Jamie’s Comments (group member since Sep 08, 2015)

Jamie’s comments from the Imaginary Adventures group.

Oy, the typos. Sorry!

Ok, so parts of this book I lived and parts I really disliked. I loved the imagery especially the tents. FYI, there are spoilers. I didn't like the time jumps at first but the way it all comes together at the end makes it wonderful. I did not like the way the Masters get away with everything.

I would love to wander through this circus. I could stay in the snow garden, cloud maze, and library forever. The Bottle Room of Memories intrigues me but also scares me for the very really awful memories that could be there. More than anything I want to satch the clock change. I want to browse all the sketches of new clocks and see the ones he had planned!

I fully admit that the time jumping really threw me
In the first half of the book. I actually had to go back and check the dates to make sure I wasn't insane. After I figured out where it was going it was much easier to follow the two stories at once. By the time Bailey was going to the Circus to meet the twins, it all made sense. I was happy woth the two stories meeting up "in the present".

Spoilers ahead:
The ending made me sad. Yes, I cried. I cried for the loss of their childhood. All of them. I am sad the Circus ends in a way. Bailey supports it but there won't be any new tents. I am sad they didn't get to be with each other. And I am mad that the Masters got away with everything. Grey Suit gets to go on his merry way and torture other kids. Invisible Man can haunt him but he still gets to live! I am really sad about the clock maker. there seemed so much left undone for him and his followers. To me, there didn't seem to be justice for anyone in this book. Everyone suffered and everyone lost. It was very Tolstoy-esque in that way and perhaps that is why I was not totally thrilled with the book.

I am cery glad I read it and I will probably read it again for what I missed the first time through but overall the book makes me sad. I loved it but it breaks my heart too.

This cover is green!!! Ok, I confess this was a childhood favorite movie of mine and I have always wanted to read the actual book. It is highly recommended by Felicia Day and I usually agree with her favorites. The movie, while a cartoon, has some very dark moments in it but the poetic butterfly and Mage Schmendrick are some of my favorite characters.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

I can't get the preview to show up but here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/...

Oh and as an added bonus this one is free on Kindle Unlimited.

I am down for whatever, just let me know when.

Ok, this was a tough call for me. There are so many great love stories both tragic and glorious. I chose the funny version of my favorite love story.

So this month I nominate Bridget Jones' Diary. It is the modern adaption of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and gloriously funny. The movie didn't do it justice by half.

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QJM8Z0/r...

Yes, whole heartedly agree the fairy series (Meredith Gentry) is a much better series with the only downside that LKH takes very long breaks between books on that one.

I agree with a lot of your points, Anna. The first book IMO, is by far and away the weakest. Honestly, I almost gave up after book 3. However, as I kept going through the series I started to actually be invested im the characters.

To me LKH, and through her, Anita, is incredibly preachy in the first book. I felt "shamed" most of the book. She had a lot of opinions of how life "should" be and very judgmental of all others. I think as LKH grew as a person the books improved greatly.

I too love the Rat King and am happy to report he is a key figure in several other books. The vampires as a whole get much more interesting but sadly the villians are often the weakest part. The first book had a good plot but Anita always seems to have to repeat herself.

I strongly dislike when writers explain the same thing over and over (Rules of Quidittich, banner design, how much elves hate dwarves, etc.). Anita explains her martial arts and how badass she is over and over. It took me awhile to not hate her everytime she mentioned it. That said, her heart is in the right place, and I think with time you see the front for what it is and that she is most vulnerable through the ones she loves.

I would like to nominate:

I nominate Daughter of Smoke & Bone:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

After reading several more reviews, I tend to agree with you. A friend asked me to read it but I am not sure I can force myself to do it. A part of me is also refusing to give her money for such an ignoble "book".

This: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

The Thorn Birds is one of my all time favorites. It is a tragedy and yet so good. The highs in the book are so wonderful that I think you feel the lows that much more keenly. Love this book.

As for Hunger Games, it is the really the story of the fall of Rome told by a young girl. The first book has a little bit of killing kids but I don't think the violence in the book is anywhere near as graphic as the movie. It is certainly not gratuitous. I loved the series and it is a definite re-read type of book.

I may have to read it to see if it is really as terrible as I suspect it to be. Will it be a wimpy guy or wimpy vampiress? Bella was at leadt funny in Twilight and Edward was charming but not sure if this book will even be that....

I would like to nominate "A Year and a Day, Part One: The Court Singer" by Lisa Courtney http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VHI2LVA/r...