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Andrea

Andrea

has 11 followers and is following 10 people

  • North Canton, OH, USA
  • member since July 28, 2008

Reviews

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  • It Sucked and Then I Cried
    • Rated 5 stars

    “I know the reviews on this book are mixed. Critics slam Heather for the seeming lack of organization in the flow of the book and the flightiness of her narration. But let's remember what this book is about: the trials of a woman's life as she faced motherhood and a serious case of post-partum depression. As with real life, sometimes it's messy; sometimes it's clear and well-structured. But her writing itself -- her words that are real and thoughtful and smart and uproariously funny and poignant and inspiring and heartbreakingly honest and strong, all at the same time -- her writing is the redeeming factor and the reason I could not put this book down. A copy of this will be in my bookshelf forever.”

    Andrea wrote this review Thursday, August 6, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Love Will Tear Us Apart: A Novel
    • Rated 3 stars

    “This had such great potential -- clever and cutting-edge with a unique style of narration and relatable, flawed, complex characters. But the ending felt so rushed (contrived, even) that I was left feeling very unsatisfied after turning the last page. Disappointing but not a bad read.”

    Andrea wrote this review Saturday, August 1, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single
    • Rated 5 stars

    “Smart and clever with razor-sharp wit -- the kind that doesn't try too hard but the kind that creeps up on you and finds you laughing at every other page turn. Jennifer Johnson's inner monologue rings eerily true to my own, which was both comforting and eye-opening. Despite (and perhaps because of) its heartbreaking ending, this is the best book I've read this year. Highly recommended.”

    Andrea wrote this review Friday, July 17, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Very Valentine
    • Rated 3 stars

    “I'm not sure if I'm becoming a more discerning reader or if my favorite authors are coming up short lately, but I found myself struggling to connect with this book. Don't get me wrong: Adriana Trigiani is talented at what she does. She has the magical ability to effortlessly transport her reader to settings as rich and complex as the Isle of Capri or the cobblestone streets of Greenwich Village. It's masterful, really. But as she devotes pages upon pages (upon pages) to painting the perfect backdrop, she only does a mediocre job of fleshing out characters and making them relatable to her reader. I suspect this is why I found it hard to immerse myself in this one.

    Anyway, the story itself is entertaining and the few characters that Trigiani successfully brings to life are hilarious. But if I were to recommend one of Adri's books to someone who had never read her work before, I don't think this one would be representative of her capabilities as a writer. Try Lucia, Lucia instead.”

    Andrea wrote this review Tuesday, April 21, 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Garden Spells
    • Rated 5 stars

    “A little predictable at times, but such an enjoyable, refreshing read; this one combines elements of magic, romance, tension, and mystery into one seamless story. It's been awhile since I've been completely engrossed in a book (i.e., thinking about the characters after I put it down), and Garden Spells reminded me of what that wonderful feeling is like. :) Definitely recommended!”

    Andrea wrote this review Friday, November 14, 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Look at My Striped Shirt!

    Look at My Striped Shirt!

    by The Phat Phree
    • Rated 5 stars

    “Bought this for The Boyfriend when he was going through a tough time last year and needed cheering up, and I wound up reading the whole thing myself before giving it to him. I'm not a mean-spirited person, but the brutal honesty that drives this book is what makes it so laugh-out-loud funny. If you've ever found yourself in an environment or a situation where you kept asking yourself "Surely I must not be the only normal person left on this planet?", then you will appreciate the Phat Phree's blunt observations.

    (Note: not for those opposed to moderate/strong language, because it is pretty uncensored.)”

    Andrea wrote this review Saturday, August 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Delightful yet heartwrenching at times, this book caused me to ponder bigger questions about life while rooting for two of the main characters to live happily ever after. The gravity of WWII and the good-hearted nature of Guernsey Island would be a difficult balance in less adept writers' hands, but Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows blend (and even complement) the two spheres beautifully. Highly recommended!”

    Andrea wrote this review Saturday, August 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Accidental Tourist
    • Rated 2 stars

    “I was surprised that this book was so difficult for me to finish. Instead of picking it up, excited to read what happened next in the story, I felt more of an obligation, a duty to simply finishing what I started. I'm not sure what went wrong here, because for the first half of the novel, I was very much drawn into the story and was impressed with Tyler's thorough character development/analysis. Then, about halfway through, the book just died for me: I could barely relate to any of the characters, I became annoyed at the slow-as-molasses plot, and, worst of all, I simply didn't care how the book ended. Disappointing, especially because of the critical hype around this one.”

    Andrea wrote this review Saturday, August 9, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

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