Stephen King is an incredible writer, but also a fascinating person.
I loved the memoir section of this book. The section about writing was interesting, fun and inspiring (even for someone who doesn’t plan on writing fiction!)
A great read for anyone who loves writing, wants to be a writer or is just a King fan.
“No one tells you it’s all about to change, to be taken away. There’s no proximity alert, no indication that you’re standing on the precipice. And maybe that’s what makes tragedy so tragic.”
Dark Matter was so much sadder than I anticipated, and so, so good. It’s like an insane action movie in literary form; gave me Inception vibes (a little bit, at least). It’s surprisingly emotional, and incredibly thought provoking.
“Until everything topples, we have no idea what we actually have, how precariously and perfectly it all hangs together.”
“Like any self-actualized, successful, capable adult woman would do in this situation, I duck behind the Q-tips.”
This book was very cute and funny at the beginning, and kind of lost steam for me in the last quarter. (Keep in mind that this is ultimately geared towards moms, and I don’t have kids.)
Amy is a funny, likable character and I could relate to a lot of what she was thinking and feeling.
The ending was a little melodramatic and sitcom-y, but it was a still a good palate cleanser book and a nice break from heavier reads.
“Hatred spreads – it doesn’t burn out with time. Someone needs to stand up and stop it.”
The Things We Cannot Say is a heart wrenching story about the horrors and realities of WWII. I enjoyed Alina’s chapters more than Alice’s but the story came together nicely and had a very emotional ending.
I did think this book was just a smidge too long, and I had figured out where it was going – it took awhile to get there but the payoff is good.
I would make sure you have a feel-good book ready for when you finish this one!
This was a fun read that kept me guessing until the very end.
I did find it to be a little confusing, and I kept reading primarily just because I wanted to know what the heck was going on.
All in all, it’s a good middle ground thriller. Good enough to keep you interested, but it didn’t blow me away.
Feeney’s writing is good and I look forward to reading more of her work!
“I thought how strange it had never occurred to me before that I was only purely happy until I was nine years old.”
I’ve been meaning to read The Bell Jar for years, and I’m glad I finally did. Plath’s writing is engaging and easy to read. Esther Greenwood is a likable character, and I found myself rooting for her the entire time.
I think this book will resonate with anyone who has experienced anxiety or self doubt; a lot of Esther’s thoughts really hit the nail on the head when it comes to believing we aren’t enough. (I don’t have any personal experience with depression so I don’t want to comment on that.)
I think, even given the time in which it’s set, this book tackles mental health issues pretty well.
Commonwealth had my interest at the beginning, and slowly lost it as the book went on…eventually losing it completely by the end.
The characters are barely likable. The overall vibe is just kind of odd and depressing and seemingly unrealistic. I feel like important details aren’t explored enough, and unimportant parts are brought up again and again…and again.
“You start out with an idea you like. You write that idea down. You let it sit for five days, and when you come back to it, the words have rearranged themselves on the page. Now it’s shape-shifted into the dumbest idea you’ve ever seen.”
SSDGM is the perfect companion to My Favorite Murder. It’s best enjoyed by people who have been MFM fans for a long time (or at least have listened to a sizable chunk of episodes) – there are a lot of references to the podcast, inside jokes, etc.
Karen and Georgia have managed to write one of the funniest/saddest books I’ve ever read. It feels like you’re sitting down with your two cool, older sisters and getting valuable life advice.
Overall, totally worth the wait and the hype.
“We barely get any time on this planet. Do not spend it pleasing other people. Fuck politeness. Live life exactly how you want to live it so you can love the life you make for yourself.”
“I’ve seen people make those choices. Maybe they love their families. Love their pets. But that doesn’t stop them from being monsters when they get the chance.”
I finished Stillhouse Lake and immediately downloaded and read the second book. This story didn’t quite captivate me as much as the first, but it was a good continuation of the story.
The depravity of Melvin Royal goes much deeper than anyone knew. I didn’t LOVE the more investigative, detective angle of this book but I think it wrapped up nicely.
I look forward to reading the third book!
“But the past never leaves us. It’s in every breath, every cell, every second. I know that now.”
“Normal life. Comfortable life. Not perfect, of course. Nobody had a perfect marriage, did they?”
This book is bananas! My heart was pounding for the last few chapters and it leads perfectly into the second book (which I’ll probably pick up next).
Gwen is a badass. She’s a survivor. She’s done what she needed to do to protect herself and her children. She finally settles down in a nice, peaceful community. Then, a body is found in the lake next to her house. And the nightmare starts all over.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers, crime shows, true crime, etc. It has an action movie element to it that I feel a lot of thrillers sometimes lack.
Read with Aimee 