Review: Hamnet

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The world’s most famous playwright, his married life, his family,and the death of his son, all quite speculatively laid out in an exquisite, heartbreaking narrative. Wow. I’m speechless.
The audiobook was gorgeous.
The narrator perfection.

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Review: In a Holidaze

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: South Toward Home: Adventures and Misadventures in My Native Land

South Toward Home: Adventures and Misadventures in My Native Land by Julia Reed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Great Alone

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

A damaged, abusive Vietnam vet takes his wife and daughter to the remote wilderness of Alaska to live a very fraught and hopeless life.
Clearly a minority opinion, but I hated this book.
Some serious eye-roll moments, like what other unlikely events could happen to this family? Also the abuse and violence was just hard to read.
The only reason I finished was because it was our book club discussion pick.

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Review: Tweet Cute

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Jack & Pepper are classmates at an exclusive upper west side Manhattan private school and begin a Twitter war between their respective family’s restaurants. In a storyline reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail, Jack & Pepper’s relationship develops online and then in real life.

Some parts were cute, I guess, but I thought the narrative was all over the place.

Not a favorite rom-com.

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Review: The Passion of Dolssa

The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The Ungrateful Refugee

The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author's journey and story as a refugee from Iran to the US, as well as others that she encounters and assists. Engaging and harrowing.

Because of the multiple narrative story-lines, I recommend reading the physical book instead of the audiobook. It was very difficult to keep track of what was happening.

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Review: Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Ghost Factory

The Ghost Factory by Jenny McCartney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: The Last Romantics

The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweeping family drama.
Complicated brother & sister relationships.
I really enjoyed it.

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Review: Find the Good: Unexpected Life Lessons from a Small-Town Obituary Writer

Find the Good: Unexpected Life Lessons from a Small-Town Obituary Writer by Heather Lende
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Lovely War

Lovely War by Julie Berry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Tunnel of Bones

Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon

Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon by Robert Kurson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life

Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life by Anne Bogel
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

DNF
This should be entitled "don't overthink your first world problems."
Seriously -- when you can't make a decision about hotels or international travel you really don't have a problem. Especially one to write a book about. Totally self absorbed.

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Review: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: A Most Magical Girl

A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee
My rating: 2 of 5 stars



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Review: The Course of Human Events

The Course of Human Events by David McCullough
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The Mothers

The Mothers by Brit Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
Powerful, yet uncomfortable novel about choices, lies, and relationships.
Not recommended for sensitive readers.
*Fbombs

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Review: Next Year in Havana

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Marisol is returning to Cuba for the first time since her family's escape during the revolution to return her grandmother's ashes to her homeland. Marisol meets old family friends and neighbors and what was initially an excursion to write about Cuban tourism and travel, results in discovering old family secrets and ignites new political controversy.

I really liked this novel! Told is alternating voices -- both Marisol and her grandmother, Elisa - I was engage with both narratives and stories.

I knew/know absolutely nothing of the Cuban revolution or about Cuba (shame on me), other than Castro, Communism and Cuban refugees and families in Florida. While I'm sure this barely skims the surface of what actually occurred (hopefully it was accurate), I certainly know more now about Cuba than I did before.

This was our book club choice for March. Look forward to discussing it.

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Review: New Kid

New Kid by Jerry Craft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A graphic novel within a graphic novel, Jordan is an aspiring artist, who is now a minority student in an exclusive private school. He sketches his "thoughts" in diary-like entries as he encounters issues of racism, elitism, and social awkwardness at school
A brilliant, very funny, and insightful book.
Illustrations are amazing.
Newbery award worthy.

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Review: Before She Was Harriet

Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A quick easy audio during breakfast.
The diverse voices narrating Harriet's the stages of her life were great. As were the sound effects.
But clearly this was picture book. So, yeah, missed seeing the illustrations.


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Review: Letter from Birmingham Jail

Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such an important, almost gospel-like, letter.
And while expertly and emotionally narrated, I can only imagine what it would have sounded like in Dr. King's voice.

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Review: Tomorrow I'll Be Brave

Tomorrow I'll Be Brave by Jessica Hische
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This may be a picture book, but the message is timeless and ageless.
The illustrations and lettering are stunning.
Tomorrow be:
Adventurous
Strong
Smart
Curious
Creative
Confident
Brave

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Review: Tidelands

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I read over 300 pages of this dreadful book and decided I couldn’t read anymore. I did skip to the last 10 pages to find out what happened. Not sure I missed much in the 100 pages I skipped.

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Review: Stepsister

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Turns out, Cinderella’s stepsister was a badass.
And it’s important to forgive.
Absolutely LOVED this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Review: The Unteachables

The Unteachables by Gordon Korman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It was OK.
Highly improbable from start to finish.
Not intended for an adult reader. Or at least, this adult reader.

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Review: Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love Jennifer Donnelly novels.
This is a reimagined telling of Beauty and the Beast after Beast introduces Belle to the castle library.
Part Wizard of Oz, part creepy Toy Story, Belle must write her own “story” and determine her destiny.
Great storytelling.
Good middle grade fiction.

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Review: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Julie
Boyfriend
Wendell
Rita
John
Myron
Caroline
•
I was immersed in everyone of these patients’ stories.
•
I loved the writing. I loved the growth. I loved the therapy.
•
So many favorite quotes, but this one I marked, “I thought about how many people avoid trying for things they really want in life because it’s more painful to get close to the goal but not achieve it than not to have taken the chance in the first place.”
•
I listened to the audible as well as read the physical book - the audio narration is excellent!

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Review: I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home

I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whimsical and poetic.

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Review: In My Heart: A Book of Feelings

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have a soft spot for heart books. This a beautifully constructed picture book.

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Review: Still Life

Still Life by Louise Penny
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars
This book reminded me why I don't like mysteries -- I spend the entire book trying to figure out "who dunit" that I miss the actual plot and story.
Lovely writing, but nothing special.


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