literature
159 books.
Cloud Cuckoo Land
by: Anthony Doerr
The Death of Vivek Oji
by: Akwaeke Emezi
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The Last Romantics
by: Tara Conklin
"2.5
The writing here was very good, and the plot kept me interested to the end. I just did not like the characters or what happened. I don't mind having unlikable characters or a sad ending, but this was just a whole lot of both and not a lot of point. She kind of wrapped it up with some thoughts... I just didn't think it was enough for the terrible ride I just went on. "
- katelynn
02/20/2020
The writing here was very good, and the plot kept me interested to the end. I just did not like the characters or what happened. I don't mind having unlikable characters or a sad ending, but this was just a whole lot of both and not a lot of point. She kind of wrapped it up with some thoughts... I just didn't think it was enough for the terrible ride I just went on. "
- katelynn
02/20/2020
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A Trick of the Light (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #7)
by: Louise Penny
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Homegoing
by: Yaa Gyasi
"My reaction to this book is summed up in a jaw drop. That's how I felt pretty much the last third of the book, like my jaw was on the floor. This story is beautiful and sweeping and heartbreaking and so much to process! It will leave you changed. This book reminds me of The Invention of Wings - not in content, but in the way I know I will be thinking about it for years to come.
I highly recommend the audio version."
- katelynn
04/21/2020
I highly recommend the audio version."
- katelynn
04/21/2020
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The Dearly Beloved
by: Cara Wall
"4.5"
- katelynn
01/03/2023
- katelynn
01/03/2023
Heads of the Colored People
by: Nafissa Thompson-Spires
In the Midst of Winter
by: Isabel Allende
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True History of the Kelly Gang
by: Peter Carey
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Sparks Like Stars
by: Nadia Hashimi
"3.5"
- katelynn
06/28/2021
- katelynn
06/28/2021
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Burn
by: Ted Dekker
The Seas
by: Samantha Hunt
Deacon King Kong
by: James McBride
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The Kite Runner
by: Khaled Hosseini
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Clock Dance
by: Anne Tyler
"I’ll give it this, for a book where pretty much nothing happens it kept me engaged to the very end. It’s a quiet story (that doesn’t seem to have a lot to say... but maybe I’m missing it).
Maybe I would appreciate it more at a different stage of life."
- katelynn
05/29/2019
Maybe I would appreciate it more at a different stage of life."
- katelynn
05/29/2019
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
by: Khaled Hosseini
"A beautiful, tragic, yet hopeful story. I love books that broaden my perspective and inform me about history while carrying me along with a great story and great characters."
- katelynn
10/13/2015
- katelynn
10/13/2015
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The Cruelest Month (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #3)
by: Louise Penny
"4.5
I came the realization about halfway through this book that this is a series I will read again. Which gave me immense relief because at times I find the writing confusing which is the ONLY criticism I have of this series.
I will read these books again, along with Anne of Green Gables and Narnia and Harry Potter.
Just like in Avonlea, Penny has created a place you want to move to. You want to sit around the fire with these people, eat their food and laugh with them. The magic of these stories is that the mystery is almost secondary to the relationships. The breakthrough with Armand and Beauvoir had me in tears."
- katelynn
05/06/2020
I came the realization about halfway through this book that this is a series I will read again. Which gave me immense relief because at times I find the writing confusing which is the ONLY criticism I have of this series.
I will read these books again, along with Anne of Green Gables and Narnia and Harry Potter.
Just like in Avonlea, Penny has created a place you want to move to. You want to sit around the fire with these people, eat their food and laugh with them. The magic of these stories is that the mystery is almost secondary to the relationships. The breakthrough with Armand and Beauvoir had me in tears."
- katelynn
05/06/2020
The Nickel Boys
by: Colson Whitehead
American Dirt
by: Jeanine Cummins
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The Guide
by: Peter Heller
"I do not love how he wrote the female character.. it felt like just a male ideal, not a real person.
The mystery was intriguing, but it was detracted by the romance. As with The River, it was a completely immersive setting, which was fun. "
- katelynn
04/23/2022
The mystery was intriguing, but it was detracted by the romance. As with The River, it was a completely immersive setting, which was fun. "
- katelynn
04/23/2022
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Nothing to See Here
by: Kevin Wilson
"Oof, talk about a funny book that packs a punch. It treads the line between hilarious and heartbreaking really well and ends with such hope."
- katelynn
05/04/2021
- katelynn
05/04/2021
This Life or the Next
by: Demian Vitanza
A Little Life
by: Hanya Yanagihara
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Where the Crawdads Sing
by: Delia Owens
"For most of the novel, this book was just okay. It was so much hardship, sadness, uncomfortable relationships... but what saves it is the setting. I felt fully immersed in the marsh life. I was definitely swept away by the romance of it. Between this and The Peanut Butter Falcon, it’s been a real Carolina coast love fest over here!
The ending was great. I felt satisfied."
- katelynn
04/09/2020
The ending was great. I felt satisfied."
- katelynn
04/09/2020
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The Orchardist
by: Amanda Coplin
"I waffled back and forth for a while about whether to give this 4 or 5 stars. The book as a whole was undoubtedly a 5, but the ending... Do I give it a 4 because I don't like how it ends or a 5 because it ends as it should? This books is equal parts romantic and realist. So, SO beautifully written. Other reviews call it "sweeping" - which I think is a fitting descriptor.
Overall I feel confused about it - because I didn't love the story. But I loved the book."
- katelynn
04/27/2017
Overall I feel confused about it - because I didn't love the story. But I loved the book."
- katelynn
04/27/2017
Redhead by the Side of the Road
by: Anne Tyler
The Kindest Lie
by: Nancy Johnson
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The Poisonwood Bible
by: Barbara Kingsolver
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A Rule Against Murder (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #4)
by: Louise Penny
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The River
by: Peter Heller
"4.5
Beautiful writing, amazing setting, and page-turning plot. A literary thriller with an incredible premise. The ending was heart-breaking, but there's plenty of warning for it if you're looking.
I loved the way the sentence structure was sometimes long and lyrical but sometimes short and staccato - moving you at the pace of the story.
I will definitely read more by this author!"
- katelynn
05/26/2021
Beautiful writing, amazing setting, and page-turning plot. A literary thriller with an incredible premise. The ending was heart-breaking, but there's plenty of warning for it if you're looking.
I loved the way the sentence structure was sometimes long and lyrical but sometimes short and staccato - moving you at the pace of the story.
I will definitely read more by this author!"
- katelynn
05/26/2021
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Last Summer on State Street
by: Toya Wolfe
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The History of Bees (Klimakvartetten, #1)
by: Maja Lunde
The All of It
by: Jeannette Haien
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Writers & Lovers
by: Lily King
"I didn't want to like this book. On the surface, it seems annoying. A naval-gazing protagonist I can't relate to in a genre that tends to be a bummer.
From the beginning it gripped me. Even though I couldn't relate, I rooted for her. Even though it was hard and sad, it was also hopeful and joyous in the end. Looking forward to discussing this with book club!"
- katelynn
04/08/2021
From the beginning it gripped me. Even though I couldn't relate, I rooted for her. Even though it was hard and sad, it was also hopeful and joyous in the end. Looking forward to discussing this with book club!"
- katelynn
04/08/2021
Sorrow and Bliss
by: Meg Mason
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We Are the Light
by: Matthew Quick
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Father Melancholy's Daughter
by: Gail Godwin
"If this book hadn’t been so hard to finish, it would have easily been a 5 Star for me. The writing is so rich and beautiful - heavy with symbolism and religious reflections. The story of this girl coming into herself as an adult, free from but also enriched by the circumstances of her past, is really lovely to watch. There really wasn’t a lot of plot - it’s mostly character development. That’s not usually my cup of tea but I feel edified by reading this - not only as a lover of literature but also as a thoughtful religious person."
- katelynn
04/22/2018
- katelynn
04/22/2018
The Mars Room
by: Rachel Kushner
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Chosen (The Lost Books, #1)
by: Ted Dekker
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Britt-Marie Was Here
by: Fredrik Backman
"Heart. Humor. Those are the main things I love in novels right now and Backman always gives them to me in spades. This novel was no exception. It was wonderful. Masterful character development, hilarious interactions - one day I’m going to read so much Backman I’ll wake up a sports fan against my will. "
- katelynn
07/22/2019
- katelynn
07/22/2019
Girl, Woman, Other
by: Bernardine Evaristo
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Purple Hibiscus
by: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
"The writing was good and I was immediately endeared to the narrator/protagonist. Her blossoming was really great to watch. But overall I felt the story lacked plot. It seemed meandering and directionless."
- katelynn
04/08/2019
- katelynn
04/08/2019
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Little Fires Everywhere
by: Celeste Ng
The Mountains Sing
by: Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
Bride of the Sea
by: Eman Quotah
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The Latecomer
by: Jean Hanff Korelitz
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An American Marriage
by: Tayari Jones
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Mansfield Park
by: Jane Austen
Infinite Country
by: Patricia Engel
Idaho
by: Emily Ruskovich
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Everyone Brave is Forgiven
by: Chris Cleave
"Still reeling a bit from this one. It started out so light-hearted and hilarious - the tone reminded me so much of P.G. Wodehouse, which I LOVE. There's a moment when all of that changes. The tone of the book, along with the internal journey of the characters, gets more and more serious. As I can imagine with the war, it's rather a jarring change, but it feels real and true.
The writing is so, so good. It checked my boxes of heart and humor, then checked my additional box of "teaches me history without me noticing".
I didn't love the ending, but again, it felt real. It's not neat and tidy, but it speaks to the reality of the time and the progression of the characters."
- katelynn
12/13/2019
The writing is so, so good. It checked my boxes of heart and humor, then checked my additional box of "teaches me history without me noticing".
I didn't love the ending, but again, it felt real. It's not neat and tidy, but it speaks to the reality of the time and the progression of the characters."
- katelynn
12/13/2019
Lights All Night Long
by: Lydia Fitzpatrick
The Morning Star
by: Karl Ove Knausgård
Everything Here Is Beautiful
by: Mira T. Lee
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The Remains of the Day
by: Kazuo Ishiguro
"Wow. This book is so subtle and quiet in its tragedy that the heartbreak of it takes you by surprise. It really is beautifully crafted - so British in its description of deeply felt emotion."
- katelynn
09/20/2014
- katelynn
09/20/2014
The Incendiaries
by: R.O. Kwon
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This Is How It Always Is
by: Laurie Frankel
Exit West
by: Mohsin Hamid
Bel Canto
by: Ann Patchett
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Tomb of Sand
by: Geetanjali Shree
Nobody's Fool (Sully #1)
by: Richard Russo
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A Fatal Grace (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #2)
by: Louise Penny
"Reading this story was just like being wrapped in a warm blanket. I CRAVED reading it. So strange that a story about murder could make you feel that way! The characters and atmosphere were so rich.
I connected with this novel a lot more than the first in the series. I'm finally starting to understand what all the fuss is about! "
- katelynn
12/26/2019
I connected with this novel a lot more than the first in the series. I'm finally starting to understand what all the fuss is about! "
- katelynn
12/26/2019
Transcendent Kingdom
by: Yaa Gyasi
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A Fine Balance
by: Rohinton Mistry
"This one hurt to read... really. It was sweet and beautiful, but at the same time tragic and ugly. It was very long, but I never felt like it was dragging. I loved being able to peer into a different culture - even into different sub-cultures within a larger culture. I loved all of the relationships that grew.
I hated what happened. But I feel like part of being an adult (and really the point of the book) is looking at life as a balance between good and bad. You can't just take the good.
Overall, it's incredibly well-written, absorbing, disturbing and beautiful. I wish I was in a book club that could talk about it - because I tend to see the trees and not the forest. Why did certain characters take certain actions? I don't get it. I'm sure there's a ton of symbolism I'm missing too. "
- katelynn
05/26/2017
I hated what happened. But I feel like part of being an adult (and really the point of the book) is looking at life as a balance between good and bad. You can't just take the good.
Overall, it's incredibly well-written, absorbing, disturbing and beautiful. I wish I was in a book club that could talk about it - because I tend to see the trees and not the forest. Why did certain characters take certain actions? I don't get it. I'm sure there's a ton of symbolism I'm missing too. "
- katelynn
05/26/2017
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Lost Horizon
by: James Hilton
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To Kill a Mockingbird
by: Harper Lee
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Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #1)
by: Louise Penny
"I absolutely understand why people call this comfort reading. It's a murder mystery filled with beautiful, scenic imagery and endearing, complex characters. It's not often that I find a mystery that feels literary in the way it treats character development and relationships.
Although certainly not plot-driven, I'd call this a cozy and engaging read."
- katelynn
01/11/2019
Although certainly not plot-driven, I'd call this a cozy and engaging read."
- katelynn
01/11/2019
Space
by: James A. Michener
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One Foot in Eden
by: Ron Rash
"4.5
Completely absorbing and haunting. Incredible sense of place and culture - I was wrapped up in each perspective character."
- katelynn
01/22/2022
Completely absorbing and haunting. Incredible sense of place and culture - I was wrapped up in each perspective character."
- katelynn
01/22/2022
An Unnecessary Woman
by: Rabih Alameddine
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All the Colors of the Dark
by: Chris Whitaker
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Dear Edward
by: Ann Napolitano
"This book was cruising along at a 3 star for me (meaning I like it, but I don't really like it - 4 star - or love it - 5 star). I especially enjoyed the plot-line in the plane, going deep with the different characters. I was equally bored and intrigued. Classic literary fiction - not much happening.
But the ending brought it up to a 4 star for me. Edward's coming of age and healing are beautiful and inspiring. Although the ending of the plane plot was super hard to read... disturbing really. Will I ever fly again?"
- katelynn
12/15/2021
But the ending brought it up to a 4 star for me. Edward's coming of age and healing are beautiful and inspiring. Although the ending of the plane plot was super hard to read... disturbing really. Will I ever fly again?"
- katelynn
12/15/2021
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The Round House
by: Louise Erdrich
"3.5"
- katelynn
08/02/2021
- katelynn
08/02/2021
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The Space Between Us
by: Thrity Umrigar
"Good. Grief. Talk about compulsively readable literary fiction! I couldn't put this down. I was so invested in each of the characters. They were all flawed - which made for a more complicated read.
The writing was so reflective. The atmosphere and setting were so rich. I felt fully immersed, which I love.
This was a hard, but mostly satisfying read. It felt very real."
- katelynn
03/29/2020
The writing was so reflective. The atmosphere and setting were so rich. I felt fully immersed, which I love.
This was a hard, but mostly satisfying read. It felt very real."
- katelynn
03/29/2020
Home Fire
by: Kamila Shamsie
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Us Against You (Beartown, #2)
by: Fredrik Backman
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My Name Is Lucy Barton
by: Elizabeth Strout
"This falls Into the category of books for me that I can tell are good but I don’t know why. I just didn’t get it."
- katelynn
03/04/2019
- katelynn
03/04/2019
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True Biz
by: Sara Nović
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My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
by: Fredrik Backman
"Although I definitely didn't like this as much as Backman's other books, it was still full of his signature humor and found-family themes. I enjoyed watching the relationships develop, but I got a little tired of the fairy-tale metaphor. It felt overworked."
- katelynn
10/17/2020
- katelynn
10/17/2020
Open Water
by: Caleb Azumah Nelson
The Yield
by: Tara June Winch
Gilead (Gilead, #1)
by: Marilynne Robinson
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The Passenger (The Passenger #1)
by: Cormac McCarthy
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A Quiet Life
by: Ethan Joella
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If Beale Street Could Talk
by: James Baldwin
"I can tell this book is good literature, but I didn’t love it. I get frustrated when I feel like there’s something I am supposed to understand that is just beyond my reach. I wish I could discuss this in a book club!
The incredible writing probably would’ve boosted it to a 4 star for me if not for the grittiness and rawness. The level of crassness kind of took me out of the story... but I could see it maybe accomplishing another purpose of the author."
- katelynn
01/01/2020
The incredible writing probably would’ve boosted it to a 4 star for me if not for the grittiness and rawness. The level of crassness kind of took me out of the story... but I could see it maybe accomplishing another purpose of the author."
- katelynn
01/01/2020
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Anxious People
by: Fredrik Backman
"Backman does it again: writes incredible characters who form beautiful relationships and give us amazing insights into what it means to be human. It’s a story that unfolds in one day but delivers so much hope! I cried a lot. "
- katelynn
12/31/2020
- katelynn
12/31/2020
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley
by: Hannah Tinti
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Unsettled Ground
by: Claire Fuller
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Search
by: Michelle Huneven
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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)
by: Rachel Joyce
"I just can’t. This books makes me want to kiss my husband and hold my children, call my friends and take a walk. Completely overwhelmed.
It’s a beautiful book."
- katelynn
06/13/2020
It’s a beautiful book."
- katelynn
06/13/2020
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
by: Zora Neale Hurston
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Happiness Falls
by: Angie Kim
"RAVE!
This one will linger. So much to consider. She really hit on so many topics! The book is just clever, truly mind-engaging and heart-warming."
- katelynn
10/10/2023
This one will linger. So much to consider. She really hit on so many topics! The book is just clever, truly mind-engaging and heart-warming."
- katelynn
10/10/2023
What Could Be Saved
by: Liese O'Halloran Schwarz
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The Chosen (Reuven Malther #1)
by: Chaim Potok
"3.5"
- katelynn
06/19/2021
- katelynn
06/19/2021
The Night Watchman
by: Louise Erdrich
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The Cliffs
by: J. Courtney Sullivan
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Little Bee
by: Chris Cleave
"I found this story convicting - the horrors we're difficult to read and will stay with me. I think what is convicting is my desire to forget about it. I have three stars not because it was hard to read but because the characters were so in-relatable to me. (The characters I was supposed to relate to anyway) they were just not good."
- katelynn
02/18/2015
- katelynn
02/18/2015
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The Berry Pickers
by: Amanda Peters
Claire of the Sea Light
by: Edwidge Danticat
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Life of Pi
by: Yann Martel
"I was completely shocked by how much I LOVED this book. I've known about the basic plot since it came out and I've seen the movie, so I've had it in the category of books I "probably won't like." (Even though I did really enjoy the movie)
This is nothing like I expected. There's certainly philosophy, but it's not dry. There's essays on the author's opinions, but the plot never drags. And it's just so dang funny!
Read this so we can talk about it!"
- katelynn
04/26/2021
This is nothing like I expected. There's certainly philosophy, but it's not dry. There's essays on the author's opinions, but the plot never drags. And it's just so dang funny!
Read this so we can talk about it!"
- katelynn
04/26/2021
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by: Mark Haddon
Mercy House
by: Alena Dillon
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Meet Me at the Museum
by: Anne Youngson
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Small Things Like These
by: Claire Keegan
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Gone Like Yesterday
by: Janelle M. Williams
Gilead
by: Marilynne Robinson
All the Pretty Horses (The Border Trilogy, #1)
by: Cormac McCarthy
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All the Broken Places (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, #2)
by: John Boyne
The Age of Innocence
by: Edith Wharton
The Bluest Eye
by: Toni Morrison
Castle of Water
by: Dane Huckelbridge
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This Tender Land
by: William Kent Krueger
The Last Exiles
by: Ann Shin
Things We Lost to the Water
by: Eric Nguyen
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Our Souls at Night
by: Kent Haruf
"Sweet and sad. A lovely, quiet story. I think I will appreciate it even more at a different stage of life."
- katelynn
11/20/2019
- katelynn
11/20/2019
Fortune Smiles
by: Adam Johnson
The Other Americans
by: Laila Lalami
The Stories of Breece D'J Pancake
by: Breece D'J Pancake
The Morning Star (Morgenstjernen, #1)
by: Karl Ove Knausgård
Census
by: Jesse Ball
The Most Fun We Ever Had
by: Claire Lombardo
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Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
by: Gail Honeyman
"4.5
This book was a combination of heavy and sweet. Eleanor was such a great protagonist.
And I loved the ending! I don't think I would've 10 years ago, but for me, right now, it was perfect."
- katelynn
06/26/2020
This book was a combination of heavy and sweet. Eleanor was such a great protagonist.
And I loved the ending! I don't think I would've 10 years ago, but for me, right now, it was perfect."
- katelynn
06/26/2020
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The Secret Garden
by: Frances Hodgson Burnett
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The History of Love
by: Nicole Krauss
"I wanted to like this.
But the unusual narrative structure was so off-putting, it made me on edge.
It felt pretentious. I was distracted.
I think this is a book that could definitely benefit from multiple reads. I really think I missed a lot, so it seems unfair to give a review, but eh. Here we are.
I do think the ending was really, really sweet. But it wasn't enough to redeem the rest of the book for me."
- katelynn
11/09/2018
But the unusual narrative structure was so off-putting, it made me on edge.
It felt pretentious. I was distracted.
I think this is a book that could definitely benefit from multiple reads. I really think I missed a lot, so it seems unfair to give a review, but eh. Here we are.
I do think the ending was really, really sweet. But it wasn't enough to redeem the rest of the book for me."
- katelynn
11/09/2018
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Once There Were Wolves
by: Charlotte McConaghy
"4.5
I’ve never read anything like this. Amazing.
It moved me in a deep place, a place in me that loves trees and wilderness. That wants to be alone in nature, but when it gets there is not alone.
Ecological literature? Is this a thing? If so, I’m in.
(I suppose the Peter Heller novels I’ve read would fall in that category- loved that part of those too)"
- katelynn
04/23/2023
I’ve never read anything like this. Amazing.
It moved me in a deep place, a place in me that loves trees and wilderness. That wants to be alone in nature, but when it gets there is not alone.
Ecological literature? Is this a thing? If so, I’m in.
(I suppose the Peter Heller novels I’ve read would fall in that category- loved that part of those too)"
- katelynn
04/23/2023
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A Woman Is No Man
by: Etaf Rum
"Oof. This was rough. A lot of the writing felt pretty basic, in terms of women’s rights discussions. (Just lots of overused phrases). “You’re just as good as a man, follow your dreams, don’t let anyone hold you down, etc.” But the story was anything but basic - it was complex and real and hard.
A great followup to this would be Melinda Gates’ book: The Moment of Lift."
- katelynn
12/31/2020
A great followup to this would be Melinda Gates’ book: The Moment of Lift."
- katelynn
12/31/2020
The Great Believers
by: Rebecca Makkai
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Olive Kitteridge (Olive Kitteridge, #1)
by: Elizabeth Strout
"Oof. This is so painful to read. It hit close to home on several really hard topics. The writing is incredible! But dang.
The hardest part is it's not the visceral, obvious moments of pain that it pokes at. It's the subtle, daily, underlying fears and disappointments that it highlights. The stuff that keeps me awake at night."
- katelynn
03/11/2021
The hardest part is it's not the visceral, obvious moments of pain that it pokes at. It's the subtle, daily, underlying fears and disappointments that it highlights. The stuff that keeps me awake at night."
- katelynn
03/11/2021
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Cold Sassy Tree
by: Olive Ann Burns
"My overall impression of the book place mild. I was hoping for something big in the end but it never came. The characters were complex and the relationships were interesting, but overall the plot was a bit slow."
- katelynn
02/14/2014
- katelynn
02/14/2014
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The Light Between Oceans
by: M.L. Stedman
"4.5. How to describe this? Beautiful. Devastating.
That comes close, I guess.
The experience of reading this was incredibly painful at times. The author captures so well the joys and sorrows of parenthood. The themes of love and heartbreak and forgiveness are wrapped so well in the beautiful setting. It kept me up at night thinking about what the characters would be going through... Makes me hold my children closer.
I dropped it down from 5 stars because the tragedy of the story didn’t have a lot of resolution. For my reading experience to have been perfect, I needed redemption! But I understand and appreciate tragedy for what it is. Such is life. "
- katelynn
08/05/2019
That comes close, I guess.
The experience of reading this was incredibly painful at times. The author captures so well the joys and sorrows of parenthood. The themes of love and heartbreak and forgiveness are wrapped so well in the beautiful setting. It kept me up at night thinking about what the characters would be going through... Makes me hold my children closer.
I dropped it down from 5 stars because the tragedy of the story didn’t have a lot of resolution. For my reading experience to have been perfect, I needed redemption! But I understand and appreciate tragedy for what it is. Such is life. "
- katelynn
08/05/2019
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A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
by: Anthony Marra
"This book is a work of art, truly. A work of art that completely wrecked me multiple times. It's both a beautiful and heart-breaking read. From beginning to end the writing is poetic and thoughtful.
The way the author tells the stories (there are so many stories) is like he's painting a painting starting in the middle and moving outward in a spiral until the picture makes sense. Left to right in the painting is past to future. I've rarely seen the use of third person omniscient POV used so skillfully and effectively.
It goes in the same category of books for me as The Kite Runner. Will I recommend it? Absolutely, emphatically. Will I read it again? I don't think I can handle it a second time."
- katelynn
02/19/2018
The way the author tells the stories (there are so many stories) is like he's painting a painting starting in the middle and moving outward in a spiral until the picture makes sense. Left to right in the painting is past to future. I've rarely seen the use of third person omniscient POV used so skillfully and effectively.
It goes in the same category of books for me as The Kite Runner. Will I recommend it? Absolutely, emphatically. Will I read it again? I don't think I can handle it a second time."
- katelynn
02/19/2018
read
East of Eden
by: John Steinbeck
"4.5"
- katelynn
11/07/2020
- katelynn
11/07/2020
There There
by: Tommy Orange
Betty
by: Tiffany McDaniel
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We All Want Impossible Things
by: Catherine Newman
The Overstory
by: Richard Powers
read
The Vanishing Half
by: Brit Bennett
"This was a good book, but not an enjoyable one. I wouldn't say it was hard to read, but it's hard to sit with.
It's certainly written masterfully. The themes of identity and personhood are woven incredibly through the three generations. But I need someone to talk to about it. Let's debrief."
- katelynn
07/14/2020
It's certainly written masterfully. The themes of identity and personhood are woven incredibly through the three generations. But I need someone to talk to about it. Let's debrief."
- katelynn
07/14/2020
read
A Man Called Ove
by: Fredrik Backman
"I would've given this book 3 stars up until the last third. It really got good and left me in tears in the end. It was worth the read - even though it took more effort for me since I generally dislike books in a modern setting."
- katelynn
11/17/2016
- katelynn
11/17/2016
read
Till We Have Faces
by: C.S. Lewis
"I loved this up to the end. I think I'm probably missing some of the greater points/themes/symbolism. I had to read a synopsis and I still don't totally get it. Just wish I had a lit class or a good book club to discuss this with. Again my inability to see the forest for the trees is hindering my enjoyment of good books. "
- katelynn
03/19/2018
- katelynn
03/19/2018
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Landslide
by: Susan Conley
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Long Island Compromise
by: Taffy Brodesser-Akner
read
Never Let Me Go
by: Kazuo Ishiguro
"It's hard to write a review of this book without comparing it to Remains of the Day. As in RotD, so much of the depth of emotion and connection is left unsaid, not just literally unsaid by the characters but also unexplained by the author. It's not bad - just interesting. Somehow it makes the pathos of both books so much sadder. This is another deeply sad book - there are no cathartic moments or revelations. It is quietly reflective on a society we are not that far from. I did appreciate that although the setting was somewhat distopic, the story focused on the characters and their relationships. The distopia was a seldom-mentioned backdrop. "
- katelynn
01/03/2016
- katelynn
01/03/2016
Normal People
by: Sally Rooney
read
Ask Again, Yes
by: Mary Beth Keane
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read
Americanah
by: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
"So disappointing. The writing was lovely and there were a lot of important conversations had. But the plot - the actual story was just... not good.
This is my second Adichie novel and I don't think there will be a third. She writes with a realism that I can appreciate, but it's just unpleasant to read."
- katelynn
09/15/2020
This is my second Adichie novel and I don't think there will be a third. She writes with a realism that I can appreciate, but it's just unpleasant to read."
- katelynn
09/15/2020
Augustown
by: Kei Miller
read
The Great Alone
by: Kristin Hannah
read
Bury Your Dead (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #6)
by: Louise Penny
read
Red at the Bone
by: Jacqueline Woodson
"This was, as expected, gorgeous, poetic writing. The narrative structure reminded me of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena - the story is told from the center outward in spirals, moving forward and backward in time with different characters. I didn't find it too confusing, and as with Vital Phenomena, it was a beautiful way to paint a picture. In this case, the picture is of a family - and all of the expectations and support and responsibilities and love that go with it. It was definitely deeply sad, but worth it."
- katelynn
02/07/2020
- katelynn
02/07/2020
The Enchanted
by: Rene Denfeld
The Name of the Rose
by: Umberto Eco
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Loved and Missed
by: Susie Boyt
read
The Brutal Telling (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #5)
by: Louise Penny
"This was a shocker for me - I can't believe she did what she did! Wow.
But another cozy, wonderful Gamache story. I loved every minute. Certain parts were so moving I had to pause, take a moment to get it together. All from a mystery novel! What Penny does with these books is really special."
- katelynn
09/26/2020
But another cozy, wonderful Gamache story. I loved every minute. Certain parts were so moving I had to pause, take a moment to get it together. All from a mystery novel! What Penny does with these books is really special."
- katelynn
09/26/2020
read
The Dutch House
by: Ann Patchett
"I found this book.... overhyped. What was not overhyped was the Tom Hanks narration! A++
It was riding along at a 3 stars but the ending brought it up for sure. I get it - it’s interesting for discussion, themes, symbolism and the like. But I didn’t enjoy the story really. It was just “eh” through till like 75%, then it got better. There was some meaning and heartfelt moments brought in to save the day."
- katelynn
04/02/2020
It was riding along at a 3 stars but the ending brought it up for sure. I get it - it’s interesting for discussion, themes, symbolism and the like. But I didn’t enjoy the story really. It was just “eh” through till like 75%, then it got better. There was some meaning and heartfelt moments brought in to save the day."
- katelynn
04/02/2020
read
Beartown (Beartown, #1)
by: Fredrik Backman
"I find it hard to express my feelings about this book. My heart! This novel engrossed me - engaged all of my emotions, my senses, my imagination. It made me think about myself and our world - about the ordinary people I see every day - differently.
I've heard Backman described as the Dickens of our time. I absolutely get it after reading this book. What I loved the most was also the most Dickens-esque element of the book: the vast array of richly developed characters. There are so many! And none of them are minor. Backman uses his time so well giving you a brief, but vital glimpse into each character's life, what shapes their perspective. He weaves them all together so beautifully - no one is a stock character! Everyone is part of the rich tapestry that makes up this small town.
Beartown is a character in itself, which I love! This town could be any sports-obsessed, economically depressed town in any part of the world. I am not a sports person, but I could absolutely get in the mindset of the people and this thing that unites them.
A lot of the content was very difficult to read, and the results were upsetting. I finished the book feeling a deep sense of injustice and anger, but also hope. The sacrifice, love and commitment that so many people in the community displayed paint a picture of a different, better world than the one we live in today."
- katelynn
05/30/2018
I've heard Backman described as the Dickens of our time. I absolutely get it after reading this book. What I loved the most was also the most Dickens-esque element of the book: the vast array of richly developed characters. There are so many! And none of them are minor. Backman uses his time so well giving you a brief, but vital glimpse into each character's life, what shapes their perspective. He weaves them all together so beautifully - no one is a stock character! Everyone is part of the rich tapestry that makes up this small town.
Beartown is a character in itself, which I love! This town could be any sports-obsessed, economically depressed town in any part of the world. I am not a sports person, but I could absolutely get in the mindset of the people and this thing that unites them.
A lot of the content was very difficult to read, and the results were upsetting. I finished the book feeling a deep sense of injustice and anger, but also hope. The sacrifice, love and commitment that so many people in the community displayed paint a picture of a different, better world than the one we live in today."
- katelynn
05/30/2018
read
The Stationery Shop
by: Marjan Kamali
"I was swept away by the picture of this culture - one I’ve never had close contact with before. It was rich and vivid. I learned so much history, but I still feel like there’s so much I don’t understand.
At first I found myself rolling my eyes at the dramatic and all-consuming nature of the love story - it felt just very YA to me. But then, isn’t that just being young and in love? Once I let go of my cynicism and suspend reality a bit, I could appreciate the ROMANCE of this life-long love story. Especially the ending - I listened to beautiful Persian music and got all melty!
[mild spoilers - next paragraph]
I was even more fascinated with the adult characters - the Stationery store owner and Bahman’s mother. Their story was fully of so much human brokenness and tragedy. It was paralleled by the beautiful and pure love story of our main characters. The tragedy of the first story lead to the tragedy of the second. Mr. Fakhri - his sins, loves, heartbreak, and attempts at redemption - are worthy of a very long book club discussion.
[end spoilers]
The ending was just lovely. I went up to five stars because of that ending. And don’t miss the acknowledgements!!! They left me crying in a Starbucks."
- katelynn
01/18/2020
At first I found myself rolling my eyes at the dramatic and all-consuming nature of the love story - it felt just very YA to me. But then, isn’t that just being young and in love? Once I let go of my cynicism and suspend reality a bit, I could appreciate the ROMANCE of this life-long love story. Especially the ending - I listened to beautiful Persian music and got all melty!
[mild spoilers - next paragraph]
I was even more fascinated with the adult characters - the Stationery store owner and Bahman’s mother. Their story was fully of so much human brokenness and tragedy. It was paralleled by the beautiful and pure love story of our main characters. The tragedy of the first story lead to the tragedy of the second. Mr. Fakhri - his sins, loves, heartbreak, and attempts at redemption - are worthy of a very long book club discussion.
[end spoilers]
The ending was just lovely. I went up to five stars because of that ending. And don’t miss the acknowledgements!!! They left me crying in a Starbucks."
- katelynn
01/18/2020