Anna Begins Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 Ya I found the story matter and the graphicness of it to be pretty hard to take (me, yet ha ha), plus all the courtroom stuff had me bored but I am glad you liked it, I had been looking forward to it for a long time. Are you going to see the movie? (Kevin Spacey, Matthew McConaughey and Samuel Jackson)? Quote
bobblybear Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 Nice review. It makes me want to read it again, as it's been a while. Sycamore Row is marketed as the sequel to A Time to Kill, but it isn't really. It just features Jake Brigance, but is a completely different story and not as well written, in my opinion. Quote
BSchultz19 Posted April 15, 2015 Author Posted April 15, 2015 Great review ! I'm glad you enjoyed this book, I have it on my TBR (though I think I might start with The Client as that was always one of my favourite Grisham books when I was a young teenager). Anna tried to read A Time to Kill but she found the beginning disturbing if I recall it correctly. He's such a great writer. I have loved reading both books of his I've read. Ya I found the story matter and the graphicness of it to be pretty hard to take (me, yet ha ha), plus all the courtroom stuff had me bored but I am glad you liked it, I had been looking forward to it for a long time. Are you going to see the movie? (Kevin Spacey, Matthew McConaughey and Samuel Jackson)? Yeah it was pretty graphic, but it kind of reminded me of To Kill A Mockingbird in small ways. The graphicness didn't really affect me. Not sure why I actually didn't know there was a movie until I googled the title and then I looked at who was in it and was really interested. So I might see it if I can find it to rent somewhere. Nice review. It makes me want to read it again, as it's been a while. Sycamore Row is marketed as the sequel to A Time to Kill, but it isn't really. It just features Jake Brigance, but is a completely different story and not as well written, in my opinion. I actually got Sycamore Row from the library a couple months ago and realized it was the second in a somewhat series so I bought and read this one first. I still plan on reading Sycamore Row and I hope I enjoy it more than you did. Quote
BSchultz19 Posted April 17, 2015 Author Posted April 17, 2015 Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult Summary Love can redeem a man...but secrets and lies can condemn him. A handsome stranger comes to the sleepy New England town of Salem Falls in hopes of burying his past: Once a teacher at a girls' prep school, Jack St. Bride was destroyed when a student's crush sparked a powder keg of accusation. Now, washing dishes for Addie Peabody at the Do-Or-Diner, he slips quietly into his new routine, and Addie finds this unassuming man fitting easily inside her heart. But amid the rustic calm of Salem Falls, a quartet of teenage girls harbor dark secrets -- and they maliciously target Jack with a shattering allegation. Now, at the center of a modern-day witch hunt, Jack is forced once again to proclaim his innocence: to a town searching for answers, to a justice system where truth becomes a slippery concept written in shades of gray, and to the woman who has come to love him. (from goodreads) Opinions This is one of my new favorite Picoult books. It was less challenging on the mind with a specific issue at hand and seemed more like a real situation. Although some of it had you feeling bad for the main character because of how much bad had already happened to him and what happens throughout the book. It's so hard to believe that it has to be true. While it didn't center around a specific hot button issue, it threw in some at different places in the story. For example rape, witches, wrongful accusations. I liked that it had a central story that was really well set up in the first half of the book before the actual court case was brought into the story. In some of her other books she doesn't establish the story quite as well as she did in this one, going all the way back to Jack's birth with flashbacks. I thought that was a fantastic writing choice showing the background behind Jack and his family. The characters were all very well-developed and connected, as would be expected in a small town where very few people move away. There were some plot twists up until the very last paragraph (although I somewhat expected that one). I really liked how she managed to wrap all of the characters and their own backgrounds and personal journeys into one plotline that flowed wonderfully. Another fun but basically meaningless aspect of this book was Jack's obsession with Jeopardy. Because of the ridiculous amount of questions he knew the answer to (or should it be answers he knew the question to ) he became one of the top on the pecking order while in jail. I just thought that was a fun thing she threw in there. Also Jordan McAfee makes his return. He was in The Pact and one other book that I can't remember. Rating Quote
Athena Posted April 17, 2015 Posted April 17, 2015 Great review! I'm glad you really liked this one . I haven't yet read it (I do own it) but from your review I think I will really enjoy it too! You're reading a lot of enjoyable books lately, that's very nice . I had to look up Jeopardy as I didn't know what this was (though I did guess it was a TV show). I can't remember who Jordan McAfee is, when I read this book, I'll have to look it up so I can remember (because I did read and loved The Pact) I'm glad you're enjoying Jodi's books a lot. I don't have any friends in the Netherlands that read her books (they are somewhat popular here, I think most have been translated or at least some of them, but I don't know anyone near here who reads these types of books) so it's very nice to be able to "talk" with you, and others of this forum, about Jodi's books . Quote
BSchultz19 Posted April 17, 2015 Author Posted April 17, 2015 Great review! I'm glad you really liked this one . I haven't yet read it (I do own it) but from your review I think I will really enjoy it too! You're reading a lot of enjoyable books lately, that's very nice . I had to look up Jeopardy as I didn't know what this was (though I did guess it was a TV show). I can't remember who Jordan McAfee is, when I read this book, I'll have to look it up so I can remember (because I did read and loved The Pact) I'm glad you're enjoying Jodi's books a lot. I don't have any friends in the Netherlands that read her books (they are somewhat popular here, I think most have been translated or at least some of them, but I don't know anyone near here who reads these types of books) so it's very nice to be able to "talk" with you, and others of this forum, about Jodi's books . I guess I assumed everyone knew what Jeopardy is. In the book it says that it routinely came on at 7 PM, but where I live it's at like 3 PM so I was never really able to watch it because of school and now that I get out before 3, I don't have a TV I love trivia though. Jordan McAfee is the defense attorney if that helps jog your memory at all It is nice to talk about her books here. I only have a few friends that actually read on a regular basis and we don't really talk much, so it's nice to come on here and talk books. After I read my first Picoult only about a year ago I think I was hooked and I've read quite a few in the past year. I like that they are all different, but also similar, if that makes any sense at all. Quote
Athena Posted April 19, 2015 Posted April 19, 2015 I guess I assumed everyone knew what Jeopardy is. In the book it says that it routinely came on at 7 PM, but where I live it's at like 3 PM so I was never really able to watch it because of school and now that I get out before 3, I don't have a TV I love trivia though. Jordan McAfee is the defense attorney if that helps jog your memory at all It is nice to talk about her books here. I only have a few friends that actually read on a regular basis and we don't really talk much, so it's nice to come on here and talk books. After I read my first Picoult only about a year ago I think I was hooked and I've read quite a few in the past year. I like that they are all different, but also similar, if that makes any sense at all. Sorry! I've never seen it on the Dutch TV, but we only get a small part of all the TV shows available in the US (well, we only have maybe 10-20 Dutch channels so , and there are of course a lot of Dutch programs too, and Flemish and British and from other countries) Ah yes, thanks ! I agree, it is really nice. Yes, that makes a lot of sense, I would agree with that . Quote
BSchultz19 Posted May 27, 2015 Author Posted May 27, 2015 After a month or maybe more(?) of stressful school stuff, I think I'm going to try reading again. Didn't have time with finals, college stuff, and final month with friends to read. Any free time was spent relaxing doing mindless stuff like watching netflix. I hope I will be able to get my mojo back Quote
Athena Posted May 27, 2015 Posted May 27, 2015 BSchultz! It's good to 'see' you again . I hope you will feel more like reading soon . Quote
BSchultz19 Posted May 27, 2015 Author Posted May 27, 2015 BSchultz! It's good to 'see' you again . I hope you will feel more like reading soon . It's good to be back. I need a good easy read to get me back on track... Are you finished now for the summer? Yes! Thankfully I am done until I start my freshman year of college in August. Quote
Athena Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 It's good to be back. I need a good easy read to get me back on track... Maybe a re-read, or a young-adult book or such? Quote
BSchultz19 Posted June 1, 2015 Author Posted June 1, 2015 Maybe a re-read, or a young-adult book or such? That sounds like a great idea. I am in the middle of the book that I was stuck on. I've gone on with it, but I'm not sure if I'll finish it. Good book, but maybe not the one to get me back on track. It's a Grisham. Quote
BSchultz19 Posted June 10, 2015 Author Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) Got some new books, and set up the new bookshelf in my room at home. Yay books! :D This is the bookshelf And new books: Edit: Ugh I don't know why these are sideways. Going to try to figure it out. Edit 2: YAY figured it out Edited June 10, 2015 by BSchultz19 Quote
Athena Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Great photos ! That's a nice book shelf. I hope you enjoy your new books ! I haven't read those two Jodi Picoult books yet, but I do own them. I also own The Firm and Gone Girl but I haven't read those yet either . Actually, I did read part of The Firm when I was a child, but okay, I'm not counting that. Quote
Anna Begins Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Aw! Love the cap on top! The shelves look sweet! Good to see you around, how have you been? Quote
BSchultz19 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Posted June 11, 2015 Great photos ! That's a nice book shelf. I hope you enjoy your new books ! I haven't read those two Jodi Picoult books yet, but I do own them. I also own The Firm and Gone Girl but I haven't read those yet either . Actually, I did read part of The Firm when I was a child, but okay, I'm not counting that. Thank you! I have been buying a lot of books recently because I have quite a bit more money now (yay graduation gifts) and maybe that will inspire me to read more this summer. I also have plenty of access to the library, so I'm hoping it's a good summer. My TBR just keeps getting bigger and bigger.... I blame you all Aw! Love the cap on top! The shelves look sweet! Good to see you around, how have you been? I know the cap on top looks super cute! So happy to have it I have been very good, but very busy. Things are finally settling in and I can somewhat relax for awhile this summer. That is until July when I have like three vacations planned Quote
Athena Posted June 12, 2015 Posted June 12, 2015 Thank you! I have been buying a lot of books recently because I have quite a bit more money now (yay graduation gifts) and maybe that will inspire me to read more this summer. I also have plenty of access to the library, so I'm hoping it's a good summer. My TBR just keeps getting bigger and bigger.... I blame you all The same thing happened to me when I joined this forum . I hope you enjoy your new books . I hope you enjoy your vacations ! Quote
BSchultz19 Posted June 13, 2015 Author Posted June 13, 2015 Sycamore Row by John Grisham Summary Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten, will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier. The second will raises far more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all of his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly? And what does it all have to do with a piece of land once known as Sycamore Row? Opinions I just recently (a month or two ago) read the first Jake Brigance novel. I think I gave it either a four or a five. The characters are somewhat interesting, but not overly amazing. I do like Jake because he has a lot of depth and he is pretty likable, but some of the other characters were somewhat bland. That being said, I really enjoyed this novel. The plotline was really great. I had guesses the whole way through of how it was going to end, and I turned out to be right but I didn't really know if I was going to be right until the last few pages. That was something I really liked, that the story doesn't reach its climax until there was only 10 pages left in the book. There was also a really good balance of courtroom action and out of the courtroom action. Other characters from novels in Clanton that aren't part of the series were brought in. Mainly Willie Traynor from The Last Juror. He plays a very minor role, but it was interesting to see how the three are all taking place in the same world. It was also very interesting that once again race played a huge part in the novel. The first Brigance novel revolved mainly around racial prejudice and how it affected the choices of a jury, the lives of the lawyers, and everyone living in the town. I think in my review I said that it reminded me a lot of To Kill a Mockingbird. This novel takes place a couple years after that famous trial for Jake and now he is struggling once again and basically relying on that one trial to keep him in business. Sycamore Row discusses race in a very different way, but the racism of the south in the 1980s still shines through. Overall, I think I would recommend this book to someone. If they liked A Time to Kill they might like this one, but I think even if you didn't like the first novel in the series you might like this one. It has the same characters, but the story is very different. I think there were more good plot twists and surprises, although some were predictable. In the end, not the best book I've read but a pretty good one. Rating Quote
BSchultz19 Posted June 13, 2015 Author Posted June 13, 2015 (edited) The same thing happened to me when I joined this forum . I hope you enjoy your new books . I hope you enjoy your vacations ! It's such a bittersweet thing I forgot to mention in my other posts about new books, that I found a three in one DVD that has three of Jodi Picoult's novels turned into lifetime movies. I hope to watch them at some point and criticize how wrong or right they are compared to the books Edit: Another thing according to goodreads, the last book I read I finished April 16. Which means I almost went two months without reading a book . Yikes. No books in May. Just shows how busy I was Edited June 13, 2015 by BSchultz19 Quote
Athena Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Great review, I'm glad you enjoyed the book . I don't own that one and I haven't read it. I forgot to mention in my other posts about new books, that I found a three in one DVD that has three of Jodi Picoult's novels turned into lifetime movies. I hope to watch them at some point and criticize how wrong or right they are compared to the books Edit: Another thing according to goodreads, the last book I read I finished April 16. Which means I almost went two months without reading a book . Yikes. No books in May. Just shows how busy I was Which three movies are they? I only know of My Sister's Keeper, I'd love to know if other films have been made of her other books . I hope the films are good! Awwww . I'm glad you're getting more into reading . Quote
Kylie Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Your bookshelves are looking fab! I'm glad you have some time to relax and read now. Quote
BSchultz19 Posted June 14, 2015 Author Posted June 14, 2015 Great review, I'm glad you enjoyed the book . I don't own that one and I haven't read it. Which three movies are they? I only know of My Sister's Keeper, I'd love to know if other films have been made of her other books . I hope the films are good! Awwww . I'm glad you're getting more into reading . Well My Sister's Keeper was a big time film. These three are just little lifetime originals. Salem Falls, Plain Truth, and The Pact. So three really good ones. I'm looking forward to watching them this summer Thank you! I'm glad too! Your bookshelves are looking fab! I'm glad you have some time to relax and read now. Thank you! It was a struggle to lug the bookshelf up from the garage, but so worth it. I didn't realize how many books I had until I put them on this big bookshelf I'm very happy about it as well. Quote
Athena Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 Well My Sister's Keeper was a big time film. These three are just little lifetime originals. Salem Falls, Plain Truth, and The Pact. So three really good ones. I'm looking forward to watching them this summer I hope they will be good ! Do tell me what you think of them when you've seen them, if you want . Quote
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