Review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Yesterday I finished reading Dark Places, what I think is the third book by Gillian Flynn.

She's most known for her book Gone Girl, which was also made into a successful movie. So far, it's yet to interest me. But this one did.

Here's what I was left with at the end... "Um... Ok, sure. I can go with that."

No spoilers, but it felt as if the ending was confusing and filled with a 'Wait, what?' thought process. Having had nothing but a simple mention of a person, only to have them take a somewhat larger role in it all, made no sense at all.

And honestly, I don't care what you think you're doing, the choices made by people are crazy to me.

I walked away from the story, not disliking it but sensing that Ms. Flynn had concocted an elaborate scheme that she had to tap dance her way out of.

3 our of 5 stars

Kristy C

Re: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

I couldn't do it.

Got about 100 pages in, but NOTHING was happening. Oh, the MC was making lists, but... It felt like she jumped at a chance to dump her boyfriend, then never gave him a chance to talk to her about it. Not gonna lie, it sounds like he was a cheating jerk.

But that doesn't mean he was. And her actions are suspect on how she found out about it. I mean, so you see something online. Jumping to conclusions isn't the way to go.

And following that up with 'I'm dropping the modern world' seems like a bad idea.  Worse, she forces someone else to do it too.

So, I've returned the book and am moving on to the next. Let ya know how that goes.

Kristy C

2015 Books Read

I didn't think I'd read (or listened) to that many books this year.

1. The Hobbit
2. Vampire Academy 
3. Frostbite 
4. Wizard of Seattle 
5. Soul Keepers
6. Paper Magician
7. Glass Magician 
8. Wicked Appitite 
9. Wicked Business 
10. Superhero
11. Quick Study 
12. The Witness
13. Skin Games
14. Dead Key
15. Monster Hunters International 
16. Finn Fancy Necromancy 
17. Steam & Sorcery 
18. Extracurricular Activities 
19. Mayhem at the Orient Express 
20. Uncommon Grounds
21. Act One, Wish One
22. Super Dark
23. Wings of Arian
24. So, Not a Hero
25. Worth the Trouble 
26. Dirty Dancing 
27. The Roommate Situation 
28. Crazy from the Heat
29. Fault Lines 
30. Fledglings
31. Agent L1: Tristan
32. Enchanted Inc.

There are a few others I've missed, but... That's a lot of books. I'm back in the reading game!!!!

Kristy

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Found this at the library, as I was about to head out. Sounds like a cute story. Once I finish Wicked Appitite by Janet Evonovich, I'll start on it. 

Description:

When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn't cheat on you online). She sets out to complete grandma's list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy's cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she'll get it done. Somehow.

Going Vintage

Kristy C

Review: Act One, Wish One by Mindy Klasky

So, I've been staying in bed later than I should lately, but the last few mornings at least I've been reading.

A few days ago, bored of something, I started a book I picked up around christmas time for free.

Act One, Wish One by Mindy Klasky

When I got it, can't recall if it was in the romance or paranormal sections, or both.  Just that the cover had been kinda cute and intriguing.

Ms. Klansky's website is here

The book revolves around Kira, a 20/30 something who works in the world of the Theater, and her discovery of a magic lamp, and the Genie inside.

As with all stories evolving a genie, you have the zany-ness of the elemental being themselves, the desires they hold that revolve around YOU and the wishes themselves.

Its hard to talk too much about the story, except that you take an interesting trip with Kira as she navigates her wishes and learns how to grow up along the way.  The story was cute and engaging for a light read, and nothing too adult that a younger mind couldn't enjoy it as well.

Kira wants to stand tall, but at the same time hasn't yet learned how to go about doing that.  In the end, she seems to regret nothing she's done, and finds peace that is much needed.

There's also a book 2, which I believe follows either the Genie itself, or just the idea of genies and wishes into another young woman's life, who also happens to be in the theater world.

I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars, as it was a cute and fun read. Doubtful that I'll go back and reread it, but I want to pick up book two, along with another of her books to try out.

Kristy C

Things I Like... Hobbits, Dwarfs and Middle Earth

Sure, I could have just said LOTR, but that would be boring.

With the last of the movies out, and the tear jerker of a song [which I'll share below] released, its a sad moment to look back on the joyous ride that Peter Jackson has taken us on...

It also pales in comparison to the roller coaster that Tolkien took us on in the books. To be sure, those are the foundation to an entire genre.

Some years ago, my parents bought me the Hobbit and LOTR Trilogy. I was a teen, I know that much.  Now, I'd watched The Hobbit cartoon [I loved that cartoon.] and the kiss ass, more accurate than the movie, LOTR's one, that didn't reach the Return of the King.  [They did a cute, but bad, cartoon for that. Same style as the Hobbit].

I read the Hobbit, The Fellowship and the first half of The Two Towers.  Then I reached the second half, and damn if I didn't slog my way through that. I HATE that section of the book, and if anything says to me 'Tolkien was a master at world building, race creation, languages and map making. But he wasn't a great writer' its that book.  Yeah, its not the worst thing you could read. [I've seen worse, let me tell you.] However, its over done at times.  It can be summed up like this...

And they walked... More walking... Whining by one of the Hobbits, encouragement from the other... They meet Smeagol... More walking... Whining... Arguing between all three, on various points... Cowering in fear... They did a bit more walking, and whined while they walked... They did sneaky things [mostly Smeagol] and they perhaps walked a bit more.

Congrats, you've just read most of the second half of The Two Towers... A book that could have been cut into smaller pieces, and not perhaps taken me over 6 months to read.  And I read fast. Once read 15 books in 31 days...

Once I'd finished slogging my way through it, I read The Return of the King.  And, my parents congratulated me by picking up one of the millions of companions out there to help you understand what the hell you'd just read. They're moderately helpful.

Now, life comes full circle and like so many out there, I'm drawn back to where it all started.  The Hobbit.

I shared pictures last week of a Vinyl bound pocket edition [I said leather] of the Hobbit.  The book was 19.99 in store, 15.99 online [plus S&H] and 5.98 [S&H included] at the Amazon marketplace, for a new copy.  Its sitting next to me, and the desire to read it almost overwhelms my need to finish the book I'm already reading.  But, it will be first on my list.

And I think, I shall use my new journal to keep notes on things when I read them this year.  Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea.  :D

Kristy C

Books, books, books...

Not sure how long, but iBooks has several 'first books' for free right now.

I waded through and grabbed several.  My review from yesterday is one of those books.  Last night I took a friend to the store and read while she shopped.  The book isn't 'good', but I can't seem to put it down.

The start has a wizard advisor yelling at the king that the 'evil' has returned and they need to find someone important, that it won't be easy and could take time.  Next thing we know, we've got the person and have been training them a little over a week.  That skip bothers me a bit.  Normally, you want a story to move... But this sort of moves too fast.  Doesn't stop me from reading it however.

On to the next bit... I'm going to take part of the 2015 book challenge.  Goal is to read 50 books, each one falling into a category.  The image will be posted at the end.

A group on FB is taking part in the challenge, and we've got a spreadsheet to help us along.

This means, I'll be sharing more reviews along the way, as well as my progress.

Kristy C