Review: The Water Dancer

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Powerful.

I received a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

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Review: A Catalog of Birds

A Catalog of Birds by Laura Harrington
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There's a lot going on in this story but the author manages to wrangle it all quite well.

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Review: Charles Schwab's Guide to Financial Independence : Simple Solutions for Busy People

Charles Schwab's Guide to Financial Independence : Simple Solutions for Busy People by Charles Schwab
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Even though it was published in the late nineties, this is still relevant and helpful. I got a free copy not long after this came out and I wish now that I'd read it sooner.

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Review: Stock Investing For Beginners: How To Buy Your First Stock And Grow Your Money

Stock Investing For Beginners: How To Buy Your First Stock And Grow Your Money by John Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dumbs it down to a basic level without making the reader feel stupid. Provides some good resources.

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Review: The Warren Buffett Way

The Warren Buffett Way by Robert G. Hagstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read this from a library copy but was so impressed I ordered my own copy to have for future reference.

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Review: A Warning

A Warning by Anonymous
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow.

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Review: This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class

This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class by Elizabeth Warren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pretty sure she has my vote.

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Review: A Door in the Earth

A Door in the Earth by Amy Waldman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Seems to have been inspired by the book "Three Cups of Tea" and its resulting backlash.

Very compelling read.

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Review: V Wars

V Wars by Jonathan Maberry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It would have been nice if someone would have proofread the digital version of this book. The mass quantity of errors was really annoying and distracting. I've never read a professionally published book with so many errors in it. Almost unreadable.

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Review: United

United by Cory Booker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some good stories about the important and influential people and events in his life.

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Review: The Secret of Lost Things

The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The narrating character was a little too passive for my taste.

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Review: The 13 Clocks

The 13 Clocks by James Thurber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very fun. Thurber certainly has a way with words.

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Review: Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown

Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown by Anne Glenconner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Only about half of this book covers her time with the royal family, the rest is about her own very interesting life. An excellent read, and not disappointing even if you only picked it up for Margaret.

I received a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

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Review: Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?

Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? by Mark Hyman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not much new here. Good resource if you want to go pegan.

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Review: Emily of New Moon

Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you Russian Doll for pointing me towards this gem.

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Review: Motherless Brooklyn

Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Entertaining read. I will have to check out more by this author.

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Review: Mrs. Fletcher

Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book I've read by this author and it was very enjoyable. The characters and the plot were very realistic.

I received a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

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Review: Riding the Elephant: A Memoir of Altercations, Humiliations, Hallucinations, and Observations

Riding the Elephant: A Memoir of Altercations, Humiliations, Hallucinations, and Observations by Craig Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I just adore this man.

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Review: Heavy: An American Memoir

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another intense and amazing book.

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Review: No Friend but the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison

No Friend but the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison by Behrouz Boochani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was emotionally draining and very difficult to read. Worth it.

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Review: The Furies

The Furies by Katie Lowe
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This book seems a bit tone deaf considering all the violence in the world right now. It's just really inappropriate to have a narrator who is glorifying murder so much. I was going to donate my copy to the local library but the idea makes me very uncomfortable to some teen could feel a connection to these characters and do something stupid. My copy is going in the recycling bin.

I received a free ARC from the publisher.

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Review: The Ultimate Guide to Crystals & Stones: A Practical Path to Personal Power, Self-Development, and Healing

The Ultimate Guide to Crystals & Stones: A Practical Path to Personal Power, Self-Development, and Healing by Uma Silbey
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I've been interested in crystals because I think they're very pretty. This made me curious as to why people think they are mysticaly important. I tried, but I found this book unreadable. I try to keep an open mind but I couldn't open it wide enough for this.

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Review: Small Fry

Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't realize this was written by Steve Jobs' daughter. I think I just heard it was good and stuck it in my library queue. It was quite good. Definitely not flattering but interesting.

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Review: Royal Service: My Twelve Years As Valet to Prince Charles

Royal Service: My Twelve Years As Valet to Prince Charles by Stephen P. Barry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Knowing what is known now, the author seems either extremely loyal or shockingly naive. Either way, he comes across as a decent person but an unreliable narrator.

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Review: Belgravia

Belgravia by Julian Fellowes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good, if predictable. Long, but rushed together at the end.

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Review: The Day Diana Died

The Day Diana Died by Christopher Andersen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A lot of the backstory was stuff covered in Andrew Morton's books. This does include a pretty graphic account of the actual accident and everyone's injuries. It did make me want to watch the movie The Queen again.

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Review: Diana: Her New Life

Diana: Her New Life by Andrew Morton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not as interesting as the previous book and didn't cover much ground.

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Review: Diana: Her True Story

Diana: Her True Story by Andrew Morton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's very strange to read a book written about Diana, not only when she was still alive, but when she was still with Charles.

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Review: When Reagan Sent In The Marines: The Invasion of Lebanon

When Reagan Sent In The Marines: The Invasion of Lebanon by Patrick J. Sloyan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

At times I felt like I needed a character chart to keep all the people straight. Probably could have gone a bit deeper but still an interesting read.

I received a free ARC from the publisher.

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Review: The Testaments

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Took care of my withdrawal from the tv show quite handily. I think I enjoyed this more than the first book.

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Review: She Would Be King

She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Different and wonderful.

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Review: Rilla of Ingleside

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's a shame that Marilla's death was glossed over like an afterthought. She was a very important character and deserved better.

Good ending.

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Review: All Systems Red

All Systems Red by Martha Wells
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting little story. Might make a decent film.

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Review: The Most Fun We Ever Had: A Novel

The Most Fun We Ever Had: A Novel by Claire Lombardo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good portrayal of the evolution of a family.

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Review: Wanderers

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Well, that was...long.
I just couldn't get into the premise.

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Review: The Four Swans: A Novel of Cornwall, 1795-1797

The Four Swans: A Novel of Cornwall, 1795-1797 by Winston Graham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Continues to be well done and chick fill of drama.

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Review: Normal People

Normal People by Sally Rooney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It was well written but I still don't know if I liked it.

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Review: Rainbow Valley

Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm just not as interested in the Blythe's neighborhood children as I was in Anne.

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Review: Tidelands

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Some of the stories about King Charles felt a bit like a certain leader who is always in the press these days. The rest of it was well written, what one would expect from an author of Gregory's quality. It will be interesting to see what is next.

I received a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

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Review: Anne of Ingleside

Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Felt very rambling.

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Review: Anne's House of Dreams

Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I like d this one better than the last. It felt more real and had some nice humor.

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Review: The Unhoneymooners

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cute.

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Review: Muse of Nightmares

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I found the concept of ghosts in this book to be a bit distracting. It didn't make any sense to me that they are tangible. Not too bad otherwise. It did take me a while to remember what happened in book one. I wish there was a short recap in the beginning of books that are part of a series.

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Review: Anne Of Windy Poplars

Anne Of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Anne seemed much too gossipy and meddlesome in this book.

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Review: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I got a bit frustrated with the way this jumped around. It made it a little difficult to follow at times. I thought about abandoning it a few times but it was so beautifully written I couldn't.

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Review: Anne of the Island

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lovely.

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Review: The Princess Beard: The Tales of Pell

The Princess Beard: The Tales of Pell by Delilah S Dawson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm glad I don't eat eggs anymore after seeing g them called "buttfruit."

Another truly foine tale. I really enjoyed this trilogy and am a little sad it's over.

I received a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

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Review: Horror Stories

Horror Stories by Liz Phair
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very raw and honest. Reading this makes one feel a little less alone in the world.

I received a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

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Review: Reticence

Reticence by Gail Carriger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm so glad Percy got his own story.

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Review: If I Forget You

If I Forget You by Thomas Christopher Greene
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Blah.

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