio/narrator addresses it). Here, the narrator sang. The "Whisper Me This" was a song, and then there was "Amazing Grace" as well a little later on. Here, I very much appreciated the melody, as a straight patter-speak of the words would not have had the same effect at all. For those who despise music in audiobooks (of which I am one), this is not "music" per se, just narration with melody.
There were some "Book Club Questions" included at the end of the Kindle copy (not in audio) which I do appreciate. The questions here were good and made me think. I little proFanity (x4), some abuse, some slight sexual situations but nothing explicit.
Just 10% in ... have had a couple chapters from Darcy's POV, a couple from Elizabeth's. Nothing wrong really, set up with Darcy's father/uncle still alive. Darcy doesn't care for their direction for him, so he's gone his own way, even if it is in trade (set up a bookstore). It just doesn't FEEL like Darcy. I haven't been captured by the story enough and I have so many other books waiting and calling my name ...
Kindle copy included in KindleUnlimited (and my subscription expires shortly) ...
Kindle copy included in KindleUnlimited (and my subscription expires shortly) ...
I'm not sure how this one popped up on my radar ... maybe a random FB ad? It was included in Kindle Unlimited (text only, I went ahead and bought the whispersync audio for $7.50). Honestly, at first the length intimidated me a bit, but Storygraph stats have been pushing me to make sure I get at least one 500+ page book in each month. This is quite a bit more than that, but still would also increase my "book length average" (just, I'm a numbers nerd).
This though ... is basically TWO books. I'm not sure why the author decided to bundle them as one. Seems like most authors are writing little 200 page books that end on cliffhangers, requiring multiple purchases, which can get super annoying. Here, it's two for one. Just looking at the TOC, there's (1) The Witches of Old Middleton, with a prologue/epilogue and 20 chapters in-between. Then there's (2) The Wretchedly Melodramatic Tale of the Shadow King, with it's own prologue/epilogue and 17 chapters.
If you glance through the table of contents and read the headers (I really appreciate when the headers are included in the TOC) you'll get an idea of the snark and humor in this book. "Where the Monsters are Small and have Designated Nap Times" is Chapter 3 and perhaps the cutest little header. In truth, often when the characters are SO snarky and constantly so on top of saying pithy things, even as I'm enjoying it, I'll roll my eyes a little, because no one is that funny all the time. Here though, the banter between Sasha and the king, and her friend Lyla ... I found myself smiling as I listened. If I'd been reading on my own, I'm sure I would have highlighted several sections to save. Listening, I only got a couple (as I have to stop what I'm doing, rush to my Kindle or computer, find my spot in the text, then highlight, then go back to what I was doing while listening). I added my highlights to the saved quotes. I love little quotes (even if they are just funny, not profound).
This felt like a bit of a mix of The Princess Bride and Stranger Things ... with the latter, the whole "Between" was a tiny bit like "the upside down" although not as dark and nasty (even though it isn't your traditional fairly tale lovely land). "Stranger things have happened" was even said :) But as for the former ... with the little quips and silly things, it really was reminiscent of The Princess Bride and it's ROUS and fire swamp and giants and albino sucking the life. Not the same things, but things, statements (similar to PB's famous "I am not left-handed either") that could totally fit in a Princess Bride storyland.
It was all 3rd person, past tense. The "book the first" (to be Dickens-ish) is mostly from Sasha's POV, although we get a glimpse into Lyla's head a few times (that did tend to throw me off a bit). In "book the second" it's from Lorn's POV. Emily Ellet and Steve West did a great job with the narration - I'd heard Emily before in [book:The Peach Rebellion|58457598] (also great), Mr. West probably wouldn't be my normal cup of tea, but admittedly, he totally had the voice of a shadow king ;)
I can't help but wonder if this book would do better broken up into two separate volumes - not as a "sequel" per se, but a companion book. In a way, it was vaguely like the Glittering Court trilogy by Richelle Mead. Three books, three POVs, the SAME basic story, so some parts repeated from different perspectives, new things revealed from different perspectives (also, Anne McAffery's DragonRiders of Pern series, I remember reading the YA Dragonson/Dragonsinger first, then moving to the Dragonflight/Dragonquest and having one scene replayed and it was this crazy feeling of deja vu, as I already knew what was going to happen).
I don't own the Kindle copy, as it was included in KU and I have a current subscription. It's not something I keep all the time though ... and I don't know that I'll come back and re-read this, but I still wouldn't mind having a copy in my collection, because I know it made me smile so much throughout. I'm sure skimming through the pages would bring back a lot of those smiles.
There were a couple f-bomb drops, and some talk of sex ... in fact, one of my saved quotes was "according to my last two—three—maybe four boyfriends, I’m too sexually demanding. Which is such a double standard,” she said testily, old grievances making her downright mad. “First, they’re happy about it, and then it’s, ‘I have a headache, Sasha.’ Or: ‘We already did it three times today, Sasha.’ Or: ‘I think you broke me, Sasha.’ " ... totally made me laugh! That's about as explicit as it gets though :)
I don't know that it's totally a 5* read ... but an emotional/it made me happy, I saved some quotes, I'd like to own it, I'll remember it ... I'm gonna 5* it ;) My main concern is ... "coming soon" ... the second book (or books 3 & 4?) was scheduled to be out in 2023. It's 2024 ... Hmmmm. Don't leave me hanging!
This though ... is basically TWO books. I'm not sure why the author decided to bundle them as one. Seems like most authors are writing little 200 page books that end on cliffhangers, requiring multiple purchases, which can get super annoying. Here, it's two for one. Just looking at the TOC, there's (1) The Witches of Old Middleton, with a prologue/epilogue and 20 chapters in-between. Then there's (2) The Wretchedly Melodramatic Tale of the Shadow King, with it's own prologue/epilogue and 17 chapters.
If you glance through the table of contents and read the headers (I really appreciate when the headers are included in the TOC) you'll get an idea of the snark and humor in this book. "Where the Monsters are Small and have Designated Nap Times" is Chapter 3 and perhaps the cutest little header. In truth, often when the characters are SO snarky and constantly so on top of saying pithy things, even as I'm enjoying it, I'll roll my eyes a little, because no one is that funny all the time. Here though, the banter between Sasha and the king, and her friend Lyla ... I found myself smiling as I listened. If I'd been reading on my own, I'm sure I would have highlighted several sections to save. Listening, I only got a couple (as I have to stop what I'm doing, rush to my Kindle or computer, find my spot in the text, then highlight, then go back to what I was doing while listening). I added my highlights to the saved quotes. I love little quotes (even if they are just funny, not profound).
This felt like a bit of a mix of The Princess Bride and Stranger Things ... with the latter, the whole "Between" was a tiny bit like "the upside down" although not as dark and nasty (even though it isn't your traditional fairly tale lovely land). "Stranger things have happened" was even said :) But as for the former ... with the little quips and silly things, it really was reminiscent of The Princess Bride and it's ROUS and fire swamp and giants and albino sucking the life. Not the same things, but things, statements (similar to PB's famous "I am not left-handed either") that could totally fit in a Princess Bride storyland.
It was all 3rd person, past tense. The "book the first" (to be Dickens-ish) is mostly from Sasha's POV, although we get a glimpse into Lyla's head a few times (that did tend to throw me off a bit). In "book the second" it's from Lorn's POV. Emily Ellet and Steve West did a great job with the narration - I'd heard Emily before in [book:The Peach Rebellion|58457598] (also great), Mr. West probably wouldn't be my normal cup of tea, but admittedly, he totally had the voice of a shadow king ;)
I can't help but wonder if this book would do better broken up into two separate volumes - not as a "sequel" per se, but a companion book. In a way, it was vaguely like the Glittering Court trilogy by Richelle Mead. Three books, three POVs, the SAME basic story, so some parts repeated from different perspectives, new things revealed from different perspectives (also, Anne McAffery's DragonRiders of Pern series, I remember reading the YA Dragonson/Dragonsinger first, then moving to the Dragonflight/Dragonquest and having one scene replayed and it was this crazy feeling of deja vu, as I already knew what was going to happen).
I don't own the Kindle copy, as it was included in KU and I have a current subscription. It's not something I keep all the time though ... and I don't know that I'll come back and re-read this, but I still wouldn't mind having a copy in my collection, because I know it made me smile so much throughout. I'm sure skimming through the pages would bring back a lot of those smiles.
There were a couple f-bomb drops, and some talk of sex ... in fact, one of my saved quotes was "according to my last two—three—maybe four boyfriends, I’m too sexually demanding. Which is such a double standard,” she said testily, old grievances making her downright mad. “First, they’re happy about it, and then it’s, ‘I have a headache, Sasha.’ Or: ‘We already did it three times today, Sasha.’ Or: ‘I think you broke me, Sasha.’ " ... totally made me laugh! That's about as explicit as it gets though :)
I don't know that it's totally a 5* read ... but an emotional/it made me happy, I saved some quotes, I'd like to own it, I'll remember it ... I'm gonna 5* it ;) My main concern is ... "coming soon" ... the second book (or books 3 & 4?) was scheduled to be out in 2023. It's 2024 ... Hmmmm. Don't leave me hanging!
Found this via one of those random FB ads that popped up in my feed. I looked it up, high ratings, looked interesting. Text on KU - audio on Hoopla ... Here, the character Colt in his senior year. My youngest (Colton) is in his senior year. I had liked Dead Poet's Society (this had one of those "if you liked Dead Poet's Society" taglines). Dawson from Dawson's Creek narrating ...
Surprisingly, this book just never really connected for me. Very conversational tone. I can't note anything I disliked or found fault with really ... my mind just kept wandering. The narration was fine, but again, just a little bland. Usually I can have an audiobook on and multi-task fine, but here, I just kept losing my listen and had to rewind, check the Kindle copy.
This was a little TOO much like Dead Poet's Society actually ... the unorthodox leader reaching out to teen boys, teaching them about life. He even has the boys watch Dead Poet's Society. They say Carpe Diem too much.
The love interest Noa ... I just kept hearing "Noah" and had to remind myself Noa was a girl, not a guy (personal association more with guys).
There were a few of the revelatory premonitions ... right at the start "I had no way of knowing then. But the person who wrote those notes was coming to ruin my life" ... for me, that's not even foreshadowing, that's spoiler territory, right in the book itself. It happened a few times, as well as starting in the "present" for the prologue (an adult) and then back to the high school days. No dates given though. I guess that keeps it from being dated (just sometime after the movie Dead Poet's Society was available to watch).
As a parent (of a boy in his senior year in high school) I do stress a little when reading about some of the stupid things kids do when they are in groups. Not even that bad, just pranks and parties.
I finished this, came to review it, and couldn't even really remember much about it at all.
Kindle copy cover is very bland. The audiobook cover is nice.
Not really sure on the title connection.
2.5 stars.
Surprisingly, this book just never really connected for me. Very conversational tone. I can't note anything I disliked or found fault with really ... my mind just kept wandering. The narration was fine, but again, just a little bland. Usually I can have an audiobook on and multi-task fine, but here, I just kept losing my listen and had to rewind, check the Kindle copy.
This was a little TOO much like Dead Poet's Society actually ... the unorthodox leader reaching out to teen boys, teaching them about life. He even has the boys watch Dead Poet's Society. They say Carpe Diem too much.
The love interest Noa ... I just kept hearing "Noah" and had to remind myself Noa was a girl, not a guy (personal association more with guys).
There were a few of the revelatory premonitions ... right at the start "I had no way of knowing then. But the person who wrote those notes was coming to ruin my life" ... for me, that's not even foreshadowing, that's spoiler territory, right in the book itself. It happened a few times, as well as starting in the "present" for the prologue (an adult) and then back to the high school days. No dates given though. I guess that keeps it from being dated (just sometime after the movie Dead Poet's Society was available to watch).
As a parent (of a boy in his senior year in high school) I do stress a little when reading about some of the stupid things kids do when they are in groups. Not even that bad, just pranks and parties.
I finished this, came to review it, and couldn't even really remember much about it at all.
Kindle copy cover is very bland. The audiobook cover is nice.
Not really sure on the title connection.
2.5 stars.
I had this in my "to read" queue for a while. Available at the library, it was also included in AudiblePlus, so it was there in my library. As I've been trying to add more none-fiction, I moved to this as I needed a new book. Of course it's a sad story of abuse. It was short and I finished it quickly. I had some issues with it.
It starts with "The Rescue" ... so basically at the end, as David is removed from the home, and is now "free". Then the next chapter goes back to the beginning, when things were normal, and slowly slipped into the abuse. Then there are several chapters outlining severe abuse, and then an odd ending. I'm guessing that then the first chapter "The Rescue" happened shortly after the 7th chapter? The next day, the next week, the next month? This felt so odd and disconnected to me.
The first chapter "The Rescue" and the Epilogue are both in present tense (and in italics in the text version). An adult David recounts some things ... and then there is "Perspectives on Child Abuse" by the author, and a note from a teacher, a social worker and executive director of the California Consortium for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
I could see there were a couple follow up books, and I debated continuing on, although with the epilogue, I felt this story had been told and finished. I wasn't sure if I wanted to dip back into sadness ... he is free, he's saved ... but of course I'm sure the next book will still outline many hardships in the foster care system. That the final "adult" chapter would again address struggles (twice divorced, controversy around his book/memories). I think I preferred just stopping with the little message of hope at the end of this book ... I feel like the continued books negate that.
In the notes afterward, the author states "The story has two objectives: the first is to inform the reader how a loving, caring parent can change to a cold, abusive monster venting frustrations on a helpless child; the second is the eventual survival and triumph of the human spirit over seemingly insurmountable odds" ... the latter seems to be addressed in many of the holocaust survivor memoirs, and I don't know that the first really happened. Did we ever learn WHY the mother did this, what was behind it? I feel like some other "misery memoirs" address things a little more ... [book:If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood|45299992] also has a mother who does unspeakable things, but there, we see her history, as a troubled child (just "born bad"?), we understand a little more why the girls in that situation didn't run away or tell. In [book:Spilled Milk|18858489] it really tries to get into the mind of the abused child, and explain more the WHY they don't seek out help. Here, I felt that was missing. It was implied ... she made him think he was bad, that he deserved it, that he hated himself ... but then there were times being told when he didn't seem to feel that way. I just wanted to know why he didn't tell, didn't run away. This SAYS it's written in a child's voice (ages 4-12) but it didn't seem at all like a child's writing. It was definitely an adult remembrance ... I wanted more facts, what the California courts wrote in their record, what action was (if any?) was taken against the mother and father (sounds like the brothers were left in her care, that nothing really happened to her except that David was taken away). I know it was a different time, but it's still hard to comprehend that this could have happened as bad as it was.
This book definitely made me think, made me grateful that anything like this is completely foreign to me ... and on those days where one thinks their role as a mom isn't as stellar as everyone else on social media, well, I guess I'm not so bad ;)
I really don't care for this cover (I like the alternate ones for the trilogy much better). I hate the little "hand of God" on the four-year-old's face ... God references in the book ... "During all the years when I had prayed to God, he answered me only once ... I asked him to make mother sick ..." "I knew that if God had wanted Mother and Father to be happy, then I would have to be dead." "I hated God more than anything else in this or any other world." "I began to give up on God, I felt like he must have hated me. What other reason could there be for a life like min?" and "there was no God. No God would leave me like this" "God had completely taken away my greatest hope. Inside I cursed His name, wishing I had never been born" ...and okay, it ends with him saying a prayer "deliver me from evil, Amen" but still, it wasn't God
It starts with "The Rescue" ... so basically at the end, as David is removed from the home, and is now "free". Then the next chapter goes back to the beginning, when things were normal, and slowly slipped into the abuse. Then there are several chapters outlining severe abuse, and then an odd ending. I'm guessing that then the first chapter "The Rescue" happened shortly after the 7th chapter? The next day, the next week, the next month? This felt so odd and disconnected to me.
The first chapter "The Rescue" and the Epilogue are both in present tense (and in italics in the text version). An adult David recounts some things ... and then there is "Perspectives on Child Abuse" by the author, and a note from a teacher, a social worker and executive director of the California Consortium for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
I could see there were a couple follow up books, and I debated continuing on, although with the epilogue, I felt this story had been told and finished. I wasn't sure if I wanted to dip back into sadness ... he is free, he's saved ... but of course I'm sure the next book will still outline many hardships in the foster care system. That the final "adult" chapter would again address struggles (twice divorced, controversy around his book/memories). I think I preferred just stopping with the little message of hope at the end of this book ... I feel like the continued books negate that.
In the notes afterward, the author states "The story has two objectives: the first is to inform the reader how a loving, caring parent can change to a cold, abusive monster venting frustrations on a helpless child; the second is the eventual survival and triumph of the human spirit over seemingly insurmountable odds" ... the latter seems to be addressed in many of the holocaust survivor memoirs, and I don't know that the first really happened. Did we ever learn WHY the mother did this, what was behind it? I feel like some other "misery memoirs" address things a little more ... [book:If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood|45299992] also has a mother who does unspeakable things, but there, we see her history, as a troubled child (just "born bad"?), we understand a little more why the girls in that situation didn't run away or tell. In [book:Spilled Milk|18858489] it really tries to get into the mind of the abused child, and explain more the WHY they don't seek out help. Here, I felt that was missing. It was implied ... she made him think he was bad, that he deserved it, that he hated himself ... but then there were times being told when he didn't seem to feel that way. I just wanted to know why he didn't tell, didn't run away. This SAYS it's written in a child's voice (ages 4-12) but it didn't seem at all like a child's writing. It was definitely an adult remembrance ... I wanted more facts, what the California courts wrote in their record, what action was (if any?) was taken against the mother and father (sounds like the brothers were left in her care, that nothing really happened to her except that David was taken away). I know it was a different time, but it's still hard to comprehend that this could have happened as bad as it was.
This book definitely made me think, made me grateful that anything like this is completely foreign to me ... and on those days where one thinks their role as a mom isn't as stellar as everyone else on social media, well, I guess I'm not so bad ;)
I really don't care for this cover (I like the alternate ones for the trilogy much better). I hate the little "hand of God" on the four-year-old's face ... God references in the book ... "During all the years when I had prayed to God, he answered me only once ... I asked him to make mother sick ..." "I knew that if God had wanted Mother and Father to be happy, then I would have to be dead." "I hated God more than anything else in this or any other world." "I began to give up on God, I felt like he must have hated me. What other reason could there be for a life like min?" and "there was no God. No God would leave me like this" "God had completely taken away my greatest hope. Inside I cursed His name, wishing I had never been born" ...and okay, it ends with him saying a prayer "deliver me from evil, Amen" but still, it wasn't God
emotional
I'd read "Sarah Plain and Tall" ages ago - and thought the movie adaptation was wonderful. Easier to do with a children's book. Short enough that the movie didn't really need to change anything, leave anything out. I remember thinking it was just the story brought to life. I need to watch it again. So simple, yet so touching. A mail-order bride success story, not only with the reticent husband, but with the two children.
Skylark was good - sad, as the families deal with the drought. Sara and the two children go back to Maine for a while to stay with Sara's family. It's green and rainy there. I did wonder when the husband traveled all that way to come get them and bring them home. Who watched the dogs?
How old were the dogs in the first book? It didn't say they were puppies. As several years (10+) pass (through all five books), yet the dogs are still around?
Glen Close, who portrays Sara in the movies, is the narrator. This makes sense for the first two books, even though they are actually 1st person from Anna's perspective. Glen Close has a wonderful singing voice! Having her narrate the third book ... while it keeps consistency, didn't totally work, because it was Caleb's perspective, 1st person. For me, if it is a boy/man in 1st person, I really need the narrator to be a boy/man (I can deal if it's 3rd person). We'd heard about a new baby at the end of Skylark, and here Cassie is a few years old. Grandfather also enters the scene.
The audiobook collection I got from the library only had the first three books, but I was able to find the next one - More Perfect Than The Moon, in audio separately. Again, Glenn Close narrates. This time, it's Cassie's POV, still 1st person. Again, while I adore Glen Close as narrator, and it keeps the consistency of the story, and Sarah's voice ... it also makes Cassie too much like Anna. I wonder if I would have liked a different voice just for that reason.
The fifth and final book, I couldn't find in audio, so I just read it. These all have the same feel. Super simple and straight-forward. A little like Sara, plain ... but wonderful. At the end of the 4th book, there was another baby, a "terrible baby" (as Cassie was not ready for such a change, and it's from her POV). The 5th book is still 1st person from Cassie's POV. It's another wedding ... Anna and Justin. There were lots of J names ... Justin, Joshua, Jack, John. Loved little Jack calling Grandfather "Boppa"
I'm very glad I was able to come back to Sara, and continue on with the saga. A story is never complete (in that the characters lives will live on in imagination) but I was glad to be able to read what was written. Ahhh.
Skylark was good - sad, as the families deal with the drought. Sara and the two children go back to Maine for a while to stay with Sara's family. It's green and rainy there. I did wonder when the husband traveled all that way to come get them and bring them home. Who watched the dogs?
How old were the dogs in the first book? It didn't say they were puppies. As several years (10+) pass (through all five books), yet the dogs are still around?
Glen Close, who portrays Sara in the movies, is the narrator. This makes sense for the first two books, even though they are actually 1st person from Anna's perspective. Glen Close has a wonderful singing voice! Having her narrate the third book ... while it keeps consistency, didn't totally work, because it was Caleb's perspective, 1st person. For me, if it is a boy/man in 1st person, I really need the narrator to be a boy/man (I can deal if it's 3rd person). We'd heard about a new baby at the end of Skylark, and here Cassie is a few years old. Grandfather also enters the scene.
The audiobook collection I got from the library only had the first three books, but I was able to find the next one - More Perfect Than The Moon, in audio separately. Again, Glenn Close narrates. This time, it's Cassie's POV, still 1st person. Again, while I adore Glen Close as narrator, and it keeps the consistency of the story, and Sarah's voice ... it also makes Cassie too much like Anna. I wonder if I would have liked a different voice just for that reason.
The fifth and final book, I couldn't find in audio, so I just read it. These all have the same feel. Super simple and straight-forward. A little like Sara, plain ... but wonderful. At the end of the 4th book, there was another baby, a "terrible baby" (as Cassie was not ready for such a change, and it's from her POV). The 5th book is still 1st person from Cassie's POV. It's another wedding ... Anna and Justin. There were lots of J names ... Justin, Joshua, Jack, John. Loved little Jack calling Grandfather "Boppa"
I'm very glad I was able to come back to Sara, and continue on with the saga. A story is never complete (in that the characters lives will live on in imagination) but I was glad to be able to read what was written. Ahhh.