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What I’ve Read Lately

I’m back with another book update! I’ve finished 6 books since the last review and since I reviewed 6 then, I figured that would be a good pattern to hold on to. That way, you get a good variety of what I’ve been reading and enough time has gone by that it stays fresh. So, keep reading if you want to see what I finished recently.

The Tenth Circle – Jodi Picoult

Summary: When Trixie Stone accuses her ex-boyfriend Jason Underhill of raping her, everyone is quick to take his side when he claims their intercourse was consensual. Trixie’s parents of course get involved and the story revolves around the aftermath of the incident and how the family of three is pushed and pulled together.

What I liked/didn’t like: I liked it because as you neared the end, the story took a turn you wouldn’t expect. I loved how she intermingled the other location [I don’t want to give away too much] and how it tied back to the initial story line. If you’ve read any Picoult, you can imagine what I’m talking about.

Would I recommend it: Yes. There are other Picoult novels I’d recommend first [like Small Great Things], but if you like her style, this is a good one.

The Hours – Michael Cunningham

Summary: The book concerns three generations of women affected by the classic novel Mrs. Dalloway. The author Virginia Woolfe, Clarissa Vaughn, and Laura Brown are all intertwined and connected, although not all 3 live in the same generation. It’s a story of family and relationships and how one day can tell the story of a whole life.

What I liked/didn’t like: This book was critically acclaimed [the movie version even won Oscars!], but it was horrendously slow for me. I wanted to put it down so many times but I pushed through. The ending was good but not worth the lengthy lead up.

Would I recommend it: No.

Every Last Lie – Mary Kubica

Summary: After Clara’s husband, Nick, is killed in a car crash that included their young daughter, Maisie, Clara falls into a spiral of trying to figure out what really happened in that accident and who else was involved or to be blamed.

What I liked/didn’t like: This was a page-turner. I found myself looking forward to bed time to get deeper into the story. I will say that the ending was a bit lackluster for me, but the excitement that I felt leading up to it was worth the read.

Would I recommend it: If you like suspenseful novels, this is a good one.

The Child – Fiona Barton

Summary: After a workman discovers a tiny skeleton in a construction zone, reporter Kate Waters is brought in to unravel who that baby was and who are the people intertwined into this mystery.

What I liked/didn’t like: I had previously read The Widow and did not enjoy it at all. However, I had heard good things about this one so I gave it a go. I’m so glad I did! This one was SO much better! This was another page-turner and the ending blew my mind. In hindsight, it’s pretty obvious, but I never guessed it while reading it. I devoured this one.

Would I recommend it: Yes, definitely.

House Rules – Jodi Picoult

Summary: Jacob is a teen with Asperger’s and when his tutor goes missing, his extensive knowledge of forensic analysis puts him at the forefrunt as a suspect. His mother and brother are brought into the mystery of her disappearance and everyone involved must learn to separate Jacob’s Asperger’s from the reality of the situation.

What I liked/didn’t like: This will go down as one of my favorites of Picoult. It’s deeply complex and if you’ve ever known anyone on the Autism spectrum, you’ll connect to the main character.

Would I recommend it: Yes.

Private Papers of Eastern Jewel – Maureen Lindley

Summary: This is the story of Yoshiko Kawashima, a Chinese princess turned Japanese Spy. Her adventures throughout the Far East take you all over, both geographically and emotionally.

What I liked/didn’t like: This was different than what I typically read and I quickly remembered why. While this was certainly a saucy read and had some memorable parts, overall it was pretty dull. There was hardly a climax and some of the phases of her life were incredibly boring, while others were overwhelmingly eventful. It was too long and all over the place to really keep my full attention. This was another one that I wanted to just abandon, but I pushed through.

Would I recommend it: If you like historical reads, maybe. But if you like page-turning suspense, I would not recommend this.

 

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Read my previous book review here

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