Mari and Her Books

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“so full of emotion and love and family life. it was beautifully written and heart-breaking and i love every single word of it. this is the type of story that can speak to everyone. takuji ichikawa is a brilliant writer. he perfectly makes you feel every emotion the characters are feeling. i'm so glad i've read this.”

Mari and Her Books wrote this review Sunday, March 30 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“oh so funny! the whole series!”

Mari and Her Books wrote this review Thursday, March 13 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Samantha Hunt is most definitely one of my favorite authors ever. Her books always leave me with such strong feelings and emotions. I first read "The Seas" a little over a year ago and have been waiting impatiently for "The Invention of Everything Else" to come out.

One night at work, after we closed, I was in the back putting some books away and as I glanced over at the literature cart (as I always do because I like to see what new books we've gotten) I saw "The Invention of Everything Else". I was thinking what in the world is it doing here? It's only the 29th of January! But there it was, five copies smelling of glue and newness. I bought one that same night and I came home and read and read.

My initial thoughts were that it was very very good but sadly not as beautifully written as "The Seas" but I kept in mind that they are two totally different books with their own language, their own world. This is what I wrote about it when I finished it. From my journal:

"I finished "The Invention of Everything Else" awhile ago. I don't even know where to begin or what to say. I got utterly lost in it. I lay in bed, on my side, for a long time just thinking about everything I had just experienced. I felt tears trickle down my nose. I thought about Freddie and Walter and Nikola and Katherine and Louisa. And those achingly heart breaking moments. I wish I could say more but I don't want to ruin anything. I stayed there for what seems like forever. And then the phone rang and then my mother walked noisily into my room. I didn't want to get out of bed because I knew what would happen and once I did, it did. I'm back to right now, this moment. I'm not there anymore and every thing seems very unreal. I looked around my room and everything seems very unreal. Or at least very unnatural, nothing seems to fit. And now I have to go out. Get lunch. Go to the bank. Talk to people. I don't know how I'm going to get through the rest of today. Maybe this feeling will fade away once I step out of this bedroom. It's not a bad feeling, it's just different. I feel like a different person right now. I don't think a book has ever made me feel this way. It's wonderful, in the purest sense of the word. The book, i mean."

Nikola Tesla comes vividly alive through this book and now I want to read his biographies. Samantha Hunt mentions the ones she used for her research in the back of the book. Overall, it's just a beautiful, heart-breaking book filled with the past and the future, love gained and love lost. ”

Mari and Her Books wrote this review Sunday, February 10 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“A very endearing story. It made me quite sad that bad things kept happening and happening to Edward but there is, of course, a happy ending. I do wish that the ending was a bit more happier or a bit longer. The writing is very beautiful too which always makes me love books more.

This is the first book I've read by Kate Dicamillo and I would love to read something else of hers next. Any recommendations?”

Mari and Her Books wrote this review Sunday, February 10 2008. ( reply | view 2 replies | permalink )

• Rated 2 stars

“As far as Miura's writing goes, this book is very simplistic. His themes, however, are more complex. I couldn't quite get into this book because nothing really "grabbed" me. I couldn't stop reading it though so I'm sure that stands for something. I do think this book will be hard to get into for many people.”

Mari and Her Books wrote this review Sunday, February 10 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Lovely and well written! I couldn't put it down!
Sometimes her character bothered me and all the children, my god! But I loved many parts of this book. Mr. Jones was one of my favorites because of his "number necklaces". And one of my favorite parts in the whole book was their meeting towards the end of the novel. I think I like her short stories much better but this is still a novel to definitely read.”

Mari and Her Books wrote this review Monday, January 7 2008. ( reply | permalink )