The Talented Mr. Ripley

Review:

 

Tom Ripley is not a likable character though I did kind of feel sorry for him at times. What really motivates his actions? Is it his superiority complex, his contempt for others, his confused sexuality, or just boredom?

 

The murders are particularly vicious. His ability to mimic others is uncanny. The audio was good and I couldn't skip over the descriptions of the killings, so I really got the full effect. 

 

Part of me wanted him to get away with it and part of me wanted him to get caught. I was a bit disappointed at the lack of resolution at the end. I didn't realize there were more books, so there's that. But overall a good book, fun to listen to.

 

I watched the movie many years ago and this book makes we want to see it again - to compare. 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1620837/the-talented-mr-ripley

Childhood's End

Review:

 

A slow-paced story about aliens who come to earth bringing world peace, ending cruelty, and guiding mankind into a strange, new, and unexpected future.

 

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. The narrator was ok, but not exceptional. The events of the story take place over decades and generations. It was interesting to hear how different people felt about the aliens and the prospect of world peace. And what do people do with themselves once everything is affordable and you actually don't have to work if you don't want to? The ending was clever and not at all what I expected.

 

Overall it was just okay.

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1617545/childhood-s-end

Girl With All the Gifts - audio review

Review:

 

Melanie takes the reader on an exciting, suspenseful, and unexpected journey that explores the meaning of what it is to be human.

 

There are surprises that I don't want to give away, but let me say this book is an amazing read that you shouldn't miss.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1615926/girl-with-all-the-gifts-audio-review

"It's not natural for women to fight."
"It's not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand."

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1615925/post

Six of Crows Duology - review

Review:

No mourners.

No funerals.

 

 

Kaz and his friends will keep you wondering how they can possibly survive his next brilliant (yet crazy) scheme, even as you are falling in love with these flawed and complex characters.

 

These books were amazing and fantastic. I can't wait to read The Grisha Trilogy that started this universe. 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1615923/six-of-crows-duology-review

Hold Tight - review

Review:

 

I listened to the audio of this book. The narrator was a bit annoying at times. I didn't really like his style. The story was okay, a bit dated maybe. The characters had blackberries instead of iPhones, GPS technology was brand new, and teenagers were on MySpace. The old tech was a bit distracting. It was interesting to think about how much easier it is for police as well as regular citizens to track people and find evidence using electronic means. 

 

The parents are worried about their son because his friend committed suicide and he is shutting them out. So, they decide to put software on his computer so they can track every keystroke he makes. This, of course, leads to them finding out things they can't explain. And then their son disappears. There is also a man killing people, but we don't know exactly why until much later.

 

I liked the way the book brought together multiple plot lines as the story progressed. But it was more than a bit slow at times. In the end, it was just okay.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1615921/hold-tight-review

I'll Give You the Sun - review

Review:

 

Noah and Jude are twins, and both very artistically inclined. This book follows the twins through some difficult times. It jumps back and forth between years and alternates between Noah and Jude's viewpoints.

 

This book deals with a lot of issues that teens might face, including questioning their sexuality, sex, death, divorce, mental health, and more. I didn't love the book, maybe because I don't usually enjoy realistic fiction. I read it for my Young Adult Literature class, and I probably wouldn't have picked it myself. But I am trying to branch out a bit.

 

Anyway, the book is well written and I can see the appeal it has for young adults. They can easily identify with the characters even if their own situation is a bit different. What bothers me about some of these stories is the romantic relationships. Books like this promote unrealistic expectations about love and relationships. Most of us don't find our "soulmate" (if one even exists), and we don't often experience a love that was "meant to be." Sad I know, but it seems worse to make teens think that this is how love works. 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1614586/i-ll-give-you-the-sun-review

Wintergirls - review

Review:

 

Wow. This book is relentless, intense, and depressing...

That being said, it also seems realistic. It chronicles Lia's descent into anorexia and self-harm. Her best friend was bulemic and has died at the beginning of the book. She tried to call Lia multiple times on the night she died, but Lia didn't answer. The guilt Lia feels contributes to her decline. She has been in and out of treatment and knows how to fool the system. Her mother, father, and stepfather don't know how to reach her or what to do to help her anymore. How do you help someone who is determined to hurt themselves?

 

This book is a difficult read and not for the faint of heart. I didn't enjoy it at all, but I did learn from it and I do see the value in it. Thus my 3 star review. Anderson describes what Lia looks like and what she does to her body in graphic detail. So, beware.

 

I think this could be a good book for teens or their parents to read. Teens may see themselves and see hope or realize what could happen to them. Adults can see the pressures that today's teens face on a daily basis. I think books about these issues are important when they show the whole situation in a realistic light. Anderson does an amazing job of getting inside Lia's head and showing us her thought process.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1614582/wintergirls-review