Review of "The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 3.5

I really liked these characters and I thought the plot was pretty interesting. It didn’t draw me in as much as I expected thus the lower rating but overall a good book.

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Review of "The Wonder" by Emma Donoghue

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I definitely liked the book more because of the ending. The characters weren't very likable but the story was very interesting and halfway through the book you get consumed and want to know how it concludes.

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Review of "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was better than I expected and I expected wonderful things. Read this for a book group I host, I anticipate the conversation to be amazing. I had, prior to reading the book, tried watching the TV show and I only got 4 episodes in before it got too hard to watch. However, the book filled in all the gaps that I was looking for and now I'm so into this world and I'm invested in finding out what happens to this character. So happy I read the book and I'm back to the TV show to continue the story.

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Review of "The Last Black Unicorn" by Tiffany Haddish

The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was really disappointed in not liking this book. I love Tiffany’s comedy and all her acting performances but this book was not what I expected, I did like reading about her past, not the horrible stuff that happened to her of course, but seeing her find such refuge in her comedy. The fact that Tucker Max co-wrote this definitely has influenced my feelings toward this book. He’s an awful person. Sorry, Tiff, Love you and I’ll continue to love your comedy.

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Review of "Dust Bowl Girls: The Inspiring Story of the Team That Barnstormed Its Way to Basketball Glory" by Lydia Reeder

Dust Bowl Girls: The Inspiring Story of the Team That Barnstormed Its Way to Basketball Glory by Lydia Reeder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.75

This book was a pretty good read but it was kind of just a light read. There wasn’t much conflict to this true story but it was a sweet uplifting read. Good enough for a women’s history month book club read.

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Review of "The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World" by Eric Weiner

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Some humorous parts of the book but overall I wasn't wowed by it. I feel like I've read a combination of this book before in many other memoirs.

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Review of "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I know this book is very popular and I’ll admit it’s well written but the story just didn’t speak to me. I did enjoy Diaz’s style of writing but the constant spanish words really threw me off my flow of reading. I’m sad I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected I would.

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Review of "Goodbye Things: The New Japanese Minimalism" by Fumio Sasaki

Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism by Fumio Sasaki
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is along the same vein as Marie Kondo’s book but with the focus being on minimalism versus merely decluttering. The author does a good job of explaining what minimalism is and has several lists to guide you in beginning a journey towards becoming a minimalist. However the writing is very pedestrian.

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Review of "Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great story of a family wrecked with grief over losing their sister and daughter Lydia. Celeste Ng does an amazing job of describing their grief as well as their motivations before and after the event. Highly recommended

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Review of "Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book AND the audiobook! I highly recommend listening to this audiobook. George Saunders created a cast of over 160 voices to read the different voices of characters in the book. He is a beautiful writer and it broke my heart. It so accurately described grief. Highly recommended but the format of the story isn’t for everyone so heads up.

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Review of "Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone" by Brene Brown

Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first Brené Brown book but I’ve known I’d enjoy her books for a long time. However, I’d just never gotten around to reading one. After seeing her speak at the 2017 American Library Association conference, I was floored by how amazing her rhetoric moved me and everyone else in the audience. She spoke of this research and upcoming book and I was hooked. I enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone feeling out of place and lost in the current world of divisiveness and distrust.

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Review of "A $500 House in Detroit: Rebuilding an Abandoned Home and an American City" by Drew Philp

A $500 House in Detroit: Rebuilding an Abandoned Home and an American City by Drew Philp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! Drew does a great job in describing the insider view of living in Detroit. As a Detroiter myself, I've searched for books that accurately describe the current climate of rebuilding the city. While Mark Binelli attempted doing this in his book "Detroit City is the Place to Be", he failed to fully flesh out what it's like living here full-time or embody the dream for our future. I feel Drew Philp accurately described both of these things. Plus, he's just a all-round nice guy in person too! Highly highly suggest for anyone wanting to know what it takes to rebuild an abandoned house in a "forgotten" neighborhood of Detroit.

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Review of "The Portable Veblen" by Elizabeth McKenzie

The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth Mckenzie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I chose this book for one of my book groups and I didn’t dislike it but there was a lot about it that I didn’t love. The book was funny and I did end up liking some of the characters but it took reading the majority of the book before coming to that conclusion. It honestly felt a little too random for my taste but I’m still glad I made it through it.

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Review of "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" by Matthew Desmond

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Heavy book in all its reality. Time to face up to our privileges and read this book about the hardships that too many Americans go through every day. Another crisis in the US brilliantly exposed by Desmond. A must read.

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Review of "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such an important read. I was anxious to finish it after I saw Colson Whitehead speak at the American Library Association meeting in June. The book was hard to get through due to its rough but based in truth content. I will recommend this to all people.

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Review of "Underground Airlines" by Ben H. Winters

Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. While the jury is still out on my feelings of the author being white, I felt like this alternate reality/sci fi book was a much needed social commentary on racism and race relations in the US today. Highly recommended.

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Review of "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I totally see the connections to Harry Potter and Willy Wonka but the book was way too geek/nerd heavy for my level of geekiness. I got really into the adventure aspect and loved the ending. Overall I would recommend this to a very specific type of person. Of which many librarians fit this description haha.

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Review of "Beartown" by Fredrik Backman

Beartown by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book has a completely different voice than "A Man Called Ove", which I loved. However, Backman still maintains his impeccable ability to develop his characters enough so that my heart aches for them by the end of the book. I really enjoyed it despite it's dark tone. I only gave it 4 stars since I can't help but compare it to "Ove". I would recommend this to some but would be wary due to its potential triggering content.

The second time I read the book I loved it so much more especially after reading the second book in the series. So I bumped it up from 4 stars to 4.5. heart wrenching story with characters that you love and hate. Wonderful story that leaves you wanting more from the people of Beartown. Luckily Backman gives us a sequel 😁

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Review of "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book made me laugh and made me cry. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book. Highly highly recommended!!

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Review of "Lisette's List" by Susan Vreeland

Lisette's List by Susan Vreeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read this if you love Impressionist/Post-Impressionist art and/or French culture. Writing that reads like an impressionist painting. Mentions painters Paul Cezanne, Camille Pissarro, Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso.

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