crystalreading's reviews
6705 reviews

My Book and Me by Linda Sue Park

inspiring lighthearted

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

4.0

This was a fun book though somewhat predictable. The main character was quirky and engaging. I zipped through it in one evening. I wondered if the target audience would actually be very interested in existential thoughts, but figure that young adults do actually think about such things and may enjoy the mystery of the book.

The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke

3.0

I had not read any of Burke's prior books so can't make comparisons. The mysteries within this book held my attention and pulled me through quickly. I did find the book a little difficult to look at in that the conditions post-Katrina are appalling. He certainly shows the dark side of humanity.

Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund

4.0

"Let them eat cake" was about all I knew about Marie Antoinette aside from what I gleaned out of A Tale of Two Cities, so this was certainly intriguing. The book was quite a bit longer than it needed to be, but I appreciated many of the details in spite of the many many pages.

L'innocente by Alison Weir

4.0

Since I hadn't known anything much about Jane Grey, this was quite interesting. The voice didn't seem very authentic when the narrator was a child, but otherwise, the book kept my attention.

Five Things I Can't Live Without by Holly Shumas

2.0

Quick, very light romantic comedy. Not one that I would recommend, but it was okay for a relaxing read when bored.

Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr

3.0

I am not usually a mystery reader, but found this for 25 cents and it seemed interesting.

I did enjoy the story since I have been in west Texas and visit many national parks so the setting was fun. I will probably try to read some more in the series since the main character is appealing.

A Sudden Country by Karen Fisher

3.0

Very bizarre book about crossing the country by wagon. The writing had a dreamlike quality to it rather than a straight narrative. Often things were disjointed. I had some difficulty connecting with some of the characters and many things were very unsettling. That said, it still manages to be interesting by virtue of the many little day to day details and challenges that are shown throughout the trip. Not my favorite book by far, but not boring either.

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

3.0

This is one of the most bizarre living situations that I have ever encountered in literature. It seems stranger than fiction. What is so uncomfortable about it is the memoir aspect. My husband had watched the movie and never realized it was based on real-life events. If what the author recounts is actually true, he has been extremely transparent. Yikes. This book is disturbing in its revelations. It is a page turner, but I almost felt guilty for looking into someone's life in a rubbernecker kind of way.

Pictures from Our Vacation by Lynne Rae Perkins

5.0

Excellent story showing that it is not the picture or souvenier from a vacation that is most important, but the emotions and experiences that happened. It also teaches the idea that a picture with a person in it is almost always more interesting than one without. I think it would be great for an elementary writing lesson about personal narratives. It would also be great right before going on a nature field trip or something else outdoors when the students would be allowed to snap digital pictures along the way.