The Girls by Emma Cline

A special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before requesting, I read other people's reviews of the book and was intrigued by Cline's debut which is a fictional account of a cult murder.  Unfortunately, I didn't like the book and am in the minority with my less than glowing review. 

Our narrator is Evie, who is either her 14 year-old self in 1969, or her adult self in present day.  I felt that as a character, the main character, Evie wasn't overly deep or robust and came off as very one-dimensional.  I wasn't sure if Cline purposely wrote her this way so that Evie would be more of an unreliable narrator (because she wasn't present for the actual event), or because she's supposed to be 14, but I felt detached from Evie, and therefore also detached from the story.  The narrative was such a slow build that I almost gave up on the book several times.  I expected to be more mesmerized by Susanne since Evie seemed to be more enamored with her rather than the so-called charismatic leader, Russell, but again, I was not and didn't see the attraction.

The story lacked in any originality.  It was like reading an account of the Manson family with lovelier prose.  I would definitely pick up another book by this author, she is a beautiful writer, but this particular book wasn't for me.     

 

Life Moves Pretty Fast: The Lessons We Learned from Eighties Movies (And Why We Don't Learn Them From Movies Any More) by Hadley Freeman

A special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I miss the 80s, like I really miss the 80s (well, except for the unfortunate fashion choices that have actually become endearing).  How can you not miss the music, the hair, and of course, the movies?  Was there anything better than packing up your Kaboodle full of Kissing Potion, scrunchies, and jelly bracelets to go to a sleepover at your bestie's house where you would binge on John Hughes movies?

Freeman's book really hits the mark for movie buffs and 80s aficionados alike.  I couldn't help but quote movie lines in my head, and add to her lists.  She clearly has done her research and time as a journalist, her writing is quite good.  But...what I wasn't prepared for was the topic of feminism as it was not advertised anywhere in the marketing/synopsis of the book.  I don't necessarily feel that this is a bad thing.  She can be incredibly witty, insightful, and thought provoking.  There were some solid points about the lack of movies for women/lack of women directors, but I felt she went a little overboard and in this case, less would've been more because her writing is so articulate.  I also disagree with her thoughts on Weird Science, I love this movie!

I feel like I could write this type of book.  I mean who doesn't want to talk about being kissed by Jake Ryan, or Blaine?  I mean, seriously!  And how good does an 80s movie make you feel?  This book made me dig out my VHS tapes and get reacquainted with some old friends.  Thank you Hadley for this gem, I would definitely recommend this read.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

A special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adore Rainbow Rowell.  Like I really adore her writing!  But...this wasn't my favourite book of hers.  I wanted so badly to love it, and parts of it I did, but parts of it, I didn't.

The reviews online were positive, but many are making the same parallel that I did.  This screams of Harry Potter fan fiction.  Was that the point?  I had such high hopes for Simon and Baz after learning they would be appearing in their own novel apart from Fangirl.  Anything I've read from Rowell claims that this is her take on "the Chosen One" type of story, but I disagree and couldn't help drawing many parallels to Harry Potter, too many to be a coincidence.   

Like Rowell's other books, this too is adorable and heartwarming.  If you love Simon Snow, this book is your bag.  

Not Working by Lisa Owens

A special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Claire Flannery has just quit her office job, hoping to take some time to discover her real passion. The problem is, she's not exactly sure how to go about finding it. Without the distractions of a regular routine, Claire confronts the best and worst parts of herself: the generous, attentive part that visits her grandmother for tea and cooks special meals for her boyfriend, Luke, and the part that she feels will never measure up and makes regrettable comments after too many glasses of wine. What emerges is a candid, moving portrait of a clear-eyed heroine trying to forge her own way, a wholly relatable character whose imperfections and uncanny observations highlight what makes us all different and yet inescapably linked.

Okay, so maybe it is because I'm a Gen-Xer, or maybe it is because this book was pitched as being in the same vein as Bridget Jones's Diary and I Don't Know How She Does It, but I found it incredibly manic and I didn't enjoy it.

Our narrator, Claire Flannery, is in her late 20s and lives with her boyfriend in London.  She quits her job in the hopes that she will discover what she wants to do with/in her life.  There really wasn't much of a story here, and the small choppy sub-titled sections didn't do the narrative any favours - this staccato rhythm was distracting and didn't help me engage with the characters.  Claire comes off as selfish, shallow, and spoiled.  She is unlikable, and to be frank, rather dull.  There were some funny bits, but all-in-all, there was really nothing there character-wise and plot-wise. 

Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen

A special thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This moving story takes place in Miller's Valley, a small farming town that becomes another character in the book.  Mary Margaret 'Mimi' Miller is the only daughter born to a farming family with two sons and an agoraphobic aunt that also lives on their property.  Layer by layer, Quindlen tells Mimi's coming-of-age story through her family's drama.   

One thing I would have liked fleshed out was the relationship between Mimi's mother and her sister (Mimi's aunt).  There is a plot twist that touches on perhaps why they had a tumultuous relationship, but I felt like this didn't get enough time and development and could've really added to the story, especially in the beginning.

A slow burn.  Like other reviewers, I found the novel hard to get into because of its pace.  Quindlen is a gifted writer who takes her time developing characters and in this instance, the pace at which she does this, paid off.  So stick with it, you will be glad you did.  

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

A special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I start? Okay, so I'm a huge fan of Sittenfeld's other books, so it was a no-brainer to request Eligible. When I found out it was an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that takes place mostly in Cincinnati, I have to admit, I was a little worried.  That being said, for the most part, she pulls it off. Sittenfeld takes a few liberties—which are to be expected since this is modern day—but for the most part, things are left in tact and yet she makes it sound like her own and not a retelling.

I did struggle a bit with the third-person perspective and stumbled a bit with some of the language; words like "erstwhile" and "egregious" are not words you hear every day, and didn't sound appropriate to modern day. Perhaps she was trying to pay homage to Austen through language? But I did feel that these words are simply out of place.

The short, digestible chapters made this book easy to devour given its size. Sittenfled is definitely gifted and did right by Austen. All-in-all, a fun read and I would definitely recommend—it isn't just for fans of Pride and Prejudice or Curtis Sittenfeld.