Book Snails Book Group discussion

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  2 0 2 1   BOOK REVIEWS
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A new discussion thread for you Book Snails who like to share the good, bad, and ugly book reviews with us...

Please share reviews of books you finish reading in 2021 here, or feel free to review one you haven't shared with the group before.

You can type a short review right here, and/or provide a link to a review you already posted on Goodreads, your blog, etc.

My first book of the year wasDandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

Here's my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

One more from me.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Happy New Year to all! For my first read of the year, I finished Meet Me in Bombay by Jenny Ashcroft. I’m not usually into historical romances, but this one I thought was well done. I rated it 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Faye, Faraway by Helen Fisher. I wasn’t keen on this one at all. The premise sounded interesting, but I didn’t like the main character. I ended up rating this one 2.5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Nice reviews Bkwmlee. I've added Meet me in Bombay to my tbr.

Here are a few more reviews from me
Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady: A Memoirwhich I really enjoyed
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Smut which I didn't like
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And a favourite
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton. I liked this one, learned quite a bit about the climate crisis, which I never really paid attention to in the past. I rated this 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. This was quite good - a different take on Resistance efforts during WWII. Rated this 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

2 of the better books so far this year, for me:



When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald.
(Contemporary fiction)
5+ stars. Very impressive, esp. as an author's first published novel. This was unputdownable for me, and starred an unforgetable heroine.
Short Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine and Anne Aguirre.
(YA Science Fiction/Fantasy)
An above-average adventure, starring 2 teen girls and a living spaceship. Book 1 in a trilogy. Co-authored by 2 big name writers. 3.75-4 YA stars.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

StarMan wrote: "2 of the better books so far this year, for me:



When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald. ..."

I put When We Were Vikings on my TBR!

Finished The Four Winds, Kristin Hannah’s latest release (published this month). Once again, Hannah has written a historical epic with wonderfully drawn characters....loved this one! Rated it 5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Bkwmlee wrote: "Finished The Four Winds, Kristin Hannah’s latest release (published this month). Once again, Hannah has written a historical epic with wonderfully drawn characters......"

Thanks for that informative review, Candace. How does it compare to the obvious book set in the same period: Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath?

Thanks! I haven’t read The Grapes of Wrath since high school (decades ago, lol) so I probably wouldn’t remember...but John Steinbeck definitely came to mind several times as I was reading this one! 🙂

Finished Land of Big Numbers, a debut short story collection by Te-Ping Chen. I’m not usually a fan of short story collections, but I really enjoyed this one. Rated it 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've got a few reviews to post. It's been an up and down first six weeksof 2021. Some great reads but a fair bit of meh and drivel. One of thr best books I've read so far, though technically I listened to it, was From Sand and Ash. Fantastic five star read.

⭐https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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Finished We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida. This one wasn’t what I expected, but in a good way. I rated this 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch by Erin French. I love food memoirs and this one was top notch! I rated it 4.5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan. This is the newest work from the author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, which I also loved! Highly recommended! I rated this 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A few of the better one's I've read so far this year:



Green Rider by Kristen Britain
Fantasy. Book 1 in a trilogy.
3.9 stars. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Fantasy/Magic.
4 stars for me, but it probably deserves 5.
[our group Yearly Read book]

Fellside by M.R. Carey
Fiction/Horror/Fantasy
3.85 stars. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Watcher by James Howe
YA Fiction/contemporary
4 YA/juvenile stars. A short but memorable read.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here are some more reviews for Feb
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

StarMan wrote: "A few of the better one's I've read so far this year:



..."

Good review, Tim. I have Fellside and I keep putting it off, and too.

Finished Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal. I read this for book club and while I enjoyed it, the unique structure threw me off a little. I ended up rating this one 3.5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser. Rated it 3.5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. This is Quinn’s latest release after The Alice Network and The Huntress and it is excellent! I rated it 5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A new 2021 Peter Swanson crime/mystery thriller:

Eight Perfect Murders

The plot involves several well-known mystery novels, and a possible serial killer who is copying the fictional murders (not a spoiler; see back cover).

A bookstore is one of the main settings in this story. If you enjoy slightly odd, possibly unreliable narrators and plenty of suspects, this could be 4 stars for you. (I gave it 3).

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Note: A previous Swanson book was a Book Snails Book of the Month read in 2017: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Just finished Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause . Here's my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Sunflower Sisters: A Novel by Martha Hall Kelly. This is the third and last book in the Lilac Girls series. I enjoyed it, but preferred the 2nd book (I haven't read the first book, Lilac Girls, yet but hope to do so at some point). Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia. Well-written, powerful, and definitely worth the read. Rated it 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Bkwmlee wrote: "Finished Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia. Well-written, powerful, and definitely worth the read. Rated it 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com..."

I'm looking forward to this book. I didn't realise it jumped around in the timeline. It sounds even more interesting. Good review.

Finished Mother May I, the latest release by author Joshilyn Jackson. This one was good, though I liked her previous thriller a lot more. I rated this 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Writers & Lovers by Lily King. Loved this book, as I resonated so much with the story as well as the characters. I rated this one 5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I might have been too hard on A Gentleman in Moscow, but I've tried to be honest: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

"Gentlemen in Moscow" (Count Rostov) has one of the best philosophies on life I have come across, to be "purposely unrushed." Makes me smile every time I think about it.

Steven wrote: ""Gentlemen in Moscow" (Count Rostov) has one of the best philosophies on life I have come across, to be "purposely unrushed." Makes me smile every time I think about it."

Ooh yes, Steven - that's good.

Finished Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. This one was okay...I enjoyed parts of it but majority just didn’t work for me. I rated it 3 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee. Loved this timely and relevant YA novel! Rated this 5 stars! Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton. This is the 4th book of hers I’ve read and enjoyed it quite a lot. Cleeton has quickly become a “must-read” author for me. I rated this one 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Bkwmlee wrote: "Finished The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton. This is the 4th book of hers I’ve read and enjoyed it quite a lot. Cleeton has quickly become a “must-re..."

Thanks for another good review, Bkwmlee. I don't typically read historical fiction/romance, but some of your reviews do tempt me ;)

Finished The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. This literary thriller has been getting a lot of buzz and deservedly so! It was quite the experience and definitely highly recommended! I rated it 4.5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Swimming Back to Trout River by Linda Rui Feng. I absolutely loved this one!! Rated it 5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Definitely not what I expected, and not in a good way. Parts of it were good, but there were also parts I couldn’t stand. I ended up eating this one 3 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. Romance isn’t a genre I read a lot from, but this was a nice break from my recent heavier reads. Rated this one 3.5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A zombie apocalypse + SciFi + emo teen romance mashup:


RAZOR GIRL by Marianne Mancusi

(yes, I bought it based solely on the cover).

YA verdict: 2.75 stars. Not bad, considering how awful most zombie books are.

Adult verdict: Somewhat lower.

Yon review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review of Choose Me:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Heavy by Kiese Laymon. A powerful, thought-provoking memoir that is a must-read on so many levels. I rated this 4.5 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Into the Forest by Jean Hegland


A slow-moving but good Apocalypse in which 2 sisters try to survive as their small world slowly loses all the comforts of modern life.

I gave it 4 stars. If you only enjoy fast-paced dystopias with zombies & explosions, it may not be for you.

My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. I know this author’s previous book was a huge hit, but this one I feel was just so-so. I rated it 3 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Diamond Hill by Kit Fan. This one completely didn’t work for me. Rated it 2 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

VERDICT: 4 YA stars, or ~3 Adult stars. A fantasy/magic story or re-telling. I thought it was above average for YA, and pretty good as an adult read.

No spoiler review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...