katietotallybooked's Reviews (785)

In Such Good Company is when Carol talks about her show in great detail, capturing the memories of the 11-seasons on air. It was an interesting way to learn about the show, especially some of the behind the scenes aspects. However, it did get a bit slow and a little boring after a long while. Thankfully I listened to this book on audio, which always adds an element of enjoyment especially when it’s read by the author.
It isn’t my favourite of her books, but it was a chance to revisit some of Carol’s wonder. She’s provided me many reading and family memories (as now my mom has passed and watching those episodes together is one of my best last memories). So Carol, I’m so glad we’ve had this time together.

Bri wants a career as a rapper (like her late father Lawless) but she doesn’t want to sacrifice her own identity as a young women. I think this is a great character quality and it intrigued me the most about her. Even-though she can be described by others as “aggressive” or hood-ish, I think Bri is struggling to find the approval of her mom, as well she’s wanting to be the shining star of her family and bring success to their lives. All this while also still grieving the loss of her father as a young child and struggling to find how that fits in her identity. So I really like her complex character and I that was the highlight of the book for me. However, I found some of the other characters like Aunt Pooh very frustrating and I didn’t feel like they were described well enough. A bit more backstory on her and Malik would have added something for me. .
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The book deals with themes of sexism, racism, social inequality, and justice. It’s a great story about personal triumphs and tribulations, and it’s definitely a book worth reading. I didn’t love it as much as The Hate U Give and I didn’t find it as groundbreaking or moving to me while reading it (which may be why I feel I don’t have much to say in a review) but it’s still a great book and I appreciate Angie Thomas' voice as a writer. .

I enjoyed House Rules a lot. I was drawn into the characters and I was fascinated by the portrayal of Asberger’s. I never thought about how the judicial system would work or not work on someone living with Asbergers and their need to function differently. It was an interesting story for the author to tell, but that’s why I love Jodi is because those are the stories she writes. .
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While reading, I was frustrated with how law enforcement was treating Jacob. With the author switching perspectives throughout the writing, I knew when they weren’t understanding him even when they claimed to be. I wanted to shout at the characters because I felt so invested! (Side note: does anyone else shout at book characters or people on tv as if they could hear you? 🙋🏽‍♀️). .
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I flew through this book, all 520ish pages, because it was very engaging. I would certainly recommend House Rules. I think it brings the world of Autism into fiction well and helps to build an understanding of the disorder for those who don’t experience it first hand in real life. Ultimately the books message is about love, family, and the lengths you go to for those you love - even if you don’t show love and empathy in traditional ways.

Do you ever finish reading a book and find yourself lingering in the aftermath; Not being able to fully articulate how a book made you feel but causing you to hold to the story for a little while? That is The Great Alone for me. I loved this book. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. Gripping, emotional, heart wrenching, reassuring, unpredictable, and thought provoking. It’s the 1970s and 14 year old Leni and her parents, Cora and Ernt, run away to wild Alaska to escape the societal changes in the cities after the Vietnam War, which Ernt is a POW from. As a reader, the domestic violence and darkness portrayed in Ernt’s outbursts was at times hard to take. It is a major part of the story so you have to be ready. In Kaneq it was up to Cora and Leni, the mother-daughter duo, “two peas in a pod” to survive and protect themselves against their husband and father, because as the Alaska days got darker, so did he. This is a story of survival, love, and loss. It’s a story about finding yourself and overcoming the challenges that life throws you.

There is love between characters in this book that is so strong and so unbreakable.
“You don’t stop loving a person when they are hurt. You get stronger so they can lean on you.” But to what cost? Through years and years of abuse? At the risk of your own life? I don’t think anyone knows at first. You only know once you make the decision or maybe until you see the life of someone else you love just as deeply at stake.

This book made me cry because of the loss the characters experienced and how I can identify with that pain. But, it also made me smile because of the love they experienced and how blessed I am to be able to know that kind of love.
While I enjoyed The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah’s last book, I loved The Great Alone more. It was much more reminiscent to me of her previous books, like Winter Garden, which are the books I actually fell in love with first anyways.
From what I hear, The Nightingale and The Great Alone have been signed to movie deals so it will be interesting to see how they are portrayed on the big screen. For now I’m going to linger in my book hangover a little while longer.
[a:Kristin Hannah|54493|Kristin Hannah|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1517255843p2/54493.jpg]