Katy J. Berner

We All Need to Find Our Aunt Maddie

Revisado: 05-16-24

This took a long time for me to become invested in (a lot like adulthood in general) but it is a story of women’s true coming of age- not the teenage one, but the one where we realize who we actually are and the self-discovery that comes with adulthood. It is about accidentally finding your people, forgiveness of others and forgiving one’s self. It’s about owning all that you are, can be and discovering that we are all better together.
When Madeline discovers her estranged Aunt Maddie has died and left her her book shop and her home, she imagines selling them and moving on. But these gifts change the course of her life and the lives of Janet and Claire, the two employees who work there. Together these women learn who they are and the art of caring for themselves and each other. In many ways Aunt Maddie is the Fairy Godmother who uses books and love to help those she loved in life find true life after she’s gone.

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Did AI write this?

Revisado: 08-29-23

This book is terrible. I got through 2 full chapters and quit. The amount of superfluous text and explanation is terrible. The reader is boring. The entire thing feels overworked and contrived, like a person who wrote a book without actually reading one. I am convinced at least 1/2 of it is AI generated.

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Unexpectedly wonderful book

Revisado: 07-17-23

This was a great listen. There were points I just had to sit down and listen because it just was such a beautiful piece. It’s a good cry, well worth it.

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How we define words defines us

Revisado: 08-30-22

I am a lover of words and origin stories of words. This book explores how the original dictionary was very much engendered by men and the women’s voice and meaning was overlooked.
It is also a story of family, and love, and loss and friendship with words and language at it’s heart.
Did I love it so much I couldn’t put it down? No.
Was it a good way to spend my time instead of thinking or doing other things? Yes

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It’s not a thriller it’s reality

Revisado: 01-20-21

A clear social commentary in the same way that Get Out is a commentary on race and power. I feel the social justice elements that comprise the entire plot are important and just the right bit of uncomfortable for a white reader like myself. I wonder why she needed to rely on the white guy hero motif to save the day, and felt the plot and value of the text was in some ways diminished by this aspect.
In all though, the book isn’t a traditional thriller but more an incredibly realistic suspense novel that makes the reader examine the ulterior motives of urban renewal, gentrification, race and justice in America. A timely novel.

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Wonderful, Thought Provoking and Kind

Revisado: 07-26-19

I loved every minute of this book - except the ones where the Audible Guy said it was over. I laughed out loud at some points, and clutched my chest in heartbreak in others.
Poppy’s story of the in-between is beautifully told and culturally conscious. We all can learn to be kinder and more understanding of those who are different from this honest and wonderful coming-of-age tale of gender,
family, and love.

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A Book You Will Want To Hold In Your Heart

Revisado: 09-03-18

My heart aches and my soul feels fuller after reading this book. It is a beautiful story about loneliness, love and survival. I want to know Kya, Tate and Jumper and I feel honored to have spent time with them in the magical costal marshes. What a wonderful and thoughtful novel!

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A non-political book about school shootings. Should be required reading for all humans!

Revisado: 07-20-18

This is the book you need to hear. It is about the trauma of a school shooting told from the perspective of a 7year old boy. It isn’t about gun control, it isn’t about politics, it’s about coping, trauma and recovery. It doesn’t even really mention gun control. The author did an incredible job telling a story that needed to be told without delving into the political shit storm and focusing instead on the important stuff- caring for those who suffer the trauma of a shooting in a very real and heartfelt way.
The narrator is amazing!
It should be required reading.

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Similar Yet Different

Revisado: 10-12-17

If you are familiar with Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon books, like DaVinci Code, you kind of know what to expect...except this time it is different. I felt like the author was attempting to break out of the formulaic type of suspense novel and delve into the realm of science fiction meets historical fiction. I read this on my device and listened together so I could pause and look up all of the references and art within the text. It helps the book to come alive and makes Spain’s beauty real.
I liked it, if you read Dan Brown books, you will like it- but I didn’t love it.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Good for YA Fantasy For Readers Who Liked The Giver

Revisado: 08-24-17

If you read the City of Ember it has similar themes. Somewhat similar to The Giver in places as well.
As a teacher, I'd love to talk with kids about the role of the contrasting settings (the forest verse the town) and why that seems to be a similar motif throughout science fiction/fantasy literature. (Think even Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and even Harry Potter).
Overall a pretty solid story, very safe text for emerging pre-teen readers but it does have some violence that might upset sensitive readers.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona