Kath's 36 and 37
I have been using GoodReads more frequently lately, posting reviews, etc. I'm going to try posting their "blog" review feature here and see what it looks like. : )
#36 - Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris by David King
A historical true crime book about a horrid discovery in occupied Paris. Very interesting juxtaposition between the horror of Dr. Petiot's crimes and the Nazi Holocaust crimes happening at the same time.
#37 - Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Emily Giffin is by far my favorite American chick lit author (although I almost hesitate to call her a "chick lit" author because of the realism that runs through her novels. These are not "puffy" in the way that so many chick lit novels can be). This, however, has turned out to be my least favorite book by her.
It took me a long time to get through this book. I tried it when it first came out, and it just didn't engage me immediately in the way all her earlier novels did. I tried it in book form once more, then gave up, thinking I would never make it through. Then I found it on CD, which helped (although I agree with the reviewer who commented that Cynthia Nixon's voice has never been more annoying).
I think I found the device of alternating first-person (Tessa) and third-person (Valerie) pov off-putting. It made me fully sympathize with Tessa, and made me sincerely dislike Valerie. I found all of the latter's excuses for her behaviour ridiculous. She was entirely "woe-is-me" and I found her very, very pathetic. I also have absolutely no idea what Nick saw in her, and that made the book almost unreadable, because really? Why was he risking everything for THIS woman? She was not worth it.
I did like that, as usual in a Giffin novel, no character was two-dimensional (except, ironically, the main character of Valerie). April and Romy, the two "yummy mummies," who were the nominal "villains" of stay-at-home motherhood, were actually quite realistic. They had negative characteristics, but also had good points. I also enjoyed that Tessa and Nick's four year old daughter was entirely unlikeable. She was completely horrid in every way, and not your typical "angelic" child from these novels.
I did enjoy catching up with Dex and Rachel from "Something Borrowed," my first (but not favorite - that goes to "Baby Proof") novel by Giffin. I agree with other reviewers that there was something annoying about Rachel in this though. She just didn't have any spark left. Dex was still enjoyable though. I did enjoy the confirmation that Rachel and Darcy ended up as close friends again in the end though. ; )
Anyway, in the end, the writing was what kept this from one star. Giffin is a fabulous writer. This just was not my favorite story by her. And the fact that I disliked Valerie so much? Was that the point? I'm not sure. The third-person pov seemed like a bit of an experiment for Giffin (her latest also alternates, but both are first-person). I hope she doesn't do that in any future novels. Her strength is identifiable, realistic characters, and the first person characterization helps her with that strength.
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#36 - Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris by David King
A historical true crime book about a horrid discovery in occupied Paris. Very interesting juxtaposition between the horror of Dr. Petiot's crimes and the Nazi Holocaust crimes happening at the same time.
#37 - Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Emily Giffin is by far my favorite American chick lit author (although I almost hesitate to call her a "chick lit" author because of the realism that runs through her novels. These are not "puffy" in the way that so many chick lit novels can be). This, however, has turned out to be my least favorite book by her.
It took me a long time to get through this book. I tried it when it first came out, and it just didn't engage me immediately in the way all her earlier novels did. I tried it in book form once more, then gave up, thinking I would never make it through. Then I found it on CD, which helped (although I agree with the reviewer who commented that Cynthia Nixon's voice has never been more annoying).
I think I found the device of alternating first-person (Tessa) and third-person (Valerie) pov off-putting. It made me fully sympathize with Tessa, and made me sincerely dislike Valerie. I found all of the latter's excuses for her behaviour ridiculous. She was entirely "woe-is-me" and I found her very, very pathetic. I also have absolutely no idea what Nick saw in her, and that made the book almost unreadable, because really? Why was he risking everything for THIS woman? She was not worth it.
I did like that, as usual in a Giffin novel, no character was two-dimensional (except, ironically, the main character of Valerie). April and Romy, the two "yummy mummies," who were the nominal "villains" of stay-at-home motherhood, were actually quite realistic. They had negative characteristics, but also had good points. I also enjoyed that Tessa and Nick's four year old daughter was entirely unlikeable. She was completely horrid in every way, and not your typical "angelic" child from these novels.
I did enjoy catching up with Dex and Rachel from "Something Borrowed," my first (but not favorite - that goes to "Baby Proof") novel by Giffin. I agree with other reviewers that there was something annoying about Rachel in this though. She just didn't have any spark left. Dex was still enjoyable though. I did enjoy the confirmation that Rachel and Darcy ended up as close friends again in the end though. ; )
Anyway, in the end, the writing was what kept this from one star. Giffin is a fabulous writer. This just was not my favorite story by her. And the fact that I disliked Valerie so much? Was that the point? I'm not sure. The third-person pov seemed like a bit of an experiment for Giffin (her latest also alternates, but both are first-person). I hope she doesn't do that in any future novels. Her strength is identifiable, realistic characters, and the first person characterization helps her with that strength.
View all my reviews