booktalkwithkarla's reviews
1338 reviews

The Women by Kristin Hannah

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challenging emotional funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A few years ago my friend asked me to recommend books about the Vietnam War. I did a little research and didn’t come up with many so when I heard the topic of Kristin Hannah’s new book, I knew I had to read it. I was born in January 1969, my father and step-father served, and those connections solidified my interest. 

Hannah writes about the war and the aftermath of the war when women (and men) came home to a country less than welcoming with emotional, relational, and physical wounds. It’s heartbreaking and honest. Her ability to create fully formed characters is a testament to her talents. 

I laughed aloud when Frankie, Barb, and Ethel were in conversation. I cried deeply on a few occasions when Frankie’s parents entered the scene and other key events happened. This book surprised me with how much I enjoyed it considering it is about war. Keep them coming Kristin Hannah. I’ll continue reading anything you write. 
Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Set in the horse show world, this novel about mean girls, secrets, romance, and murder the common thread is drama. The Parkers are moving from Texas to California. Heather, mother to two daughters, is desperate for her daughters to ride horses. Soon the family is enmeshed in that world. 

Eliza Jane Brazier organizes the book well telling the story from multiple points of view, including the detective’s. The individual chapters and perspectives lead up to revealing the victim and the murderer. 

I read to find out who made it out alive and how the issues were resolved. This was fine. Probably just not the book for me. 
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Sorensons - parents and four daughters - are a loving and complicated family. The daughters are each dealing with their own dramas. Alternating between current day 2016 and the parents’ meeting and relationship from the 1970s to present day, we get to know their situations and internal lives. 

Claire Lombardo writes complex characters and authentic relationships. The issues that caused the daughter’s unrest were realistic and the dialogue believable. Lombardo is an excellent writer. 

Parts of this book made me want to close it - numerous open door sex scenes, and long whiny scenes. Other parts were so true to genuine humanity and relationships that I laughed aloud or wept. Themes of love, parenting, commitment, loyalty, infidelity, adoption, beauty, and joy are woven throughout both timelines. Overall I really enjoyed time with the Sorensons. 
The Only One Left by Riley Sager

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The 1929 Hope family murders are legendary although no one was convicted of the crimes. When in 1983 Kit McDeere, down in her luck, is forced to accept a caregiver job at the Hope Mansion the mystery becomes relevant. Will Kit figure it out? Will she survive? 

Riley Sager gives us this gothic murder mystery in twisty and suspense filled storytelling. I read quickly to discover the answers. 

This is my first Riley Sager book and I read it for book club. Sadly I missed the discussion (was out of town). I might try another Sager novel, even though this genre is not solidly in my wheelhouse. 
Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg

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challenging informative medium-paced

4.75

I loved The Power of Habit so when I heard Duhigg had released a new book, I immediately ordered it. Supercommunicators is a great narrative non-fiction book from award winning author Charles Duhigg about what makes conversations work. Duhigg combines research and storytelling to show us how we can learn the underlying types of conversations and how to improve our communications and therefore our connections. There are so many practical applications throughout this book. Even more helpful are the fabulous stories that illustrate the concepts. This will be close at hand on my forever shelf so I can refer to it often. Highly recommend Charles Duhigg’s work and anxious to read more. 
If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

True crime stories like this are so hard and yet compelling. My interest is in justice and the psychology involved. I always hope for explanations and rarely get them. In this book, three sisters share their story of abuse and degradation at the hands of their mother Shelly, and their father. 

Gregg Olson shares this well researched story to its conclusion. As hard as it was to read the details of abuse and murder, I kept reminding myself that these three brave women lived it and witnessed horrific things. They were courageous enough to tell the truth. So I can bear witness to their story.

I think it helped knowing that the girls wanted to shed light on their parents actions and wanted justice. I hope that they continue to find more and more peace and that there are no more victims of Shelly now that she has been released. There have already been too many. This is a well written true crime story. 
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This is a beautiful novel about friendships. Elderly book seller Carl delivers books, each evening after work, to several special people who each have a story. He lives a life of great meaning until he loses his job and is rocked. The aftermath is sad and then ultimately hopeful. 

Carsten Henn crafts a great feel-good book that shows the value of connection and having purpose. Henn writes interesting people and I loved getting to know Carl and his friends, including a nine year old girl. 

Thanks to my friend Missy who recommended this to me. I was delighted to find my library had a copy available so I could start the ebook right away. This was a wonderful reading experience. I recommend this to all readers who love stories about community, belonging, and books. 
The Secrets We Left Behind by Susan Elliot Wright

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mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Many important topics - motherhood, secrets, addiction, friendship, loss - are covered in this mystery thriller. Some are handled with care. The overall tone of the book wasn’t for me.  I enjoy likable characters - I just didn’t like these people. I’m glad I read to the end. Susan Elliot Wright has imagination and crafted a highly discussable book. My book club will enjoy talking about this one. 
The Wharton Plot: A Novel by Mariah Fredericks

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mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I haven’t yet read Edith Wharton and I want to - even more so after reading this novel based on historical people and events. I suspect I may have enjoyed this more knowing more of her writing and her life. This was fun - a mystery that I didn’t guess before the near end - and a quick read. Probably just not the right genre of book for me. Reading this piqued my curiosity about Wharton even more and for that I am grateful. 
Introduction to Internal Family Systems by Richard C. Schwartz

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informative medium-paced

4.5

This is for you if you are interested in psychology or just internal harmony and external peace. Yes please! And if you’d like to better understand why you sometimes react in surprising ways. Double yes! 

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic approach to naming your inner parts and approaching them with curiosity and compassion. Richard Schwartz discovered this in his own life and practice more than two decades ago. In this introduction he shares the basics. 

I really appreciate this book. There are exercises at the end of each chapter to practice. It’s also recommended to work with a trained therapist to explore further. Already, I find it extremely helpful to claim that a part of me is angry instead of shaming myself that I’m an angry person. The part version is more true and by separating from “me” and my identity, I’m better able to be curious instead of ignoring angry outbursts and trying to move on. If you are interested, the basics are a great place to start. I’ll be exploring IFS more for sure.