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read in 2015

19 books.

read

The Sunday Philosophy Club (Isabel Dalhousie, #1)

by: Alexander McCall Smith
Ave. Rating: 3.36
Pages: 272
Year Published: 2005 (2004)
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"Slow to start, but it got better. "
- katelynn
05/08/2015
read

Defending Jacob

by: William Landay
Ave. Rating: 4
Pages: 421
Year Published: 2012
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"Wow what an emotional ending - I feel like I'll be reeling for a while. What a well-written book - but definitely hard to read. It's unsettling and disturbing- especially as a parent. Not sure I'd re-read it, but it's definitely worth the first read. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time."
- katelynn
01/24/2015
read

The Martian

by: Andy Weir
Ave. Rating: 4.42
Pages: 384
Year Published: 2014 (2011)
Date Read: 07/18/2015
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read

A Thousand Splendid Suns

by: Khaled Hosseini
Ave. Rating: 4.44
Pages: 372
Year Published: 2007
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"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
read

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

by: Max Brooks
Ave. Rating: 4.02
Pages: 342
Year Published: 2006
Date Read: 02/10/2015
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read

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1)

by: Alan Bradley
Ave. Rating: 3.82
Pages: 374
Year Published: 2009
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"Such a fun read! One I can't wait to share with my children. The narrator is a strong, smart, scientific girl that I want my daughters to emulate! The story is engaging and funny and heartwarming."
- katelynn
03/10/2015
read

Dark Places

by: Gillian Flynn
Ave. Rating: 3.95
Pages: 424
Year Published: 2009
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"I could not wait for this book to end. It made me feel so icky. It's filled with sad, pathetic people in sad, pathetic places. I think the best word to describe the story and characters is UGLY. I give 3 stars instead of lower because it is well-written, like Gone Girl, with interesting characters."
- katelynn
11/07/2015
read

The Lake House

by: Kate Morton
Ave. Rating: 4.07
Pages: 495
Year Published: 2015
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"This book was perfect until the very end. There was one detail that I would have left out - it was too kitschy. But I still give it 5 stars for the reading experience and for having such a well-crafted story. So many interesting twists and secrets - I was guessing until the end. One facet that I didn't appreciate that's also been in some of her other books is the way she manipulates your emotions to be absolutely fine with infidelity. It's not something that's beautiful and tragic - it's never good in any way.

Overall, fantastic book that I'm sure I'll read again and recommend to all!"
- katelynn
11/06/2015
read

Me Before You (Me Before You, #1)

by: Jojo Moyes
Ave. Rating: 4.26
Pages: 369
Year Published: 2012
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"Wow, so many emotions. This is a story and a perspective that I will chew on for a while. Even though I called the ending from the very beginning, it was still completely engrossing. Very well written and careful handling of a difficult topic."
- katelynn
07/02/2015
read

Hadassah: One Night with the King

by: Tommy Tenney
Ave. Rating: 4.19
Pages: 351
Year Published: 2005 (2003)
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"This is my second time through this one and although I didn't enjoy it as much as the first time, it was still great! It's a beautiful portrait of how to approach marriage and general trials of life. It also really makes you think about the story of Esther and all that she went through and how faithful God is! "
- katelynn
10/08/2015
read

The Invention of Wings

by: Sue Monk Kidd
Ave. Rating: 4.25
Pages: 384
Year Published: 2014
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"Wow. This book has challenged me deeply. I have so much to chew on about purpose and priority. Shoot. Both inspiring and convicting."
- katelynn
12/21/2015
read

Water for Elephants

by: Sara Gruen
Ave. Rating: 4.11
Pages: 368
Year Published: 2007 (2006)
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"It hooked me from the start. I loved the setting - I'm always excited to read historical fiction during times or in places I don't know much about. This was a fascinating peek into circus life in 1930 - I loved reading about the animals. The plot was gripping and the characters were great. Would have given 5 stars except for a few smutty scenes that were a bit too graphic for me. But the smut was not pervasive and it was easily skipped over so I would still recommend it!"
- katelynn
05/22/2015
read

Little Bee

by: Chris Cleave
Ave. Rating: 3.72
Pages: 271
Year Published: 2010 (2008)
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"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
read

The Little Nugget

by: P.G. Wodehouse
Ave. Rating: 3.79
Pages: 148
Year Published: 0 (1913)
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"PG Wodehouse continues to be one of my favorite audio book experiences. I've listened and re-listened to his books, each time enjoying them more. The best way to describe them is just "delightful!,,,1,0 900379,Hadassah: One Night with the King,Tommy Tenney,Tenney"
- katelynn
08/27/2015
read

The First Phone Call from Heaven

by: Mitch Albom
Ave. Rating: 3.78
Pages: 323
Year Published: 2013
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"It was well-written and definitely had a great ending. Overall the feeling was a little too Chicken-soup-for-the-soul for my taste. "
- katelynn
06/02/2015
read

The Miniaturist (The Miniaturist, #1)

by: Jessie Burton
Ave. Rating: 3.62
Pages: 400
Year Published: 2014
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"I wish I could give this book more stars. This was everything that historical fiction should be: it gives you a glimpse into another time and another culture without sacrificing characters or story. The plot was so intriguing and the heroine was just superb. I chose to read this book because the cover made me curious, knowing nothing about it. What a pleasant surprise! I'll look for more from this author."
- katelynn
11/12/2015
read

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption

by: Stephen King
Ave. Rating: 4.5
Pages: 181
Year Published: 1982
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"This was my first Stephen King novel – wow! I think I'll be reading a lot more of his. It was just so well written. I enjoyed it even though I knew the over arching plot from the movie."
- katelynn
06/13/2015
read

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

by: Neil Gaiman
Ave. Rating: 4.02
Pages: 181
Year Published: 2013
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"It was very well-written and I loved the narration by a child. It was really neat to be introduced to new fantastical experiences from his perspective - he just never questioned anything that was happening. Made me remember my own imaginative childhood! But I only give four stars because the whole fantasy concept was a little weak - it just didn't intrigue me that much. I loved the characters - their weaknesses and strengths were well fleshed out and relatable."
- katelynn
04/04/2015
read

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

by: Gabrielle Zevin
Ave. Rating: 4.04
Pages: 260
Year Published: 2014
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"Overall a light, sweet story. Pluses: enjoyed the story of unexpected fatherhood and all the book-lover talk. Minus: it was hard to like/sympathize with the main character - didn't really like him even after his life turned around. The other characters were great though."
- katelynn
01/29/2015