Okay, liked the diverse characters on the ship in this one, but I found they dynamic between George and Genevieve to be a bit off. Like some of the thOkay, liked the diverse characters on the ship in this one, but I found they dynamic between George and Genevieve to be a bit off. Like some of the things she apologized for felt a bit... odd. I dunno. Otherwise this one was enjoyable in the way that all of these are....more
I read this in two chunks. I really liked the first half, but I had trouble getting back into it in the second. Like I kept forgetting who was who, beI read this in two chunks. I really liked the first half, but I had trouble getting back into it in the second. Like I kept forgetting who was who, because characters were blending together. Also the villain felt a bit too all powerful. That said, I liked the idea of it, and the world. And the writing itself. So three stars, because I don't know how to rate it....more
This one just wasn't memorable at all. I read it a week ago, and remember little other than the acrobatic squirrels.This one just wasn't memorable at all. I read it a week ago, and remember little other than the acrobatic squirrels....more
There's something about Becky Chambers' writing that I just slide into. It works for me, and I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this as a sequel. But thThere's something about Becky Chambers' writing that I just slide into. It works for me, and I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this as a sequel. But the world continues to be excellent. I liked the characters. I liked the alternating chapters between Sidra and Jane/Pepper. I liked a lot of it. I don't think I quite loved it as much as its predecessor, but I liked ot a lot....more
3.5 stars, but I roundedup. I quite like this. It feels cozy. I really liked Tova as a protagoist. She had a quiet practicality and strength. And I li3.5 stars, but I roundedup. I quite like this. It feels cozy. I really liked Tova as a protagoist. She had a quiet practicality and strength. And I liked Marcellus the octopus, and his voice. I like how he was used. He was more integral to the story and better used than a lot of non-human narrators often are. I liked the tone of the story. I liked the town. I liked the supporting characters. I didn't mind that it was fairly predictable. I liked that not everything went hte most dramatic route possible.
My issue was Cameron, who is a 30 year old man, who addmitedly hasn't bee dealt the best hand in the world, but also needed to learn to grow up (which he thankfully does). Dont' get me wrong, there were times he really worked or me, and he was very sympathetic, but there were also times he was a bit much (there's a definte lull in, let's say the second quarter). I also think part of my issue was the fact that I was listening to this on audiobook, which I don't normally do. Don't get me wrong - it's a good audiobook. I loved Marcellus' voice. But it does mean that I couldn't really skim. And I think if I'd been reading a physical book, I would have skimmed some of Cameron's whinier portions, and then this would have been a solid four stars.
Quite good, but in my opinion, not amazing....more
This one felt a bit tedious, given the obstructionist purser. I was mildly interested in Genevieve coming face to face with her ex fiance, until that This one felt a bit tedious, given the obstructionist purser. I was mildly interested in Genevieve coming face to face with her ex fiance, until that got dialed up to a million, drama-wise. A fairly interesting cast of characters. Though, if you're reading this for the deveopment of the romance, I wouldn't. Part of the problem is the protagonists spend so little time together on-page (given the set-up), that any forward momentum doesn't feel earned....more
I continue to read cozy mysteries. Is this a groundbreaking book in the series? No. These books are all very similar. But I liked how this one did chaI continue to read cozy mysteries. Is this a groundbreaking book in the series? No. These books are all very similar. But I liked how this one did character. I felt like there was a greater breadth of characters in this one. I thought class and race was explored a bit more diversely (which kid of makes sense given who is more likely to be taking a steamer across the Pacific versus the Atlantic). I continue to think the general character work is strong, even if the mysteries themselves aren't always super intricate. This has some interesting characters.
I will say, these books need to figure out another way to end. (view spoiler)[This is three for three now that essentially have Genevieve in a cabin with the villain, while Dillman shoulder-barges the door and procedes to beat the crap out of someone with his boxing skills. (view spoiler)[ It's perfectly fine for an ending for some of the books, but it cannot be the ending for all the books in a series that apparently has eight books in it. (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]...more
This is a good installment in the series. I did like the overall premise of this one, wtih the jewelry dealer and his impact on Moose County high sociThis is a good installment in the series. I did like the overall premise of this one, wtih the jewelry dealer and his impact on Moose County high society. Apparently the only books I'm reading at the moment are cozy mysteries at this point. Ah well....more
I thought this was a really solid historical murder mystery in a creepy house. I was into it. I liked the characters. I liked the setting. I liked theI thought this was a really solid historical murder mystery in a creepy house. I was into it. I liked the characters. I liked the setting. I liked the writing. This entertained me, would read more from the author....more
Listened to this a few days ago. It was fine? But if I'm honest, I don't remember much. Listened to this a few days ago. It was fine? But if I'm honest, I don't remember much. ...more
Default 3 stars. I read this a couple of weeks ago, and I enjoyed it as an installment of this series. But wh en I went to go write up the review, I hDefault 3 stars. I read this a couple of weeks ago, and I enjoyed it as an installment of this series. But wh en I went to go write up the review, I had forgotten the plot and had to search reviews. When I remembered which one this was, I did remember quite liking it....more
This is very well written. I liked the first half more than the second. I do think the writing itself i2.5 stars, but rounding up for writing quality.
This is very well written. I liked the first half more than the second. I do think the writing itself is excellent, and the book does draw you in.
But I think the second half of this lets it down. About midway through I wondered where this was going, and it just sort of felt like it was going nowhere.
I get the point of this book. It's a fairly good portrait of life in prision (at least it seems like it is). It feels more like a character study (or perhaps series of character studies) than anything else. But the plot felt lacking. I got to the end and thought, "well, that is the end of the pages." I think with a stronger plot, this would have worked better.
Well written and interesting for a while, but not a favourite. I feel like I've read better novels about the prison experience....more
3.5 stars. The message of this book is certainly important. I don't know that it's the type of book you 'enjoy,' given the subject matter, which makes3.5 stars. The message of this book is certainly important. I don't know that it's the type of book you 'enjoy,' given the subject matter, which makes it difficult to rate. I think it's well written, in that it's clearly conveying a lot of information (including sources), and the central themes and messaging are well articulated. I also think it highlights a major issue, in America specifically, though I think there are elements of this (to varying degrees) in other countries as well.
I did feel that it started to feel a bit repetitive (which could also be argued as emphasizing key messages, so your mileage may vary). I think I would have liked a few more of the personal-type stories that exist in the first couple of chapters. I did also like how the author proposes solutions, and thought the epilogue was particularly effective.
That said, I'm not entirely sure how much of this will stick with me, beyond the general concepts it espouses, which I do feel I was already aware of (if not the details/scope, perhaps). Time will tell on that one.
Definitely a valuable read though. And will likely provoke an interesting book club discussion....more
I mean, this is essentially a magical crime-fighting procedural, and I do like a procedural. This is fun. Bit of a romp. I like the characters. I did I mean, this is essentially a magical crime-fighting procedural, and I do like a procedural. This is fun. Bit of a romp. I like the characters. I did dock a star because I don't remember Ari being so violent in the first book, and that character trait got a bit old, but otherwise a fun time....more
These books continue their run of being very readable, in that I read 3 or 4 in a row, and then bounce out for a while. But I liked this one, for whatThese books continue their run of being very readable, in that I read 3 or 4 in a row, and then bounce out for a while. But I liked this one, for whatever reason, so I'm rounding up from 3.5 stars to 4. I actually think the last one might have been better plotted, but I liked the surroundings of this one more. I liked the woman who raised dogsled dogs. I liked the Gage mansion as setting. I liked Qwilleran's one man show. I had a fun time. That's pretty much all you can ask from these....more
These books are just readable. They feel like old friends. Are they spectacular? Perhaps not, but I generally enjoy them. I thought this one was one oThese books are just readable. They feel like old friends. Are they spectacular? Perhaps not, but I generally enjoy them. I thought this one was one of the more solid ones....more
I'm not sure exactly what it was, but this very much did not click with me. It's a perfectly good version of what it is, but I think it's missing an XI'm not sure exactly what it was, but this very much did not click with me. It's a perfectly good version of what it is, but I think it's missing an X factor that's purely personal preference.
It's very much modern day characters, historical setting. At first I thought that maybe that was my problem - that everyone was just *too* modern. But I don't think it's just that. I think it's that it didn't feel internally consistent, or really grounded in its place. I mean, fine if you want to be essentially a modern novel in a historical setting, but that gets weird when your characters keep mentioning historical constraints(ish) that either other people or bound by, or that they theoretically should be bound by, but then just... aren't.
I also think I didn't quite click with the writing or the characters. The set-up feels calculated in that it gives the protagonist essentially motherhood in her care of her adopted niece, the freedom of a widow, financial independence, non-aristocratic ideas given her upbringing, but limited experience at the physical side of love, given the nature of her marriage.
This is going to sound like I liked it less than I did - I enjoyed it fine. The mystery is pretty solid once it gets going.
But I do think it's lacking an X factor for me. Because if I'd been fully invested, all those flaws I mentioned earlier? I would have hand-waved them away in a flash because I was invested.
That said, this is fun, and if you invest, I thin you coudl have a really great time....more
I enjoyed this, generally. It's a reasonably solid mystery in and of itself. I like the characters and the set-up. It did end up annoying me in the enI enjoyed this, generally. It's a reasonably solid mystery in and of itself. I like the characters and the set-up. It did end up annoying me in the end though. There are two problems, but the second was the more annoying.
1. This book takes place about a month and a half after the first one. And it seems to skip over the romantic development. There's in a flirtation in the last one, and apparently they've been seeing each other some in the interim, and the protagonists sleep together at the start of this one (happens very early on, so I wouldn't consider it a spoiler). The thing is, I'd have been interested in seeing how we got from point A at the end of this book to point B at the start of this one. Like, don't skip over major relationship development between books.
2. Pet peeve, but I get annoyed when what are essentially procedural mysteries put the basic assumptions of the series in jeopardy. By which I mean, if you're reading this book, you basically have to just accept the fact that a cop would consult someone with synesthesia to help solve cases. Like fine, I've accepted that - these books are not reality. But then not great to have the book basically point out how problematic that is in the ending as a dramatic plot point for the next book. It feels like needless drama. I don't disagree that it's something that should be questioned, but you required me to accept it to essentially accept that the series functions. I feel like that is the one assumption you don't get to question.
It's like how when reading some cozies you just have to accept that the protagonist just stumbles across a disproportionate amount of dead bodies. No, it's not realistic, but it's required for the series to function, so I go with it.
I'm not saying it's utterly unreasonable in this context to ask the question. But it's asked in such a way as to create as much drama as possible, which seems ridiculous at this point, given how far down the road we've already come. Like don't make it narratve implosion. Now, to be fair, this is very much a pet peeve of mine, but it did rather spoil what was an otherwise entertaining read....more
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