graywild's reviews
575 reviews

Anatomy of 55 More Songs by Marc Myers

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informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.0

This book covers songs from the 1960s-1980s (a couple of 1990s).  There were only 3 or 4 songs I could not recall.  Obviously if you are not familiar with the songs this book is not for you.  Each song has a short few pages that has interviews with the band, singer and songwriters.  Nice back stories on the meaning behind the songs.  Some also go into the song writing process.  Nice vacation read.
North Woods by Daniel Mason

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

very close to DNF for me.  Series of short stories that are connected by the fact they occur near the same house.  Sometimes related through people from story to story.  I just couldn't get into the stories and the writing style just not for me.
The Women by Kristin Hannah

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I found the story very compelling and therefore a fast read.  It tells the story of Frankie McGrath (Frances) from the time she goes to Vietnam as a nurse to her time readjusting to society upon her return.  I was a huge fan of the TV show China Beach and this is definitely in the same genre and messaging.  The story allows you to see the growth from a naive young women to an experience veteran nurse.  It tackles many of the issue that Vietnam veterans faced as well as the discrimination women faced at that time.  Highly recommend.
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

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challenging dark informative sad fast-paced

4.0

Rating somewhere between 3 to 4.  Published in 1962 Rachel Carson documents the environmental issues with use of insecticides and pesticides, in particular the chlorinated chemicals such as DDT. Many of the issues were known and published but buried in scientific journals and government documents.  At times heavy on science but she does a good job of bringing awareness of the issues to the general public who then pressured Congress to act.  She writes in an easy to understand style.  These chemicals were used heavily in the US and globally.  Many times the insects targeted were not eradicated.  Birds, fish, animals and humans (farmers, gardens, general population) were all subject to side effects including death.  I can't image reading this in the 1960s when most of this wasn't known by the general public.
River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Story of Rachel - a slave in Barbados during the time that slavery was abolished by England under the agreement they would work 6 more years as apprentices that could not leave the plantation.  Rachel decides to run and look for her children who were all sold off over the years.  The story covers Barbados, Demerara and Trindad as she searches.
House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I received this as an ARC.  Mystery is not usually my genre.  This is a story of Stella, who is a court appointed investigator assigned to determine which parent Rose should live with after their divorce.  Rose witnessed the death of her nanny and currently does not speak.  The story evolves into Stella determining whether the Nanny's death was an accident or murder.  She is also trying to figure out if Rose is dangerous or someone else in the house is dangerous.  Basically a vacation read for me.  If you like mysteries it might get a higher rating from you.
Alice by Christina Henry

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Violent retelling of Alice in Wonderland.  In this story Alice in imprisoned in a hospital along with Hatch.  When a fire breaks out they are able to escape.  At the same time the Jabberwock escapes from the basement and seeks chaos.  Alice and Hatch embark on a journey to obtain a sword to kill the Jabberwock.  The search the Old City and encounter various mob bosses that control sections of the city - Cheshire, Caterpillar, Rabbit, Walrus and Mr Carpenter.  These mob bosses are vicious and there seems to be an underlying theme of sex trafficking and sexual assault. 
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Nora finds herself in the Midnight Library with Mrs Elm, the librarian.  Nora is between life and death and she is faced with alternative lives in the forms of books.  She can choose to live a new life based on big regrets or just based on simple decisions.  How do you choose the best life for yourself?  I found the book interesting and was a fast read for me.  Recommend.
The Other Side of Mrs. Wood by Lucy Barker

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The book started off strong.  It is the story of Mrs Wood, a spiritual medium who has taken on a student to train - Miss Finch.  It dives into the tricks that mediums used to convince people they could talk to the dead.  Eventually the relationship sours and ambition starts to come forward.  At times the story stalled out for me so I would recommend as a vacation read.
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Story from the viewpoint of a zombie, R, who is not quite like the other zombies.  He can't remember his past and he does eat the living but for some reason he decides to save Julie during one of his hunting trips.  Interesting twist to the zombie story.  Parts fall short on plot but of course you have suspend disbelief to read this type of story.  Recommend.