Pope Joan

Pope JoanTitle: Pope Joan
Author: Donna Woolfolk Cross
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Kindle
Pages: 434
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

I didn’t love POPE JOAN, but I did like it. I really felt for Joan. I hated that no one would let her do things simply because she was a woman. I know that’s how life was in the 800s, but it still angered me. I also hated reading about the religious intolerance. Any person at any time could be accused of heresy or witchcraft simply because they acted, spoke, or believed differently than the church wanted them to.

The story’s premise was very interesting. I wonder if it’s true at all or if it is just a legend. It seems like it could be true because if there had been a female pope at that time, she would’ve been stricken from the records. But, how likely could any of this happen? I don’t know. All we can do is speculate and wonder.

I thought characters (or people) felt a bit shallow. Even though I really liked Joan and felt for the injustice she endured, I could’ve been more invested in her life as a character if the story hadn’t gone by so quickly. The ending felt rushed compared to the rest of the book, which is saying something.

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The Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher In The RyeTitle: The Catcher in the Rye
Author: J.D. Salinger
Genre: Classic, Literary Fiction
Format: Paperback
Pages: 277
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

I’ve wanted to read THE CATCHER IN THE RYE for a very long time. So when we decided to read it for book club, I was really excited! I don’t know what I had in mind, but what I read was definitely not it. I thought it had no plot and was completely pointless. I’m not sure why it’s even considered a classic. And, I detested the writing style. I hated how Holden thought / spoke (other than the colloquialisms). His thoughts were rambling and unfiltered, which isn’t my cup of tea when I read a book. I actually really liked the colloquialisms. They’re probably the only thing I did like.

I understand why teenage boys would like this story because they probably relate to Holden really well. Since I’m neither a teenager nor a boy, I couldn’t relate to him. I could see why Holden felt the way he did in some circumstances. He really seemed to like kids because they were genuine and weren’t jaded yet. On the flip side, he hated adults (or anyone nearing adulthood) because they all seemed like they were phonies.

I hated Holden at first, but I felt sorry for him in the end. I felt like he was crying out for help and no one could see that he was. He was so depressed, suicidal even, and he didn’t know how to deal with his little brother’s death. None of the adults in his life really showed him how to grieve, cope, or even live. I wished he had found someone to help him. I think that would’ve made the book better and at least given a point to the story.

I tried to like this story and I even tried to see why my book club cohorts liked it. While I agree with a lot of what they said about it, it just wasn’t for me. Even though I didn’t like it, I’m still glad I read it so I can say that I have.

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Shutter

ShutterTitle: Shutter
Author: Courtney Alameda
Genre: Horror, Young Adult
Format: ARC
Pages: 384
Reason Read: ARC Review
Rating:

My Thoughts

I’m really glad I had a chance to read SHUTTER around Halloween to help me get into the Halloween spirit. But, I would’ve enjoyed reading it at any time of the year because I loved every minute. It was intense from beginning to end. The characters hardly had any time to rest. The way Courtney writes made the characters and setting show up vividly in my mind. I could imagine everything she described in awesome detail.

One of my favorite things about this book played on the fact that Dracula was real and that Bram Stoker was the historian that wrote everything down instead of an author writing fiction. Many of the characters are descendants from the central characters in Stoker’s novel, which made it fun. I kinda wish I had read DRACULA before I read this. At the very least, I’ll try reading DRACULA at some point.

I really liked Micheline. She was strong yet vulnerable. I loved Ryder and his Aussie-isms. I wish all leading males could be as cool as him. I really liked Jude too. He was funny, witty, and added an interesting dynamic to the group. Oliver seemed a little more aloof to me, but maybe that’s because he was the observer. He’s smart, but he just didn’t seem very observant for being as smart as he is. He probably just paid attention to only the stuff he wanted to. The rest of the characters carried the story enough for me that he didn’t bother me at all.

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Unbroken

UnbrokenTitle: Unbroken
Author: Laura Hillenbrand
Genre: Biography, Non-Fiction
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 475
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

I didn’t know very much about UNBROKEN before I started reading it. It was very well-written and seemed well researched. I do wish Hillenbrand had written the story from Louie’s perspective rather than an overall view of everything. Despite that, it was captivating and inspiring to read.

Louis Zamperini had an interesting life. I enjoyed reading about his resilience and will to live. He was so strong! I know if I were in any of the situations he was during World War II, I would’ve hoped for a swift death. I enjoyed reading about his thieving acts in his younger years and how it actually helped him in the POW camps. I especially enjoyed reading about how he had stolen Hitler’s flag while he was at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. I also enjoyed reading about those Japanese soldiers and civilians that were kind to the POWs.

To be honest, I was dreading reading about all the horrific things he went through at the hands of the Japanese soldiers while he was a POW. As I read his story, I couldn’t believe what he and other Pacific POWs were subjected to. It’s amazing anyone survived. My least favorite part was the part when Gaga, the duck who befriended the POWs in Omori, was tortured and beaten to death by The Bird (meanest of the Japanese soldiers). It severely depressed me. I was angry at the injustice that The Bird only got 4 years in prison for everything he did.

I’m so glad to hear that Louie was able to overcome his demons and find peace in Christ. Not many people can do that. His life definitely shows that it’s possible to do, and I’m glad he was able to live a happy, fulfilling life after the war once he found Christ.

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The Coldest Girl In Coldtown

The Coldest Girl In ColdtownTitle: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
Author: Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 419
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

My Thoughts

I’ll admit it. I was drawn to THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN because of its cover. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but what I got was a unique story that was fun and suspenseful. I liked it a lot.

I loved the concept of the Coldtowns. I thought it was really unique and it seemed like a good way to quarantine the infectious vampirism disease. But, I often wondered if Coldtowns could really keep vampires in. I don’t think they could, but I didn’t let that bother me too much because it made for a good setting to the story.

Tana seemed a little aloof to me. I couldn’t quite pin down her motives or personality. I really liked Gavriel. I loved how contradictory he was. He didn’t want to be a monster, but at the same time, he knew he was so he used it to his advantage.

I really liked that there was a little bit of romance, but I wanted more. I know the romance wasn’t the main point of the story, but I think I would’ve liked it more if it was.