rating float64 0 5 | title stringlengths 1 1.29k | text stringlengths 0 31.5k | images listlengths 0 36 | asin stringlengths 10 10 | parent_asin stringlengths 10 10 | user_id stringlengths 28 28 | timestamp int64 851B 1,680B | helpful_vote int64 -5 5.92k | verified_purchase bool 2
classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Drags On Details | Harriet Evans writes great novels with a lot of characters and story going on. This novel was no exception. Let me cut to the chase though in saying that once things switched from a lovely English countryside Christmas to the toils of going back to work and her family's drama, it became a novel filled with tension. ... | [] | 1416503951 | 1416503951 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,343,623,544,000 | 1 | false |
3 | Non-Stop Action | As the final book in The Forest of Hands and Teeth series, I have to say that this one was a doozy. Carrie Ryan has, what feels to me, like a subdued and subtle writing style that works more with character feelings sometimes than with the external descriptions. This book still covered a lot of how our characters felt... | [] | 0385738609 | 0385738609 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,343,623,301,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Odd Little Fantasy World | A quest doesn't begin to describe the journey that goes on in this book. This is definitely a story that takes you through the ringer. Jason is just this kid, who is bizarrely transported to this new world where suspicion and fear reign. To some degree I was taken off guard by the level of danger and fear that this... | [] | 141699792X | 141699792X | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,343,622,852,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Fun YA Paranormal Novel | What can I say other than this one was a charmer. I'm a bit burned out by paranormal and dystopian novels, but I'm sure glad I gave this one a chance. Evie is the kind of heroine that I could get behind. She is funny, snarky, and real. Between her quick whit and charm, Evie is just a fun character to watch try to f... | [] | 0061985856 | 0061985856 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,343,622,601,000 | 0 | false |
3 | Interesting Dystopian | Admittedly I try to give books an honest approach where I find positives and negatives, but I think I just wasn't the right audience for this dystopian, futuristic young adult novel. Vi is a girl that is both supposed to be strong and vulnerable, to maker her a well-rounded character. She is strong in the sense that ... | [] | 1442421266 | 1442421266 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,343,622,463,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Delightful Modern Tale With An Austen Nod | Having read an earlier novel of Connelly's, I knew I was in for a nice, modernized treat with this newest book. Let me just start off by explaining that Pride and Prejudice doesn't really play a role in the novel. The title, in my own opinion, is a tie to the perfect Austen character, as the rest of the book is more ... | [] | 1402251386 | 1402251386 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,343,622,270,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Hawaii's History, Short Style | I'm going through some major Hawaii withdrawals since my mother moved back to the mainland, so I was eager to pick up a book that would put me back into Hawaii and its issues. Hawaiian issues and tension surrounding statehood was something I was pretty unfamiliar with until I spent a chunk of time there. How does an... | [] | 159448564X | 159448564X | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,343,622,069,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Great Character Sketches | Billed as representing French-speaking Quebec, with their own working-class culture being stamped on the play, I really was quite intrigued. I can't say that I've read anything that was said to represent that culture, nor do I know much about it. In short, this was a pleasure to branch out and give a go.<br /><br />G... | [] | 0889223025 | 0889223025 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,343,621,518,000 | 0 | false |
4 | A Personal Look at Marie Antoinette | Marie Antoinette and Versailles are two things that people continue to be intrigued about. How would it be to be that wealthy and to have that much recognition? What was she really like and what must Versailles have been like in its day? In Juliet Grey's novel, we get a bit of an idea in this piece of historical fic... | [] | 0345523865 | 0345523865 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,333,492,809,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Really Unique Twist | With an interesting concept--life after death--and a setting in Park City, Utah that I was familiar with, I have to say that I was pretty easily sucked into Brodi Ashton's first novel. There seems to be a lot of information that comes at the reader, in a somewhat vague way, but it is just that vagueness that makes you... | [] | 0062071130 | 0062071130 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,333,492,626,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Adds Depth to Real Grief | In an easy to read and follow free-verse style, the poetry behind the story of Ava and Jackson adds nicely to the tone of what's going on. Considering that Ava is haunted, both literally and emotionally, by her boyfriend Jackson, the poetry adds to the haunting affect that is already established by her deep sense of g... | [] | 1416955208 | 1416955208 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,333,492,243,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Nice and Inspiring | As far as historical non-fiction is concerned, this was one of my all-time favorite reads. The mix of pictures, primary documents, and written background were a perfect mix to make this is quick read, but an informational and inspiring read. Honestly, this story really touched me, and although I already knew it thank... | [] | 1580893376 | 1580893376 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,333,492,028,000 | 2 | false |
3 | Another Cute Austen Inspiration/Modernization | I really enjoyed reading Dreaming of Mr. Darcy. Considering it was more about Captain Wentworth, including plenty of references to reading Persuasion, I felt like it should have been Captain Wentworth that we were dreaming about! That wouldn't have lost me for one second.<br /><br />When our heroine settled into Lyme... | [] | 1402251351 | 1402251351 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,333,491,722,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Awkward Writing But Cute Story | As far as historical reads go for teens, this was a pretty cute one. There is a definite Ever After vibe to the story that keeps you flipping pages, routing on Sarah from the very beginning. Having been passed off at birth, marked with a tattoo that was the insignia of her royal lineage, Sarah grew up knowing nothing... | [] | 1598117750 | 1598117750 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,333,491,513,000 | 0 | false |
4 | A lot Going On | I really loved reading Koen's tale of King Louis XIV and his court. Filled with intrigue and so many characters that I could hardly keep them straight, there are a number of character-driven stories going on at once. I've always wondered if the promiscuity of these monarchs was completely just due to their own person... | [] | 0307716570 | 0307716570 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,333,491,267,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Interesting Vignettes on Communist Poland | Let me just say how much I loved little Marzi. Her character is sweet, charming, and vulnerable, with a healthy dose of insecurity brought on by the culture of her environment and a mother who seemed to feel she had to bring Marzi up with an iron first. Marzi was just a normal little girl, watching as her parents sto... | [] | 140122959X | 140122959X | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,327,502,438,000 | 3 | false |
3 | Another Nice Historical Read | At a time when I feel as though a good historical read has fallen by the wayside, Anna Godbersen's novels always seem to deliver. As the follow up to Bright Young Things, we pick back up with Cordelia and Letty trying to make a life for themselves in busy New York City during the days of the prohibition. In the case ... | [] | 0061962686 | 0061962686 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,327,272,156,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Beautiful Poetry & Pictures | In preparation for Christmas, I ran into the library one night after work and noticed this beautiful picture book, Love's Exquisite Freedom. Because I am in the middle of reading Angelou's book Heart of a Woman, I felt drawn to the picture book. It was a wonderfully sweet diversion and a quick reminder of the depth o... | [] | 1599621037 | 1599621037 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,327,271,761,000 | 2 | false |
3 | Multi-Generational Tale | I know it's a popular trend to change the narrator every little bit, both to change the pacing of a story and to create interest in a range of characters. For whatever reason, I'm not thrilled with the constant shifting of narrators and stories. Sometimes I feel as though I am just getting attached to a character, or... | [] | 0307595129 | 0307595129 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,327,271,716,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Jane Power! | Plain Janes is an interesting, comic sort of story right from the get go. With Jane's move from Metro City, where she experienced a traumatic bombing (in the first several frames), there is more to Jane's back story than expected. I know that I found myself trying to figure out if "Metro City" was supposed to be some... | [] | 1401211151 | 1401211151 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,327,270,558,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Georgiana's Lovely Romance | In the characteristically romantic style of author Sharon Lathan, Georgiana Darcy's story feels nothing like a departure from our most famous Darcy couple, but feels more like a beautiful continuation within the family. For fans of Pride and Prejudice, I think that most readers will agree that we want to see Georgiana... | [] | 1402259042 | 1402259042 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,322,543,239,000 | 3 | false |
4 | A Nice Story of Friendship & Love | I really love the clear, freshness of Gee's writing. There is a simpleness to it that makes the structure flow, even when the story itself is filled with complexity and difficulty. In short, you can get lost in the story, understanding exactly what you suppose the author meant and wanted for her characters and story.... | [] | 0345525345 | 0345525345 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,321,503,542,000 | 0 | false |
5 | An Austen-Size Escape, One Story at a Time | Whether you are a fair weather fan of Jane Austen, or a die hard Janeite, Jane Austen Made Me Do It has a wonderful variety of original short stories to catch any reader's attention. Some of the stories are retellings, based on the characters in Austen's famous novels. Other stories are modernizations, featuring Aus... | [] | 0345524969 | 0345524969 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,321,071,533,000 | 4 | false |
5 | A Contemporary Satire in Poetic Form | Brian McGackin's short poetry compilation Boetry is a funny take on being a "Bro" and all that entails from a cheeky, occasional mock up of previous classical poems to funny new dedications/observations on popular culture and young adulthood. The mix of college drama, popular superheroes, and single-guy angst was pret... | [] | 159474517X | 159474517X | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,321,071,322,000 | 2 | false |
4 | Pretty Straight Forward Tie In | I'm not sure that Sense and Sensibility needs much of a synopsis, with its themes of using good sense in judging people's character and in one's own character. The charm of sisterly bonds are present in this great story, with Elinor as the eldest and seemingly most sensible, Maryanne as her younger and more whimsy-dri... | [] | 0785148205 | 0785148205 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,320,155,972,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Moving the Story Along | Following on the heels of Matched, we know that Ky has been sent to the Outer Provinces and Cassia has watched her friend, teacher, and love be taken away from her. For any reader of the first book, we have been anxiously waiting to find out what Cassia was going to do and where exactly Ky went. Beyond that, what in ... | [] | 0525423656 | 0525423656 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,320,155,865,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Perfect Teen Tension | First off, let it be known that I love the reality that somehow makes its way into these teen novels by Stephanie Perkins. No matter how far from what I know for the teens around me, her characters feel real, vulnerable, and engaging. In short, these teens are people you wish you were friends with and had hung out wi... | [] | 0525423281 | 0525423281 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,320,155,445,000 | 1 | false |
3 | The Same Tale, Just Less Development | Having read many different versions of the tale of Robin Hood, I was interested to see how a graphic novel version would take it on. The tale was very classic to the most popular version of the story and took in Robin's time in the Crusades, his return to find his father deceased, his conflict with the sheriff, and hi... | [] | 0763644005 | 0763644005 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,317,837,390,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Felt Like a Friend | This was probably one of my favorite autobiographies to date. Having Rob Lowe read his own life story, you get a feel for the emotion behind certain chapters in his life, which was such a bonus. The experiences he shared from his childhood, of his parent's divorce, being uprooted from Ohio, and his mother's mental up... | [] | B004XXVSS8 | B004XXVSS8 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,317,650,535,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Funny, Honest, & Even Scary | As many graphic novels are prone to be, this was a really fast read, but with lots of interesting depth. Anya's challenges in coming from an immigrant family are not lost on the reader. Early on in the story we find Anya tossing out her mother's ethnic food, in favor of what she deems more "normal" and then heading o... | [] | 1596435526 | 1596435526 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,316,704,057,000 | 0 | false |
4 | A Vampire Boarding School | Marked was a fun boarding school, magical, vampire book that feels familiar because of all the other books you've ever read that uses one of those scenarios. In this case, Zoey is the special character who enters the House of Night school with her own special talents. There is the love interest that she likes right o... | [] | B0043GXYBO | B0043GXYBO | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,315,267,688,000 | 0 | false |
4 | A Romping, Fun Time | Sometimes there's nothing better than a fun, thriller to take your mind off of things. Making Waves had all the components of a fun get away, complete with crime, mystery, romance, and plenty of humor. Honestly, there's nothing that serious in the story that you can't sit back and enjoy the ride. Alex is the hot pro... | [] | 140225721X | 140225721X | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,314,567,767,000 | 0 | false |
2 | Different Than Expected | My Jane Austen Summer started out like a great, yummy read. Lily Berry has just broken up with her boyfriend, is feeling completely out of sorts, and turns to an opportunity to travel to England to participate in a Jane Austen festival to save her from her mess of a life. What's not to love about that kind of premise... | [] | 0062003976 | 0062003976 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,312,932,697,000 | 3 | false |
4 | A Moderate View | Just Food is not for the faint of heart or causal reader. James E. McWilliams has written a strong argument about the misleading ideals being spread about the "locavore" movement and how it is causing consumers to vilify methods of production that could reduce costs and still save the environment. The book is heavy h... | [] | 0316033758 | 0316033758 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,312,413,287,000 | 2 | false |
5 | Great Escape to Paris and Young Love | I couldn't put this book down. I really worried that with all the hype surrounding it, that I wouldn't like it. That wasn't the case at all. Anna is a great character, who is sent off to Paris by her Nicholas Sparks-esque (or that's how I pictured him) dad, who had gained his riches and notoriety from a number of su... | [] | 0525423273 | 0525423273 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,311,628,280,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Ricky Martin, But No Pictures? | I don't think that anyone needs to explain what Me is about. Both the title and cover clearly spell out that this is a look into the life of Ricky Martin, the man behind the artist. Honestly, I've always had a bit of a crush on Ricky Martin, from his days in Menudo when I watched him dance and sing between Saturday m... | [] | 0451234154 | 0451234154 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,309,803,384,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Not Your Typical Autobiographical Read | In short, Lee's biography is more than just a book about the famous author Edith Wharton. In this densely written book, we learn about the culture of turn of the century, upper-class society in New York City. We learn about gardens and landscaping in the United States in comparison to Italy and other European countri... | [] | 0375702873 | 0375702873 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,309,803,007,000 | 3 | false |
4 | New Perspective on Germany & WWII | Ursula Hegi's novel Stones from the River was unlike any WWII novel I have ever encountered. Although we are exposed to some of the injustice Jews encountered during the Nazi regime, the story centers more on the everyday people of Burgdorf and how they responded to the economic hardships Germany faced as well as Hitl... | [] | 068484477X | 068484477X | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,307,407,090,000 | 1 | false |
5 | An Austen at the Prom | As far as remakes of Jane Austen's famous Pride and Prejudice go, this one is pretty cute. With our famous "Lizzie" and Darcy now as teens studying in a famous prep school, the result of this romance is not marriage, but prom. If you know the story behind the original story, then the personalities of the characters m... | [] | 0545240778 | 0545240778 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,306,808,215,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Same Happy Ending, but Different Journey | Overall, Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman was a fun departure from the original story, asking the reader to consider "what if" Darcy decided to change from that first tongue lashing by Elizabeth? Could he have changed and won her over by showing her who he really was? These questions fuel this new sto... | [] | 1402244185 | 1402244185 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,306,421,496,000 | 3 | false |
4 | Action Heating Up | Mac has now learned a bit more about the world that took her sister from her and is now threatening the rest of humanity. As overwhelming as it might seem, Mac is one of a small conglomeration of people (if you can call them people) who can fight the evil Fae from opening up this world to their kind and obliterating a... | [] | 0440240999 | 0440240999 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,306,258,610,000 | 1 | true |
5 | Quirky Coffee Table Sort of Cultural Information | I couldn't help myself when I saw this pretty book sitting on the "New Arrivals" shelf at my local library. When I flipped it open, it had the coolest entries about things like milk baths, the trapeze, the omelet, badminton, and more, all with their history and context. The history isn't intense, but it is a nice ove... | [] | 0385529694 | 0385529694 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,305,860,049,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Another Great Continuation in the Series | All of Willig's female spies have a strength about them that is fun to read. We expect spies to be gutsy and brave, and these characters definitely have a variety of skills and strengths that allow them to spy for the British against the French. Interestingly, Laura is the first character that felt the most cunning. ... | [] | 0525951997 | 0525951997 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,305,553,642,000 | 1 | false |
3 | Not the Sparkly Variety | Taking off from the wedding day, Elizabeth and Darcy seem congenial and happy, but something is obviously eating up Darcy. From Elizabeth's perspective we learn of her confusion at not having a husband to share her honeymoon night with, nor someone to have a chat with first thing in the morning. Because she had no fr... | [] | 1402236972 | 1402236972 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,305,158,137,000 | 0 | false |
3 | A Brief but Interesting History | Although short and simple in its information, this little book seems like a nice source for basic background on one of our most famous authors, Jane Austen. Since many of her letters were destroyed after her death, she didn't seem to keep a journal, and died much too soon to really write a self-penned autobiography, w... | [] | 0547370210 | 0547370210 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,304,744,060,000 | 0 | false |
3 | Captivating & Bizarre Read | Dolores is the strangest, craziest character I feel like I've encountered in a very long time. Although I get why she ended up holing up in a room, eating her way to 257 pounds and shutting people out, her reaction to the events of her life still felt bizarre and even jarring. Throughout the course of the book, we se... | [] | 0671021001 | 0671021001 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,304,475,692,000 | 16 | true |
4 | Slow Start, Fast-Paced Finish | I have to admit that the story started off pretty slowly. In fact, in the first 150 pages I wondered if I'd be able to finish it. I didn't feel very connected to Eleanor, with her strangely muted relationship with her husband. Was this a cultural gap that I'd missed, or was Eleanor's relationship truly of a differen... | [] | 1402253192 | 1402253192 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,304,344,100,000 | 2 | false |
4 | Short but Engaging | As the second in the Mystyx series, we move from Krystal in book one, with her ghost whisperer talents, to Sasha, who can split off and relocate herself wherever she wants. The other Mystyx in their group all have magical talents and have learned that there was a weather disturbance that coincides with the day they we... | [] | 0373534310 | 0373534310 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,303,829,064,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Nice Back Stories to the Blue Blood Characters | Altogether, this was a nice, easy collection of stories. Oliver's initial story in the book set a fairly depressing tone, especially since I always felt for him. His story seems to try to make you feel that Oliver will somehow be "okay," but I felt overwhelming sadness for this character and all he's been through as ... | [] | 1423134494 | 1423134494 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,302,844,585,000 | 1 | false |
4 | A Fun Other-World Story With Warmth | Despite what looks to be a light-hearted ghost story, with historical figures and skeletal remains of animals, this graphic novel had a few twists that gave it heart. The story centered on the little boy named Garth, who also faced a sad future not counting his accidental trip to the spirit world. In the spirit world... | [] | 0545210283 | 0545210283 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,302,651,555,000 | 1 | false |
4 | A New Approach to the Polygamy Tale | It was an interesting take to tell the story from the perspective of the polygamous husband. Had this ever been done before? If so, I haven't read one like this. There was a humorous bent to the novel that had me really feeling for poor Golden. As a character, he seemed like a giant oaf of a man that was being push... | [] | 0393062627 | 0393062627 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,302,493,929,000 | 2 | false |
4 | Action Packed Paranormal | The Dark Divine series has been a surprising read, one that I wasn't expecting to get me so engaged in the unfolding story of Grace Divine, her family, and her boyfriend Daniel. Having felt a bit burned out by paranormal stories recently, I wasn't sure that a book about a werewolf clan and curse would be up my alley, ... | [] | 1606840584 | 1606840584 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,301,935,189,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Another Sigh-Worthy P&P Installment | Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are still besotted, that much is evident in this fifth in the series by Sharon Lathan. The couple has undergone other troubles in previous installments, but nothing they haven't been able to work through for the benefit of their relationship and growing family. In this installment, Elizabeth gives ... | [] | 1402237545 | 1402237545 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,301,669,149,000 | 1 | false |
5 | Not Like the Cover Lets On | Although I've seen some serious mixed reviews on this novel, I have to say that it really grabbed me and shook me up a bit. In short, it made me cry, and I was okay about it. Livia was a sweet character, filled with vulnerabilities and a kind of guilelessness that didn't have me skeptically doubting her goodness, but... | [] | 1606840789 | 1606840789 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,298,430,623,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Don't Be Deceived by the "Girlie" Cover | The Dark Divine originally felt familiar, like something I had read before. In a lot of ways, this did seem like a common paranormal teen read, but the complication in the story between Grace, Daniel, and Grace's brother Jude builds and builds and builds in such a way that you have to keep reading. Why did Daniel dis... | [] | 1606841548 | 1606841548 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,295,388,344,000 | 0 | true |
3 | Deconstructing a Life | It's nearly impossible to really write a review of Naipaul's Half a Life without including a gut reaction. The multi-layered threading of ideas presented in the novel are mind-numbing, to say the least. Every possible view and corner of race, social class, empire, colonization, education, and sexual politics are expl... | [] | 037570728X | 037570728X | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,294,934,274,000 | 2 | false |
4 | Really An Anytime Romance Read | Although titled Dating Mr. December, this romantic story isn't really set in December or centered on Christmas at all. In fact, as I was reading it, I hoped that readers wouldn't get caught up in the title and put off reading it until the holidays! This is definitely a tense, sexy read.<br /><br />The initial lead in... | [] | 1402241429 | 1402241429 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,293,421,536,000 | 2 | false |
4 | A Sweet Austen-Themed Christmas Compilation | Admittedly, I genuinely enjoy reading Austen-themed remakes and retellings. I've previously read novels by both Grange and Lathan, so I was familiar with their style of storytelling, but quickly fell in love with Everhart's cute retelling of A Christmas Carol. Grange's tale had a lot of language that was common to ot... | [] | 1402243391 | 1402243391 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,292,048,328,000 | 2 | false |
4 | Interesting Premise for a Conflict! | In the beginning I really struggled to relate to the relationship between Abby and her long-time boyfriend. While I understand that teenagers can fixate on their young love, I was a bit nauseated at times by the seemingly over the top romantic elements of the story. Having spoken to some of my students who have read ... | [] | 1606410938 | 1606410938 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,291,763,875,000 | 0 | true |
5 | More Focus on the Historical Story | In this sixth installment in the spy serie, The Pink Carnation, we find ourselves in the midst of a pretty unhappily married couple with Penelope and Frederick. This good deal of tension between them makes for a pretty interesting lead into a growing friendship and relationship between Penelope and Alex Reid. It seem... | [] | 0525951504 | 0525951504 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,291,599,604,000 | 2 | false |
3 | Yet Another Good Espionage Romance, Want More of the Modern Story! | Let me be up front in saying that I honestly grabbed this audio book, not just because I had already listened to the previous four that came before, but because I was so invested in the "modern-day" story that is embedded in these spy novels. While the spy stories are being told, we as readers understand that it is th... | [] | B003VYBED4 | B003VYBED4 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,288,666,767,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Transitional Book But Still Good Sookie Book! | I really liked this eighth installment in the Sookie Stackhouse series, as it seemed to get back to Sookie living her life in Bon Temps. I sometimes find myself frustrated when Sookie becomes the target of a bunch of bad guys that she then needs protecting from. That's not to say there wasn't some of that in this boo... | [] | 0441019390 | 0441019390 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,287,441,900,000 | 1 | false |
3 | Still the Emma that You Know | Although some readers have found any retelling of Austen's novels blasphemous, I have to say that I found Emma and the Vampires to be pretty funny. Much of the story is almost an exact copy of Austen's original, with the addition of vampires that stumble from the bushes to attack unaware humans at the end of a social... | [] | 1402241348 | 1402241348 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,286,491,992,000 | 0 | false |
5 | One of the Best Continuation Stories for the Darcys | Having read many different takeoffs and mash ups of Austen's novels, I continue to hold Lathan's at the top of the list. There is something so fanciful and romantic about Sharon Lathan's depiction of Darcy and Elizabeth that I can't quite get enough! I was happy to see that in this installment the couple have really ... | [] | 1402236999 | 1402236999 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,286,085,686,000 | 4 | false |
4 | The Age of Innocence, Remade | This is a fun series and one that I found myself falling into pretty easily. Having always loved Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, this felt reminiscent of that era and style. Godbersen's writing style and descriptions are delicious and keep the story moving, not to mention the list of characters that you readily... | [] | B003H4RDYM | B003H4RDYM | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,285,564,423,000 | 0 | true |
4 | Touches On Many Important Teen Issues | Tackling issues of separation, divorce, being the new kid at school, and teen love, Heather Hepler's novel seems to have a little bit of everything. We see the mean girl scenario play out in Penny's experiences at school, but on the other hand, we also see young love blossom before our eyes. This small little young a... | [] | 0142416681 | 0142416681 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,285,022,646,000 | 8 | false |
4 | Ethical Science Fiction | I will never claim myself to be good with science fiction. Although this novel is said to be an easy sell to those of us who are hesitant with the genre, I will admit to still struggling a bit. In some respects, it could be that the deep sense of morality that the alien "Wanderer" or "Wanda" had just seemed strange t... | [] | 0316068055 | 0316068055 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,284,345,923,000 | 0 | true |
4 | Another Fun Email Tromp Through Holly's Life | In much the same style as Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary, Holly is a bit of a character who always seems to be getting herself into some trouble. Her letters to her best friend Jason, felt fun and whimsical, and topped my list for emails I most wanted to read. Jason was sweet and caring, but a real crack up m... | [] | 1402241143 | 1402241143 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,283,398,849,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Sookie, Getting Stronger! | I have to say, that as a balm for a troubled soul this weekend, this was the perfect get away trip, all packaged in one book. Even if I had not been in a position where I desperately needed an escape read, this seventh in the series still would have been appealing and a great read. Where previous installments left me... | [] | B001L2BDWK | B001L2BDWK | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,282,626,367,000 | 0 | false |
4 | A Quirky Julia Child for Teens | This was one of the quirkiest little books I'd read in awhile. Since I genuinely love to read "foodie lit," I'd wanted to read this one for quite some time. The references to sauces, pastries, and meat preparations were glorious, and made me a bit jealous that such a young girl could master them! Elaine was truly an... | [] | 0060294582 | 0060294582 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,281,393,449,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Funny, Philosophical, & Sad All At Once | Frangipani came out of left field for me. I wasn't 100% sure what to expect, and yet had picked it up on a whim, thinking that it might be interesting to read a book set in Tahiti. The bonus was that it is also written by a Tahitian writer who was born and raised there. At the risk of sounding cliche, Vaite's novel ... | [] | 0316114669 | 0316114669 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,280,731,956,000 | 1 | false |
3 | Imaginative Yet Drawn Out | Yes, it had magic, shape-shifting, and apocalyptic sort of events. Yes, it had well written sentence constructions and interesting concepts. I just couldn't get into it. Now, I realize that because I didn't get into it, doesn't mean someone else might feel the opposite, and actually love it. I just didn't. It was ... | [] | 0375845658 | 0375845658 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,280,524,178,000 | 1 | true |
3 | A Paranormal Mystery that Follows Through | Manifest is an interesting blend of the new and popular mystery and paranormal story that so many readers have come to crave. In this particular story, the paranormal element comes in the form of a group of teens who find they have matching "tattoos" or marks in the shape of the letter "M." Krystal's power seems to b... | [] | 037383196X | 037383196X | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,280,363,175,000 | 0 | false |
4 | A Life Amazingly Well Lived | For anyone who has ever watched the classic movie Ben Hur, there is this gut-wrenching moment in the film where Ben Hur goes to this rocky canyon to visit his mother and sister, who have been afflicted with leprosy. They have been cast out by society, with only basket deliveries of food being let down into their valle... | [] | 0977914305 | 0977914305 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,280,213,398,000 | 3 | true |
3 | Spying on Someone's Email Can Be Fun | As a fan of books such as Bridget Jones Diary, Meg Cabot's The Boy Next Door and Boy Meets Girl, I had already read a variety of books that use the email, or epistolary format in telling the story. While I like the playful way that this style shows the development of a relationship, there does seem to be some advantag... | [] | 1402219032 | 1402219032 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,279,534,418,000 | 5 | true |
4 | Interesting Companion to the First Book | As with The Forest of Hands and Teeth, I felt like I couldn't put the book down. The book opens with a pretty dramatic scene where Gabry and her friends have gone into the Dark City and encounter a couple of crazed Mudo who are out for their blood. The drama of this scene left me flipping pages. In some ways, I was ... | [] | 0385736843 | 0385736843 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,279,327,117,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Amazing Mix of Hawaiian Culture & Fiction | Moana's struggle with her life in California, separated from her Hawaiian heritage, land, and culture, bring her to a critical juncture in her life where she must decide what she most wants. In this short novel, we get the sense that cultural identity is critical to one's happiness. As with most native stories in lit... | [] | 0873362063 | 0873362063 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,279,327,039,000 | 3 | false |
4 | Time to Move the Story Forward | While some reviewers found book six slow, I thought the story in book six introduced new characters and situations that are obviously going to set up books down the line. Because I'm not always into long, drawn-out mysteries, I actually enjoyed this novel for its straight-forward action and plot development. Yes, the... | [] | 0441014917 | 0441014917 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,278,498,591,000 | 0 | true |
5 | Let the Rebellion Begin! | As with The Hunger Games, I did think that Catching Fire started off pretty slow. The difference between the two books was that in book one, I felt like I knew what was going to happen, yet still needed the story spelled out to me so that I had a solid background. In book 2, I really didn't feel as though I knew what... | [] | 0439023491 | 0439023491 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,278,105,749,000 | 0 | false |
3 | Might Be a Transitional Sookie Book? | Although I was pretty attached to the Bill & Sookie storyline early on, which had me ticked off when the stories progressed into different avenues and creatures, I can now see how the arc of the story might be coming together. In fact, I've begun to feel like I'm watching an episode of an exciting new show with each b... | [] | 0441019358 | 0441019358 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,277,191,424,000 | 3 | true |
4 | Gripping Autobiography | Victoria Gotti's story of her family growing up, and later marriage and family of her own, had me enthralled from the opening chapters of the book. Not only could I not put it down until I had read every last page, but I also found myself understanding elements of her upbringing that I thought I would never be able to... | [] | B003IWYG2U | B003IWYG2U | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,276,890,491,000 | 0 | false |
3 | Lots of Paranormal Activity | To put it simply, I found this book to be cute and engaging. The relationship between Merry and her ball player Jason, picks up so quickly that you really do start flipping through pages to see where they are headed. Also, the number of quirky neighbors and things we learn about their lives and, in some cases, their ... | [] | 1402236611 | 1402236611 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,276,582,137,000 | 4 | false |
4 | An Irish Journey to Find Oneself & Love | While the story sounds very familiar, like other tales of quilt makers, cooks, or seamstresses wherein a group of women teach a younger novice about a craft and life, there was something fresh and comforting about this story. Kate was a strange contradiction of weaknesses and strengths that I think might be a bit more ... | [] | 0061721557 | 0061721557 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,276,052,510,000 | 0 | false |
3 | Not My Favorite in the Series, But Still Good | While I appreciated the witty banter and thrilling action of book four, I had a real difficult time getting into this particular story. It seemed to me that the previous installments had helped to create this character in Lord Vaughn who was quite unpopular to the reader. Throughout the stories, he seemed like this swi... | [] | 0451224418 | 0451224418 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,275,290,476,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Women's Lives, Women's Stories | Embroideries is an interesting, and often funny look into a group of Iranian women chattering about their lives, loves, and sexual histories. Taken from some of the characters we know from Persepolis, there is a feeling of already knowing some of the characters introduced in the story, and there is a sense of irony and... | [] | 0375423052 | 0375423052 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,274,842,243,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Early and Modern Polygamy in One Complex Story | Polygamy is not an easy subject to wrap one's mind around, and I can't say that I feel any better about it now than I did before. In Ebershoff's novel, you get the sense that he is trying to not necessarily explain polygamy, but to demonstrate some of the effects of the institution on those involved or around it. Altho... | [] | 0812974158 | 0812974158 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,274,671,341,000 | 2 | false |
5 | A Charming Romantic Trip | I really can't say enough how much I enjoyed reading this wonderful book. As a fan of Meg Cabot's adult books, and Sophie Kinsella's stand alone novels, I felt like I'd found a book that was reminiscent of the type of "chick lit" that allowed the main character to be strong, yet emotionally open. Tilly was a sweet char... | [] | 1402237502 | 1402237502 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,273,296,484,000 | 4 | false |
4 | No Deception Here, Just Another Great Spy Romance | As with each of the novels in this series so far, there is a level of tension, and in this case, I actually really enjoyed the distance and frustration introduced so early on in the story. Rather than a shallow, "I love you and feel passionate towards you" from the get-go, we have two characters who have to learn more ... | [] | 0143058983 | 0143058983 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,272,513,872,000 | 0 | false |
4 | A Delightful Consideration of Jane Austen's Personal Life | I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. One thing I really relish, is being able to have an author allow me the luxury of stepping back into academia. Graduate school was one of those experiences that I loved and cherish, and enjoy escaping back into it through the pages of an author's text. In this case, I thought it was fun... | [] | 0824947711 | 0824947711 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,272,321,216,000 | 0 | false |
4 | A Look Inside a Juvenile Corrections Facility | Reese is a unique young man, that you grow to see as a troubled kid, and not as a violent criminal. His desire to change really becomes tied to his ability to change what he goes home to. If he is frustrated by his family's poverty and his failure at school, then his behavior is one that will match it; he will eventual... | [] | 0061214809 | 0061214809 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,271,995,807,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Beautiful Story of Love's Endurance | First, I have to say that this was one of the more difficult audio books to follow. A simple distraction in traffic left me tuning back in to the story saying, "Wait...who is that talking now?" Since it is told from multiple perspectives, and they feel different from one another in the beginning, it was often hard to f... | [] | 1419333429 | 1419333429 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,271,169,937,000 | 0 | false |
3 | Not Quite the Treat I'd Thought | I really wanted to like this book, with its cute premise of a young girl infatuated with all things Jane Austen, the pastry shop, and multiple courtships, but I just didn't. While it might be because the 12 year old character Polly grated on my nerves with her endless talking as if she somehow was a Romantic period cha... | [] | 1606840258 | 1606840258 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,270,590,535,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Crazy Bunch of Adventures | Following up Rapunzel's Revenge, we get the back story on Rapunzel's friend, side-kick, and love interest Jack. Patterned after Jack in the Beanstalk, but only slightly, Jack tried to save his family by playing a type of Robin Hood character in planting a beanstalk to reach the top of the skyscraper owned by the evil r... | [] | 1599900769 | 1599900769 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,270,159,583,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Fun, Romantic Victorian Spy Novel | If the story plot sounds complicated, it really isn't. While it jumps around, pulling you from character to character, making you wonder who might be a spy, the real story centers around this complicated relationship and emotional dance between Henrietta and Miles. Although you realize there is a spy story going on, th... | [] | 0451220048 | 0451220048 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,269,573,627,000 | 0 | false |
5 | Familiar Character, Yet Fun Western Twist | Graphic novels are a new phenomena with me. I actually have grown to really like them, and am pretty happy to see that I'm not alone in this fascination. Although I'd say that Rapunzel's Revenge might be a more enticing read for a youngster (were I a mother with young children, I could see this being a favorite), I did... | [] | 1599902885 | 1599902885 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,268,662,534,000 | 1 | false |
3 | Lots of Characters, All Interesting | Throughout the story, you follow the lives of the different characters . As is familiar today, we watch one character's story, then move on to another, examining how they all intersect. In this story, they do all rub shoulders eventually, but not all for one overriding story. Each story is important. There is the old l... | [] | 0670021407 | 0670021407 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,268,347,424,000 | 1 | false |
4 | A Poignant Biography in Graphic Novel Form | In the first of the two, we get the life of young Marjane from the time of the shah, to the attack by Iraq. Marjane's family try to explain to this little girl about her family's royal history, her family friends' experiences in prison, and her new role as a young woman in an Islamic state. By the end of book one, Marj... | [] | 0375714839 | 0375714839 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,268,260,470,000 | 0 | false |
4 | Yet Another Hardy HeartBreaker | Jude Fawley, the central character of the novel, has hopes for a future wherein he can get an education, and rise out of poverty. In this pursuit, he meets a young woman named Arabella, who convinces him to marry her after tricking him into believing she might be pregnant. Although the couple do eventually have a child... | [] | 1593080352 | 1593080352 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,267,073,043,000 | 1 | false |
4 | Cute, Fast-Paced Paranormal Mystery/Romance | Lucy Valentine's family are a long line of psychics who have channeled their skill into a lucrative matchmaking business, only they 1) have a curse that makes it impossible for them to stay with a person they love, and 2) Lucy's skill has been zapped through a freak accident into a skill of seeing things a person has l... | [] | 0312946139 | 0312946139 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,266,301,832,000 | 0 | false |
5 | An Amazing Coming of Age Story in Artistic, Graphic Style | Not what I would think of a graphic novel, with its hard-hitting issues and sketches to depict them, I was duly impressed by Thompson's artistic expression of a coming of age story. The story stirred me, disturbed me, and made me think more about what life throws at us, and can I just say, how do any of us survive to g... | [] | 1891830430 | 1891830430 | AH74XLC3QBXVC6UCOAQOJH3WJYGA | 1,265,862,059,000 | 0 | false |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.