jenbsbooks's Reviews (2.41k)

I liked this ... just not the adoration so many others seemed to give it. I'm not sure how much I'll remember, or if I could even give a concise recap. While the blurb touts "McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us." it was just too dark and too sad without enough redemption, for me to recommend it highly to others. The "ahh" is there, at the very end ... I think I was a bit distracted listening at the moment, had to re-read the ending to fully absorb it. I just read this for enjoyment ... I am fairly certain that if I delved deeper, discussed it (ie bookclub, school) I'd probably learn to appreciate it more. 

This had three parts - Gone, Gotten, The Last Love ... each had several chapters, which ran chronologically through the book (thank you) and had headings (thank you). IF I wanted to go back and re-read a portion (I listened to the audio, but also grabbed the Kindle copy for reference) this TOC organization makes it so much easier to find any certain spot.  It's also interesting to just glance over the TOC and see how much of the story comes back just based on the information there. 

This was all 3rd person, past tense. It starts (in italics) with a "present day" finding of a skeleton, then goes back to give the history of what lead there. Lots of history of the black community, the Jewish community (here, working together) and the challenges they faced. Some good "history" here (I always appreciate learning a little from my historical fiction). 

There were so many characters - I'd be a little hard pressed to provide names/histories of more than a handful of them. I had a bit of a hard time keeping track. There's Moshe (name so similar to Moishe from The Marvelous Mrs Maisel TV series ... some comparisons/contrasts between characters) and ... it was a tad hard to follow as so much information and background was introduced. Just there, just an omniscient narrator telling all. His wife Chona, Dodo (he becomes very central, the story shifts almost entirely to him for a while), Nate & Addie, Paper (I had a hard time with this as a name!), Malachi, Bernice, Fatty, the Doc Roberts ... MonkeyPants, Son of Man ...so many more minor characters, so many things going on. 

Content - lots on Black/Jewish lives of the time. If you struggle with the "n" word, it's here (x20), some Yiddish slipped in. ProFanity (x2) and some sexual/rape. Lots of crappy (literally) stuff and mistreatment of children.

I've been delving a little into the world of graphic novels ... although I have to admit, they aren't really my style. Sometimes I'm not sure what to read first (text at the top, the speech bubbles) and the text is so small! So difficult to maneuver in a digital version that I go with a physical copy - that can't enlarge. This is only the second graphic novel I've read where I wasn't already familiar with the story. Honestly, this was more of a 3* read for me. I feel a little guilty marking it lower (even though a three* is still "it was good" according to Goodreads) but it was missing many of the aspects of a 5, or even 4* read for me. Is this one I would want to own- would want to re-read? Were there profound quotes? Is it something I'd recommend? Not really to any of those. It WILL stick in my memory, but I don't feel like I really learned about the subject/time as much as I wished, as much as I often do with historical fiction.

Ironically - the author and were born around the same time. In 1980, I was also 10 years old. It's a little crazy to think this was all happening to her within my lifetime, just in another country. There were shades of the WW2 happenings (changes happening, having to go to a different school, wear something showing who you are, some attempting to leave the country, the bombings). I recently read The Diary of Anne Frank, and in it too, we see the world/war through the eyes of a young, spunky girl. I even read a couple graphic novels (one an adaptation of the diary itself, another more of a biography) so the comparisons feel even stronger to me, with many of the simple drawings, simple statements in the speech bubbles ... there were things that felt so similar!

The drawing style didn't really call to me, and the story, with the small strip info and speech bubbles felt very simple and abrupt. I think I'm used to more of a story, with beautiful language, imagery, flowing writing. 

I still don't really feel like I understand the Islamic Revolution or Iran's history, recent as it is. I never really connected with Marjane - I've never talked to God or felt I was to be a prophet. I feel like I would probably come to appreciate this more with additional study. I have peeked and there are several YouTube video discussions. I know there's a movie version, and sequels as well. I actually bought "The Complete" Persepolis but am stopping at book 1 for now. 

I think I'm just not a "classic" gal ... the language, the story, just not my cup of tea. This was a book club pick, and I am glad I was "forced" to read it. I wouldn't have on my own. It will be interesting to have the bookclub discussion and see if that brings out more appreciation for it (I've found that does often happen, with a deeper dive, a "study" - also true for school required reading).  I went with the audio edition, and did some "spark notes" and a peek at a graphic novel, some youtube recap/discussions. I will try to READ some/all before bookclub (this was announced early, so there is some additional prep time). 

The famous first lines ... and everyone says the last lines are well known too, but they actually weren't familiar to me. This is a classic. I just struggled to learn the characters, and to get drawn into their lives to care about them. I struggled to follow the story, what was happening and why. Was it the language? While not contemporary, it's not nearly as difficult as Shakespearean stuff.  I didn't feel like I really learned that much about the time, or the French Revolution. I fully admit this is on me, not the text ...

I'll try to update after a read of the kindle copy and bookclub discussion. 

I liked this. 3.5 stars. A bookclub pick, and being a popular/holiday book, I wasn't able to get the audio edition in time (for bookclub discussion and the holiday ... I can only read Christmas at Christmas!) so I READ this with my own eyeballs, and that takes me longer than a listen (less eye time than ear time). 

I read a couple other Christmas stories ... it's really hard not to just lump them as a "Hallmark Movie as a book" because the stories, whether in book or movie form, do seem to have a similar feel. Here, it was a little different, with a "Groundhog Day" time loop aspect. This was also set in Utah/ParkCity (local to me - always interesting to see).  While I'm not as familiar with ParkCity, there was the mention of LDS waiting for their missionaries at the airport.

1st person - all from our MC Maelyn. Present tense.

Bookclub hasn't happened yet to see what will be brought up there for discussion ... this was a little on the steamy side (not one my neighborhood bookclub would choose, feels "girly" as there was a fellow that seemed to indicate he might join the bookclub ... this is likely not the best book to begin). Some fairly sexually explicit scenes, proFanity (x7).  Other random notes I made (because of bookclub for possible discussion, just for myself and/or because I was reading it myself and I could, it's harder to "take notes" in audio ...)

Wish GoodReads had bulletpoints!
** "What? Change is never good."  -- I do personally struggle with change.
** "Maybe we're all like the characters on Lost, a show Dad and Benny drunkenly complained about" -- I loved Lost! 
**"Is there a downside? Not having to return to work on Monday, getting to repeat my favorite week of vacation minus the mistakes?" -- I'll admit I really enjoy "Groundhog Day" type tropes. Loved a Pride and Prejudice retelling. The whole MiddleFalls repeats a life - I've read all those!
** the "Car Crash That Didn't Happen" and "Worried Parent eyes" ... love the CAPS that make a think into a name.
** (pg51) When Mae tells Andrew and he plays along, giving her a history, also giving it to the readers. It's always interesting to see how authors can work background info in. 
** "There's not much game to be had when you're still living with your mommy" -- my oldest is feeling this too much I think. 
**"Maybe we should do things because we love them, not because we've always done them that way" ... interesting thoughts on change vs tradition.
** detritus ... just a word a notice :)
** "I bite my lip" ... phrase that annoys many
** "I have no idea if he caught me watching him, or if I just caught him watching me" -- yup!
** "my lady parts wave the white flag of surrender" -- this made me laugh
**"I'll have you know"  -- talking to reader, just ONE spot
**"Yes, I'm happy and I find myself believing that is the goal here, but what I don't know is why, or how to hold on to it. Nobody can be happy all the time." -- TRUTH
** a woman very definitely needs eight full hours of sleep -- that is me!
** when you get everything you've ever wanted, you don't know exactly how to manage it.
** When I thought it didn't matter and no one would remember, I finally started living authentically.
**You can't erase mistakes. You just have to figure out how to fix them.
** All this time I've been upset with him for simply being exactly the person I always knew he was.

... a little too HAE, but then again, I might complain if it wasn't :) But w/o the sex/profanity, this was super Hallmark!

This was "afterschool special" cute and sweet story ... just likely not one I'll really remember. In KindleUnlimited, text and audio included. I went with the audio but liked having the text on hand to read a little myself.  Three main characters. In audio, there were three narrators for the three different POVS. All were 3rd person/past tense.  Chronological chapters with headings (included in the TOC). In the text, it was also included which POV it was (I wish this was included in the TOC as well. I'll often look back at the TOC, want to check something out on a particular perspective, and it's just nice having it easily accessible). 

Elliot - an older man, is dealing with life after the death of his wife. Abby is a young girl in an unhappy home, her mother Mary. While the marriage is just short of physical abuse, there is emotional abuse and controlling behaviors. Toss in seven abandoned puppies ... and it's pretty predictable where this is all heading.  Cute, cuddly HEA for everyone after several struggles along the way.

One does have to wonder about the logistics of actually keeping six or seven dogs past the puppy stage though ...

The blurb states "An unforgettably romantic novel" ... alas, I finished this and didn't get around to writing a review immediately and ... I'm struggling a little to remember.  I went with the audio edition, but also was able to grab the Kindle copy, which I needed to refer to as a refresher before writing my review.

Most of this book takes place in "letter" format (I actually love that, [book:A Woman of Independent Means|340258] was a favorite of mine). There is a prologue, which is actually a later point in time (1968) an older Thomas (one of the main characters) reflecting on his life, mention of the letters ... then, several "Parts" (1-5) each encompassing one year, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918.  And epilogue wraps things up (a passing on of the letters, giving this the "could this actually be real?? vibe). 

Everything was first person, although the POV shifts - each letter is dated and labeled with who wrote it, and who it is addressed to. The prologue is in present tense, as are a couple of Thomas' letters ... the rest is past tense (as would make sense. That's how I write letters). Unlike when journals are featured in books (often with full descriptions and dialog, NOT how I write in my journal), these letters and their writing style seemed completely believable and authentic.  While it seemed a great many letters (I had to wonder a bit at the believability of this much mail crossing the continent during war time, being securely delivered) I guess it wasn't that much if taken in view of the entire timeframe. Listening in audio, it was a little hard to note the date (how much time was taking place between letters). In audio, there were different narrators for the various perspectives, which was helpful in keeping the POVs straight (even with the helpful headers). 

I liked the story ... siblings, Will and Evie, Will's friend Thomas, some additional family and friends writing and being written to. Will and Thomas off to war. Evie doing her part at home. Having read a ton of WW2 stories, I don't know that anything here was "new" to me, but still interesting. I got involved with the characters and their lives.

Clean read - no language, no sex. There is the violence of war, some death.

The blurb here states this is "A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir" ... very sad and depressing yes, hilarious? Not so much. It kept my attention, I "liked" it (glad I listened to the audiobook), but is it one that I would recommend? One I think I'll really remember (parts of it), one I would want to own and read again (no). My 4 and 5* reads check those boxes. 

Basic memoir - first person, mostly chronological (starts with a prologue which is set about the middle of the book, then starts in childhood. Two sections: Before/After (her mom died). Basic numerical chapters/no headings. Present tense ... which felt a little weird to me in a memoir, although it was written well enough it wasn't a constant irritation as present tense can be. 

I-Carly was after my time, but my kids had it on sometimes (I had boys, it was perhaps more of a "girl" show) so I recall it as background noise. I can recall the sidekick "Sam" if I think about it ... when I first saw this book being mentioned across FB groups and such, it took me a bit to place this author as that girl. Her appearance (she has grown up) and voice were not familiar. 

The "showbiz" background was interesting, having also recently experienced Matthew Perry's biography, and "As You Wish" (behind the scenes of the making of the movie The Princess Bride). I never had TV/Movie aspirations, but I was involved in quite a bit of theater my teen/high school years. Even back then, without memoirs like these, I think I knew the dabble on stage was just for fun was all I was interested in. 

One interesting aspect was the "Mormon" one ... the author/her family were LDS ... although it didn't seem the LDS I grew up with (and not in Utah). Nothing negative really said, some things just stated, experiences. Nothing super religious (slight exception for her thinking she heard "the holy ghost" telling her things).

I realize she was homeschooled and not really socialized, but some of the things still seemed like she would have challenged them sooner (having her mom bathe her until 16+).  While the mother was definitely a piece of work, it just seems odd that Jennette would have not pushed back a little more. I guess that's a personal dynamic I'm lucky I don't have experience with. 

There was some language (fx43) and sexual stuff (discussion of blow jobs, sex) and details of anorexia and bulimia. While the book was definitely built around the relationship with her mother, she never says the words "I'm glad my mom died" ... I guess it's implied? She needed the death to get away from the abusive relationship. It IS a title that gets a second look (my boys did NOT like it, ahh, sweet of them).  

This was good, I felt like I learned more about the time period and about leprosy. The text was included in Kindle Unlimited, and also available at the library, as was the audio. I went with the audio version ... I didn't love the narrator, but Mirielle wasn't that likeable at the start, so the voice matched somewhat. There was an Author's Note included in the text/Kindle copy that was NOT included in audio, which is a shame. I appreciate author's notes, especially when (as they did here) they clarify what factual things the story is based on, where liberties were taken, etc. I will never understand why the audio version is short-changed by leaving such important information out. Here, the author clarifies that this leprosy (or Hansen's Disease ... I've never heard it termed this, and it wasn't mentioned by this name in the novel) is NOT the same disease referenced in the Bible. That really was my main connection coming in ... that and my father singing "Leprosy, all my skin is falling off of me, I'm not half the man I used to be, oh I believe in Leprosy" (to the tune of  "Yesterday" by the Beatles). It was interesting to learn that it is bacterial, not nearly as contagious as the world was lead to believe, that children are most susceptible (adults generally have enough immune response to fight it off). It was never revealed where Mirielle picked it up. That there now is a cure, but there are new cases currently being diagnosed and treated. 

As mentioned, Mirielle wasn't super likeable (not completely unlikeable either). Rich and spoiled, and changed after a tragedy. It was interesting to watch her growth and development. I never totally got pulled in and connected to the characters to have the things that happened to them impact me emotionally. 

Clean - no language or sex, just some descriptions of the disease/death and harsh conditions. 
Third person (but pretty much all the POV of Mirielle) Past tense.

This was just a cute little teen(pre-teen) YA "romance" (utterly innocent, she hopes for a kiss). Per the title, the POV "flips" between the two MCs, Bryce and Julie. Starting when they meet in second grade, through middle school. We get to see some scenes from both sides. Both told in first person, past tense. 

I like it when a book has chapters listed numerically - here they were just the simple chapter headings  (which didn't include the POVs). To me rather than just "Diving Under" "Flipped" it is just SO much more helpful to have Chapter 1 (Bryce) Diving Under, Chapter 2 (Julie) Flipped ... but the chapters did just alternate, and the headings are helpful if looking for a specific spot (although not as helpful as numerical chapters and listed POVs). 

The love of climbing the sycamore tree reminded me a bit of [book:The Eagle Tree|26706264]. The egg adventure (incubating, candling, hatching, raising chicks) had some parallels to personal experience (although with ducks instead of chickens). 

This was cute and sweet. I'd give it a thumbs up ... although I'm not sure how much it really impacted me and how much will actually stick with me.

I'm a big Anne of Green Gables fan ... loved the original series, read the whole thing (multiple times). LOVED the mini-series production too. I'll admit I have not gotten around to giving the new Netflix adaptation a try. 

Schitt's Creek was a recent watch, but Moira is SUCH a unique character/voice, that there wasn't any carryover, even knowing it was the same actress. Victor Garber is most familiar to me from Alias (a while back), but I will always have the mini-series Matthew in my heart! I'm not remembering him saying "oh, well ..." as much as in this production. While I'm also a huge Megan Follows fan as Anne, the gal here did great. In a little online discussion, someone said she looked too old ... but she did not sound too old, she was great!

Unlike other graphic audio, this had narration ... I'm familiar with Sandra Oh from Grey's Anatomy (and I watched Killing Eve) ... if I didn't know it was her, I would not have recognized her voice at all. Had to really look for it.  I was glad for the basic narration here and there, it is needed in a work like this. 

This covered most of the book that I remembered ... I didn't quite feel the relationship building between Anne and Gilbert, Gilbert didn't seem nearly as large a role in this production as in others. 

I was happy to find this included in AudiblePlus, so I was able to access it for free with my membership. As much as I loved it, I don't know that I would have wanted to spend a credit on it (a little over 5 hours).