tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65869782138013545002024-02-02T15:21:19.845-05:00Book Review BinCheck out what I'm reading...Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624584208125488492noreply@blogger.comBlogger524125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-52079863331177085262019-12-11T15:34:00.002-05:002019-12-11T15:34:42.026-05:00The Time Has ComeDue to the changes coming in 2020 for my blog sites and the plans I have for the future, this blog will no longer be updated with my book reviews. All of the existing book reviews will stay live. New book reviews will be published to <a href="https://beatlebabe84.blogspot.com/">Truths of a Shy Writer</a> going forward. Thanks for all of your support.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKxiwQX4tUZyRV_dmNGrBB-2kP7lrtxzAxWVLQbXX6E1TMBh0pXn-2dqmArXG39785D-d6iAlMtv-rYMyQepwukiejbYUQKJY9PJ7X_OwaH5D8Iackqre32xyNWczqBxCu8Sdq2UJy4o/s1600/literature-3330647_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKxiwQX4tUZyRV_dmNGrBB-2kP7lrtxzAxWVLQbXX6E1TMBh0pXn-2dqmArXG39785D-d6iAlMtv-rYMyQepwukiejbYUQKJY9PJ7X_OwaH5D8Iackqre32xyNWczqBxCu8Sdq2UJy4o/s320/literature-3330647_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-84699978752756921342019-12-10T16:37:00.001-05:002019-12-10T16:37:23.390-05:00Review: Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43261166" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564709516l/43261166._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43261166">Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/136831">Adrienne Brodeur</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2983239785">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Although on the surface Wild Game seems to be another tale of another privileged daughter looking to interpret the missteps of her parents, this book goes far beyond having money, power, or access to things that others do not and still feeling cheated emotionally. The author is clear in her intentions with this memoir to try and tell the story of when the relationship between her and her mother changed--the night that Malabar forced a secret onto her teenage daughter that she was meant to keep for as long as it took. <br /><br />Throughout the memoir, the reader discovers that this one pivotal moment led to all of the rest of the pivotal moments of the author's life, including failed relationships and the distinct change that becoming a parent herself made. Although the mother-daughter bond for anyone is a littered minefield of emotion, the author makes her not-so-common relationship with her mother relatable to any other daughter out there. <br /><br />*Book provided by Bookish First
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2983239785">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-66653453279253154482019-11-25T14:18:00.001-05:002019-11-25T14:18:07.794-05:00Review: Heathcliff Redux: A Novella and Stories
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46347521" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563335653l/46347521._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Heathcliff Redux: A Novella and Stories" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46347521">Heathcliff Redux: A Novella and Stories</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/44031">Lily Tuck</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3055784301">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
I always like a good short story. A novella is pretty great too when you want a quick read, but with this collection, I just couldn't get into it. With the novella and the short stories, there wasn't that moment in each where you get excited to find out more or where you are surprised because it took you someplace you didn't expect. I don't know why these stories seemed to fall flat, but it certainly isn't something I want to reread in the future. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3055784301">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-68264628561288242042019-11-18T14:12:00.001-05:002019-11-18T14:12:31.874-05:00Review: Writers & Lovers
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45289222" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/111x148-bcc042a9c91a29c1d680899eff700a03.png" border="0" alt="Writers & Lovers" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45289222">Writers & Lovers</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/117786">Lily King</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3004504119">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
In Writers & Lovers, Casey is living the expected life of a writer in that she's drowning in debt, she's working as a waitress, living in a garden shed, and doesn't quite know how she's ever going to finish a novel and query it. But throughout this book, Casey also has to deal with her mother's recent death, her nonexistent relationship with her father, and multiple relationships with men that often leave her with the choice of settling or risking what could be. <br /><br />I think this paints a relatively accurate picture of the post-college writing life. There is no easy or right way to get things done. If you want to survive, you have to spend your time at a job other than writing. If you want to make it as a writer, you have to push the rest of your life aside to get the words on the paper. Casey isn't the first person that gets a career off the ground in fits and starts, and she certainly doesn't let the fate of her book dictate what the rest of her life looks like. <br /><br />The most interesting thing about this novel is that by the end, Casey's life is tied up in a neat little bow. Yes, the reader can see where there will be huge obstacles to come after they are done reading, but for a literary novel, it's as if the ending is almost too nice. Nothing really happened in Casey's life while we were reading, and she only made a few small decisions with any certainty, yet her hopes and wishes are answered in the span of a chapter or two. You want to be happy for her, but you want to question how quickly everything fell into place. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3004504119">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-54727069872560217852019-10-13T11:00:00.001-04:002019-10-13T11:00:37.410-04:00Review: Foul Is Fair
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42595554" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558541437l/42595554._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Foul Is Fair" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42595554">Foul Is Fair</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17092556">Hannah Capin</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2959104560">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Foul is Fair is the story of a girl who wants revenge for a terrible experience. She and her best friends will stop at nothing to get it. Elle went to a party as herself, and came out of the party as Jade, the girl who wants payback for all that she suffered. To do this, she must infiltrate the circle of privileged private school kids who will stop at nothing to remain at the top of the food chain. <br /><br />The best part about this book is its lyrical quality. Throughout much of it, it almost seems more poetic than a typical novel would be. The turns of phrase make it mystical in a way. While there is no explicit descriptions of what she suffered through, the poetic nature of it makes it clear. <br /><br />The worst part is the believability. While this is clearly written as the main character's revenge fantasy, it reads too fantastic. Who is able to infiltrate and carry out plans to permanently put an end to all of those who wronged her in a mere week or two? And beyond that, who is able to crawl her way to the top of the food chain at a school where she's a stranger? The other part that's a little too out there is that all she really does is change her hair and wear colored contacts, yet all of these people are supposed to not recognize her? It's kind of hard to buy, and it made me want to stop reading at many points, because Elle/Jade had it relatively easy to carry out her plans. Still, it is an important read. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2959104560">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-43496990296255557622019-08-25T08:16:00.001-04:002019-08-25T08:16:16.621-04:00Review: The Age of Light
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39340193" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523892144l/39340193._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Age of Light" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39340193">The Age of Light</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17847344">Whitney Scharer</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2557639584">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
The Age of Light is a story of the personal and professional relationship that developed between Man Ray and Lee Miller. One part fiction, one part historical, this book brings into light Paris between the wars, the development of experimental photography, and how the artist's soul can be a little more than temperamental. <br /><br />I've been reading a healthy dose of historical fiction lately, and compared to some of the other titles I have picked up, this book is historical fiction done right. Not only do readers get to see what's going on in the real lives of these characters, you can also look up many of the photographic references to get an added layer to the story, not just what things may have been, but what they actually were and still are in the art/photography world. It makes for an excellent reading experience, and I would definitely read this author again. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2557639584">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-23098984982619370452019-08-05T07:41:00.001-04:002019-08-05T07:41:11.118-04:00Review: Split-Level
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43174227" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544275528l/43174227._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Split-Level" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43174227">Split-Level</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8050767">Sande Boritz Berger</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2836991004">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Split-Level follows the lives of a family that looks like it has everything on the surface, but when it comes down to happiness, there is much that is lacking. Alex and Donny throw themselves into the openness of the times and find a couple that is willing to do the same. What transpires isn't as surprising as one would think, given the nature of the characters involved. <br /><br />Although this book is well written, you'll leave at the end of the novel feeling like you hate most of the characters, whether you are totally cool with the idea of these couples as swingers or whether you are appalled by that idea. It's not that the situation turns them into severely unlikeable characters, it is that the story make you see that however unlikeable they are at the end of the story, you can clearly see this is how they were even before the story begins. In terms of setting, this story fits right into the 1970s with the openness of the time as well as all of the depressing things (Nixon, gas prices) that come with it, seeming to fuel the already unquenchable fire in these characters. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2836991004">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-70387371875274632212019-07-08T15:56:00.001-04:002019-07-08T15:56:39.480-04:00Review: The Lost Girls of Paris
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39816076" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527997527i/39816076._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Lost Girls of Paris" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39816076">The Lost Girls of Paris</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/213562">Pam Jenoff</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2591849150">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
The Lost Girls of Paris is a book that is intriguing as it is emotional. With the story being told from both during and after the war, it gives readers a look at the horrors of war and what sacrifices are made in order for one side to win over the other. <br /><br />Grace is trying to build her life again after the war has taken the man that she loves. She works hard to help refugees and the displaced, but it seems to be a never-ending battle. When she ends up with a stranger's suitcase and a pile of women's photos, Grace does what she can to find out who these women are and why they are so important to the owner of the bag. <br /><br />Eleanor is a serious woman who, during the war, is doing what she can to not only help the British win, but to also win something personal for herself--the ability to be a British citizen. Eleanor knows that women can do just as much as men for the war effort, so she heads up a division training women to be spies in France. What she contends with has much consequence for her division, herself, and the fate of the British war effort. <br /><br />The book has a satisfying ending, though you may see it coming early in the story. If you like drama from WWII, this is certainly one that you won't want to miss. <br /><br />*Book provided by Bookish First<br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2591849150">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-9059080089836597812019-07-05T16:11:00.001-04:002019-07-05T16:11:13.498-04:00Review: Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45442010" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556842560i/45442010._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45442010">Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7341063">Jessica Pan</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2837770131">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
This is the kind of book that was made for me -- a shy introvert that would rather spend time with her books and blankets than at a raucous get-together. That said, this is a book that chronicles a year of the author's life as she tries to break free from the binds of introversion. Pan does all that an introvert facing this type of challenge would do: turn to apps to find new friends, sign up for improv classes, perform on stage, and take a chance that smiling at someone would make them smile back. Simple, right? <br /><br />This book does provide inspiration for those introverts like myself who know that with a little push in the right direction, we can occasionally participate in an extroverted world and not die of embarrassment, boredom, or stale cake in Budapest. I think it's a lovely idea to step out of your comfort zone and participate in things that you just couldn't see yourself doing, though like the author, you really do need to have a solid support system in order to encourage the fear to take a backseat. Aside from making me want to do more socially adventurous things, this book is also full of humor and an honesty that you can only get from the introverts of the world. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2837770131">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-73491140509904301232019-06-20T08:44:00.001-04:002019-06-20T08:44:54.189-04:00Review: Don't Feel Stuck in Love!: Journaling Methods to Transform Your Mindset & Manifest Your Ideal Relationship
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43486921" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1546922208m/43486921.jpg" border="0" alt="Don't Feel Stuck in Love!: Journaling Methods to Transform Your Mindset & Manifest Your Ideal Relationship" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43486921">Don't Feel Stuck in Love!: Journaling Methods to Transform Your Mindset & Manifest Your Ideal Relationship</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17571501">Jaclyn Johnston</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2864423207">2 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
This is a book that gives you the usual law of attraction/manifesting your best life spiel. While I came into this reading with as open a mind as I could possible have, I've been burned by this process before and it's simply not for me. <br /><br />Let me be perfectly clear--some of the things in this book I already do believe, and do practice. I believe the universe is a living, breathing entity that helps nudges things along when it sees fit. I believe that going into situations with a positive attitude can make a difference. I just can't subscribe to the idea of manifesting your future (based on the steps described in this book) because the whole law of attraction thing is completely contradictory. You need to spend time thinking and believing that specific things will happen (just not depending on when, because that's the universe's job), but you are also supposed to take a set-it-and-forget-it approach at the same time. <br /><br />In my previous practice of these types of systems, I've either wasted a lot of precious time picturing an ideal future while ignoring the here and now, or on a few occasions I've been lucky enough to manifest the perfect relationship--and I got to watch it unfold right in front of me, but without me in it. Am I psychic? Do I have the power to manifest joy and happiness and bright, sunny soulmate matches to others, but not myself? Probably not. But that's the point--I see what I want, I'm just kept at arm's length. Do I think that the universe will change its mind about this? Maybe, but just thinking and wishing won't make it true. <br /><br />That's the biggest issue I have with these books. They never tell you that you still have to go to work everyday. You still have to deal with people and places and things that will drag you down. You don't get sunshine and rainbows just by imagining them. You have to work at something outside of yourself, and then the universe will take notice. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2864423207">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-11456859078526858252019-06-18T08:03:00.001-04:002019-06-18T08:03:38.005-04:00Review: 30-Day Travel Challenge: How to Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44287473" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1551839690m/44287473.jpg" border="0" alt="30-Day Travel Challenge: How to Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44287473">30-Day Travel Challenge: How to Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18937688">Kaila Yu</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2847036381">1 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
This is a book that doesn't exactly provide what it claims, unless you are the type that's willing to blindly follow bad advice like taking out dozens of credit cards for bonus mile opportunities, creating a vision board, or take some half-heard advice from someone else's life coach (no, really). It is simply a vehicle for the authors to promote their own travel-themed social media. This is a pretty solid example of why BookBub/FreeBooksy and other email lists need to do a better job in vetting free books that only suspiciously have 5-star reviews on Amazon. <br /><br />My advice? Take the time you would have to read this disappointing book (hopefully you didn't actually get stuck paying for it) and go earn some extra money. That's the only real way to get closer to your dreams of traveling.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2847036381">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-22830934030699154742019-06-06T15:40:00.001-04:002019-06-06T15:40:06.512-04:00Review: The She Book
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45996338" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1558584499m/45996338.jpg" border="0" alt="The She Book" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45996338">The She Book</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14192901">Tanya Markul</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2837769510">2 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
The She Book is a collection of poetry that tries to reach the audience with the message of female empowerment and rising above it all to find the strength within yourself. However, this collection did not speak to me. <br /><br />Put Markul down as another of the Instagram Poets. I don't say that in a negative way, because this poetry movement brought the likes of Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace. The biggest issue I have with this collection that I didn't with the others is that it's playing mimicry--it is trying to say the same things that these other collections have said, but it doesn't contain the same magic that made me want to read more so I can find new connections to myself and to the work. This collection can be boiled down to "I'm broken. I fixed it. You look broken. I'm going to tell you that you are great so you can fix yourself too." <br /><br />Let's just say I'm hoping to see the Instagram Poetry bubble burst soon, but because people want simple language and stuff they don't have to pick apart to find meaning, I think it will be around for awhile. This collection isn't for me, but I'm sure there are plenty out there who can find a bit of solace or empowerment from it. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley<br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2837769510">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-89048282209140844312019-05-14T07:55:00.001-04:002019-05-14T07:55:26.164-04:00Review: Only in New York. 36 True Big Apple Stories Spanning 55 Years and Five Boroughs
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43678902" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1548326549m/43678902.jpg" border="0" alt="Only in New York. 36 True Big Apple Stories Spanning 55 Years and Five Boroughs" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43678902">Only in New York. 36 True Big Apple Stories Spanning 55 Years and Five Boroughs</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6704924">M G Crisci</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2804001574">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Only in New York is a memoir told in vignettes spanning a lifetime of the author. It starts with his humble beginnings and ends with reminiscing about all that has happened during his years in New York before relocating to the west coast. <br /><br />The title of this collection is a bit misleading in that most, if not all of these stories actually are not unique to New York. Living in large cities, maybe, but not specific to one place. I did enjoy the first few stories of his childhood where he worked and schemed with friends like so many do, but it kind of dropped off from there. Many stories were about his days as an account man at Y&R, and most of them just sat there like a not-so-humble humble brag. Playing up the obvious Mad Men comparisons probably would have made it a bit more interesting for me. <br /><br />For other stories, there were tales without a point. It was a simple recollection, but led to no revelations or realizations for the main players. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2804001574">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-78107485784373985412019-05-12T09:10:00.001-04:002019-05-12T09:10:04.696-04:00Review: Rouge
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150453" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1555342934m/41150453.jpg" border="0" alt="Rouge" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150453">Rouge</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/256351">Richard Kirshenbaum</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2783685757">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Rouge is a deep dive into the beginnings of the modern beauty industry where two rivals go head to head to outdo each other, and to get beyond their humble starts. Constance is a Canadian who sees the world for the taking, though she has to often deal with her brother's secrets. Josephine is a Polish immigrant living in Australia, just waiting for her big break when it comes to selling her beauty creams. Throughout the decades they are both faced with successes, marriages, children and failures in all aspects, creating a strange bond, even within a deep professional rivalry. <br /><br />This book is being compared to The Swans of Fifth Avenue, which I've read and don't think measures up to the same type of historical fiction. For one, this book tries to mask a real story under fictional characters. The Swans of Fifth Avenue used as many real-life figures as possible, making it more interesting and intriguing. This book didn't do the same for me. Instead of wanting to read more of this, I just wanted to find something to read that would tell me the real story of this rivalry instead. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2783685757">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-275905666070210122019-05-01T15:40:00.001-04:002019-05-01T15:40:59.212-04:00Review: The Drum That Beats Within Us
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42185023" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1538722385m/42185023.jpg" border="0" alt="The Drum That Beats Within Us" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42185023">The Drum That Beats Within Us</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1220504">Mike Bond</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2804000572">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
The Drum That Beats Within Us is a collection of poetry that explores the elements of nature, what nature can provide, what nature can take away, and how humans are connected to it all. The best way to describe the feeling of the collection is if you wander through a shaded forest that opened up to a clearing, and you sat in the soft grass while watching the clouds roll in. <br /><br />Not every poem is based in nature, and all have unique qualities. There are rhyming poems, free verse, as well as varying lengths. I tended to enjoy the shorter ones, though the long ones take their time to explore the topic at hand. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2804000572">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-47855423780791689112019-05-01T08:05:00.000-04:002019-05-01T08:05:17.708-04:00Book Spotlight: BDD CONFUSION: Using Behaviour Driven Development for Acceptance Criteria<h4>
Category:</h4>
Business/Technology<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCMfDE3WL1I9MtDiF8K0lZJMs_Slo2PCeUcAndb32Nv3JsQc2XfrE6W6JtpEHE7ufgkh-dtEnbEWqZqDtBiTlj3w9B9JkDFsdIE8zfVzo2IM2ZP5quJoS_p0iHfLizy9v1LLTasn_0KY/s1600/bdd_confusion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCMfDE3WL1I9MtDiF8K0lZJMs_Slo2PCeUcAndb32Nv3JsQc2XfrE6W6JtpEHE7ufgkh-dtEnbEWqZqDtBiTlj3w9B9JkDFsdIE8zfVzo2IM2ZP5quJoS_p0iHfLizy9v1LLTasn_0KY/s320/bdd_confusion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4>
Synopsis:</h4>
This is the fourth semi-fictional story in the Carnsa Development Series
set in the life of the quirky business analyst Claudia. This book
focuses on BDD (Behaviour Driven Development) to support writing
acceptance criteria and testing. It also takes a brief look at TDD (Test
Driven Development) and Continuous Integration to support test
automation.<br />
<br />
<b>You can purchase BDD Confusion from these retailers:</b><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R7RLJWN">Amazon</a> </b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07R7RLJWN">Amazon.co.uk</a> </b><b><br /></b><br />
<b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1461830523">Apple</a> </b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bdd-confusion-chris-lewis/1131420359">Barnes &Noble</a></b> <br />
<b><a href="https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/bdd-confusion">Kobo </a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.scribd.com/book/408043268/BDD-CONFUSION-Using-Behaviour-driven-development-for-acceptance-criteria-Carnsa-Development-Series-4">Scribd</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.carnsadev.com/">https://www.carnsadev.com</a>.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8ODOaEUJvhT4AXLdbJidYlOPz9aoFd4ACMTnR-zKXC2aPGSc5F9jKOe2vitqtF2Gk8Ycutn0M10ct0wQJGcG1l_en5oJg_tk5QuCdjuDjjSlpxHRzNc-2c7pO_uUaCeE35w9S4AS7Uc/s1600/bdd_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8ODOaEUJvhT4AXLdbJidYlOPz9aoFd4ACMTnR-zKXC2aPGSc5F9jKOe2vitqtF2Gk8Ycutn0M10ct0wQJGcG1l_en5oJg_tk5QuCdjuDjjSlpxHRzNc-2c7pO_uUaCeE35w9S4AS7Uc/s320/bdd_cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b> </b>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-74063306045653446892019-04-11T08:00:00.001-04:002019-04-11T08:00:17.403-04:00Review: Montauk
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150486" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1548429354m/41150486.jpg" border="0" alt="Montauk" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150486">Montauk</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4006038">Nicola Harrison</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2687244955">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Montauk is the story of Beatrice, the woman who married well before the start of the American involvement in WWII. Although she's a simple Pennsylvania girl at heart, the tragic death of her brother led her back to New York where she attended college, and straight into the arms of a man who thought of nothing except his ultimate business and personal successes. <br /><br />It's a summer in Montauk that changes their lives, and the lives of all those summering in the area as well as the locals who are tasked to cater to their big city ways. Beatrice wants to be a great wife for her husband, but her lack of children and the fact that Harry simply doesn't want to spend time with her drives Beatrice to think outside the box when it comes to making friends and finding ways to occupy her time. <br /><br />The book is supposed to take place in the 1930s, but sometimes the phrasing and the vocabulary took me out of the time period since it was written in first person. The ending of the book (which I won't give away here) does feel like it fit the time and setting because it seems to punish Beatrice for not being the person that everyone else wanted her to be. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley<br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2687244955">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-30837922134799825602019-03-26T16:21:00.001-04:002019-03-26T16:21:53.986-04:00Review: Feminine Rising: Voices of Power and Invisibility
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43602610" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1548430150m/43602610.jpg" border="0" alt="Feminine Rising: Voices of Power and Invisibility" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43602610">Feminine Rising: Voices of Power and Invisibility</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4242856">Andrea Fekete</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2705046615">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Feminine Rising is a collection of poetry and stories that explore the power and the lack of power that comes with being female. The collection features a wide range of writers and styles that come together under the banner of specific topics. <br /><br />This is a collection that readers should take their time with. Because there are so many different ideas and images, it isn't something you should skim over in a day. That being said, it can be hard to stick with at times, mostly because there aren't a lot of stories that contain that bit of redemption where the female is seen, the female regains the power, unless you consider the idea that the words even being written is taking the power and wielding it. About two thirds of the book is like this, though there are some stories and poems later on that bring more light onto bad situations, rather than feeling like you're doing nothing but sitting in the middle of it with the author. Overall, this is a collection to think about and provides different vantage points of the female experience. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley<br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2705046615">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-8626169702069742282019-03-09T11:47:00.001-05:002019-03-09T11:47:07.988-05:00Review: Belly Up
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35128563" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1527451038m/35128563.jpg" border="0" alt="Belly Up" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35128563">Belly Up</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8310517">Eva Darrows</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2687245223">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Belly Up follows the story of Serendipity (Sara) and her journey into motherhood -- before high school graduation. Even though she's in a precarious and confusing situation, she is the type of character that can get through anything with a quick quip and a couple of cheeseburgers. <br /><br />Not only is Sara the kind of teen that you would want to be friends with, she also has a crew of old and new besties that make her life much more colorful, including her wisecracking mother and her shoe-throwing grandma. <br /><br />Although this is a book about an unexpected teen pregnancy, it is a book that almost anyone could enjoy because even when she's scared and unsure, Sara has a good head on her shoulders and friends to back her up through anything. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2687245223">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-24826038041151163682019-02-26T08:34:00.001-05:002019-02-26T08:34:23.046-05:00Review: The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36297088" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1538236195m/36297088.jpg" border="0" alt="The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36297088">The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15225448">Amanda Lovelace</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2718747337">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
As the third part of the Women Are Some Kind of Magic collection, this stands as a work that makes the exploration of abuse, violence, and survival come full circle. It not only features brand new work by the author, it also includes poetry by a handful of contributors who all have written about victim/survivor issues that complement the author's work. <br /><br />Since I have read all three books, I still think that the second in the collection is the strongest, but it also may be because it contains harder imagery than this one or the first one. I think that anyone who enjoyed reading the first two will also enjoy this one. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2718747337">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-53015984640508191492019-02-21T16:15:00.001-05:002019-02-21T16:15:12.810-05:00Review: If My Body Could Speak
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41766537" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1544868775m/41766537.jpg" border="0" alt="If My Body Could Speak" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41766537">If My Body Could Speak</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13473096">Blythe Baird</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2722760786">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
If My Body Could Speak is a collection that dives deep into the topics of relationships (both toxic and not), feminism, eating disorders, assault, and the relationship of victim/survivor to an individual's traumatic experiences, which could be triggers to someone who has been through the same experiences. <br /><br />The collection has many poems that have appeared in other places, so some readers may be familiar with a few of these pieces. Each piece works to speak in simple language, but that doesn't mean that it skimps on turns of phrase that you need to stop and appreciate. I think that many people would find this collection relatable, specifically because no matter what someone has been through, there is no clear happy ending in sight, and this collection doesn't end on one of those either. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2722760786">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-8928938635849422572019-02-18T11:00:00.001-05:002019-02-18T11:00:19.988-05:00Review: Pretty in Punxsutawney
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36168849" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529091850m/36168849.jpg" border="0" alt="Pretty in Punxsutawney" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36168849">Pretty in Punxsutawney</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5421048">Laurie Boyle Crompton</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2687244735">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Andie's starting at a new school, and since spending all summer with the hottest guy in town, she thinks that nothing could go wrong. But once she realizes that her first day is going to go wrong, she doesn't know that she's in store for even more first-day blunders. Over and over again. <br /><br />This book is for those who love to immerse themselves in 80s movie classics, particularly of the John Hughes variety. You don't have to have seen any of the titles mentioned, though it does help to pick up the finer nuance in the story. Although repetitive storylines can get annoying, this one does a good job of letting Andie figure out different ways she can break the spell so that she can move on from what seemed to be one direction, but ended up in another. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2687244735">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-56100466716311544642019-01-30T08:38:00.001-05:002019-01-30T08:38:29.701-05:00Review: The Curious Dreamer’s Dream Dictionary
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42945657" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1543096728m/42945657.jpg" border="0" alt="The Curious Dreamer’s Dream Dictionary" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42945657">The Curious Dreamer’s Dream Dictionary</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17282948">Nancy Wagaman</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2687244347">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
The Curious Dreamer's Dream Dictionary is a good starting point when you want to start interpreting what signs, symbols, and objects may mean in your dreams. This book serves more as a reference guide to look up different dream subjects than a simple book to read straight through. <br /><br />I've been working to interpret my own dreams for years, and so I used this book to see what it would say about one of the most common themes in my dreams--the bathroom. Sometimes the dream is having difficulty finding a bathroom, or finding it in shambles once I get in there, or the worst of all--having sinks and toilets so tall that they are beyond my reach. This guide did pretty well in seeing the same interpretations I see in these symbols. However, there are a lot more obscure symbols (thyroid and wombat, for example) explored in this book and some of the more common themes are lumped together in too-wide umbrella topics. It's a good start to get you thinking, but so vague as to fit everyone that you would be better served taking the time to analyze your dreams on you own. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2687244347">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-18680694050548911522019-01-17T17:53:00.001-05:002019-01-17T17:53:42.317-05:00Review: Evening in Paradise: More Stories
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37941768" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1518252471m/37941768.jpg" border="0" alt="Evening in Paradise: More Stories" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37941768">Evening in Paradise: More Stories</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/157697">Lucia Berlin</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2557639432">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Evening in Paradise is a short story collection that takes readers throughout the Southwest and Mexico, providing characters that are flawed and frustrated and ready to tell a story. While the idea that this author is getting more recognition posthumously than she did alive is a greater part of the overall appeal of her work, it still stands on its own as a solid body of work. And since this seems to be a spillover book from what was left out of the previous collection, that will be the book that I explore next. <br /><br />*Book provided by NetGalley
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2557639432">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586978213801354500.post-89522130746519907172019-01-08T15:38:00.001-05:002019-01-08T15:38:07.499-05:00Review: The Red Address Book
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40543116" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529188834m/40543116.jpg" border="0" alt="The Red Address Book" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40543116">The Red Address Book</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14248776">Sofia Lundberg</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2625255692">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Doris is 96 years old and she knows that she doesn't have much time left. She doesn't want to leave this earth without someone knowing her story, so she begins to write her grand-niece Jenny the story of her life, told through the names that she has placed and crossed out in her red address book. <br /><br />This is a story that spans across the twentieth century through the eyes of Doris, a native of Sweden who traveled all across Europe and America. While not all of her trips were of her own choice, they did provide her the chance to meet friends, mentors, and loves that shaped her and made her who she was for Jenny and for all of those that she touched. It is a story that reminds everyone that no matter who you are, you have a story to tell and you have an eternal place within history that can't be forgotten. <br /><br />*Book provided by Bookish First
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2625255692">View all my reviews</a>
Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042695286725239834noreply@blogger.com0