Review: Men Without Women

Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed these stories. However, they were often startling in how strange and unexpected they were. That is a good thing though.

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Review: Flashes of War

Flashes of War by Katey Schultz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let me start by say that I know the author. I don't think that effects my opinion of the book, but I want to be upfront about that.

This is a collection of stories, and they range from very short to about 10 pages. This is shorter than most short stories I've read it the past. I wasn't sure if this would be something I would like, but it turned out that it works for the subject. What I liked most about these stories is how they feel so everyday. My Son Wanted a Notebook is likely my favorite story in the collection, and it feels so simple and everyday. While nothing that happens in the stories is my everyday for the characters it feels like it is the normal. Most stories and novels I've read make it seem abnormal. I really liked how this collection as a whole delt with being a soldier, Afghani, former soldier, and partner of a soldier. I think these stories show a human side of something that we see in news reports. I liked having the thoughts and feelings on the page.

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Review: Down Among the Sticks and Bones

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was good, but not as good as the first book. I enjoyed parts of it but the style of narration added a disconnect from the characters. In Every Heart a Doorway I cared about what happened to the characters. I didn't care about Jack and Jill in this story. I every felt like I got close enough to them to really connect with anything they felt.

The story is beautifully written, and I really liked getting to know the story of Jack and Jill, I didn't end up loving the book.

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Review: Lilac Girls

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book had a very slow start for me. It was divided into three parts and it wasn't until part II that the story really started to hold my attention. I admit that at first I thought this would be a book I just didn't care for. However, it really was very good. The ending really made the story for me. If you choose to pick this up I would really recommend the audiobook. The narrators do an excellent job.

We have three main characters who cross paths at different points during the story. Caroline, in New York, who is privileged in many ways. She was a difficult character for me. She came across as a bit haughty in the story, but she was also very caring. Then we have Kasia, a Polish teenager. She was the most likable character, and also had the most development through out the story. Last is Herta a doctor in Germany. Set during WWII one knows that these women are going to struggle to survive. They each do so in a different way. I liked seeing the different perspectives on the war. This novel shows a different side of WWII than most of the novels I've read in the past. I would say it is one worth reading if you enjoy historical fiction.

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Review: When Breath Becomes Air

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You know the outcome of this book before you even start it. That being said. I thought this was a powerful book, and the struggle to define one's life is something anyone can relate to. Most of us are not forced to come to terms with our mortality at a young age, but it is something we all think about. What is most important to us? What makes us who we are? What are we willing to sacrifice to get to our goal? Paul Kalanithi looks at all these things as he deals with having Stage IV lung cancer. This is a book about dying but it is also a book about living.

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Review: Every Heart a Doorway

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been seeing this book around for a while now. It never seemed like the type of book I wanted to read. I am so glad I did pick it up and read it. I think from the series name, Wayward Children, I had thought this might be a young adult novel. It is not. Therefore, very early on in the story I was a little surprised by Sumi who is our narrator, Nancy's roommate. (view spoiler)[She mentions masturbation after Nancy mentions being asexual. Both very casually. I was so happy that this didn't become a plot point. (hide spoiler)]

This story is darker than I would have expected. While it is short I never felt like it was rushed. At 30 or 40% into the book I was still getting used to the characters and the ideas of travel to a world that is unique to you. Logic and Nonsence and Virtue and Wickedness as compass points were an interesting idea. I'm not sure I fully understand the different worlds, but I didn't need to.

There is so much in this novella (less than 200 pages) that I'm amazed it was so short. It was fantasy, mystery, and so so much more. I highly recommend this novel. (view spoiler)[The ending really surprised me. Also, I realized the title has more meaning than I had originally thought. I liked that it was there for us to puzzle out the entire time but the author never hits us over the head with it. (hide spoiler)]This is a dark gem just waiting to be discovered. I can't wait to read more in this world and by the author.

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Review: Still Me

Still Me by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed Louisa Clark's story. This novel did not progress exactly how I thought it would, but I liked that I didn't predict everything that happened in the story. Also, let me just say that the audiobook was amazing. Anna Action did a great job with all the different voices.

I don't want to give anything away that happened in the first books. However, I think this is the novel where Louisa really begins to learn who she is and what she wants. This story was more hers that the other novels. The first was Will's novel, the second was Lilly's novel and Sam's to a lesser extent. These characters were the ones that pushed Lou in a direction. This novel has characters who affected Lou, but the changes in her were changes that made Lou more Lou not something or someone else. While this isn't my favorite of the novels, it was an ending I am very happy with. I liked the resolution for Lou. This is a series I will recommend for others.

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