Book Review: The Last Waltz

The Last Waltz by G.G. Vandagriff


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was impressed. This is a long book, and there's a lot of back and forth between the characters but it is interesting and enthralling. I couldn't put it down.


The Last Waltz follows a young girl of 19 from pre-ww1 Vienna, Austria to when she becomes a 40-something woman at the start of ww11 in Austria. She falls in love, but also learns about fidelity and the deeper love that can grow in a marriage. She is sometimes foolish and selfish and plays (unwittingly in some ways) with the hearts of the men who love her -- which makes her character real and flawed (which as you know, I find almost necessary). She becomes an outspoken political activist as much as a woman could be in those days.


The book was well-researched and well-written and terribly interesting.


Though it was long I felt it was not a waste of time at all.


I didn't like the ending, but it didn't ruin the whole book for me.




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Book Review: The Candy Shop War

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was impressed with this book. I wasn't sure what to expect or whether I'd really like it.

This book was not as quick a read as I thought, but it was entertaining and exciting the whole way through. I can't even recall any parts that seemed to drag -- which is a good thing!

As far as it goes... I'm not sure I'd really consider this a children's book. It's not as dark as Harry Potter 5 and 6 but it is darker than I thought it would be.

The whole premise of the book is that wizards can't use magic because it works best on children so they exploit children to further their cause. Which means they are okay with asking kids to do some really dangerous or bad things.

I don't know that this would be a book I'd let me little ones read -- but maybe preteens.

It's clean as far as language and what-not goes and it is entertaining but thematically I think it should be read by an older children's audience.

If you are looking to read it for yourself I think you'll enjoy it. It isn't a quick read, like I said, it is fast paced and fun. The characters are fun, though there's not as much characterization as I might like. You don't really feel at the end of the book like you know all the main characters well. And sometimes I got them mixed up with each other because they didn't stand out individually.

Not a waste of time!



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Book Review: Incarceron #1

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I had heard mixed things. Honestly, though, I was impressed. It was pretty well-written (no over-used adjectives and cheesy, lame bits the pop up out of nowhere and completely drop you out of the story they're so awful) and had a fast-paced story line that kept you reading. Interesting enough characters that make you feel for them or hate them.
I didn't like how the book started off. It took me a few pages to figure out what was happening because it was so confusing.
Overall this is an interesting book. A pretty quick read. And! I didn't feel like I wasted my time reading it, so... bonus.
Similar to Maze Runner and Hunger Games (Dystopian society ruled by the corrupt forcing the poor to stay that way and keeping the wealthy very wealthy. Murders and corruption abound. The corrupt who rule also keep the people naive and don't let them have new technology.)



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Book Review: Pillage

Pillage by Obert Skye

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Nice and squeaky clean which is great. A fun book, a quick read, a good story, likable characters, worth the time it takes to read, and well-written (I have been impressed with Obert Skye's writing style).

This book was fast paced and interesting with plenty of intrigue and characters who you could care about. Even though it's fairly short, there are a lot of good descriptors that pull you in and help you fell like you are there, watching it happen.

Worth your time to read! If you liked Leven Thumps, you won't be disappointed by this other series, I believe.



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Review: Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Hm. Well I don't have any existential crises in my life so I didn't really connect with a lot of what Liz Gilbert went through, but she definitely had some nice ideas and some nice things to say. I was happy to read that she found peace with herself, with her life, and with her needs.
Even though her ex-husband becomes something of a nutter in the divorce (and this is, of course written from her perspective, not his) I feel sorry for him. She focuses on what she did to try to make the divorce better, but she doesn't seem to acknowledge, truly, that she left. She married him and so he created plans for their future -- including a house and kids. When she didn't want those things it was good of her to be honest, but it was also honest and expected that he would be hurt and angry. His whole life plan and happiness was ripped out from under him and it was out of his hands -- there was nothing he could do -- she was leaving.
So. An interesting book. Interesting to read her search for God and peace and a nice ending that's real (it is non-fiction, after all).
A few 'F' words and other language but it's not too prevalent. In case you are watching out for that.
Not a waste of time, per se, but not necessarily my type of book. Well-written with characters that come out of the page as themselves and not just her remembrance of them.



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Book Review: Curduroy Mansions

Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The characters in this book are (aside from Eddie) extremely likable. There are a lot of characters, though and so there were a lot of stories going on. Far too many, in my mind. This is only in the sense that there wasn't enough time devoted to each story and the endings were so open. I like it a lot more knowing there's another book because that means I don't have to let the ending ruin the book for me. It was still pretty slow and it was nice and cozy but a little dull at times. A nice read and a cozy read. All in all not necessarily a book you should seek out and desperately need to read, but if you do you will probably enjoy it.



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