Athena Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 I felt the exact same way about Change of Heart. It was good, but not great compared to some of her other ones. Some of the ones I have really enjoyed are: Perfect Match Picture Perfect Nineteen Minutes The Pact I loved The Pact but I haven't read the other three yet, so thanks ! As an extra little add-on about Jodi Picoult: The first book of hers that I read was The Storyteller because it was on sale and Barnes & Noble and I had heard of her writing, but never actually read it myself. I guess I could include that in the list of ones that I have really enjoyed, but I didn't actually give it five stars according to goodreads. Anyway, I read that one and was so amazed with her writing that I had to read more, so I read Perfect Match and My Sister's Keeper and Perfect Match is one of the best books that I have read. It only made me more impressed with her writing. The rest of the ones I have read have been good (there have been great ones and not so great ones), but I think the reason I keep going back to her is that it's kind of the safe choice. Even her ehhh books are good, so I know that I can always count on checking out one of her books or buying one. I know I will be entertained no matter what. They are great because they make me think and they aren't too difficult to read. So I guess her being my most-read author over the past couple months doesn't necessarily mean that she is an amazing-totally perfect-best-writer-ever writer, but I know that she will keep me entertained. So that would be why I read more of her stuff. I kind of discovered this as I looked back and realized I hadn't given her books that many 5 star ratings. Of the 10 that I've read only about half of them have received 5 stars. It sounds like I should really read Perfect Match! I've got it from my old room and shall put it closer to the computer so I'm reminded of it more . I get The Pact recommended to me every once in awhile. It's long though, isn't it? My copy of The Pact has about 490 pages I believe (that's what my review says at least). My copy of Perfect Match has just under 400 pages. I think she's written slightly shorter and slightly longer books, though most seem to be between 400 and 500 pages based on a quick glance on my database (some of those numbers are wrong though as the ISBN doesn't match my edition). Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 13, 2015 Author Posted March 13, 2015 I get The Pact recommended to me every once in awhile. It's long though, isn't it? Interesting. She's like your stand by, I have this with Lee Child. Unfortunately, I am coming down to 2 left of the canon. The Pact isn't super long. It's more medium sized compared to her other books. Her books average around 400 pages I would guess. Yes! Stand by is a good way to put it. I'm worried about when I run out hopefully that won't be too soon because she has so many books But books are the most important thing! Bring on Saturday!! I was in Anna's thread just now and had to go and find something and I'm just going to leave this here.... I can't wait until saturday YES that was what I was thinking of. I refuse to watch it The song will get stuck in my head. That's one of my favorite episodes though. I loved The Pact but I haven't read the other three yet, so thanks! It sounds like I should really read Perfect Match! I've got it from my old room and shall put it closer to the computer so I'm reminded of it more . My copy of The Pact has about 490 pages I believe (that's what my review says at least). My copy of Perfect Match has just under 400 pages. I think she's written slightly shorter and slightly longer books, though most seem to be between 400 and 500 pages based on a quick glance on my database (some of those numbers are wrong though as the ISBN doesn't match my edition). Since you liked The Pact, I would really recommend Nineteen Minutes. I read them one after the other and found a lot of similarities. Lots of courtroom stuff, but also an interesting story going on the whole time. Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 14, 2015 Author Posted March 14, 2015 The Last Juror by John Grisham Summary In 1970, one of Mississippi s more colorful weekly newspapers, The Ford County Times, went bankrupt. To the surprise and dismay of many, ownership was assumed by a 23-year-old college dropout, named Willie Traynor. The future of the paper looked grim until a young mother was brutally raped and murdered by a member of the notorious Padgitt family. Willie Traynor reported all the gruesome details, and his newspaper began to prosper. The murderer, Danny Padgitt, was tried before a packed courthouse in Clanton, Mississippi. The trial came to a startling and dramatic end when the defendant threatened revenge against the jurors if they convicted him. Nevertheless, they found him guilty, and he was sentenced to life in prison.But in Mississippi in 1970, life didn t necessarily mean life, and nine years later Danny Padgitt managed to get himself paroled. He returned to Ford County, and the retribution began. (from goodreads) Opinions This story was really good, but I expected more courtroom drama and fancy lawyering. This is the first Grisham book I've read and I've heard that they are usually full of courtroom stuff, so maybe this one was just different. Even though I was disappointed in this aspect, the story itself was really good. Quite a lot of insight into the world of the south in the 60s and 70s. Families that buy off sheriffs, witnesses, etc., lingering racism, fighting desegregation. It was really interesting to see the way that things were run in the south. In one part the narrator says that in 72 they had the national election, in 73 the county elections, 74 the state elections and so on. The people liked voting so much that they spread it out over every single year. He also commented on the fact that not many african americans were registered voters in the south because they either had to pass an impossible literacy test or were scared out of even trying. This becomes important when the jury is selected because only registered voters can be selected for jury duty. The first black woman in the county (according to the book) is selected for the jury and people are angry because they though african american jurors would be too sympathetic towards the defendant. When the vote goes a different way than the people in the town want, many townspeople blame her for it. It's sad to think that the world not so far from me was like this at one point. It is even sadder that we aren't all that different now. Racism in the south lasted for a long time and still exists in a big way. I wish we could change this. I would recommend this book, but it wasn't outstanding. The story was nice, but wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Rating Quote
Athena Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 Great review! I'm glad you liked the book. I haven't read this one so I couldn't comment on it (I don't think I own it either). Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 I didn't get nearly any reading done this weekend. I was on a college visit the last two days and head back to school tomorrow. Don't want to say a waste of four days, but lots of reading time squandered. Quote
Athena Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Awww . I hope you get a bit more reading time soon. Quote
frankie Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) YES that was what I was thinking of. I refuse to watch it The song will get stuck in my head. That's one of my favorite episodes though. Hahah, no worries, I didn't expect you to watch it. It was just to tease you a bit (In a rather friendly manner, I hope you don't mind! ) I didn't get nearly any reading done this weekend. I was on a college visit the last two days and head back to school tomorrow. Don't want to say a waste of four days, but lots of reading time squandered. Ack, that's a shame. College can be such a drag I'm kidding! How was it? Was it Cornell by any chance? I hope you get more time to read soon! Edited March 17, 2015 by frankie Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 Awww . I hope you get a bit more reading time soon. Me too. It's been such a dull weekend without it Hahah, no worries, I didn't expect you to watch it. It was just to tease you a bit (In a rather friendly manner, I hope you don't mind! ) Ack, that's a shame. College can be such a drag I'm kidding! How was it? Was it Cornell by any chance? I hope you get more time to read soon! I do mind if you tease me. Not allowed. I really liked it. It was the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. It's top ten in the country in my program, so actually above cornell I could never afford Cornell Quote
frankie Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) I do mind if you tease me. Not allowed. I'm sorry, I didn't mean any harm by it! I won't do it again Edit: I've removed the link so you won't have to look at it in your own reading log Edited March 17, 2015 by frankie Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 Haha how considerate. But it showed Jim's beautiful face Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) Here's a good one Edited March 17, 2015 by BSchultz19 Quote
frankie Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Ooooh! I like his smile. And when he looks all serious at the camera like 'Can you believe what just happened...?'. Well to be honest, there's no bad look for Jim Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 Ooooh! I like his smile. And when he looks all serious at the camera like 'Can you believe what just happened...?'. Well to be honest, there's no bad look for Jim I would say he is number one or two on my list of tv/movie character crushes. Not just that John Krasinski is cute and awesome, but Jim the character is also perfect. Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 18, 2015 Author Posted March 18, 2015 The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion Summary None because it contains spoilers from the first book of the series. Opinions After falling in love with Don Tillman in the first book, I didn't think that I could appreciate and understand him anymore. I was wrong. The Rosie Effect once again shows Don trying to fit into a world that he doesn't quite understand. It's admirable how hard he tries to make things work and throughout the novel I kept feeling his pain as he tried and failed to express how he was feeling. I thought this one had a little more humor than the first. I especially found the last 1/3 of the book funny even though it was painful at times. I found myself saying "NO NO NO" as he made mistakes. I'm really just blown away at the excellent job of characterization by Simsion. Not only with Don, who is a fantastically well-rounded character that is easy to love, but with other characters too. They all culminate in a very real world that I, as a reader, appreciated. So often novels exist in such an unreal world, but I really felt like the characters in this book and the first book could have been real people. That's always a sign of a great book. One of my favorite series. I wish he would write more, but I'm not sure where he could take the story from this point. Rating Quote
Athena Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 Great review! I'm so glad you enjoyed this book. It sounds like you enjoyed certain parts of it even more than you did the first book, so that sounds great to me! I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of the book, which should hopefully be in my postbox by the end of the week. I intend to make it my next read so please postpeople.. deliver it sooner rather than later . Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 18, 2015 Author Posted March 18, 2015 Great review! I'm so glad you enjoyed this book. It sounds like you enjoyed certain parts of it even more than you did the first book, so that sounds great to me! I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of the book, which should hopefully be in my postbox by the end of the week. I intend to make it my next read so please postpeople.. deliver it sooner rather than later . I'm excited for you to read it! If you liked the first one, this one will not disappoint you. Quote
frankie Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 I would say he is number one or two on my list of tv/movie character crushes. Not just that John Krasinski is cute and awesome, but Jim the character is also perfect. I agree 100%! John Krasinski seems totally great but it's Jim the character that blows me away And Jim&Pam are by far my favorite TV show couple. Well along with another couple from Gilmore Girls. But still! Far above other couples! A great review of The Rosie Effect! And to think you only just read the first book and now you've read the sequel, too! Weren't you surprised when Lydia did a complete 180 and turned into a 'Don appreciator'? Quote
Athena Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 I'm excited for you to read it! If you liked the first one, this one will not disappoint you. Thanks ! Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 19, 2015 Author Posted March 19, 2015 I agree 100%! John Krasinski seems totally great but it's Jim the character that blows me away And Jim&Pam are by far my favorite TV show couple. Well along with another couple from Gilmore Girls. But still! Far above other couples! A great review of The Rosie Effect! And to think you only just read the first book and now you've read the sequel, too! Weren't you surprised when Lydia did a complete 180 and turned into a 'Don appreciator'? What Gilmore Girls couple? (I thought I should put it in spoilers because in order to figure out why I was asking they would open the spoiler and WHOOPS ) I'm amazed myself at how quickly I was able to read both. I mostly got lucky that I was at home a lot with the better library. I'm sure the library here probably doesn't have either book I was so surprised!! Which explains why nobody wanted to comment on the fact that I hated her on the other thread. Quote
BSchultz19 Posted March 20, 2015 Author Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) A picture of my recent purchases. I also bought Heart of Darkness, which came today and I took the picture yesterday but forgot to post. edit: I'm hoping to post an updated picture of my school bookshelf soon Edited March 20, 2015 by BSchultz19 Quote
Athena Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 I hope you enjoy your new books ! I look forward to see the photo of your school bookshelf, does it contain textbooks or literary works, or maybe both? Quote
Nollaig Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 Glad you enjoyed The Rosie Effect. I did read the first two thirds of The Rosie Project but unfortunately I found Rosie so horrendously unlikeable that I couldn't finish the book. Feel a bit left out because I did love Don and the writing, but for me it just wasn't worth having to put up with that annoying woman. Quote
Marie H Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion I'm so pleased that you loved The Rosie Effect . I did read the first two thirds of The Rosie Project but unfortunately I found Rosie so horrendously unlikeable that I couldn't finish the book. Feel a bit left out because I did love Don and the writing, but for me it just wasn't worth having to put up with that annoying woman. I loathed Rosie in The Rosie Effect too, she was a total , all the way through the book. I wanted to shake her !! Quote
Nollaig Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 I loathed Rosie in The Rosie Effect too, she was a total , all the way through the book. I wanted to shake her !! But you still enjoyed the book? Maybe I'll give it another go sometime, with more readiness for the annoyance! Quote
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