• Rated 4 stars

“My 10 year old cousin recommended this book to me and has checked to see if I've read it almost every day. This is a big deal. She doesn't particularly like to read. I've mentioned her before in some of my other reviews/discussions. I usually have to present something as a gimmick in order to get her to read it. This is the first book she's asked me to read.

Sure Greg Heffley's got a bad attitude, but he's hilarous and besides the occasional 'gonna', he 'writes' pretty well. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occassion. Greg's completely clueless and that is what makes him so endearing.”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review 7 days ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I just finished this morning on the train, and I have to say - despite all of my reservations concerning Rand's philosophies (or rather, the manner in which she writes them) - I absolutely loved this book. The message is clear, important, and surprisingly positive.”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“I'm not yet sure how I feel. I think I need to sit down and digest everything that Dostoyevsky was trying to say. Good vs. Evil, the savior of Russia and all of that.

I thought that the book started out fantastically, but changed so often and so drastically that I was no longer truly enjoying it by the end. Most of his character's fall to madness. I've only read two of this novels, but is this the central theme? Between C&P and Idiot, it seems to be.

I'll think about it some more and get back to you. ”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“While I don't know if I'd find myself saying 'I Really Liked It' as my star rating would lead you to believe, I would definitely say - 'This was fantastically written with an obvious, yet extremely powerful theme'.

I read this on recommendation. We are reading The Fountainhead in The Rory Gilmore Book Club and a member suggested reading Anthem as a means of better understanding Ayn Rand and The Fountainhead. I would say this book can definitely help with your understanding of just where Rand is coming from. When it comes to Anthem, there isn't any guesswork. There is just straight forward philosophy. Collectivism versus the Individual. It certainly does highlight the danger of what Ellsworth Toohey is doing in The Fountainhead, as well as place Peter Keating and Howard Roark in more obvious situations. Peter Keating is 'We'. Howard Roark is 'I'.

Thought provoking and important.”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review Tuesday, August 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“I was sorely disappointed with the outcome of this book. While entertaining, I don't think it was very solidly written. The Prologue is a great trick - written so eloquently you think this is what you are in for. But you aren't. A lot of whining and excuse after excuse by the narrator. I hated every time he sized a person up. I usually don't like women/men who are... Not a very good objective detective - maybe that is what French was trying to tell us? I knew from the moment the character entered the picture whodunit, it was just a matter of how. Watching buttloads of SVU preps you for that - and it isn't truly about Katy Devlin's case until the very end. Instead, French teases us with Peter, Jamie and Adam. The fact that she doesn't deliver at all on this story line is fantastically disappointing. She plants red herring after red herring, and they are obvious you just want to cut through it and get to the point! All that time wasted on the rape and the laughing animal in the woods... what?

I want to know who or what killed those three children and I want to know now!”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review Sunday, August 17 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“ It definitely will join the ranks of the great sci fi teen novels that are out on the shelves now. Really imaginative and well written. I loved the characters and the story, as well as the biblical allusion to Leah. Gracelings are peoples with two different eye colors, who have a natural talent, or grace, that is often discovered in their youth. These talents are used by the kings of the land. Katsa, the main character, is a Graceling fighter, or so she thinks. Her eyes are one blue and one green, just like Jacob's first wife Leah. At first, I didn't understand the connection, although the eye color choice made it obvious, nothing else seemed to. Then Katsa discovers what her true Grace is, and it comes together. Really fantastic. ”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review Tuesday, August 12 2008. ( reply | permalink )

0 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“Don't be completely misled by my four star rating. I have such a tough time with this series. I fairly despise Stephenie Meyer, she's not the greatest writer - barely mediocre. But there's something about these books - it's like a drug. I know it isn't good, but I can't help but want more.

The book was too long. Certain scenes dragged along and I had to wonder, "Okay, Stephanie, where are you going with this?" Which was most often - nowhere. And I agree with some, that the ending was maybe too happy. I can think of one that I would have liked much better, but as would have happened if JK killed off Harry, Meyer's life is in better hands with this ending.

Fans will be happy. Edward fans. Jacob fans. Cheesy as some scenes may be, I don't think it could have been any other way. No other way to make the masses as happy as this last installment will make them. She definately wrapped up the story nicely - no loose ends. I would have liked to read more about - Jacob's future. But, I don't think I could have sat through another 700 pages of torture.

I understand. My review is a complete contradiction. I love it. And I hate it. But I'll never feel ambiguous about wanting an Edward in my life.”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review Tuesday, August 5 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Very cute. Not the best out of the Lemony Snicket, Spiderwick Chronicles crowd, but still good. The books follow in the footsteps of Lemony by including a bit of homeschooling. The cute seven-year-old is constantly asking her older sister what this and that word means. Great for sneaking in vocabulary expansion.

I did love the way Buckley incorporated the Fairy Tale characters. It'll be another good book to push on my nine-year-old cousin who hates reading, but loves it when it's a gimmick. ”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review Wednesday, July 23 2008. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 3 stars

“A fantastic mystery. Some of the characters left something to be desired, but Marian Halcombe and Count Fosco, though their narratives are short, both carry this book. Walter Hartright, while his intentions are noble, his character falls quite flat. I read in the back of my edition that Collins has been accused of creating flat characters whos sole purpose is carrying the story. Hartright (and Laura to some extent) is a supreme example of this. He is the hero of our story, but he leaves much to be desired. Marian and Fosco save the show.

The twists and turns do have you turning the pages in this one. The reader waits through the last half of the book to discover Sir Percival's secret, and it was certainly better than I'd anticipated. ”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review Tuesday, July 22 2008. ( reply | permalink )

4 of 4 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“I loved this book from beginning to end. I have so many things to say, but nothing quite grasps just how good this was. Kavalier & Clay will stay with me for a long time. Absolutely beautiful. Funny in a way that you must sometimes laugh in the hands that life deals you. True in spirit. Amazing. ”

HemingwayHeroine wrote this review Friday, June 27 2008. ( reply | permalink )