The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“We shall be useful. But just as importantly we shall be defiant, occasionally ill-mannered, and completely indomitable.”
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is about a mature woman and the adventures she gets herself into. Lady Augusta is not your typical affluent, Regency lady of a certain age as she steps up to butts heads with society and her brother. Her sister, Lady Julia, joins along with her sister’s plans which involve doing good deeds. Another main character is brought in to mix things up as well. There are 3 main capers as you will with another mission that is intertwined throughout. This novel has romance, family, and cultural commentary. It is full of surprises and keeps you on your toes. It takes place in England and mostly around London in the Regency era. This era is not remembered for treating women well and this book addresses that head on. Women rule is this wonderful novel.
This book was an exuberant riot of fun! The sisters are adventurous, witty, and clever. And they do all this in a society that treats women as property without any sort of intelligence or agency of their own. The repartee that occurs frequently reminded me a lot of The Importance of Being Earnest which was another book I loved. The Benevolent Society was a nonstop joyride of escapades. I had a smile on my face while I was reading through many parts. I was rooting so hard for Augusta and Julia. Alison Goodman is a very good author. She writes an engaging book with excellent word use. She harkens back to a different time with her choices of locutions and makes it sound interesting instead of it having a feeling of being bogged down by unknown terms. It also highlights the differences that society at that time decided existed between men and women. I found it fascinating and it angered me all the same. The brother was an ass that needed to be slapped. He was a good antagonist. It represented the times well though which added realism. Alison did something in this book that I love when it occurs in books. It adds in queer or allusions to queer elements in a time where it was not talked about let alone accepted. Characters are introduced that are cool with it and don’t make a big deal out of it which makes my heart glow. In relation to that a character says, “my brother’s narrow idea of Christianity seems to bring more suffering into the world than relief.” This is an amazing way of phrasing it and it applies in this modern world just as much. There were some slight scenes involving low spirits and heartache, but it added to the ups and downs throughout. The dedication in the book sets the tone right off the bat. “This book is dedicated to all the women out there who no longer have the patience or desire to put up with any nonsense.”
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Tag: Unputdownable
Bleeding Greed And Being Blind To Fraud
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bad Blood is the mind-boggling story of woman in her journey to defraud people and make tons of money. She claims to have “invented” a new technology that could test a miniscule amount of blood quickly, accurately, and with a device that takes up a small amount of space on a countertop or shelf. Her journey is ridiculous. The company, Theranos, seemed like it had the unhealthiest culture and I do not understand how anyone could remain there for months, even years, especially the people in the know. Does no one have a conscience? There were some good eggs that ended up talking but it seemed like there should have been many more. Her actions potentially had the consequence of killing people as well, but she didn’t care. I don’t want to use her name as she is despicable. She is currently serving jail time thankfully, but it doesn’t seem like it is enough. She dropped out of college as she claimed she wanted to change the world and revolutionize the medical industry. I may be cynical and I definitely do not know her, but she seems full of it. She even changed her voice. She is a compulsive liar and doesn’t show any contrition about what she has done or how it affected people. This book was so enthralling, and I wanted to keep reading to find out how the story unfolds and how it ended. The entire time I was baffled how she got away with everything. How could no one raise any flags or look deeper into the details? Even big names like Walgreens and Henry Kissinger fell for the scheme. This just further shows the problem with greed in this country. Everyone just wants to make a quick buck regardless of the legality, morality, or consequences. John Carreyrou does an astounding job conveying the trajectory of her rise and deserved fall. He chronicles it well but one thing I found hard was keeping track of all the names of people involved. There were so many! John did his homework and deserved all the accolades. When I was reading it felt like there was a flipflop between good and evil. One chapter felt that she was getting away with everything and deceiving everyone whereas the next chapter it felt like someone was standing up and that she might be caught. It was crafted well and I enjoyed it. Throughout my time reading this book there were several instances where I could feel tension in my body regarding my frustration with what was happening and the pull to find out more. It was a physical reaction to this read. I wanted to find out that it ended badly for her and the company. I wanted her to be punished and to see that people cannot get away with hurting others. I was hooked on the story and I couldn’t wait to finish. This story exemplifies things that piss me off the most (lying, hurting others, and getting away with it) which is why I didn’t want to give it five stars but I feel it is such a great book I will. It is a must read.
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My Favorite Novel Ever And Being Overcome With Emotion
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this novel. I cannot think of one that I have loved as much as this one ever, so this might be my favorite novel of all time. I felt this immediate draw to pick it back up every time that I set it down. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is undeniably powerful, funny, and devastating. It is poignant, consuming, and clever. I cannot say enough good words about it. There aren’t enough good words to describe it. I would say that I am speechless but all I want to do is sing all the praises from the highest of the mountains so that everyone can hear. Even before the actual story starts it provides a chuckle but the actual story begins in Ireland in the 1940s with a woman who found herself in an unwed, pregnant situation and was forced to leave her hometown. She meets a guy on the way to Dublin and ends up living with him for a short bit until a tragic and joyous event occurs. The book actually follows her son and provides a detailed account of his life over the next 70 or so years. I have such an affinity for Cyril, the son. I saw myself so deeply in him, I felt such a connection, that it could have been me living that life. The characters were so well developed that I had no trouble identifying or remembering them. The picture was painted with such clarity and detail. I was hooked from the first sentence and it just continued from there. What a first chapter! It sunk its hooks into me quickly and deeply. I also loved how this book was structured. It is an epic tale as it traverses multiple countries and decades. You are immersed in the time and characters as if you were there. John Boyne is one of the best writers I have ever read. I don’t think I have read anything by him thus far, but I cannot wait to see what else is out there. He has this way of hinting and nodding to something but not outright saying it, that makes you feel in on a secret that only the two of you know. His use of context is superb. It is subtle but it fills you with quiet glee. He also has this unbelievable artistry to weave connections throughout, from the first chapter to the last. It is done with such grace and elegance that you don’t see it coming. It comes out of left field but it is so realistic. It is like it was inevitable. I would stop in my tracks and then I would just sigh at how right it felt. There are plenty of moments that left me gobsmacked with my mouth held agape in shock. I had to look around, even if I was alone, wondering who else was flabbergasted by what was on the page. I wanted to discuss in whispers what just occurred. Furies was also a riot. I found myself laughing out loud, so hard. I would even get myself to laugh just thinking about it when I set the book down. There is so much witty repartee. The quips, asides, and comebacks are plentiful that sometimes I could not handle it. My stomach hurt and I had tears from how clever the writing was. For example, “turning to her with all the warmth of Lizzie Borden dropping in to say goodnight to her parents.” There were also plenty of gut-wrenching and devastating moments that left me helpless and in tears as well. I had to stop reading at some points because I couldn’t see the words through my tears. They were dripping down my face. At times I couldn’t breathe because I was overcome with deep anguish. The overpouring of emotions that this novel can evoke in a person are mind-blowing. I have never had such a reaction to the written word that I felt throughout my body, ever in my life. It is the most human book. I smile and laugh, become wistful and melancholy just thinking of the novel still. My inability to convey how breathtaking and powerful this novel was, devastates me. This is my favorite novel ever.
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Best Fiction Book In Years and Wanting To Skip Eating, Work, and Sleep to Finish
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am Pilgrim is the best fiction book I have read in years! Terry Hayes is a master storyteller. He weaves an alluring, investigative thriller surrounding a plot to unleash hell on earth. The book has another crime storyline that just barely kisses up to the main story but adds to the overall excitement. It follows a member of the intelligence community and one of the most calculating & devious villains I have ever seen. He is out for revenge and will stop at nothing to get it. The planning and execution is unbelievably detailed. I love how we find out little bits at a time. I found myself getting frustrated and agitated with the antagonist (but I loved it!) which drew me in deeper. It was the mark of a well written character. The story integrates multiple characters, timelines, and plots but it is done seamlessly. There is murder, secrets, high stakes, and great locations. It has a great balance of good and evil as well as successes and failures. The see-saw of it all was amazing. I love how in the first chapter or so the reader is thrown for a loop and I was made to check my assumptions. There was a part where I felt physically nauseous due to what was happening and the description. A book that can elicit physical reactions also rates high for me. I cannot identify one detracting factor, so I am going to go out on a limb and say this novel is perfection! The main character comes alive and it is like you are along for the ride. He is portrayed so well, and he has faults too, so it makes it more realistic and engaging. He makes mistakes which heightens the pressure and stakes. The scenarios are full of energy and tension. The little hints and foreshadows at the end of chapters just basically forced me to keep going. Terry Hayes is funny and clever writer. The way he phrases things is great. “A rope of gold chains around his neck big enough to anchor a cruise line.” I did not want to put it down. I didn’t want to go to sleep. I toyed with calling in sick to work (I didn’t but I wanted to) just so I can read some more. If I could give it 6 stars I would. This should move to the top of everyone’s TBR pile immediately.
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Sleepwalking Through Life and Other Disasters To Wake Up The World
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Station Eleven is a tale about multiple characters and a pandemic that wiped out an untold amount of people here on the planet. It jumps between moments in time and locations. I actually liked how this was done. Sometimes, when authors choose this path, it can be confusing and annoying but, in this case, it heightened the suspense and investment in the story. I felt like I was taken by the hand and brought along for the journey as I was experiencing everything firsthand. I did like Miranda a lot as she seemed chill and had an approach to life like “well this is how it is”. The author drops these little nuggets of foreshadowing that creates an ominous read which drew me in and I was hooked by page 25. I have always like disaster or survival stories and this one fits the bill wonderfully. I loved how Star Trek was mentioned at several points and a key phrase as the mantra of one group. I am a huge Star Trek nerd and it made me smile. Emily St. John Mandel does an amazing job of connecting people and events. She weaves a history and connectedness between things that is brilliant. There was a scene where a snow globe gets described but then also all the people and steps it took to make it, including truck drivers and people that package the globe. The way she also points out explicitly and aptly what life was like before and how humans interacted with the world was perfection. The depth and brilliance are lyrical. There was a description of friendship with respect to expectations and the work needed that really resonated with me. I was immersed in the world and enveloped by the prose. As one character put it, were they (are we?) just sleepwalking through life with our jobs, life, and what counts for happiness? Clark mused on in his past how he would take redeyes from NYC to LA and marvel at the sun rising as “the world was waking up.” Maybe, the world does really need to wake up and this is what took it to happen. Overall, this was a superbly written novel that brings forth all the feels and is so strongly rooted in possible reality to make it scarily relatable.
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This Is Not A Shipwreck Of A Novel
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. David Grann is a great author and really knows how to tell a story. He interweaves facts & quotes well and brings the characters to life. He has this awesome ability to pick riveting subject matter and animate it. I cannot wait to see what he comes out with next. I absolutely loved Killers of the Flower Moon. The Wager was something that caught my eye at Barnes and I had to pick it up. It was a monthly pick and one of the best books of 2023 plus I love history. The drama and characters kept this book tied to my hand until I had to finish. The way the story was structured and the viewpoints that were used helped to give different perspectives. The added information sprinkled through the storytelling on how life on a ship looked and the struggles was flavorful. The pictures and maps added something as well. I am a person who must have his phone next to him when he reads as I am constantly looking things up. If there is a location, figure, or topic mentioned that sounds remotely interesting I pull up the search engine. I like to learn a little more about what I am reading. I did this a ton with this book. The way that history connects is fascinating. I also do this with words I don’t know or think I know but want confirmation and the true, full definition. Now I was unsatisfied by the ending and the imperialism angered me, but this is hardly the fault of the author. He is bringing a story to life and the fact that I had a strong reaction strengthens my thoughts on Mr. Grann as an author. The follow-up, research, and commentary were top-notch. Pick this up and read it.
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