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katietotallybooked's Reviews (785)
My first read memoir of 2020 was Inside Out by Demi Moore. I didn’t know too much about her, other than very notable facts going in. I knew she had been married to Bruce Willis and had children with him. I also remember her relationship with Ashton Kutcher (who I love!) and how public that was and all of the media criticism there was about the age difference between them. Her relationship with Ashton is the main reason I picked up this memoir, because I wanted to know how she portrayed that relationship.
What I learned about Demi is that she hasn’t always had an easy life. She’s struggled with alcoholism, body issues, and been an unknowing victim of sexual assault. Her marriages weren’t always easy. Her children haven’t always spoken to her. For all those many reasons, I can understand her sadness and therefore her struggles.
I’m intrigued by her now and I have a better understanding of her story, which is what I love about reading memoirs.
What I learned about Demi is that she hasn’t always had an easy life. She’s struggled with alcoholism, body issues, and been an unknowing victim of sexual assault. Her marriages weren’t always easy. Her children haven’t always spoken to her. For all those many reasons, I can understand her sadness and therefore her struggles.
I’m intrigued by her now and I have a better understanding of her story, which is what I love about reading memoirs.
This is my first Barbara O'Neal book and it likely won't be my last! I was so intrigued by the premise of this book. Women's Fiction and a Mystery? I love that blend of genres. The mystery is what kept my interest the most in this story. I wanted to know what happened to Diane, and I also wanted to know what traumatic event had happened to Isabel that we learn about later in the story. I also really enjoyed her writing style. I appreciated the alternating perspective of storytelling (although it did take me a few chapters to get all of the character's names straight). This allowed for each of her characters to have a voice. There is some romance but it isn't directly what the story is about, which is a common trope of women's fiction. This story is about family. It's about mothers and daughters, making mistakes and amends, and learning from the past. It's about caring for our elders and being protective of our young. It was a wonderfully told story with a descriptive setting that I could bring to life in my mind.
I think fans of Sally Hepworth would enjoy this novel because of the mystery aspect and the themes of family and womanhood.
I think fans of Sally Hepworth would enjoy this novel because of the mystery aspect and the themes of family and womanhood.
Finally, thanks to the Reading Rush 2020 challenge of reading a book based on a movie you've already seen, I was able to take this one off of my TBR list. I've been meaning to read it for years!
I think that if I had read this book before ever seeing the movie, my thoughts and rating may have been different. But since the book was first published in 1996 and the movie was released in 2004 and I was only 7 and 15 at those times, that wasn't too possible. So here we are.
Honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed by this novel. The writing seemed very basic compared to Nicholas Sparks' later novels. I wasn't drawn to how the characters were written or portrayed, and I didn't feel emotionally connected through most of the book. Except for Noah's character in the last quarter of the book. I couldn't help but feel his love for Allie shining through then. And reading about Alzheimer's is never easy for me.
Mostly throughout this book, I couldn't help but compare each part of the story to the movie portrayal, and honestly, I think the movie was better. The visual displays of love in the movie were more than what the author was able to describe with words. And the movie had me bawling. This book only had a little tug on my heartstring and nothing more.
So all in all, it's an okay book and I'm glad I read it. I still want to read all of the author's books. And thankfully the second half was much better than the first half in my opinion!
I think that if I had read this book before ever seeing the movie, my thoughts and rating may have been different. But since the book was first published in 1996 and the movie was released in 2004 and I was only 7 and 15 at those times, that wasn't too possible. So here we are.
Honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed by this novel. The writing seemed very basic compared to Nicholas Sparks' later novels. I wasn't drawn to how the characters were written or portrayed, and I didn't feel emotionally connected through most of the book. Except for Noah's character in the last quarter of the book. I couldn't help but feel his love for Allie shining through then. And reading about Alzheimer's is never easy for me.
Mostly throughout this book, I couldn't help but compare each part of the story to the movie portrayal, and honestly, I think the movie was better. The visual displays of love in the movie were more than what the author was able to describe with words. And the movie had me bawling. This book only had a little tug on my heartstring and nothing more.
So all in all, it's an okay book and I'm glad I read it. I still want to read all of the author's books. And thankfully the second half was much better than the first half in my opinion!
It's been a while since I read a mystery novel so when this library hold came in I was happy to dive in to this genre. I was intrigued by this premise, knowing very little about Atlantic City having never visited it before. It also gave me summer vibes so it was fitting for a July read.
This book is a slow-moving mystery. It took me about the first 100 pages to get into the writing and narration style. I ALMOST dnf'd it to be honest, but my gut told me to stick it out and give it a chance. Once I got used to how it was written, I was able to enjoy it and was captured completely by the story.
There are certainly parts of this book that are dark and difficult to read. There are scenes of sexual assault and themes of prostitution. The premise of this book is unsettling enough, because young women are disappearing into the marshes of the sketchy hotel strip. There were strong "which woman will be next?" vibes present here.
I liked the characters of Clara and Lily. Both have complicated pasts but the friendship they develop despite their life circumstances was strong and true.
If you like fast-paced, edge of your seat, thrillers this isn't for you. But if you enjoy more of a literary, slow-burning mystery, then check this one out!
It left me wondering if Atlantic City has really gone downhill as portrayed in this novel, and how the citizens of that city would feel about this novel.
This book is a slow-moving mystery. It took me about the first 100 pages to get into the writing and narration style. I ALMOST dnf'd it to be honest, but my gut told me to stick it out and give it a chance. Once I got used to how it was written, I was able to enjoy it and was captured completely by the story.
There are certainly parts of this book that are dark and difficult to read. There are scenes of sexual assault and themes of prostitution. The premise of this book is unsettling enough, because young women are disappearing into the marshes of the sketchy hotel strip. There were strong "which woman will be next?" vibes present here.
I liked the characters of Clara and Lily. Both have complicated pasts but the friendship they develop despite their life circumstances was strong and true.
If you like fast-paced, edge of your seat, thrillers this isn't for you. But if you enjoy more of a literary, slow-burning mystery, then check this one out!
It left me wondering if Atlantic City has really gone downhill as portrayed in this novel, and how the citizens of that city would feel about this novel.