Book Review: Mr. Chartwell

Mr. Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Hm. Well. This book was an interesting take on depression. Rebecca Hunt uses the figure of a large, black, beastly dog over turning and overtaking people's lives to attempt to illustrate the despair and life-owning horror that is depression. I really thought the imagery et. al was interesting and fresh. I like the language of her writing, but was often bored and slogging through. I was determined to finish reading and I did, but it was difficult.
I find, by searching google, that Churchill referred to his depression as 'the black dog' and so it is not as creative as I imagined; however, she makes it literal and yet imagined and therefore brings his 'black dog' to life.
I don't know. I  mean, it was interesting, and the relationship between the characters and depression was interesting.... I suppose you could really, really discuss it at length and talk about how perhaps people with depression hate it and yet are comfortable with those feelings -- they are resigned to it. And there's the refusal to talk about it and acknowledge the proverbial 'elephant (in this case a big, black dog) in the room which goes along with the stigma in society of it being a weakness and not to be discussed...
Overall, I found this book to be good at showing us perhaps what people who suffer with depression are dealing with, but also slightly boring and difficult to slog through. I think it wasn't a waste of time, and it really  made me think, but it was also just... boring. If it sounds interesting to you, you may want to give it a chance, but if not I don't know that you're missing anything.



View all my reviews

Book Review: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


For those who care: A few 'F' words (3 or 4 times, maybe), not much other swearing. Some eluding to naughtiness. Other than that I would say it's clean.


As far as story, characters, etc. This book seemed very well researched. Like, she probably took this road trip to write the book. It made me want to hop in the car and drive across country, which is, you know, good that she wrote well enough to do that. The characters are likeable -- flawed just enough to be 'real'. You identify with them, you feel for them... good characterization, I think. The story was nice. Not much actually happening except emotionally and in the relationship department. So if you're expecting a gripping plot, this book probably isn't for you.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, a good love story, dealt with some deep emotional thingsz (death, drug addiction in the family, and a break up or two).




View all my reviews

Book Review: The Brooklyn Nine

The Brooklyn Nine by Alan M. Gratz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A story in nine innings that shows brief snap shots of baseball's history through the eyes of different generations of a family -- spanning the years 1845 - 2002.



This book was well written, though the stories were cut off far too early in a lot of th innings and entered into far too late in others. I was left wondering a lot and I don't really care for that. I also didn't like how at the end things could have comefull circle -- and they did in a way -- but the characters didn't know about it.



All in all and entertaining and well written book that focuses on baseball throughout America's history and the impact it might have had on individuals. I love baseball, I love the idea of baseball, I love the history and nostalgia of baseball... I really did enjoy this book. If you are at all interested in the history of baseball, but told in a fun fictional rt of way, I think you will like this book.



Not a waste of time!



View all my reviews

Book Review: The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet

The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A story about a girl trying to find her place in a family full of stand-outs. A girl trying so hard to fit in at school that she can't be happy and learning that just being who you are -- and owning it makes life so much better and easier.


It's so cute. I had fun reading this book and think you might to. It's about an eighth grader. Usually I think books are written for a younger age group than the characters are (ie junior high characters are interesting to elem. kids and high school characters are interesting to middle schoolers) but I actually think this book would suit middle schoolers well.


NOT a waste of time.




View all my reviews

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.




View all my reviews

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!



View all my reviews

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.)



View all my reviews