Marian S

Heather is now reading a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

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Darra W reviewed a book.

“Though riddled with structural weaknesses, none were so egregious as to overpower the overall impact of Christensen's latest novel, which examines--among other things--the compromises we make to sustain our primary personal relationships. I kept thinking how much better this might have been had...”

“Though riddled with structural weaknesses, none were so egregious as to overpower the overall impact of Christensen's latest novel, which examines--among other things--the compromises we make to sustain our primary personal relationships. I kept thinking how much better this might have been had the editor insisted on just one more draft.”

Darra W reviewed a book.

“Revealing--and often frightening--glimpse at our legal system as viewed through the labyrinth of a complex environmental/personal injury case. Although it bogs down (very) occasionally in legal minutae, for the most part, Harr's well-documented account reads like a good novel. Flawed "hero,"...”

“Revealing--and often frightening--glimpse at our legal system as viewed through the labyrinth of a complex environmental/personal injury case. Although it bogs down (very) occasionally in legal minutae, for the most part, Harr's well-documented account reads like a good novel. Flawed "hero," corruption of power...it's all here. ”

Heather rated a book.

• Rated 4 stars

Heather is now reading a book. (see 4 more books added to shelf)

Heather rated a book.

• Rated 4 stars

Heather rated a book.

• Rated 2 stars

Carolyn I rated a book. (see 3 more books rated)

• Rated 4 stars

Carolyn I plans to read a book. (see 5 more books added to shelf)

Carolyn I reviewed a book.

“A group of high school friends at a summer camp form a group called the interestings. The book follows their lives throughout the years. Some members become wildly successful and others realize their perhaps their talent or luck was lacking. Jules, the main narrator, is alternately jealous and...”

“A group of high school friends at a summer camp form a group called the interestings. The book follows their lives throughout the years. Some members become wildly successful and others realize their perhaps their talent or luck was lacking. Jules, the main narrator, is alternately jealous and proud of the accomplishments of her successful friends. During the first half of this book I thought I could give it a 5 star rating, but the second half was definitely more weakly constructed. ”

Darra W reviewed a book.

“Russo weaves flashback and "present-day" narrative to tell the story of two very different boys who form an unusual bond as they grow to manhood in a small, upstate NY town. A rich, rewarding read, which I liked even better than Russo's Pultizer-winner, "Empire Falls."”

Darra W reviewed a book.

“Though Ullman's novel suffers from the occasional narrative misstep, its central plotline, in which a lonely writer eavesdrops on--and becomes obsessed with--a patient seeing her therapist in the office next door, provides enough suspense to keep those pages turning well past bedtime.”

Darra W reviewed a book.

“Eng is a master of metaphor and his poetic style lends an ethereal, vaguely mysterious cast to this atmospheric novel about the unlikely alliance between a master Japanese gardener and a Chinese/Malaysian attorney, who--as a young girl--endured years of internment in a brutal Japanese POW camp.”

“Eng is a master of metaphor and his poetic style lends an ethereal, vaguely mysterious cast to this atmospheric novel about the unlikely alliance between a master Japanese gardener and a Chinese/Malaysian attorney, who--as a young girl--endured years of internment in a brutal Japanese POW camp. ”

Darra W reviewed a book.

“In yet another quiet, beautifully written novel set in the fictional High Plains community of Holt, CO, "Dad" Lewis--husband, father (of two grown children), neighbor, and small-town businessman--attempts to right the mistakes and repair the broken relationships that litter his past. In some...”

“In yet another quiet, beautifully written novel set in the fictional High Plains community of Holt, CO, "Dad" Lewis--husband, father (of two grown children), neighbor, and small-town businessman--attempts to right the mistakes and repair the broken relationships that litter his past. In some cases, much as in life, he is successful; in other cases, he is not. The wisdom and skill with which Haruf handles the dicotomy are just two of thr reasons that he remains one of my favorite contemporary writers.”

Darra W reviewed a book.

“This plot-driven, parallel narrative--set in a Canadian trailer park--connects the stories of a neglected five-year-old girl and the elderly black woman who takes her in. A good summer read: engaging, but not too demanding.”

Heather rated a book.

• Rated 3 stars

Heather rated a book.

• Rated 3 stars

Heather reviewed a book.

“I read Snyder’s Inside Out a while ago, and while that story wasn’t really my cup of tea, I absolutely loved the way she writes. Because of this, I quickly determined that I would read another of her books that better aligned with my interests. Fortunately, Fire Study was right up my alley, and...”

“I read Snyder’s Inside Out a while ago, and while that story wasn’t really my cup of tea, I absolutely loved the way she writes. Because of this, I quickly determined that I would read another of her books that better aligned with my interests. Fortunately, Fire Study was right up my alley, and I’m so glad that I read it.

Fire Study opened with a bang and didn’t let up until the very end. When the book began, we met Yelena shortly before her scheduled execution for murder, and her life is spared because of a technicality in a law, as the next prisoner sentenced to death shall become the commissioner’s food tester, if that person so chooses. It made me put myself in Yelena’s situation and try to figure out what I would do if given this option, which was interesting to think about. Do you die quickly, or do you, perhaps, die an agonizing death by poison? On the whole, it seems like a no-win situation, but Yelena decided to take her chances and live, if only for a little while longer.

Sometimes after an engaging beginning, books begin to lose speed, but that was definitely not the case with Fire Study. The plot continued to move quickly as Yelena adjusted to her new role, and it was so exciting to see what was going to happen next. Just as it seemed like things were finally settling down, a fight would break out that would have Yelena scrambling for her life, and it made perfect sense in the world Snyder created. It was also interesting that the reader couldn’t really tell where everyone’s loyalties were, and just as one thought one had it all figured out, another plot twist was thrown in that completely through everything one thought they knew out the window.

In the same vein, I really liked the way in which the reader was exposed to information about Yelena and other characters. Instead of laying everything out at the beginning of the book in a neat and tidy fashion, information was revealed in bits and pieces. At the story’s onset, I wasn’t very sympathetic to Yelena, as I believed her to be a cold-blooded killer, but as more information was revealed, I began to sympathize with her more and more. As information was revealed, the reader was definitely able to see justification in Yelena's actions.

Yelena was a wonderful narrator, and I really enjoyed reading the story from her perspective. In addition to having a complicated past that the reader had to piece together, she was also a complete badass that knew how to take care of herself. Many people in Yelena’s position would have cowered in fear, but she handled herself really well and was incredibly brave.

Valek, the man in charge of Yelena’s training, was also an outstanding character. Their relationship did not get off to the best start, as I’m sure would be the case in any similar situation, but I loved watching it evolve over time. Valek’s loyalty to the Commander seemed so unwavering, and I would love to have greater access into his mind to see what made him tick.

Fire Study was a completely awesome book with complex characters, ulterior motives, and uncertainty. If you enjoy books featuring amazing females, definitely check it out! ”

Heather rated a book.

• Rated 3 stars