Category Archives: Year

The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Thistle

Spoilers. I was a little trepidatious, starting an adult Neil Gaiman novel after my terrible experience with American Gods. I’ve liked all his YA and children’s books, and I really loved Good Omens, but this one worried me. Especially since … Continue reading →

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He’s Gone, by Deb Caletti

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Thistle

Dani wakes up, and her husband, Ian, is not beside her. At first, she thinks he’s just out, but as time passes, she knows he is gone. She doesn’t know if he left voluntarily, or if something has happened to … Continue reading →

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We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, by Karen Joy Fowler

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Thistle

Major spoilers. The synopsis of this book doesn’t really say much. It’s about a dysfunctional family. Pretty typical, no? This book is anything but typical, and the only way for me to review it is to go through my mental … Continue reading →

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Under the Light, by Laura Whitcomb

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Thistle

Spoilers. Helen and James have left Jenny and Billy’s bodies, while Jenny and Billy have both returned. But Helen comes back, guilty about the mess she left behind in Jenny’s life. She’s determined to help Jenny readjust to her life … Continue reading →

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The Rithmatist, by Brandon Sanderson

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Thistle

Joel would love to be a Rithmatist, but he missed his opportunity. Now, with his father dead and his mother constantly working to pay off family debts, Joel constantly tries to sneak ways to study Rithmatic theory at the prestigious … Continue reading →

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Siege and Storm, by Leigh Bardugo

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Thistle

Spoilers. Second volume of the Grisha trilogy, following Shadow and Bone. I had so many thoughts and ideas about this book. It was literally my most anticipated book of 2013. Even though I rarely buy books these days, I went … Continue reading →

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Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo (audio)

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Thistle

This is an incredibly difficult book to review, for multiple reasons. I won’t even begin to try to summarize it. I spent two months and two days listening to the audiobook of Les Miserables, so that the experience stretched out … Continue reading →

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Salt Sugar Fat, by Michael Moss

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Thistle

Subtitled: How the Food Giants Hooked Us. Michael Moss is an award-winning journalist who takes us through years of research into the way processed food has evolved, how it has changed the patterns of our eating, and its impact on … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013, Adult, Prose, Wellness | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Out of the Easy, by Ruta Sepetys

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Thistle

Spoilers. New Orleans, French Quarter, 1950s. Josie is the daughter of a neglectful prostitute, and is being raised mostly by the house Madam (named Willie) and a quarter-black taxi driver named Cokie. Josie is smart and dreams of escaping New … Continue reading →

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Meant to Be, by Lauren Morrill

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Thistle

Spoilers. Julia is a quiet, uptight swimmer/bookworm with few friends and a lot of idiosyncrasies. Jason is a popular, loud, obnoxious lacrosse player whom Julia despises. Unfortunately, the two of them are paired up for the duration of their 10-day … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013, 2017, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments