Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
#betterbooksahead
review
DGRachel
House of Frank | Kay Synclaire
post image
Bailedbailed

At 45%, I‘m cutting my losses and bailing. It started off so strong that I was sure it would be one of my favorites of the year and then it just became a slog. What should have been a warm hug of found family cozy fantasy (even with the underlying theme of grief) just became…something else. It‘s giving dull and icky vibes. (Pardon Tasha‘s dragon carcass in the background 💀🐉)

41 likes1 comment
review
Hooked_on_books
Lolita | Nabokov Vladimir
post image
Bailedbailed

I tried this for an off-Litsy reading challenge, but I just couldn‘t. I see that it‘s clearly setting this up to show how horrifying HH is and how he‘s trying to convince the reader he isn‘t, but even just his description of seeing the girl for the first time made me realize I don‘t want to go there. Not even with the dulcet tones of Jeremy Irons reading to me.

monalyisha This is one I‘m glad I read in a college course and not on my own. It‘s also not a book I‘d be happy to read alongside continuing Epstein coverage. I am glad I read it, though. Nabokov‘s skill with language is incredible. 2d
Ruthiella I support this. This book made me so angry. And the appropriation of the term Lolita also pisses me off as do most of the covers of the book. P 2d
AmyG I read there is a connection somewhere to Nabokov and Epstein. 2d
See All 9 Comments
Bette I read a real life kidnapping might have inspired it…it was an NPR article. It was 1948, Sally Horner. According to that, she died very young, just a tragedy all around. Incredibly sad. 2d
Hooked_on_books @Bette There‘s a book about that which I have, and that‘s the one I really need to read. 2d
Hooked_on_books @Ruthiella This was a selection for The Stacks podcast book club and in the episode about it, they mention both of those. Apparently Nabokov didn‘t want a girl on the cover and was ignored. And yeah, the girl nicknamed Lolita was the victim, not some kind of child vixen, but that‘s patriarchy for you. 2d
Bette I could never read Lolita but I wanted to know about the real child. 2d
Hooked_on_books @Bette Here‘s the book I have if you‘re interested. Weinman is a terrific writer, so I‘m sure it‘s good: 2d
44 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
RamsFan1963
post image
Bailedbailed

While I really enjoyed Mickey 7, I just couldn't get into this book. The humor felt very forced, and I found the lead character dull and too given to just letting things happen instead of taking charge.

AshleyHoss820 Valid. Onward! ☺️ 3d
40 likes2 comments
review
Bec_lectic
post image
Bailedbailed

I had to bail on this one. Too many social issues trying to be tackled at once, too many characters, slow progression and after reading spoilers it‘s not worth it to attempt to make it to the end. I‘m out! #hailtothebail #betterbooksahead

review
Amor4Libros
Uncultured: A Memoir | Daniella Mestyanek Young
post image
Bailedbailed

Bailing at 16%. The recounting of the child and sexual abuse on this is too much for me to handle at this time.

37 likes1 comment
review
BarbaraBB
post image
Bailedbailed

#ToB26 #15

I hadn‘t expect to bail on this one since I enjoyed Vuongs debut novel, but there‘s that. This one too is well written but to me it was rather boring. Drugs and poverty are often a recipe for a repetitive story and unfortunately this story is no exception. I didn‘t care enough to finish it. I have to admit audio didn‘t help either, my mind kept drifting off.

ImperfectCJ Uh-oh...this is one I just added to my December TBR because it looked interesting. I'll give it a try anyway, but at least my expectations are tempered. 7d
squirrelbrain I have a signed copy of this so will definitely read. I find drugs storylines very repetitive too, so we‘ll see. 7d
BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ @squirrelbrain I read a lot of good reviews so it‘s probably me. Although I really wanted to like it. 7d
See All 7 Comments
Hooked_on_books Gorgeous pic! I didn‘t get along with his first book and thus don‘t want to read this. If it makes the tournament, I might give it a try. We‘ll see. 7d
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books It is quite possible it makes the shortlist but I honestly don‘t hope so 7d
AshleyHoss820 Oh, what a bummer! I‘ve been on the fence about this one, so I think I can wait in it. On to the next, friend! ☺️ 4d
61 likes1 stack add7 comments
blurb
dabbe
post image

#TheLitsyIrregulars #TLI @LitsyEvents

Friendly reminder: Discussion tomorrow! Looking forward to it! #noplacelikeholmes #foreversherlocked

CatLass007 I have to confess, I really couldn‘t get into this one. I bailed at the 25% mark. Sorry gang, I hope everyone else enjoyed it. #HailTheBail #BetterBooksAhead I don‘t think I‘ll be participating tomorrow. You don‘t need a negative Nellie in the mix. I‘ll see you when we discuss 1w
CogsOfEncouragement I plan to finish reading it today. Looking forward to everyone‘s thoughts. 1w
DrSabrinaMoldenReads How does the discussion work? This is my first one with you all. I really enjoyed the book. 1w
See All 6 Comments
dabbe I'm sorry it didn't click for you. I found it slow at the start, but then it picked up for me. Hopefully, you'll like the next one more.

#hailthebail! 🙌🏻 #betterpastichebooksahead
(edited) 1w
dabbe @DrSabrinaMoldenReads I will post some question starters and will tag all of you; then, we all comment below and comment to each other, etc. ... kind of like an answer blog you might do in high school or college. 1w
dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement Boy, once it got going, I couldn't put it down! My whole day was pretty much devoted to finishing it ... well, that and college football. 🤣 1w
43 likes6 comments
review
MissHel
post image
Bailedbailed

Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the ALC of this book! There is so much to love about this: BIPOC characters, realness of characters, the dreamy quality to the first chunk of book- I was really into it. However, I am VERY susceptible to second hand embarrassment and fear. I‘ve read the myths. I know what happens. I‘m sick to my stomach for Medusa and I can‘t go on with this right now. This is a me problem and not an I, Medusa problem.

BookmarkTavern I totally get that! I had to put the book down several times to calm down. 😅 1w
6 likes2 comments
review
TieDyeDude
post image
Bailedbailed

This is my second Mary Roach book, and I just don't think she's for me. I almost felt like her writing is overly familiar; like I'm expected to understand her personality and drive and humor right out the gate. Therefore, I never really get to know her, and it is hard to connect to her voice in the book. There also didn't seem to be a purpose to her choices of topics other than her whims or whomever would talk with her, unless that's just the ARC.

keithmalek I also find her to be a bit overrated. 2w
dabbe #hailthebail! 🙌🏻 #betterbooksahead I tried STIFF and just couldn't do it either for the same reasons. 2w
AshleyHoss820 I have seen a lot of reviews that follow this trend: you like her or you don‘t. I haven‘t read her yet, and I‘m not clamoring to do so. Sorry this was a bust for you, but there are, thank heavens, plenty of books out there! ☺️ 4d
PuddleJumper Hope your next book is better! 2d
57 likes5 comments
review
TheBookgeekFrau
House Made of Dawn | N. Scott Momaday
post image
Bailedbailed

That was a flora and fauna snooze fest, but I got another bingo 😁

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#ReadingMyTBR #Read2025 @DieAReader

#hailthebail

DieAReader #Nexr 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻 3w
dabbe YES! 🙌🏻 #betterbooksahead 3w
TheAromaofBooks At least it's off the list!! 3w
41 likes4 comments