read in 2017
26 books.
read
What She Knew (Jim Clemo #1)
by: Gilly Macmillan
"So. Good. At first, I was concerned because it seemed really similar to Gone Girl, but the similarities fade away after the very beginning of the book. This story takes you on a journey about human nature and shows what we are capable of under the most trying of circumstances. Unlike Gone Girl, it explores characters who have flaws, but ultimately love each other and are trying their best to deal with tragedy. It was a redemptive, though sad story. I definitely had to keep more of an emotional distance from it than I usually do with books, since the story is about the abduction of a child and what his mother goes through as a result. It was so well-written; I will definitely look out for more from this author."
- katelynn
03/21/2017
- katelynn
03/21/2017
read
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
read
Number the Stars
by: Lois Lowry
"I'm giving this a 4 largely for the sake of my child-self. It was really hard to read this and try to re-capture how I felt about it as a child. It just doesn't hold up like some children's books do. I would've honestly given it 3 stars, but I just feel like I'm betraying my younger self."
- katelynn
03/10/2017
- katelynn
03/10/2017
read
Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia, #2)
by: C.S. Lewis
read
Into the Free (Into the Free, #1)
by: Julie Cantrell
read
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
read
Into the Free (Into the Free #1)
by: Julie Cantrell
read
Holmes on the Range (Holmes on the Range, #1)
by: Steve Hockensmith
"This one was a lot of fun! Stayed interesting all the way through. Funny and heartwarming characters and a mystery that was not at all obvious."
- katelynn
04/22/2017
- katelynn
04/22/2017
read
The Wednesday Wars: A Newbery Honor Award Winner
by: Gary D. Schmidt
"Funny and heartfelt – all around a delight!"
- katelynn
09/01/2017
- katelynn
09/01/2017
read
Intertwine (House of Oak, #1)
by: Nichole Van
read
The Magician’s Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia, #6)
by: C.S. Lewis
read
The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories (Jeeves, #0.5)
by: P.G. Wodehouse
"Delightful, as always. This collection contains my favorite short story, "At Geisenheimer's" - so sweet and funny. I think I will listen to Wodehouse and Montegomery short stories for the rest of my life. The make my heart happy."
- katelynn
10/25/2017
- katelynn
10/25/2017
read
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire #4)
by: George R.R. Martin
read
We Were Liars
by: E. Lockhart
"I've been sitting here waffling a while between 4 and 5 stars - but I think 5 is right. I blazed through this book. It is mysterious without you really understanding why it's mysterious - you don't know what there is to figure out. Which is so tantalizing! For a good portion of the book, I was irritated by the main characters because of their arrogance - which is often a defining characteristic of YA novel protagonists. But the end brings everything around with a broader perspective, which I found satisfying albeit sad."
- katelynn
10/05/2017
- katelynn
10/05/2017
read
Beyond the Sacred Page (The Book of Books Series #2)
by: Jack Cavanaugh
"Second time through this one and it held up! I love that. The first time I read it was probably 7th or 8th grade, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This author is actually really good at telling historical stories in an interesting and informative way - which is what I enjoy about historical fiction. This is a story about the struggles of Bible translators (and readers) during the time of Henry VIII. Overall it was well-written and didn't simplify complex issues. I walk away with a greater appreciation of my religious freedoms and gratitude for the sacrifices of others that have given me these freedoms. The ending was a little trite, but the rest of the book was great."
- katelynn
03/07/2017
- katelynn
03/07/2017
read
The Wednesday Wars
by: Gary D. Schmidt
"Funny and heartfelt – all around a delight!"
- katelynn
09/01/2017
- katelynn
09/01/2017
read
Runaway
by: Alice Munro
"Some of the Stories were good and some are just OK. I have a habit of only seeing the trees and not the forest, so some of the stories ended and I just wanted someone to tell me what the point was. I have a hard time finding themes and symbolism without help.
It was a really nice change of pace to read short stories though – I loved it."
- katelynn
04/02/2017
It was a really nice change of pace to read short stories though – I loved it."
- katelynn
04/02/2017
read
Peace Like a River
by: Leif Enger
"I give this book a standing ovation! There was definitely some kitschy stuff, but it did not diminish the overall greatness of the writing. In the vein of To Kill a Mockingbird, it was a great story with great characters - one I'll want my kids to read. "
- katelynn
05/12/2017
- katelynn
05/12/2017
read
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)
by: George R.R. Martin
read
A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)
by: George R.R. Martin
read
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by: C.S. Lewis
read
A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)
by: George R.R. Martin
read
What She Knew (Jim Clemo, #1)
by: Gilly Macmillan
"So. Good. At first, I was concerned because it seemed really similar to Gone Girl, but the similarities fade away after the very beginning of the book. This story takes you on a journey about human nature and shows what we are capable of under the most trying of circumstances. Unlike Gone Girl, it explores characters who have flaws, but ultimately love each other and are trying their best to deal with tragedy. It was a redemptive, though sad story. I definitely had to keep more of an emotional distance from it than I usually do with books, since the story is about the abduction of a child and what his mother goes through as a result. It was so well-written; I will definitely look out for more from this author."
- katelynn
03/21/2017
- katelynn
03/21/2017
read
Kilmeny of the Orchard
by: L.M. Montgomery
"My second time through this one and I think I enjoyed it even more the 2nd time. I've read dozens of stories by Montgomery and this is one that stands out for it's charm and beauty. It is a romantic story in the most classical sense of that word. "
- katelynn
01/27/2017
- katelynn
01/27/2017
read
The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia, #5)
by: C.S. Lewis
read
Beyond the Sacred Page: The Tyndale Translation
by: Jack Cavanaugh
"Second time through this one and it held up! I love that. The first time I read it was probably 7th or 8th grade, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This author is actually really good at telling historical stories in an interesting and informative way - which is what I enjoy about historical fiction. This is a story about the struggles of Bible translators (and readers) during the time of Henry VIII. Overall it was well-written and didn't simplify complex issues. I walk away with a greater appreciation of my religious freedoms and gratitude for the sacrifices of others that have given me these freedoms. The ending was a little trite, but the rest of the book was great."
- katelynn
03/07/2017
- katelynn
03/07/2017