Member Profile

Name : Holly S.

My Reviews

 
Book Club Recommended
Informative, Inspiring, Dramatic

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
 
Book Club Recommended
Fun, Addictive, Dramatic
Easy read - good club read during busy time of year

Our club read Big Little Lies in December and all members of the club rated it in the high 3s or low 4s. Everyone finished it! While it\\\'s not \\\"fluff,\\\" the writing style is light and so it reads quickly with a nice amount of humor.

 
Confusing, Difficult, Gloomy
A rambling approach to storytelling that somehow still tells a story

Our book club had mixed emotions about this book, but no one gave it over 3 stars. The story is sort of like listening to someone free associate - it feels random and wandering and pointless. Yet in the end, a story emerged and progressed with a few concise phrases, which to some was impressive and memorable. To others it just stayed annoying.

The Magician's Lie: A Novel by Greer Macallister
 
Book Club Recommended
Fun, Dramatic, Interesting
Nice read

Our group was mixed on the book, with some rating just above 3 stars and some just below. Some thought the writing overly simplistic, while others found it a fast, light, enjoyable read. No one really felt that they got a feel for the time period, but all enjoyed the stories of the world of magic.

 
Book Club Recommended
Dramatic, Addictive, Interesting
Everyone finished it

Our book club enjoyed this book - everyone finished the book and liked it. Ratings ranged from 3.5-4.5 stars. Everyone was pulled into the book, and kept wanting to read to find out what would happen next. The book also generated a lot of good conversation about each of the characters.

Thieving Forest by Martha Conway
 
Book Club Recommended
Adventurous, Interesting, Informative
Interesting adventure

Our club generally liked the book, with most readers giving it 4+ stars. We liked the twists and turns, and learning about the different tribes and groups in the period, and how each woman responded to situations.

The Sisterhood by Helen Bryan
 
Book Club Recommended
Unconvincing, Confusing, Adventurous
Enjoyable but not profound

Our club generally liked the book, and found it's portrayal of life in the 1500s (and the Inquisition) very interesting and not commonly written about. There were some areas where we thought the story could be constructed better - some elements were never returned to, while other parts got wrapped up with a bow. But we had fun discussing it all.
PS. Do not use the Audible version of this book - the performance is obnoxious.

 
Book Club Recommended
Adventurous, Fun, Addictive
Not just for gamers

Our whole group enjoyed this book and the nostalgia of the 80s. It was thought provoking enough to create some good discussion but light enough that people enjoyed reading it as we were headed into the busy holiday season.

 
Interesting, Confusing
Few read the book

In fact, I was the only one who finished it, most never got very far in. It was confusing to follow, though when I stopped worrying about tracking exactly who was who and just went along with the story, I ended up enjoying it. I did think the vignettes were going to weave together, which they did not, and that was disappointing. I also understand it was to be a commentary on life in Cuba, and while I could see the allegory, there was nothing that uniquely said "Cuba" versus any other location to me.

 
Book Club Recommended
Informative, Dramatic, Insightful
Women's tough life in Afghanistan

Our books club found this book informative but challenging. The plight of women in Afghanistan, portrayed as having very little freedom or rights, and facing frequent abuse. And, unfortunately, not much has improved in their circumstance in the generations between the two stories. Most readers rated in between 3-3.5 stars because the writing was good, though the subject matter itself was hard.

The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett
 
Book Club Recommended
Interesting, Beautiful, Fun
Perspectives on love and relationships

Our group generally enjoyed this book, with most ratings between 3-4. We had some different takes on the various relationships in the book, and had a nice discussion about the different forms that love can take. Some felt the ending was a bit abrupt, but we all liked the author's approach of letting the reader fill in some of the story and consequences and not spelling everything out.

The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman
 
Dark, Dramatic, Insightful
If only it ended 50 pages earlier

Our club was enjoying this book until the last segment, one part of which was supremely depressing and the other was extraordinarily convenient. We don't need a happy ending but at least something redeeming?

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
 
Interesting, Inspiring, Dramatic

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