reviewer41

Very different from the first book in the series

Revisado: 02-17-25

It started out pretty well, but the lives of the quilters seemed really hard to believe. Everyone had soap opera backgrounds in this little town of Waterford.

I picked the series for it's light hearted theme and just couldn't finish another chapter with more character worries and woes.

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Sweet story

Revisado: 01-11-25

I loved the storyline, characters, and quilting theme -- so nice to find a sweet, simple story to enjoy each day.

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Difficult, but important read

Revisado: 10-29-24

The subtitle of this book, A Street-Level History, 1652-2022, surprised me. I thought the issue of abortion was a relatively recent one. This book is the result of researched cases of abortion in the United States from early to recent times allowing the reader to gain perspective and empathy for women and the unborn. The changing norms of society around abortion is also explored. I have a fuller understanding of the factors contributing to this issue because the author has gathered and articulated the facts in a balanced and effective way.

This book does have some graphic depictions of abortion cases which were at times hard to take in. I almost set it aside, but I’m glad I finished this book. The final chapters of the book show the way this topic has been cleaned up and championed by our current population. I hope more people will take the time to read and reflect on the realities of this serious issue.

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Not the story I thought it would be

Revisado: 10-09-24

Whenever I go on vacation, I like to read a work of fiction set in one of the places I will visit. Since I was going to Newport, Rhode Island and because I love lighthouses and the lives of lighthouse keepers on perilous seas in the 19th century, I chose to read this book.

First of all, the author’s style and descriptive writing are very vivid and I enjoyed the first part of the book. I don't think the book really catches the details of the places in the story. It seems like the details could be gathered by reading Wikipedia entries. Although I like books that shift from one place/character to another as the story is told, this storyline became completely disjointed and at times just repetitive with the subsequent retelling from the other character's perspective in the next chapter. The plot was lacking and the story felt trite and predictable.

As the book progressed, I just wanted to move forward with the plot. As I got to the middle of the book and the plot was getting foggier and foggier, I became distracted with the number of times the characters voiced their dissatisfaction with their lot in life living in a man’s world, social injustices of the period (perceived injustices), women maligned by men one way or another… This flat characterization and the narrator’s overly dramatic reading became annoying but still I hung on so I could discover the satisfying conclusion of the story.

I did hang on until the end, but I had to set the reading to 1.55 speed and skip the repetitive, dime store novel endings. I’m disappointed to say that the plot did not improve despite my efforts to stay with the book.

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Difficult Read

Revisado: 06-22-19

I have decided not to finish this book. I have spent several hours listening to this moving account of the tragedy of Columbine High School. The story is gripping, told from the perspective of the mother of one of the shooters -- I know it would be unimaginably horrible to go through what she has endured.

I am not sure what the purpose of this book is and how to find meaning and hope in its recounting of that time. It seems like the author is making a case for her parenting, her son, their image. To find a fuller perspective, I read the linked article written by an English teacher from Columbine who had serious concerns before the shooting.

Opinion: I Taught At Columbine. It Is Time To Speak My Truth.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/judithkelly/opinion-i-taught-at-columbine-it-is-time-to-speak-my-truth

The article does contradict several facts mentioned in the book. So I feel like this book, while providing catharsis to the author, will not help me to gather insight in exchange for the sad, heart-wrenching details expressed.

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Take it with a grain of salt

Revisado: 06-22-18

This book has many insights into the correlation between the standard American diet and the rise in cancer and other diseases. It makes the assertion that keeping to a super food diet will eliminate disease from your life and lengthen your days which is a pretty hefty promise but only supported by anecdotal testimony and observations of other country or historical groups that have followed a similar diet (not the super food plan).. I found the repeated message of "people get sick because they don't eat this diet" repetitive and lacking authority by more careful data collection for this specific plan.

I did find the pdf for precise charts and recipes which other reviewers said was not included.

After reading the entire book, I do think that this book is advocating a vegan diet. Animal protein including eggs and dairy, is discouraged (the author's food pyramid places it in the tiniest, sparsest area). There are historic and present world populations of people enjoying a dairy rich diet that are very healthy and disease free.

I hope that people who are suffering from dread diseases and those with conditions not able to be treated will find this diet helpful as was indicated in the book. For practical application for the majority of people, I think incorporation of these foods on a daily basis is very important. But I find that I prefer following the Weight Watchers plan as a much better way to find foods best for maintaining a healthy life while enjoying foods that make it a pleasure to live on the planet while we're here.

The narration is distractedly poor. I commend the narrator with the ability to pronounce the highly technical words that are prevalent in this book. I think that the author should read his own work to be able to provide a smooth-sounding and natural flow of thought that will allow the reader to better process (sorry) the facts presented.

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Great Novel

Revisado: 04-22-18

What made the experience of listening to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society the most enjoyable?

The narration of this book and the letter format of the plot made this an interesting read.

What did you like best about this story?

The story included first-person descriptions of the island and the Nazi occupation of the British Isle of Guernsey which was a topic I previously knew nothing about.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrators speak using the various dialects represented in this place. I found the narration to be authentic and easy to understand.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The descriptions of the slave workers was moving and prompted my further reflection after finishing the story.

Any additional comments?

The author of this work collected information for her book for many years and died in the middle of her writing of the story. Another friend took up her work and completed the story. It is well-researched and preserves a time and circumstance that could be overlooked otherwise.

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