dckathleen's reviews
268 reviews

True Biz by Sara Nović

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adventurous informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is the story of a group of families and a school for the deaf. The author is deaf and I loved getting lots of lessons about deaf culture, ASL, and deaf history in between chapters about the main cast of characters. The main story is great, and because I liked the book so much I decided to overlook my slight annoyance at the ending...I wanted more! 
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Reykjavík: A Crime Story by Ragnar Jónasson, Katrín Jakobsdóttir

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A teenager goes missing in 1956. We revisit the story over time as it captivates Iceland and haunts the lead investigator. In 1986 a young reporter picks up the story and starts to make progress...until something terrible happens. This is a good mystery with some icelandic history and a good twist or two. 
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How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small Island by Egill Bjarnason

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informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.5

I also read this before our Iceland trip and thought of it frequently while I was there. It gives a good overview of the various times and ways that Iceland has played a role in would events. I listened on audio and the reader was great. This book covers a lot of ground in a very entertaining style. I'd recommend this whether you're going to Iceland or not. 
Square³ by Mira Grant

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2.5

I loved Mira Grant's murderous mermaids so much and was hoping for something similar. This isn't it. Unexplained things happened to move the story forward. 
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The story of a group of friends who met in college and have a pact to meet up for living funerals when they need to be surrounded by friends. They all lose touch for a bit, but then reconnect. It's told in a lighthearted and funny tone, but there are deeper currents running throughout. Loss, love, friendship, found family. This is a sweet book. 
The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland's Most Unusual Museums by A. Kendra Greene

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funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

We went to Iceland and I read this before the trip. I actually picked up some good tips about museums to visit, but I think this is also good as a stand alone look at the Icelandic mus um phenomenon. It's quirky and interesting. 
The Darkness Knows by Arnaldur Indriðason

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I read this because we went to Iceland and it takes place in Iceland. If you've read other Nordic noir books, this is very much in that style of slow and reflective writing. 
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni

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

3.5

This was good. Puzzle Master meets female prisoner who is an enigma. I'm not sure it will stay with me, but it was a good read. 
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

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

4.5

Main character comes back to visit her Mom, who lives in grandmother's home, because Mom has started to act strangely. Things feel strange, Mom has hung up grandmother's racist Confederate wedding painting again and suddenly prays and avoids swears, just as the grandmother had. MC is an entomologist and notices that there are no insects in the garden. Also there is a vulture on the mailbox. Things get stranger as she starts to unravel the mystery. This is not par icularly scary, and has many lighthearted moments. It was a really well done, quirky and magical, look at the weird way we can be haunted by our family. 
Lone Women by Victor LaValle

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

The main character leaves her home in CA and moves to a remote town in Montana where land is being given to homesteaders. It's a hard life, but she needs to live in seclusion because she carries with her a mysterious trunk, and she can't stay in California. 

This is an suspenseful story about women on the frontier, but with a supernatural element. It's about the demons we can't leave behind and what we can do to tame them.