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shellballenger's reviews
496 reviews
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
5.0
I had to read this book for my Creative Writing class. I thought I was going to hate it. I absolutely love it. It was one of those books that I couldn't put down. I don't know what it was but it was amazing.
Sex Changes: A Memoir of Marriage, Gender, and Moving On by Christine Benvenuto
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
1.0
Type of read: Commuter read.
What made me pick it up: Seen on one of my recommended lists.
Overall rating: I liked the idea behind 'Sex Changes', an individual sharing their journey through their partner's transition; however, that’s the end of what I can say I liked about this book. And to be honest, that wasn’t the book itself, rather just the description used to get people to open the book. I did not finish Sex Changes because I found the language, tone, and writing to be disrespectful and demeaning. I don’t expect a life event like the transition of your partner to be easy to live through or retell but I do expect that we would treat people with the love, dignity, and respect they deserve when being truthful to those who claim to have loved them the most. I will admit, I don’t know the whole story but with how the author spent my first hour reading this book, I choose not to participate in the remainder of their story.
What made me pick it up: Seen on one of my recommended lists.
Overall rating: I liked the idea behind 'Sex Changes', an individual sharing their journey through their partner's transition; however, that’s the end of what I can say I liked about this book. And to be honest, that wasn’t the book itself, rather just the description used to get people to open the book. I did not finish Sex Changes because I found the language, tone, and writing to be disrespectful and demeaning. I don’t expect a life event like the transition of your partner to be easy to live through or retell but I do expect that we would treat people with the love, dignity, and respect they deserve when being truthful to those who claim to have loved them the most. I will admit, I don’t know the whole story but with how the author spent my first hour reading this book, I choose not to participate in the remainder of their story.
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
Type of read: Commuter read.
What made me pick it up: Reese's Book Club pick.
Overall rating: I did not finish 'Next Year in Havana.' I kept zoning out and just couldn't get into this book.
What made me pick it up: Reese's Book Club pick.
Overall rating: I did not finish 'Next Year in Havana.' I kept zoning out and just couldn't get into this book.
Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
1.0
Type of read: Commuter (listened to and from work)
What made me pick it up: This book was the Together We Read US book for February and was featured on my Overdrive account.
Overall rating: I got about halfway through and just couldn't finish this book. Maybe if I was reading a physical copy but with the audiobook, I found myself not paying attention and then just being confused because it seemed like they were repeating the same thing over and over (even if I didn't backup or restart the chapter). I like the idea but this book just didn't do it for me. In the parts I did catch, I found the main character cliche and predictable. Just not my jam.
What made me pick it up: This book was the Together We Read US book for February and was featured on my Overdrive account.
Overall rating: I got about halfway through and just couldn't finish this book. Maybe if I was reading a physical copy but with the audiobook, I found myself not paying attention and then just being confused because it seemed like they were repeating the same thing over and over (even if I didn't backup or restart the chapter). I like the idea but this book just didn't do it for me. In the parts I did catch, I found the main character cliche and predictable. Just not my jam.
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
1.0
Type of read: Commuter (listened to and from work)
What made me pick it up: Reese's Book Club pick.
Overall rating: 'The Paper Palace' attempts to be a raunchy and raw look at how our choices culminate into who we are and how we question if a simple act could have changed things for better or worse. There is a lot of back and forth with the setting and timeline, which makes it incredibly hard to follow in the audio version (or at least I found so). There were also a lot of names, and unique names, that kept getting jumbled around as I jumped from timeline to timeline. I kept waiting for it to get better and it just never did. While I do enjoy a well-written, thought-out romantic, even sexual (with consenting adults*), drama, this just wasn't it. I saw another reviewer use the word 'chaos' to describe 'The Paper Palace' and I wholeheartedly agree. I stopped reading when I got to the 'Book 2' section because it just wasn't worth it or enjoyable.
Readers Note: 'The Paper Palace' has descriptions and storylines related to sexual abuse, harassment, and rape that include adult and minor victims. Additionally, there are multiple descriptions of sex and sexual activity.*
What made me pick it up: Reese's Book Club pick.
Overall rating: 'The Paper Palace' attempts to be a raunchy and raw look at how our choices culminate into who we are and how we question if a simple act could have changed things for better or worse. There is a lot of back and forth with the setting and timeline, which makes it incredibly hard to follow in the audio version (or at least I found so). There were also a lot of names, and unique names, that kept getting jumbled around as I jumped from timeline to timeline. I kept waiting for it to get better and it just never did. While I do enjoy a well-written, thought-out romantic, even sexual (with consenting adults*), drama, this just wasn't it. I saw another reviewer use the word 'chaos' to describe 'The Paper Palace' and I wholeheartedly agree. I stopped reading when I got to the 'Book 2' section because it just wasn't worth it or enjoyable.
Readers Note: 'The Paper Palace' has descriptions and storylines related to sexual abuse, harassment, and rape that include adult and minor victims. Additionally, there are multiple descriptions of sex and sexual activity.*
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
1.0
Type of read: Commuter/Travel Read.
What made me pick it up: Chuck Palahniuk is one of my favorite authors and I'm making my way through his works.
Overall rating: Haunted was just not what I was looking for. I actually stopped reading this book after a few chapters because it just wasn't what I wanted. Honestly, there wasn't anything bad about it...at least to me personally...it just didn't keep my interest. There were a few stories at the beginning that made you cringe a bit, but definitely not what I expected. And after just finishing 'Choke' by Palahniuk, I was expecting better. I might try this one again if I can get my hands on an actual physical copy, but it's not on my shortlist anymore.
What made me pick it up: Chuck Palahniuk is one of my favorite authors and I'm making my way through his works.
Overall rating: Haunted was just not what I was looking for. I actually stopped reading this book after a few chapters because it just wasn't what I wanted. Honestly, there wasn't anything bad about it...at least to me personally...it just didn't keep my interest. There were a few stories at the beginning that made you cringe a bit, but definitely not what I expected. And after just finishing 'Choke' by Palahniuk, I was expecting better. I might try this one again if I can get my hands on an actual physical copy, but it's not on my shortlist anymore.