jenbsbooks's reviews
2129 reviews

I liked this ... I'm just not sure if I'll even remember reading it. There are so many WW2 stories out there, I've read a lot. Nothing really stands out here.

This was 3rd person/past tense ... three POVs ... Ava the main, it's her POV for the first four chapters. At Chapter 5, we switch to Eliana (a Jew) in a memory (Nov10, 1938). I wished the POVs and dates/locations were included in the Table of Contents. Not every chapter had headers with info, but I really appreciate being able to see it all (the chapters, any headings with POVs, dates, locations) at a glance and to use for reference if re-reading, looking for something specific. Chapter 8, the POV switches to Hanna and we stay with her for a few chapters, then it moved between the three girls and their personal stories/perspectives. 

I was listening to the audio version (included in KindleUnlimited, read and listen) and with all my stops and starts ... I'd really struggle remembering whose POV we were in. All the "voices" were the same, in the writing and narration (single narrator, which was fine as it was 3rd person, but different narrators might have made the distinction between the girls sections feel more real). 

There were "Anne Frank" similarities ... hidden in an attic, the discussion of how it started, with the Jews not being allowed on buses or in swimming pools. One has to wonder (and thought it might have been "innocently" mentioned as people took over the homes and belongings of Jews who had fled ... weren't they afraid of these same "cooties" then? Definitely applied according to priorities. The indoctrination of the young was addressed. I don't know that I'd heard Hitler was pushing vegetarianism (here it was mentioned possibly to prepare people for the lack of meat and such). 

I just never fully accepted Ava's complete change of heart, it seemed so "easy" (had she believed before or not?) Most of her actions didn't feel realistic. I never really got pulled in, emotionally connected to the characters. I didn't really care for the ending.

There was a rape, and some consensual sex - I laughed a little as it came up they "had been to bed" ... I guess either my mind drifted or it was very closed door/implied, because I totally missed it! No language (proFanity). The "taste of alcohol on his breath" ... unfortunately so true, and yuck. 

The title is a little blah, I like more of a connection than such an obvious/simple statement.  Narrator was Sarah Zimmerman - familiar voice (Echo of Old Books, A Fire Sparkling, The Last Correspondent, The Chalky Sea, The Recipe for Hope) ... basic "American" accent, when you might think it would be a "German/American" accent. Not really something I dwelled on as the "accent" wasn't an accent to me (just normal) but I think I would have struggled if it had been a British accent (an accent for me, but one that didn't fit/match, which this would be for UK audiences).

I've had this on my list for a while. I'd read the first chapter (part of an assignment for my son's LanguageArts class a few years ago).. We had the physical book in our home shelves, and the audio/kindle are pretty easily available at the library. I have it in epub, and I'd watched the movie "Everest" ... Then, Hubs bought it in Audible ... I figured if Hubs was going to read it, I'd shift it up my "to read" pile for possible discussion.  I've finished, he's yet to begin ;)  Yes, I have more time, and I dedicate much of my time to books. I went with the audio version (library copy, as I didn't want to mess up Hubs if he did start listening) and got the Kindle copy, pulled out the physical book. It's always interesting for me to compare formats, see if there's differences. There are ...

Some basic thoughts - there's a bit of controversy surrounding the book ... especially comparing it to "The Climb" by Anatoli Boukreev (I have yet to read it, might be a bit of Everest overload to try and get to it quickly. I've read a surprising number of "summit" books for not really having a personal interest in the subject). One difference in the audio vs kindle/print is an updated author's note (specifically addressing the conflict, etc) which I thought was very informational.  This book IS noted as "A PERSONAL Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster" and I think Krakauer goes above and beyond to address his own mistakes, where errors occurred (during the event, in his recollection and writing), that brain activity was muddled due to lack of oxygen (thus any and all accounts may be somewhat questioned). I've only peeked at some reviews of The Climb but I can't understand why some people choose to simply believe one account over the other (do they prefer one author/individual to another?). Krakauer IS a journalist, and has notes and fact-checkers ... something that seems to be lacking in The Climb (but I must reserve judgement as I haven't read it or investigated anything myself). 

I will say, Krakauer's writing is a bit verbose ... I was listening to the audio edition, so without the Kindle copy right there in front of me to stop and highlight words, I wasn't able to note everything, but I found myself wondering at the use of some words. Nothing really unheard of, just not everyday words. A few I might notice but not make mention of, but when there are so many ... a few I did quickly note paucity, obdurate, deleterious, detritus (personally I love this one and use it and it's in quite a few books, but I don't think I've ever heard someone say it IRL), fecundity, penumbra, hectored (I had to look it up, not having heard it before ... and wouldn't you know I heard it again in another book right after this one!), aesthete, cognoscenti, parvenus, nadir ... I just felt like perhaps it would be better to be reading, having the kindle dictionary right there to look up the meanings on words I wasn't quite sure of. Other more common words I happen to note: hoopla, seldom,  roil, scowl ...

Every chapter started with a quote (from various sources). It confused me a bit in audio (I started to try and pay particular attention to when a new chapter was announced, knowing that the next bit wasn't going to be authored by Krakauer, but someone else). In audio, I really wish they would credit the author BEFORE, I think when reading with your eyes, and you see a quote, you tend to do a quick "credit check" before reading the quote so you know who the words are coming from. At least I do.   The audio had an interesting intro - it gave the number of pages (just under 300, whereas my print copies are more, the audio being the earlier edition without the new author's notes) and told the listener that there were 21 chapters (there's also an introduction and epilogue, which are included in audio, necessarily so, absolutely part of the story). As mentioned, the author's updates weren't added until after, so they aren't in audio, but should be sought out by anyone listening to the audio. 

The Kindle copy had the most complete Table of Contents - very helpful to include the location/date with the chronological chapters. I like to be able to see at a glance that Chapter 1 is Everest Summit, May 10, 1996 29028 feet, and that Chapter 2 is Dehra Dun, India: 1852 - 2234 feet (so some history and background). Then the chapters are chronological, with Chapter 3 starting March 29. We hit May 10 by Chapter 13, and several chapters encompass that day, with extra information (the time) given.  These details are given at the beginning of the chapters, but I appreciate a TOC, and being able to grasp the setup in a glance. The audio only have the basic chapters listed, and the physical copy ... doesn't have a TOC at all. REALLY??? I just cannot comprehend books not having a TOC, just that most basic reference of what pages different chapters start on, rather than having to flip manually through the book. 

Another different in the formats, were the "notes" ... Krakauer stops and explains some things in a little more detail. In print, there is an * in the text, and then the footnote there at the bottom of that page. In audio, the note was stated "in" the text (a stop/pause, note, back to text ... the narrator was good and it was clear to me). In the Kindle copy, there are different * images and the corresponding notes are included at the end of the chapter. I think for me, I appreciated the audio presentation the most - the pause, note, then back to the text ... made me wonder if most notes shouldn't just be included IN the text (in parenthesis or whatnot) ... I'm sure it's some editorial decision. 

I've been a fiction gal for a long time, but have been trying to work non-fiction into my reads more and more. Sometimes they still read like fiction, other times they feel more like a lecture/school study. Here, I definitely felt like I probably SHOULD be taking notes, making sure I knew names (the print/kindle editions had a list of "Dramatis Personae" ... can't really call them "characters" as they are real people). I'm not sure I really will remember ALL of the names/dates and such, but the main points will stick in my mind. I thought the author did a good job. I've read a couple other Krakauer books, I think this one (of which he experienced personally) will be the one I remember most. 

Content: There was some proFanity (15x) and mention of people having sex (and how that was frowned upon by some/nothing at all explicit). Death and extreme situations. 

I liked this- fairly traditional. Although, as the title alludes, there are faults in understanding, SO. Many. Misunderstandings. I struggle with misunderstandings in ANY book, when we/the reader, from a 3rd person omniscient perspective know the whole story ... it can be super frustrating. When it's a 1st person, and we only know what that character knows, we feel more like that characters. Knowing what both Darcy and Elizabeth are thinking, how they have both overheard things, misunderstood things, continue on under altered perceptions continuing the strain on the relationship. And this went on for SO long. 

I struggled at the start (sometimes happens, especially in audio if I get at all distracted). I had the text through KindleUnlimited, and the audio was available on Hoopla. I had to stop, and restart, and go to the text, as I got a little confused.

There was a prologue ( 9 December 1811) and then we went BACK for chapter 1 (26 Nov 1811) ... Chapter 2 & Chapter 3 follow chronologically, and then as Chapter 4 starts, we're back to the prologue. I often struggle with this little "future peek" and then the "a few weeks earlier" build up to that moment we've already seen. It's a technique used a lot in books and movies ... and I dislike it almost every time. Here also, I wasn't totally sold on Elizabeth agreeing to marry Darcy  ... even for Jane's sake (which was a gamble, not even a sure thing). And until I wrote this review, I didn't realize just how quickly it had all happened. From a completely unexpected proposal to a marriage, in 14 days?

While I was listening/reading this book, I was watching the Bridgerton prequel "Queen Charlotte" ... and felt some similarities. In the quick marriage between characters that didn't really know each other. The groom not consummating the marriage, a bit of a relief, but also a question to the poor bride. The new wife being kept in comfort, and in both cases ... might they not be relieved? Wouldn't this actually be more than they could have hoped for? No mistreatment, living in wealth and comfort, not having to deal with a man they don't love/don't really know? Just having some personal thoughts on it ...

It was interesting to get more background on Darcy (different background, being a second son) and a more personal look into his POV. Some shifts to the Bingley/Jane narrative, and the Lydia/Wickham one. Mary was mentioned a few times, Kitty was almost non-existent. There was a dog who played a much larger roll than Kitty ;) 

Words - dais was in there three times (pronounced the usual, with long A). Deign once. A couple scowls and smirks. Lots of "pray" (60 times). Mordantly: having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting. 

I'd read a couple other books by this author and liked them fine ... this was about the same. It was free, included in my KindleUnlimited subscription, text and audio. I mostly went with the audio, but was glad to have the kindle copy for some reference. 

This had a mix of past and present tense, mostly present tense for the current storyline, past for memories. First person, all from the POV of our Heartbreak Bunny, Billie. Simple/chronological chapters, no headers.  Lots of dialog without the "he says/she says" (the narrator did a good job keeping it straight with different voices, I think I might have had a few moments reading myself thinking "who is talking?")

I don't know how much I'll really remember the story ... even waiting a few days to write the review and I'm having to skim over the text to see what I remember. Dressing up as a bunny was memorable (but not really tied to the title - that's her catch phrase and name of her company). A little different in that our MC is over 60, and the discussion of "love/sex" in the older years was a bit interesting, not the traditional 20-something love story. Nothing really explicit. A little proFanity (x3). 

A strange pronunciation of Kiefer ... Kay-Fear ???
Word - cacophony. Not one I'd generally be tracking, but someone in a FB group mentioned seeing it in so many reads, and there it was ;)  It did have smirk and scowl. 

This one just wasn't for me. As I'd stop with the book, I didn't want to come back to it, and had to push to finish. It's not an issue of content, while domestic violence isn't a "fun" read, it's also not a trigger or anything (no personal connection to it at all).  The whole thing just felt a little awkward ... 1st person, present tense, I was always aware of the tense. It felt unnatural. None of the characters were that likeable or sympathetic ... which is real, it's all shades of gray. I mean, Gordon is BAD ... but he does have a few sweet moments. Jill, our MC ... in a horrible situation, but it is hard to go with her choices. Drew ... little boy, yet still some cringe-worthy stuff.  Quite a bit of violence, sexual situations/rape and proFanity (well, just 7x). Just a little over the top, not quite believable. I just wasn't able to get pulled in, I felt like I was questioning too much along the way. Too many "really???" moments throughout. 

Never really felt like the title connected.

I adored this author's "In An Instant" and liked "Where Butterflies Wander" ... but this one didn't work for me. Included in KU, text and audio.   

I liked this fine, as far as learning some additional information about WW2 ... lots about bombs. Some said this read like a novel; I didn't find that to be the case. This felt more like a lecture, a school study. I had both the kindle copy (included in KU) and the audio (Hoopla) and switched a bit between the two formats. In audio, I could almost feel this as a university lecture. In print, all the notes to references made it feel academic. And does one stop, to check the reference during the initial read, or look at it after ... or not at all.  Other than Churchill ... I don't know that I will remember the names of the others involved. And most of the involvement I'll remember was bombs. Limpets. Clams. Hedgehogs. I guess I should remember Gubbins, as his name is even in the headers of a couple of the chapters (Gubbin's Trojan War, Operation Gubbins). 

I appreciated that this had a descriptive Table of Contents - even with that, it doesn't jog my memory much about what was contained in the chapters, except to remind that explosives were the subject matter for much of it (Ch7 The First Big Bang, Ch10 A Deadly Bang, Ch11 Masters of Sabotage etc). Guerrilla Warefare.

There wasn't really a "story" per se ... at least in my opinion. No "characters" (can't really call them that in non-fiction, yet in other nonfiction I've felt like I've gotten to know a certain person) that I cared about or will remember. In fact, I really don't think I'll remember much, maybe the odd tidbit here and there ... "didn't I hear something about that, in a book?"  "Heavy Water"  and delayed explosions (trains, airplanes, boats, bridges) ... The assassination of Heydrich by Josef Gabcik and Jan Kubis, Brickendonbury Manor, The Firs, Bletchley Park, Colin Grubbins, Cecil Clarke, George Rheam, Millis Jefferis, Stuart Macrae ...

There were some Acknowledgements in the Kindle copy (not in audio) that had some interesting information. There were also several photos, which were not only interesting, but also a great "recap" and reminder of what had been in the book. 

A single instance of proFanity (a quote).

I really enjoyed this. I think I just stumbled upon this one ... I currently have a KindleUnlimited membership and saw this had audio available via Hoopla (I like having the text and the audio). I'm not sure if I even read the blurb - so I went in blind.

Had I looked at the blurb, I wouldn't have been as surprised at the alternate timelines (which I figured out when Part 2/Stephen Thompson started up). I had glanced at the TOC, so I saw there were multiple sections, each showcasing the three tenant possibilities (Clara, Stephen, Mercy) plus a Prologue (with two chapters in it, rare!), a part for Agnes, and an Epilogue. 

I was a tad confused when Agnes chose Clara as the tenant, as the prologue focused more on Mercy ... I thought for sure she would be the pick. Which she was ... in part 3. 

There have been several favorite stories with alternate timelines, the "what if" possibilities, however they come about (the Middle Falls series, where a person dies and wakes up as their younger self to relive life and make different choices, The Midnight Library, where other life possibilities are viewed/lived, Dark Matter/alternate universes branching off). Here, there was no event or explanation ... just a "if this happened - this happened, if that happened - here's a slightly different story. As it says in the prologue as Agnes is wondering who she should pick "this simple decision could potentially alter the fates of everyone involved. Three very different choices. Three very different paths the lives of all at the house could take."  It was interesting to have the different paths come out in the story - nothing supernatural at all, and yet how much this choice could realistically affect all involved. While is seems a little overboard to say "she was playing God with these people's lives" ... it's really so true. 

I'm a TOC snob - I liked that the chapters ran chronologically, not starting over in each section. There were some chapter headings, giving a date or a tidbit of info, but that was only on a couple. Those extras WERE included in the audio TOC, but not the Kindle copy.  One of the early headers "The China Doll" on Chapter 7 strayed from Clara's story, to a flashback on Agnes's younger years. This happened a few times in the Stephen section - Chapter 32  "The Small Painting of a Coffee Plantation" (that header was NOT included in the audio TOC like "The China Doll" was ... inconsistent! Same for Ch38 "The Pile of Dusty Newspapers" ... if the TOC listed these, it would be easier to go back to quickly review the "Agnes inserts" in the other storylines, they really SHOULD be included in the TOC). 

All three tenants, Clara, Stephen and Mercy, have secrets. As their individual sections unfolded, we (the reader) learned what they were hiding. We got to know them, empathize a little with them. Complex characters, in that they weren't all bad or all good - so many shades of gray here. 

It was also interesting to see some of the background storylines, and how they changed in the different situations. 

This could make for an interesting book club discussion. 
I was mostly listening, but had the Kindle copy open at a few spots where I felt like highlighting passages ...

*pretending to be happy was the next best thing to actually being happy.
*It wasn’t that his path had come to an end, more that he had chosen to deliberately step from it.
*the simple act of lifting his cheeks to form a grin also lifted his heart
*I don’t have much time for those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol for it’s a self-destructive path
*the anticipation of giving a gift could outweigh the thrill of receiving one yourself

... and interesting discussion of telling lies to make people feel better (chapter 59) - saying religion does that too. 

No proFanity. Possible Triggers ... I read this in June/PrideMonth, and GoodReads does have an LGBTQ tag on it, as that is a pretty big part of one of the storylines. Some discussion of war injuries. Suicide. 

Other words I note - Deign, Seldom, Scowl

I've enjoyed many of Amy Harmon's novels. A couple are favorites. This one ... I struggled with a bit. It wasn't bad, I just wasn't feeling pulled into the story, the characters. I liked how it wrapped up though, and the author's notes (although listening to the audio ... I really wish the author would give the author's notes rather than the narrator we already heard tell the story. It would be so much more personal). I think my reflecting on the book is more favorable than while I was in it. 

3rd person/Past tense. Omniscient narrator, so we got to see/feel the POVs of several different characters. 

Of course I've heard of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but that's about it ... just that they were outlaws/cowboy types.  It was interesting to have UTAH so represented. I guess "Butch" was born and grew up here (I'm in Utah, it's something I note). Sometimes I really like that personal connection, here, it seemed too much. Then there was the talk of Mormonism (Jack Mormon), interesting.

Butch Cassidy wasn't our MC's real name. That was Robert Leroy Parker. Sometimes in the book he was referred to as Robert, other times Robert Leroy, other times Parker, then of course Butch Cassidy ... and then, Noble Salt. I have to admit it was a bit hard to follow for sure at times, and all the name switching got a little annoying.

Van, Van, Van ... I really just wanted to SLAP Van so many times! I guess that's good, if a book can draw out that type of emotion. 

There were a couple "reveals" ... of which I totally could see coming. 

TOC - I'm a Table of Contents gal. I had both the audio and the Kindle copy (KU - read and listen). In Audible, the Chapters included the little "header/quote" ... but I would have found it more helpful to have the dates listed (Preface - November 1908, Chapter 1 - September 1900, Chapter 3 - February 1901, Chapter 5 - July 1 1907 ...) I guess not every chapter had a date listed, but during a read/listen, I don't always register the date, how important is the date, is there going to be a test? Should I memorize it? I like just being able to glance at the TOC and see (does the timeline stay chronological or jump around, how much time passes?) Chapter 27 - July 1907 ... (most of the story took place in 1907).

One of the words I note - Carnegie. In audio, I note its pronunciation. Here, it was inconsistent, and said both ways (the traditional "Car-nu-gee" when talking of Carnegie Hall or library ... the "correct" way "Car-NEG-ee" when speaking of the man himself. Although once it seemed to also say Car-NEG-ee Hall, so ... 

Another word - Haiku (a "poem game" the characters played) ... it was pronounce H-Oh-coo (long O instead of long I). Until I shifted to the Kindle version for a bit, I didn't realize it had an alternate spelling here too ... hokku. Said "just" fourteen times, but it felt like a lot. 

Dais, smirk, scowl, roil - other words I note.
No proFanity though. Some sex, nothing explicit, but not closed door either. It felt off to me, I don't know if it's because I'm usually reading from the woman's POV?

I don't  know if I just never really connected with the Butch/Noble character, or if it was the narration (the few times I shifted to reading, was perhaps better? But I don't have much eye time, lots of ear time). 

While there were the couple of characters (Butch and Sundance) ... this doesn't even fit into my "not-nonfiction but based on true events" because while some of the Butch/Sundance basics were based on actual information ... all the other characters and happenings were all invented by the author. Just basic historical fiction with a couple recognizable names. 

I liked this a lot ... just shy of that elusive 5* rating, but it would be one I would recommend. I was able to snag the text from KindleUnlimited, and found the audio on Hoopla. Did a mix of both, mostly audio. Good narration.

This was first person/present tense ... two timelines though, Now/Then (no dates given, but contemporary, with the "then" varying in time ... first one our MC is six years old). The THEN is still in present tense. This seems like it would have been a perfect use of both. It would have helped me keep the two timelines more distinct (especially as they got closer to the present/same characters, sometimes, even though it had been labeled at the start of the chapter, I'd forget if we were in the present or the past).  I'm a Table of Contents nerd ... the audio TOC had the Now/Then listed next to each chapter (which makes it easy to do a quick look - yes, then alternate consistently, with NOW being odd chapters, THEN being even. In the Kindle copy though, just a basic (not very helpful) TOC. Why not add the Now/Then to the TOC in the Kindle copy? WHY????

I liked the story and the characters ... it was a bit predictable, at least I was expecting pretty much every twist and reveal. In fact, it dragged on a little too long, I got a bit annoyed, just verify my suspicion already. Thank you!

Definitely some triggers for Domestic Violence ... happily something I have no personal experience with at all. There was some proFanity (x17), I'm not really remembering the sexual content (mentioned a bit, but nothing explicit/descriptive/smut). 

The Kindle copy had some bookclub questions - but they were the pretty obvious ones, not really anything that made me really think back, dig deeper. 

I liked this ... but, I'm sorry Mary, it was a little bland. I feel badly saying that! Poor Mary. This stayed fairly true to cannon for the most part ( during the same time frame), but we got the different POV, and also earlier events (years earlier) and then events afterward. 

This did give some possible insight into Mary's, and some of the other character's behaviors in the familiar story. I got a little muddled starting SO much earlier, and then having yet another George in the picture (there's Wickham and Georgiana, now an earlier resident of Netherfield was also George?)

Justine Eyre is a good narrator, but some of the presentation (like Mary) was a little bland. Sounds of sighing ...  Not sure if it's the writing itself, just not a lot of emotion? I struggled a bit to keep interested and to press on to the end.

It was interesting to have one possibility of Mary's future (not typical!) and get little peeks at the other characters lives afterward too (Darcy and Jane naming their firstborn "Bennet" ... super cute!)

Traditional, same time frame/setting - no language, closed door bedroom scenes.

The audio was included in AudiblePlus, and I was able to snag the Kindle copy from KindleUnlimited (have a 3-month subscription). I was a bit annoyed at the lack of consistency in the Table of Contents between formats. The audio had simple chronological chapters listed, 1-90. The Kindle copy had five parts, each with several chapters which restarted chronologically in each. So in Audible ... Chapter 18, is Part 2/Chapter 1.  As I heard something I wanted to double check in the text, I noted "chapter 43" ... which, was not really helpful at all to find my spot in the Kindle copy.  I think I would have appreciated headers or something, so I could quickly look back and remember what each "part" was about (time/setting).