Tag Archive for: 2 Stars

If Death Ever Slept

If Death Ever SleptTitle: If Death Ever Slept
Author: Rex Stout
Series: Nero Wolfe #29
Genre: Mystery
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 186
Reason Read: Recommended
Rating:

My Thoughts

About ten years ago, I was introduced to Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin by way of the TV show on A&E. My mom enjoyed watching it and I decided to watch an episode with her. I ended up loving the show and the characters. Unfortunately, the show didn’t last more than one season, but my mom recommended that I read the novels by Rex Stout.

For me, I think this is a series better enjoyed as a TV show than as a novel. For one, I miss the way Timothy Hutton portrayed Archie. I also didn’t think the story translated well as a novel. It was slow and boring while it set everything up. Even after the first murder was committed, I still wasn’t hooked. The novel is only 186 pages and it took me more than a week to read it because it was hard for me to pick it back up again. Unfortunately, the ending was a huge let down. It made complete sense, but as I finished the book, I wanted more. At this point, probably won’t read any of the other Nero Wolfe novels.

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The Iron Witch

The Iron WitchTitle: The Iron Witch
Author: Karen Mahoney
Series: Iron Witch #1
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Kindle
Pages: 314
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

My Thoughts

I really wanted to like THE IRON WITCH because the premise was so intriguing. It had a lot of potential, but the execution just fell flat for me.

I didn’t feel like the few entries from Donna’s journal really added anything to the story because the third-person POV was limited not omniscient. With or without the journal entries, we didn’t get any of the other characters’ POV. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. I liked Xan, but I wish I would’ve gotten to know him better. I had hardly any connection with Donna and absolutely none with Navin. I didn’t care whether Donna saved him.

I also didn’t feel like I was given enough information. I felt like important information was just glossed over and not explained. I don’t mind not getting all the answers, but I felt like I didn’t get any answers. At this point, I’m not sure I want to read the rest of the series.

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What Went Wrong

What Went WrongTitle: What Went Wrong
Author: Bernard Lewis
Genre: Informative, Non-Fiction
Format: Paperback
Pages: 186
Reason Read: Class Assignment
Rating:

My Thoughts

I was required to read WHAT WENT WRONG for my English class. As far as the writing is concerned, I felt like Lewis repeated himself way too much. I also thought the book was too dryly written. It felt like I was reading an encyclopedia entry rather than someone’s take on the subject. It was so boring.

Seeing Islam from this POV provided a lot of insight. However, as I’m an outsider, Islamic beliefs and actions may seem strange or oppressive to me no matter how they’re explained. Whereas, a Muslim may see them as normal, biased, or anti-Islam depending on how and who explains these beliefs. Because I don’t know a lot about Islam, there’s no way for me to tell if what Lewis says is just one way of looking at things.

Even though I felt like I gained a lot of insight, the content felt very biased. I keep wondering how people of the Islamic faith–more particularly, one from each faction and level of devoutness–would feel about this book. Would it seem biased like I think it does? Or, would it seem accurate? I’d be interested in reading the same content but from a Muslim’s POV to help me make a less biased decision about it.

Update: When I posted my review on Shelfari, my friend Rummanah wrote the following comment: “I personally have not read books by Bernard Lewis, but looking at the summaries and inside flap, he is very anti-Islam and Middle East. I’m a Muslim and my father is very well versed and well read on the field. I don’t have any desire to read it. Just my two cents.” I think I’ll go with her take on it.

Two Little Girls In Blue

Two Little Girls In BlueTitle: Two Little Girls in Blue
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Genre: Thriller
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 322
Reason Read: Play Book Tag
Rating:

My Thoughts

TWO LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE was definitely not my favorite book by Mary Higgins Clark. In fact, it was probably my least favorite of all the books I’ve read by her and I’ve read a lot.

I did enjoy reading about the concept of twin telepathy and I liked the premise of the story. I also felt some suspense and I wanted to get to the end so I could see the resolution. However, the story didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat or second-guessing who I thought the “bad guy” was like her other books have done. It just fell flat and felt a little too contrived.