It’s trivia night at the local elementary. There’s a lot of alcohol and the food truck has been delayed. The night ends in murder. But who is murderedIt’s trivia night at the local elementary. There’s a lot of alcohol and the food truck has been delayed. The night ends in murder. But who is murdered? Who committed the murder? Good luck figuring it out.
The story is told in reverse- meaning that you’re told of a murder and then the story backtracks to a few months before until it catches up with the murder. You get interviews with the police of varying parents. And then you get the perspective of our three main characters: Madeline, Celeste and Jane.
Celeste is a beauty who makes everyone stop and stare whenever she approaches. Add to that a deliciously sexy husband who is so rich it’s almost unfathomable. She has twin boys that are wild but sweet. She lives the perfect life in this rich Austrailan beach town. Or so one would think. But Celeste is hiding a dark secret, one she isn’t proud of.
Madeline is an absolute riot. She’s loud and obnoxious. She speaks her mind with a carelessness I can’t help but envy. Her “I don’t give a shit” attitude is what made me love her. Nothing anyone did or said ever phased her or slowed her down. She’s a fierce and loyal friend. A mother of two, her ex-husband and his new wife move to the area. This is probably the one thing that gets under her skin throughout the whole book- her ex and his new found love of the family life.
Then there is Jane. Jane is a young single mom who moves into the area for a fresh start. Her son, Ziggy, is a sweet young boy. Or so she thinks. But on the morning of orientation at his new school, he is accused of trying to choke a little girl. He swears it wasn’t him and of course, Jane believes him. But why would this little girl lie? Soon the parents are divided on sides and it spirals on from there as someone keeps hurting this little girl at school. Jane has her own dark secrets and reasons for wondering whether Ziggy is telling the truth or not. But Ziggy is such a kind boy….isn’t he?
I was surprised with this book. It isn’t a book I would normally pick up. I don’t normally fall into Chick Lit too often, but had heard good things from people I trust. It also was apart of a BOGO sale on Audible and I said what the hell. An excellent choice on my part, if I do say so myself. I found it suspensful and very intriuging. I liked how real all of their scenarios felt. We each know what happens in our own little worlds behind closed doors. We all have our own little secrets to keep. It was a very good listen on audible. I will most likely check out a few more of this author’s books. ...more
Initial Reaction: Did I miss something? I have no fucking clue what this book was even about. Someone please explain.
Full Review: The Little Friend is oInitial Reaction: Did I miss something? I have no fucking clue what this book was even about. Someone please explain.
Full Review: The Little Friend is one of those books that pulls the rug out from under your feet- and not in a good way. At least not for me. I had read The Goldfinch and the Secret History first. I love both of those books as if they are my children. No exaggeration, folks. I get all sorts of ragey at any negative comment about either of those books. I had such high hopes for the Little Friend. It came highly recommended by a dear friend of mine. Not to mention that it’s Donna Tartt.
I had tried on two previous occassions to read this book. The prologue drew me in and then I got stuck. It isn’t the writing- Tartt is one of the most elequoent writers out there. It wasn’t the characters- they all were fleshed out and vivid. I just can’t really put my finger on what I struggled with. But, I found an audible copy of it and thought maybe just listening to it would do the trick. It did to an extent- I was able to finish it.
I just didn’t care about anyhting in the story. I don’t even know what this book was supposed to be about. You’re led to believe that this book is about a murdered boy. Our main character Harriet’s older brother is found hanged from a tree in their famiy’s front yard on Mother’s Day. A house full of people and yet no one sees a thing. Harriett swears she remembers even though she was only an infant at the time it happened. But one thing is for sure, the family is never the same.
So while this is kind of the driving force behind the story, it isn’t at all what the story is about. Sure, Harriett is on a mission to find out who murdered her brother. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to find out. Instead you get a coming-of-age story that reminded me a bit of To Kill a Mockingbird. Only in this story, I didn’t care for the characters, didn’t understand their motives or know why half of them were even there.
I still don’t know if it was me or the book. I couldn’t tell you what this book was about or what the point of it was or what message it was trying to tell me. I honestly feel like I was duped. I was led to believe it was about something it wasn’t. And that was a huge disappointment to me. ...more
My favorite thing about reading a classic is that I am usually way off in my pre-reading assessment of what it is. I love being wrong….in that scenari
My favorite thing about reading a classic is that I am usually way off in my pre-reading assessment of what it is. I love being wrong….in that scenario. When I think I know what a book is about and find out it’s something completely different is a great feeling. It’s even better when what it really is is better than what I thought it was….Follow me so far?
Great! Let’s keep going!
Here’s what I thought it was (try not to laugh too hard):
I thought that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was a tale of split personalities. That Dr. Jekyll was really this crazy doctor man who had another identity that he was completely unaware of but was essentially his evil half.
Here’s what you all already knew that I didn’t:
Dr. Jekyll drinks a magic potion (that’s what I’m calling it, so leave me alone) and becomes Mr. Hyde. In essence, I wasn’t too far off. Mr. Hyde is the vilest parts of Dr. Jekyll; the side of himself that he refuses to acknowledge because he is afraid and disgusted with it. Drinking the magic potion and becoming him gives him the chance to exercise those disturbing and awful habits without having to take responsibility for his own actions….he’s someone else; not himself.
After reading this book with some pretty awesome MahFahs I found out there is a lot of speculation into what those habits are. I can assure you that I am completely clueless as to what they may be. I’m sure if I had read this in an academic setting I may have gotten more background to substantiate those claims. But for now, I plead the fifth. I know nothing.
Coming in at a whopping 100 pages, this story is much shorter than I realized. I have to say that I really enjoyed this. I especially loved Dr. Jekyll’s written confession at the end. That was probably my favorite because it explained a lot that was murky in the first part of the book. I can see why this story line has been adapted so many times. I think the only one I have ever seen personally was the Nutty Professor and it was so long ago, I just remember fat Eddie Murphy and skinny Eddie Murphy….So, pick it up if you haven’t already. You might just be pleasantly surprised with what you find. Not all classics suck, Anne! ;)
I have thought long and hard about this book and what I could possibly say about it that could even remotely do it justice. I finished this book weeks
I have thought long and hard about this book and what I could possibly say about it that could even remotely do it justice. I finished this book weeks ago and I still find myself reflecting back on it. A true piece of literature like The Goldfinch will leave you in contemplation. I can honestly say it is one of the best books I have ever read in my life and put it in the ranks of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Donna Tartt has created a masterpiece here. I cannot stress that enough. This book is both thought provoking and profound. There is a truth in her writing that spoke to me in ways other books can’t. I will admit it was extremely difficult for me to read at times because the main character loses a parent and I lost my father a mere two weeks before picking this book up. I had to put the book down several times to let the tears pass before I was able to pick it up again. I felt that someone truly knew how I felt and understood my grief in a way that no one else did. Yet another sign of a great writer is writing with emotional accuracy.
“But sometimes, unexpectedly, grief pounded over me in waves that left me gasping; and when the waves washed back, I found myself looking out over a brackish wreck which was illumined in a light so lucid, so heartsick and empty, that I could hardly remember that the world had ever been anything but dead.”
Tartt’s prose is a form of art all in itself. You can tell that she carefully placed each word and took her time writing this novel. It is a long book- 771 pages- but every word serves its purpose and made this book the masterpiece that it is.
The characters are unforgettable and you will reflect on them often with a fondness that is unexplainable to those who do not cherish books. The storyline is heartbreaking and yes, at times, depressing beyond belief. Theo’s life is an ongoing tragedy and the content is heavy to say the least, but there seems to be an underlying glimmer of hope that shines through ever so faintly.
One thing that stood out to me the most throughout this book is how the memories are portrayed. In a lot of books you get these crystal clear images of how things used to be. With this book, Theo’s recollections are hazy from drug and alcohol abuse and fogged over with the passage of time. The memories are how we remember things- where you can’t really recall what you were thinking when you did something, just that you know at the time it felt right.
The actual painting- the Goldfinch- becomes a metaphor throughout the book’s entirety. I can’t get over how intricate this story really was. You understood certain aspects at different moments and then there is a huge revelation that blows the whole storyline wide open that allows you to see the whole picture. You think you know right along while you are reading, but you truly have no idea until that moment just how careful Tartt was with weaving this story.
I remember lying in bed reading at well past midnight, unable to put the book down, and upon reading the aforementioned revelation, sitting straight up in bed, throwing my hand over my mouth and silently saying “oh no, oh no, oh no!”. I sat there for several minutes, rereading it over and over again, silently admiring Tartt’s deft prose.
I have seen a lot of negative reviews for this book, and I personally can’t understand them. I think this is truly one of the best books of our time and one that will stand the test of time. Perhaps if you have never had tragedy strike, or had a real bout of depression in your life, you won’t see the beauty in this book. Having watched my father take his last breath, and lived with depression for years while he battled cancer, I understood this book on a much deeper level.
“That life - whatever else it is - is short. That fate is cruel but maybe not random. That Nature (meaning Death) always wins but that doesn’t mean we have to bow and grovel to it. That maybe even if we’re not always so glad to be here, it’s our task to immerse ourselves anyway: wade straight through it, right through the cesspool, while keeping eyes and hearts open. And in the midst of our dying, as we rise from the organic and sink back ignominiously into the organic, it is a glory and a privilege to love what Death doesn’t touch.”
I urge people to pick this book up. It is an instant classic in my opinion and will be talked about for years to come. The Goldfinch is truly one of a kind and will impact you in ways you never knew possible. I cannot even begin to do it the justice it deserves. A solid 5 star rating. I look forward to reading more of Tartt’s works. ...more
These are all thingOh, you’re a horror fan? Read Clive Barker.
Steph, check out Clive Barker. You’ll love him.
Have you read any Barker? He’s brilliant!
These are all things that were being said to me for the last few years. I took note. Then I saw Stephen King saying that Clive Barker is the future of the horror genre. Well, if I am going to listen to anyone I am going to listen to Stephen King.
Everyone knows this.
I took the encouragement of some of my goodreads friends and went with it. I decided to go with the Thief of Always as it was one of the ones that was being recommended by the ones who know me best. Let me just tell you- I was not disappointed.
The Thief of Always is about a boy who is very bored one day and a guy flies into his window and promises him adventure. Seems legit, right? Right. Of course, the kid questions a few things along the way but there’s an answer for all of his questions and he has friends to play with. It’s Christmas every night and a beautiful summer day every morning.
Harvey soon begins to question more and more about the house that he is staying in, the pond out back and the behavior of the people around him. He sets up an escape plan only to be horribly dismayed with the outcome.
This book was truly a delight to read. It reads like a favorite children’s book blended with horror and gore. I loved it and cannot wait to read more of Clive Barker. I have a list of recommendations from all of his fans that I am ready to dive into. This was such a quick and easy read. It kind of reminded me of Coraline in the sense that while it is a “children’s book”, it is pretty damn terrifying too.
Pick it up, you will not be disappointed.
Ps. The Kindle version contains some pretty creepy artwork that is well worth viewing! ...more
The Moon and Sixpence is a book that came to be on my TBR list because of Stephen King. He mentions it in Bag of Bones and it peaked my curiosity. As The Moon and Sixpence is a book that came to be on my TBR list because of Stephen King. He mentions it in Bag of Bones and it peaked my curiosity. As a group of us was scheduled to read BoB in July (some of us are still reading it now), we decided to read that one first. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I’m not sure why I thought I wouldn’t, but it was just a feeling I had going into it.
Our story centers around Charles Strickland. Strickland is a very wealthy man, or was until he decided to give it all up to pursue his need to create art. Seemingly on a whim, he gives up his wife and children, leaving them with no money to go live in Paris.
Strickland gives absolutely zero fucks what anyone has to say or what they may think of his actions. The only thing he cares about is getting this overwhelming need to paint out of his system. It’s like a beast inside him, dying to get out. It’s eating him alive. It consumes him. Morning, noon and night, it’s all he ever thinks about. He has no regrets about leaving his wife and children. He never spares a single thought for them.
He is a vile old bastard, to be honest.
We follow him through our narrator who has happened to meet Strickland at different moments throughout his life. Their paths crossing sometimes intentionally and other times by mere coincidence. Our narrator is both baffled and amazed by Strickland. His fascination results in him getting berated by Strickland on multiple occasions.
I just don’t understand people. I have watched genuine assholes lure people in for so many years of my life. They get the promotions over the deserving. They get acclaim. They get everything it seems. And for what? Speaking their minds? Does that mean they should be made President of the United States of America? Absolutely fucking not. But hey, stranger things have happened. Am I right?’
Strickland is an absolutely appalling character, and his character was based on a real-life artist is sickening to me. But almost worse than Strickland is our narrator who seems to relish Strickland’s despicable behavior. It brings him a joy that reflects everything that is wrong with the world today.
While the book is filled with vile behavior and horrible characters, it is somehow endearing and enjoyable. The writing was both beautiful and profound, content aside. I definitely recommend this one to just about anyone. It’s a fascinating character study and a quick read. ...more
Let me just tell you. This is only the second book of his I have ever read but I already know he and I are going to be best frClive Barker is the man.
Let me just tell you. This is only the second book of his I have ever read but I already know he and I are going to be best friends for life. He may even work his way into my heart the way that Stephen King and JK Rowling have. Who knows?
Look out, Clive Barker; I might just be hiding in the bushes. :D
The first book of his that I ever read was The Thief of Always and I could not believe I had waited as long as I had to read his work. If you haven’t read that one, you really should. There’s no puppy-killing , I promise.
Anyway, I snagged The Hellbound Heart from Audible on a B1G1 deal. This is a really short listen- just over 3 hours. The narration was done really well and they even did this ghostly echo-y voice thing that I can’t begin to explain for the demon voice and it was life-changing.
Meet Julia. She’s getting married to Rory. She’s not all that happy with her life but goes along through the motions because it’s the right thing to do. She does what any unhappy bride to be does- she sleeps with her groom’s brother the week before the wedding.
Meet Frank. Frank is Rory’s brother and he lives his life freely, constantly searching for the next big thing. Frank likes pleasure. He likes pleasure a whole lot. He barks up the wrong tree though and he is quickly consumed by the Cenobites.
Meet Kristy. Kristy is a good friend of Rory’s and not-so-secretly in love with him.
Frank's disappearance leaves his brother wondering what adventure his brother has taken off for this time and Julia feeling even more lackluster about her lame hubby.
Julia starts hearing voices in the room upstairs at their home and what she finds makes her feel all sorts of warm and tingly. She starts acting differently and Rory starts to worry. Kristy, naturally, starts snooping around and gets tangled into a very tricky web.
This book reminds me of why I love horror. It’s twisted and dark. The writing is fantastic. It’s short and sweet; to the point. Clive Barker spins a great story- especially considering how much is packd into this short little book! I think you should read it. I think you should listen to it. I think you will like it. You’ll find it very….sensual ...more
Joe Hill should just change his name to Joe THE FUCKING MAN Hill. Anyone care to sign my petition? :D
When I read Heart Shaped Box I was a little unde Joe Hill should just change his name to Joe THE FUCKING MAN Hill. Anyone care to sign my petition? :D
When I read Heart Shaped Box I was a little underwhelmed. I felt that, while it was a great debut novel, it lost something crucial along the way. But when I read Horns something inside of me just got it. I could totally dig it. Some books have an effect on me that is just impossible to explain; I love it as if it were a part of me.
Going into NOS4A2 I was very nervous. It’s hard to LOVE a book so much when the author still has other books. I was afraid I wouldn’t like it. I was even more afraid that I would like it more than my beloved Horns which Delee still won’t read! I have a hard time ever accepting that the next book I read will be my new favorite.
During my trip to Bangor, where I was hoping to meet Stephen King, I was able to pick up a copy of NOS4A2. That’s right! My copy travelled all eleven and a half hours home with me. There’s a certain bond already created with that book and me. I was lucky enough to have a group of ladies to read it with me.
I believe that NOS4A2 will be Joe THE FUCKING MAN Hill’s standout book. There will be the over-the-moon crazies, like yours truly, who will rave over Horns. BUT, I think NOS4A2 will be the one that everyone talks about; and it will be for good reason.
We meet the Brat at a young age and follow her throughout her life. Nothing is ever easy for her and my heart broke for her in so many ways while reading this book I stopped keeping track. While the Brat is our main protagonist, our heroine, I believe there were two characters that I loved more: Maggie Leigh and Lou Carmody. (Hey, I’m a poet and didn’t even know it!)
Lou is the best kind of hero- the kind who is modest and shy and calls you dude because he isn’t all that great in etiquette. He’s overweight and underestimates his own abilities. He’s sweet and kind and gentle. He is truly a wonderful character that I will hold in my heart for a long time to come.
Miss Maggie Leigh. What can I say about Maggie? Well, for starts, all I could picture when reading her character was Juliette Lewis. (#MickeyandMallory4Ever) Anyway- Maggie is a character that you just can’t help but love. You want to reach through the pages and make everything in her life better. I don’t want to say much about her in hopes that you’ll read the book and love her for all the same unspoken reasons I did.
Charlie Manx and Bing are two of the creepiest villains ever. Quick note- Charlie’s overbite and teeth kept getting mentioned which made me resort to images of Gary Busey. The villains are NOT vampires, so stop thinking you don’t want to read this book because it’s a vampire book and wahnnn wahhhnnn wahhhhn. It’s a great book, truly. I would tell you more about these villains and how they aren’t vampires, but really, just read it.
I think that Joe THE FUCKING MAN Hill has a great writing career ahead of him. He is a remarkably talented young writer and I say that NOT just because I am a fan of his father, but as an avid, well-read individual. I look forward to watching the progression of his writing.
Allllllllllllllmost a year ago I begged and pushed and begged and pushed politely asked Delee to read the Harry Potter series with me. As everyone knAllllllllllllllmost a year ago I begged and pushed and begged and pushed politely asked Delee to read the Harry Potter series with me. As everyone knows, it’s my favorite thing in the whole wide world, closely followed by chocolate.
Well, of course she loved it- who doesn’t? (If you don’t, you may as well unfriend me and move on with your pathetically boring life). So she said to me- “Stepheny, you are making me sharing one of your all-time favorite books with me, would you be willing to read one of myyyyy favorite books?
I didn’t even need a second to think about the answer. I said yes immediately and then asked her what book. “Why, Watership Down, of course!” I was filled with joy. This book has been on my TBR list for too long to think about and it has been mentioned more times by Stephen King than his own books! He constantly makes references to it and I’m always left feeling like I am missing a piece of the puzzle. It took us a while to get around to reading it but we finally did.
I decided to listen to this on audio. Best. Decision. Ever. You see, in rabbit lore, they LOVE to tell stories. They sit around and tell their best or most adored stories to one another in times of need. What is it that they need? Comfort of course! When they feel scared, nervous, tired or homesick, they perk their ears up and sit quietly by as one of their own tells a story. Listening to Watership Down was an experience all on its own; one that I will never forget.
Let me introduce you to Fiver. He’s a wee little rabbit who gets overlooked in an overwhelming warren. He’s very nervous and has these premonitions that he cannot control. So one day he hops on over to his brother, Hazel, and tells him “Something bad is headed this way. We must leave at once.” There are rules and a system of hierarchy that prevent them from doing just that. They must take appropriate actions in order to get the other bunnies to safety. When the leaders of the warren ignore him, Hazel and Fiver decide to warn as many of the other bunnies as they can so that they can band together and head to safer territory.
Now let me introduce you to Hazel. Someone once said that the best leaders are the ones who don’t ask for it, or even want it. Hazel is a prime example of that. Hazel is unsure of his standing among his peers and second guesses himself while making decisions that he thinks will help his comrades. He never thinks of himself as their leader but as one of them and that is precisiely what makes him such a great leader and character.
I was very nervous about how the bunnies would survive once they left the safety of their former warren. They were off on an adventure where they knew not what they would face; a blind journey into the face of the unknown. I’ve clearly read too many horror novels because I found myself holding my breath every time the bunnies faced a new challenge. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop…on the head of one of the bunnies crushing the poor unknowing soul. Delee tried her best to keep reassuring me that everything would be okay- and I must say she was right. I survived.
I can’t express how much I truly loved this book. I am giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars. It was a beautifully written tale that I know I will revisit time and time again. The audio was impeccable and I strongly recommend that version of it. There were only a couple parts that I thought were confusing/misleading which may or may not be my own fault so I only took off a half star from the rating.
I cannot thank you enough, Delee for sharing your favorite story with me. It’s the greatest gift a friend can give.
(Ps. Click Delee’s name to see her beautifully written review!) ...more
I had read this in high school but I think I didn't fully comprehend it at the time. After reading it this time I am so glad I chose to revisit it. WoI had read this in high school but I think I didn't fully comprehend it at the time. After reading it this time I am so glad I chose to revisit it. Wow. Such an incredible book! Very disturbing and yet not far from the realities we live each and every day. ...more
I was in eighth grade when my mom brought me home a paperback copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I immediately gave her the most outraged I was in eighth grade when my mom brought me home a paperback copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I immediately gave her the most outraged look possible and couldn’t believe that she would be handing me something as ridiculous as Harry Potter. “But Mom!” I said, “I read Stephen King. This book is for kids!” Well, if there is one thing my mom knows, it is her children. So she said back to me: “Stepheny, they are talking about banning this book from the schools.” Well, that was all it took. She knew me well enough and knew my feelings on book-banning. I waited until she walked out of the room before cautiously picking the book up, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of knowing she hit the right button. I skimmed the back cover and had an internal conflict as to whether or not I was actually going to read Harry Potter. Sure, people were talking about this book everywhere, but come on…it’s a children’s book! After a few minutes of going back and forth inside my own head I decided I would at the very least give it a shot. I mean, why not, right? I told myself that if I didn’t like it I could put it down and move on with my life.
I finished that book that same day. I picked it up, became so immersed that I couldn’t put it down and it was over before I knew what had just happened. Later that evening, I asked my mom if she could pick me up the other 2 books of the series that were already out. When she gave me the next two I finished those and had to wait for a whole year before I could get my hands on the fourth one… I was hooked.
There is a reason that I encourage people to read this series. It is life-changing. For me anyway. I would re-read the first books before the new one was coming out, would wait in the endless lines at midnight to get my copy, and stay up the rest of the night reading until my eyes forced themselves shut against my insistence that they stay open. I am a part of the Harry Potter generation, even if I got a late start. I have continued the tradition of re-reading the series every year and I am telling you- it never gets old. In fact, it makes me feel young again. It takes me back to my young, carefree days when life was easy and made sense. I read this series because I love every word of it. The characters are unforgettable, the storyline is an adventure and the series itself is perfection.
This book has seen me through my worst days. It saw me through my awkward teenage years, my insecure post-high school years and the uncomfortable years where you are trying to define who you are and where you stand in the world. And when my father was first diagnosed with cancer, I turned to this book to help me out. It has never once let me down.
I tell people to read the first few books to get a feel for the story, but know they are definitely children’s books. (That, by no means, lowers the level of enjoyment.) But as the story progresses, the storyline matures, as do the characters. I see a piece of myself in nearly every character and I think that is what helps make Harry Potter such an incredible experience. Even if the situations are a little extreme, you can relate to the characters. The world is so real, you just know it actually exists and that JKR has been granted access-which is why she was able to write about it- DUH!
I am thankful I was able to convince my GR buddy, Delee, to pick these books up, and even more thrilled that she loved it. So far, every person I have persuaded has enjoyed the books, and that is an incredible feat- if not only for the reason that every person I have persuaded has had very different tastes in books. These books are truly something special. With as many times as I have read these books, this is the first time I have tried to write a review. (How do you even write a review for HP?!)
I guess I can sum it up with this: I will continue to re-read these books until I am dead and hope to one day share it with the children I don’t have yet. This is more than just a book-it is a part of who I am....more
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