i was excited to see another higashino translation, but this one fell really flat for me. unlike his other mysteries, this one was full of convoluted i was excited to see another higashino translation, but this one fell really flat for me. unlike his other mysteries, this one was full of convoluted red herrings. once detective kaga discovered the murderer, several details were exposed that were all just very convenient... and also uninteresting. i think the series gets better as he goes. i also wonder of something was lost in translation here. i would skip this one if i was recommending titles to a new reader. ...more
I saw another review that describes this book as “rich people behaving badly” and woof is it ever. It’s maybe the WASPiest memoir I’ve ever read, whicI saw another review that describes this book as “rich people behaving badly” and woof is it ever. It’s maybe the WASPiest memoir I’ve ever read, which usually has me asking “who cares?”. But this is such a wild family that I stayed engaged throughout.
This is non-fic that reads like fiction in that every once in awhile I had to remind myself that it was real. This is the story of a mother/daughter relationship where the mother confesses to her daughter her extramarital affair when that daughter is just 14. What follows is a daughter treated as confidant and ruse instead of child.
It’s a fraught tale that is equal part white people probs and “wtf how does this all end?” curiosity. Julia Whalen as narrator provides the gravitas the book needs. ...more
while this book totally hanxxxed me, i enjoyed the story. lil back story, i just don't care for mr. hanks but as a narrator, i didn't hate him here. swhile this book totally hanxxxed me, i enjoyed the story. lil back story, i just don't care for mr. hanks but as a narrator, i didn't hate him here. somehow he was a perfect choice because the character of daniel was sort of a saccharine and vanilla character.
the star of this book is maeve and she is truly the most interesting character in the book. this is a family drama like many other family dramas, but it is well written with rich characters and deeply human traits....more
I read this and loved it but also spent the whole time wondering whether or not I’d ever read the handmaids tale. Turns out I never did, so that’s nexI read this and loved it but also spent the whole time wondering whether or not I’d ever read the handmaids tale. Turns out I never did, so that’s next on my to read list! ...more
A few recipes sound great; some sound awful. I’m looking at you, Chicago Hot Dog Salad. The frustration comes from the inconsistency of portions. SomeA few recipes sound great; some sound awful. I’m looking at you, Chicago Hot Dog Salad. The frustration comes from the inconsistency of portions. Some are one serving, some up to 6, some are for 4 portions but the food will only keep for 2 days. For example, there is a bagel prep meal with salmon that makes 4 servings but only keeps for 2 days. Eating 4 day old smoked salmon just isn’t great for you.
Also a general note on food safety, there should be more attention paid to cooling items down before putting them away and the fact that reheating items is dependent on the types for foods being reheated at different temps. Overall, good ideas but not a consistent go....more
Creepy but totally unbelievable. The timespan in the story is impossible - how do you get so invested in other people within 6 days? It takes me YEARSCreepy but totally unbelievable. The timespan in the story is impossible - how do you get so invested in other people within 6 days? It takes me YEARS to build the relationships Jules has built within hours. There’s also a lot of backstory emphasis with little payoff. ...more
Three stars is surprising. I wanted to give it 5+++ however, I found the audiobook oddly flawed considering the concept was born of a podcast, an alreThree stars is surprising. I wanted to give it 5+++ however, I found the audiobook oddly flawed considering the concept was born of a podcast, an already aural medium. Here are some picky reasons why:
The book is missing the 'banter' that I love from the podcast. Each wrote their own experiences and presumably recorded it solo, then they came together to read the summary of each chapter. The solo readings lacked that conversational punch that I like from them.
There are 3 types of recordings here - Karen or Georgia alone, Karen and Georgia together, and Karen or Georgia reading a chapter or list at a live show. This lead to audio inconsistencies, and I feel like including live show recordings in an audiobook is basically just splicing pieces of a podcast in to an audiobook about podcasts. It's a loop i don't like. If you're going to record professionally, record the full book. (See, I'm picky!) Three different types of recording meant three different sound qualities. This is the latent audio engineer coming out in me.
Finally, i will say i found the stories endearing and they have given some more insight in to these bad ass women, but there was not a ton of new material here. I think this book was written for fans, and their fans are certainly credited for the show's success, but a lot of the content was just embellishment of things that have already been covered on past episodes. I guess I was just looking for something new. ...more
I know I read this ages ago and it really spooked me. Second time around it didn’t get me as deeply. I had forgotten how wildly the ending differs froI know I read this ages ago and it really spooked me. Second time around it didn’t get me as deeply. I had forgotten how wildly the ending differs from the bleakness of the film, and I think the movie does it better, which I don’t say often. ...more