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pages_and_procrastination's reviews
1589 reviews
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the second romance by Yarros that I've picked up and I have to admit- I was not disappointed. This book was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I knew that it was sad going in, but I was not prepared for the way that Yarros would choose to break our hearts. I both do and don't understand why Chaos didn't reveal who he was to Ella- he felt responsible. But also I don't see how it would have mattered. While this is classified as a romance, and the romance is there and it's sweet, this is also a story about grief- grieving the death of possibilities, the death of those we love and how to live in the pockets of good that comes with a hard journey. This was a very complicated situation brought to life and was both devastating and uplifting. I am looking forward to checking out more of Yarros' works, she is able to write relationships that are solid and inspirational.
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This is my first Kristin Hannah book, and I finally picked it up after a mom recommended a couple of her books. I decided to see what was immediately available from my library and what caught my attention, and this was it. My dad is a soldier and he served in Iraq, so this peaked my interest.
When I first started this, I immediately didn't like Michael. he was an a$$ and selfish. Some of the things that he said to her were not things that you could ever say to someone you sort of loved. Some of the things that he said had me questioning Jolene as well. If he hated the military so much, why did she even marry him? And believe me I can understand someone hating war and not agreeing with the point of it all. But what you feel about war should not be a reflection of what you think of soldiers, they are doing something that you are not willing to do, and you get all of the benefits for it. The way that he let his angry words be the last words spoken to her- even after she was deployed angered me in such an unexpected way. In fact, what I wanted to happen was for Jolene to finish her deployment, come home and kick him out. I mean he wasn't even that great of a husband or father before she left, her concerns about leaving her kids with him were valid. All of the reminders and the binder of info - valid and necessary. He had been choosing work over his family and kids and then has the audacity to tell her that he didn't love her anymore. He was the one not showing up and breaking promises left and right and he was a partner in his law firm. He had more say and control over his schedule and he still couldn't show up or make it home on time. And that doesn't mean that his job wasn't stressful or valid or demanding. But the way he was acting it was as if he was the sole income and their livelihoods depended on him. When in fact it didn't. Why is it so hard for men to understand that their presence matters? Especially when you have kids?
Even when he slowly started to realize his a$$holery, I didn't like him- it was about him. He had the nerve to say that he didn't understand what it meant to be a military family because HE wasn't the soldier. There are so many things that he did that -simply put- pissed me off. And I was really irritated with the fact that in the end he would be the "hero" of the story. He would be the one to make it all better for Jolene and he would be the one to help her when she returned home. Which is not an easy thing -even when your family is in tact and your marriage isn't in trouble. That is not to say that Jolene was perfect, she wasn't. But it's not her fault that she couldn't need him in the way that he wanted to be needed. She was like that before she met him- out of necessity and it was one of the things that he once liked about her. AND he proved that he couldn't be relied on -something that changed about him but not something he ever admitted to.
In the end, Michael wasn't the hero of the story, because Jolene didn't become the villain or victim. And it's not fair to take a glimpse of someone's journey and assume that's all there is to them. Jolene's story has to be looked at as a whole and Michael is a part of that. I don't think I will like Michael because of how he started out, but he did step up, he did change and he became the man she needed -maybe the man that he once was. And I am glad that Jolene was able to come home to her family and that got the help that she needed (but I think Michael should have also been in therapy --his realizations were more self -attaining while it was obvious that Jolene needed therapy. In reality they both needed it).
As you can tell by ramblings that Hannah has written characters that came alive and wrote a story that was as heartbreaking as it was healing. And yes, I will be reading more of her works.
When I first started this, I immediately didn't like Michael. he was an a$$ and selfish. Some of the things that he said to her were not things that you could ever say to someone you sort of loved. Some of the things that he said had me questioning Jolene as well. If he hated the military so much, why did she even marry him? And believe me I can understand someone hating war and not agreeing with the point of it all. But what you feel about war should not be a reflection of what you think of soldiers, they are doing something that you are not willing to do, and you get all of the benefits for it. The way that he let his angry words be the last words spoken to her- even after she was deployed angered me in such an unexpected way. In fact, what I wanted to happen was for Jolene to finish her deployment, come home and kick him out. I mean he wasn't even that great of a husband or father before she left, her concerns about leaving her kids with him were valid. All of the reminders and the binder of info - valid and necessary. He had been choosing work over his family and kids and then has the audacity to tell her that he didn't love her anymore. He was the one not showing up and breaking promises left and right and he was a partner in his law firm. He had more say and control over his schedule and he still couldn't show up or make it home on time. And that doesn't mean that his job wasn't stressful or valid or demanding. But the way he was acting it was as if he was the sole income and their livelihoods depended on him. When in fact it didn't. Why is it so hard for men to understand that their presence matters? Especially when you have kids?
Even when he slowly started to realize his a$$holery, I didn't like him- it was about him. He had the nerve to say that he didn't understand what it meant to be a military family because HE wasn't the soldier. There are so many things that he did that -simply put- pissed me off. And I was really irritated with the fact that in the end he would be the "hero" of the story. He would be the one to make it all better for Jolene and he would be the one to help her when she returned home. Which is not an easy thing -even when your family is in tact and your marriage isn't in trouble. That is not to say that Jolene was perfect, she wasn't. But it's not her fault that she couldn't need him in the way that he wanted to be needed. She was like that before she met him- out of necessity and it was one of the things that he once liked about her. AND he proved that he couldn't be relied on -something that changed about him but not something he ever admitted to.
In the end, Michael wasn't the hero of the story, because Jolene didn't become the villain or victim. And it's not fair to take a glimpse of someone's journey and assume that's all there is to them. Jolene's story has to be looked at as a whole and Michael is a part of that. I don't think I will like Michael because of how he started out, but he did step up, he did change and he became the man she needed -maybe the man that he once was. And I am glad that Jolene was able to come home to her family and that got the help that she needed (but I think Michael should have also been in therapy --his realizations were more self -attaining while it was obvious that Jolene needed therapy. In reality they both needed it).
As you can tell by ramblings that Hannah has written characters that came alive and wrote a story that was as heartbreaking as it was healing. And yes, I will be reading more of her works.
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
adventurous
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
**This is an old E-ARC**
I was given a copy of this, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.
I finally picked this up for Wyrd & Wonder. I wasn't sure what to expect from this, and I don't think I even read the summary to get a good idea of what was going on. Honestly, I just finished listening to this and I have to admit that I am kind of ambivalent towards the duology. I know that there are things still to be done- but this could have actually been a stand alone. I have the second one for review, so I will at least be giving it a try.
Magic System- There is a unique magic system at play, and it ties into the politics of Visidia.
Each island is a part of Visidia, but has its own magic. The most complicated of the magics is soul magic- and as Amora finds out -what it is now is not what it started out as. It is illegal for anyone to have more than one magic - which gives the initial problem for Amorra.
Political System- Visidia is ruled by the Montarras- the only bloodline that is allowed to use soul magic. It Is said that the Montorras have taken on the challenge of sou magic, to protect Visidia. This is one of those situations where the people in charge are corrupt (or the person) and others know it. When the main character -Amorra- finds out she wants to do the right thing. And in this case, the rebellion is after the same thing as the main character, their methods of achieving it is what sets them apart. Characters- The crew is a misfit group that learns to work together. And that is my favorite group to follow. Even Ferrick grows on you- or he did me. Even at the end standing up to Amorra when at the beginning she kind of belittled him and didn't hesitate on reminding him of his place.
Overall I did like this story and I would recommend it. It didn't end on a cliffhanger, the first part of Amorra's story is complete. I do however worry that her decision to not come completely clean - she is nothing like the Montaorra's who came before her, and definitely not like the one who started their bloodline. But she is doing some of the same things that they did-even if it is to protect Visidia.
I was given a copy of this, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.
I finally picked this up for Wyrd & Wonder. I wasn't sure what to expect from this, and I don't think I even read the summary to get a good idea of what was going on. Honestly, I just finished listening to this and I have to admit that I am kind of ambivalent towards the duology. I know that there are things still to be done- but this could have actually been a stand alone. I have the second one for review, so I will at least be giving it a try.
Magic System- There is a unique magic system at play, and it ties into the politics of Visidia.
Each island is a part of Visidia, but has its own magic. The most complicated of the magics is soul magic- and as Amora finds out -what it is now is not what it started out as. It is illegal for anyone to have more than one magic - which gives the initial problem for Amorra.
Political System- Visidia is ruled by the Montarras- the only bloodline that is allowed to use soul magic. It Is said that the Montorras have taken on the challenge of sou magic, to protect Visidia. This is one of those situations where the people in charge are corrupt (or the person) and others know it. When the main character -Amorra- finds out she wants to do the right thing. And in this case, the rebellion is after the same thing as the main character, their methods of achieving it is what sets them apart. Characters- The crew is a misfit group that learns to work together. And that is my favorite group to follow. Even Ferrick grows on you- or he did me. Even at the end standing up to Amorra when at the beginning she kind of belittled him and didn't hesitate on reminding him of his place.
Overall I did like this story and I would recommend it. It didn't end on a cliffhanger, the first part of Amorra's story is complete. I do however worry that her decision to not come completely clean - she is nothing like the Montaorra's who came before her, and definitely not like the one who started their bloodline. But she is doing some of the same things that they did-even if it is to protect Visidia.