Review: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

the lowdown

Cormoran Strike is a private detective...not that he does much detecting these days. Massively in debt, missing half a leg thanks to an injury during a tour in Afghanistan, and recently broken up with his beautiful but toxic fiancée, Cormoran isn't having a great go of things when John Bristow walks into his office. Wanting Cormoran to investigate the high profile suicide of his supermodel sister months prior, John seeks out Cormoran via a connection from their past, John's younger brother, Charlie, who was best friends with Cormoran until he tragically died as a child. As Cormoran delves deeper into investigating the case, and Lula Landry's death, he realizes that Bristow may not just be in denial, and that there may in fact, be a killer on the loose.

This novel was written by JK Rowling (of Harry Potter fame, I'm sure you've heard of her once or twice in passing) under the pen name Robert Galbraith. It was an interesting read, albeit extremely slow-moving. There were significant pacing issues, which I'll get into below. I think that the only reason that I finished this book is because the storyline itself was so interesting.


the good

• Galbraith told a really fascinating story. It wasn't terribly complex, but there were just enough unexplained facts about the case that it kept me hanging in there to see who did it. Like I said before, the mystery wasn't terribly complex, Galbraith just took his time laying everything out for the reader. I kept reading on because there were so many unanswered questions (seriously who were those runners caught on camera?).
• Cormoran was a much more tolerable narrator than I was expecting. I thought that I would have a hard time connecting with him because of his background, being so far removed from anything I could know, but he was surprisingly enjoyable and relatable. Occasionally I found myself annoyed with Cormoran or couldn't follow his thinking, but overall he was a really good narrator. Robin also really shined as an unexpectedly enjoyable character. 

the bad

• There were tons of pacing issues and not enough content to drive the book and the plot forward. This book was incredibly slow moving for me. I don't think anyone would be placing this one into the 'thriller' category.
• The literary style just didn't suit the style of book. The descriptive style that can transport you to a castle with boggarts, talking paintings, and giants and make it all seem entirely real is a bore when it's describing a random alleyway in London. I think that the pacing issues and the literary style go hand in hand, because so much of each scene was focused on descriptive 

the quote

“Seven and a half million hearts were bating in close proximity in this heavy old city, and many, after all, would be aching far worse than his.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

This one is definitely a borrow it book, especially if you're a Rowling fan. It was enjoyable although occasionally tedious, but I don't foresee myself regretting not having purchased it. I will say that if you need a lot of action in your mystery novels, you might want to skip this.



overall score:6/10

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Review: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

the lowdown

Paige Hancock is that girl. The one who’s boyfriend drowned in a tragic swimming accident. Though she and Aaron weren’t together for long, his death has cast a shadow on her life. Everywhere she goes in her small town, people give her that look. Tired of the misplaced sympathy and ready to begin moving on, Paige decides that this school year things will get back to normal. To do so, she commits to joining a club, getting her longtime crush, Ryan Chase, to go on a date with her, and to get past her fear of swimming. But then Ryan’s cousin Max transfers back to their school and convinces Paige to join the Quiz Bowl team, and her plan isn’t quite what it seems.

I really liked Open Road Summer, Lord’s debut novel, so I was excited to read this, but also skeptical because sophomore entries rarely have the same sparkle as someone’s first novel. Lord lives in Cincinnati, where Laura and I both went to college and where we bought our (signed!) copies of Open Road Summer at the local bookstore. Couple that with the fact that this book is set in a fictional suburb of Indianapolis but with lots of references that Hoosiers will get, and I was in hog heaven and definitely a little homesick! I read this book really quickly, I devoured it, actually. This was deeper and more emotional than I was expecting, to the point where I was ugly crying pretty hard at the end of it. If you’re looking for a YA read with a little more substance, but which doesn’t sacrifice the classic YA elements, The Start of Me and You is a good pick.



the good

• The way that Lord handled the grief that Paige was experiencing was appropriate and not trite, as I feared it might be. While Paige has lost an important person in her life, she is the first to admit that they were only together for a few months, and that her grief has a lot more to do with what could’ve been than what they had. My heart broke for her every time she woke up from the terrible nightmares about drowning that plagued her sleep far too often.
• I’ve made no secret of how much I love well-written, smart female friendships. The Start of Me and You delivers on this front, and delivers it well. The foursome of girls, who quickly become friends with Ryan and Max, adding them to the group, are supportive and understanding. They support and complement each other in all the best ways. I wish that there had been more depth to some of their story lines, but overall they were a highlight.

the bad

• While I appreciated the tact with which some of the more complex issues were dealt with in this book, it definitely had some of the more saccharine and predictable moments that YA books are prone to. Certainly the storyline was predictable, but it was still enjoyable to read. If you’re looking for something groundbreaking, though, you won’t find it here.

the quote

“In friendship, we are all debtors. We all owe each other for a thousand small kindnesses, for little moments of grace in the chaos.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

 This one is worth a trip to your local bookstore to buy it. I borrowed it from my library and plan on purchasing a copy. I really enjoyed this book, and definitely see myself reading it again in the future.



overall score:8/10

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Review: Killing Monica by Candace Bushnell

the lowdown
Pandy "PJ" Wallis is a successful author of the Monica books which have lead to blockbuster movies. When she decides to attempt a historical novel based on her ancestor, her publisher tells her no. With a failing marriage and her friendship with ShondaBeth Schnowzer, onscreen Monica, up in flames, Pandy decides to reinvent herself. But in order to do so, she'll need to reconcile with ShondaBeth and hope she won't ruin any of her plans.

Killing Monica is a good book to read while passing the time. I enjoyed how descriptive Bushnell is and how the storyline is very interesting. She is able to capture you in the beginning and you get hooked and you want to know what Pandy does and how she maneuvers around the social world of NYC while people tell her they love Monica. This is a good chik-lit if you are in the mood for something like that and want an easy read as well. It's not as good as her past works, but it does live up to expectations.

the good

• The characters are very relateable and you end up rooting for all of them to find their own path in this crazy world. The main character, Pandy, does remind me of Carrie Bradshaw and I liked the history Pandy has and how Monica came to be.
• The book is an easy read. I found myself flying through some of the chapters. I enjoyed being able to read so much in such little time and feel a sense of accomplishment.
• The storyline is very entertaining and as always, Bushnell does a great job in the visualization and making the words describe places in Manhattan so real. 

the bad

• Bushnell makes a habit of flipping through past and present and bringing up memories and sticking them into the middle of the chapter. It made me lose focus sometimes and I would have to go back and reread the chapter to make sure I was reading it correctly.
• Sometimes the book did get a bit bland and I would find myself skimming a few paragraphs. I wanted it to be a bit more juicy like her past books. Bushnell  just needs to add a few more interesting items and more organization to the book.

the quote
"ShondraBeth motioned wildly for Pandy to hand her the phone so she could give him instructions. And then, like two teenage girls who have just pulled a prank on a boy they both have a crush on, they collapsed onto the table in riotous laughter."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 I would recommend you borrow it first and then decide if you want to add it to your collection.

overall score:6/10

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Sunday Preview: July 27 - 31

just to recap
Last week Laura reviewed The Husband's Secret, giving it a 5 star rating, while Liz reviewed Paddle Your Own Canoe, and decided it was a 7 star book. Finally, Laura did a Flashback Friday review of The Other Boleyn Girl, also giving it 7 stars. Laura was out of town in Mexico visiting family but Liz held down the fort until she left this weekend for a family wedding in Florida.

this week
Laura is still out of town (is she ever coming back?) but she left us with a review of Killing Monica. Originally scheduled for Wednesday, following the schedule, since Liz was a out of town all weekend she needs a little time to finish her reviews :) so Laura will review Killing Monica on Monday. Liz will be reviewing The Start of Me and You on Wednesday, and will also be flashing back to 2013's The Cuckoo's Calling, written by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Stay tuned!

Flashback Friday: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

the lowdown
Mary Boleyn has come to Tudor Court to catch the eye of Henry VIII and to keep him entertained at the age of fourteen. She lures him and captures him, but soon finds that she needs more than beauty to keep wrapped around her finger. Her sister Anne has caught his eye before Mary can hatch a plan to get him back. She will go to great lengths to secure the king and her future, forever.

I had been itching to read this a few years ago after I saw the movie and I'm glad I did. Hands down it is far better than the movie, although the movie did do it justice. I love historical fiction, especially anything having to do with Henry VIII and his wives. Philippa Gregory is able to hook you within a matter of minutes and its a book you cannot put down. You want to keep finding out what Mary and Anne will do next and how far they'll go to get and keep the king's attention.

the good

• Gregory brings these characters to life. She is able to make them jump out of the pages and to me, it was like I was back there and watching everything from the sidelines. The words are so beautifully written that you get lost in them and wish for the book to never end. 
• The storyline keeps you captured and takes on all these twists and turns that end up keeping you hooked to the book. With two women vying for a king's attention, plus a queen, who wouldn't want to read a book about drama and how it was handled differently in those days? It's a love story mixed with a womanizing king, family drama, and a whole lot of English pride. If that isn't a recipe for a good book, I don't know what is.

the bad

• Sometimes the language can be confusing, especially if you aren't really paying attention. I think I only got confused and had to reread about two times but other wise its pretty straightforward. 
• The book can be a bit long at time and it may seem never ending. With a book this size its expected. I found myself willing to read faster to finish it but other times, I wanted to take my time so it would never end.

the quote
"I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't do anything but think about him. At night I dream of him, all day I wait to see him, and when I do see him my heart turns over and I think I will faint with desire."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 If you're in the market for a historical fiction, buy it. Its a great book with historical characters and interesting lives that will transport you back in time.

overall score:8/10

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Review: Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living by Nick Offerman

the lowdown
Nick Offerman is the latest celebrity to jump into the authoring world, although he puts his own spin on it. Nearly equal parts life story and advice, Offerman takes you through his early days in the small farming town of Minooka, Illinois, through his true introduction to theater at the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana, to his tenure in the Chicago theater community. Finally, his story takes you to Hollywood, as most do, and to Parks and Rec. 

I was really looking forward to this book, already knowing how hilarious Offerman is, and already being madly in love with his wife, Will & Grace's Megan Mullally (although she is so much more than just that). I was shocked at how deep into the theater scene Offerman was, and how seriously he takes his craft. It was also interesting to read about the climb to fame from someone who still worked in show business even before they hit it big (Offerman used his carpentry skills in set design to make ends meet). I wasn't completely blown away by this one, but it was an enjoyable read, to be sure.

the good

• Offerman knows how to tell a tale. I was really interested in learning all about the different chapters in his life, and how he came to be who he is. Stupidly, it was kind of interesting for me to read about life on a farm. I grew up soundly in the suburbs, so it wasn't like anything I knew. 
• He is also an extraordinarily humble and grateful man, in telling his stories, which I appreciated. While certainly due to a lot of hard work and determination, Offerman isn't shy about giving some of the credit of his successes to pure luck, one of the most important ingredients in Hollywood success. 

the bad

• Despite being someone who frequently feels like they need guidance into how to be a person, particularly one that doesn't suck, I wasn't that impressed with the "manifesto" aspects of the book. It's not that they angered me or anything, although they did anger a lot of people who feel that he was disrespecting Christianity, they just didn't particularly interest me. In attempting to put a humorous spin on things, he dispels his advice in a brash way that annoyed me at times and bored me at other times. I found myself skimming the sections of each chapter with his advice for living.
• Although Offerman definitely has a way with words, he can also be a bit dry and occasionally pretentious. I get it, I'm often made fun of for my choices in vocabulary when a simpler word would have sufficed, but Offerman's use of language didn't really gel with me sometimes. I think that in trying to prove himself as more than a laughable goof, he went overboard. 

the quote
"and one of our vocabulary words was nonconformist. I just dug that word. I heard the explanation, the definition, and I felt like I had just learned about a new hero in a kick-ass Marvel comic book."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
While I enjoyed reading this book, I don't really see myself returning to it again in the future, so this is a great book to grab from the library or a friend; borrow it.

overall score:7/10

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Review: The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

the lowdown
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has the perfect life. Perfect husband, children and home. Until one day she finds a letter her husband, John-Paul, wrote to her when their eldest daughter was born. In it, he shares his darkest secret that wouldn't only jeopardize his marriage and life, but the life of those around them including Rachel and Tess. Will Cecilia be able to keep the secret. or will something else come of it?

I had kept putting off this book because I had read reviews online and they have always been mixed. They're not one-sided and I wanted to go into it with an open mind.  The characters are interesting, regular suburban mothers who are involved with their children's school. Rachel, Tess and Cecilia offer different views of their complicated lives and how its easy to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of everyday life, especially with gossip. Moriarty does a good job in changing things up but had a rough time being able to tie in all of these women's lives together.

the good

• I liked how Moriarty has three different women, living different lives, and how they only cross paths because of the school their children attend. Its all different aspects and how life can dramatically change from one day to the next. 
• The topic covered in the book is also something that is important in today's society and Moriarty is able to explain how the victim thinks and how certain events can lead to an outcome from one second to the next. She makes it even more real because she shows the implications it has on others around them.

the bad

• The chapters and the stories of the people involved in the book are like loose ends. They have nowhere to go and have no end point. Moriarty introduces us the characters but without really doing so. She doesn't tie them in well at all and it can get confusing which character she's talking about.
• This book is kind of bland at the beginning. I wasn't really able to get into it until about 15 chapters in and that's a let down. A book should be able to capture you in the first paragraph, sentence even. Certainly not the case here. I was expecting a lot more to come out of this book and all I got was bland. Like Wonderbread, you guys.
• This book was also one of those books you could put down and have no need to pick it back up. I wasn't interested and it never really got my attention. I think there were only three parts where the author grabbed my attention but that's honestly about it. I found myself skimming a lot of the time trying to find something interesting that would happen.

the quote
"None of us ever know all the possible courses our lives could have and maybe should have taken. It's probably just as well. Some secrets are meant to stay secret forever. Just ask Pandora."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 I would recommend skipping it. It's not a book I would spend my money on again and it also isn't one I would recommend right off the bat.

overall score:5/10

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