Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an extremely fast read. I went into this book expecting to be disappointed because I have seen both movies and honestly, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was much better. I had heard the Johnny Depp movie was closer to the book, so I watched it (I'll never get that time back). The book was not as much of a disappointment as I was anticipating. It was actually a fun read.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A book with an ugly cover.

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Review: The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh

The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the only classic I have read this year that was not a disappointment. I am feeling particularly nostalgic. I feel like I need to re-watch The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh. Reading the book for the first time as an adult, I will probably appreciate the show more. I really wish The New Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh would come out on Blu Ray.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A childhood classic you have never read.

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Review: The Library at Mount Char

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was not anything I was expecting. It was strange (in a good way) and a little frustrating (not in a good way) at the same time. Based on the description, I did not expect the book to take the direction it did. It is somewhat difficult to explain without giving too much away. One of the characters really started to get annoying towards the end. This character would constantly state she would explain then dodge the explanations which seemed to make the book drag on more than necessary. Overall, I did enjoy the read, though. It was an interesting story line of the supernatural.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A book that involved a bookstore or library.

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Review: Perfectly Clear: Escaping Scientology and Fighting for the Woman I Love

Perfectly Clear: Escaping Scientology and Fighting for the Woman I Love by Michelle LeClair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say, really? I read the majority of this book in one sitting. After seeing the HBO documentary Going Clear and Leah Remini's show, I try to pick up and read other accounts of people who have left Scientology when I can. I am still amazed at the lengths the "church" (I use the term church loosely) goes to extort money from it's parishioners and keep them in Scientology. Particularly keeping people against their will. I am also amazed at how many celebrities (still) buy into this cult.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A book with an LGBTQ+ protaganist.

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Review: The Maze at Windermere

The Maze at Windermere by Gregory Blake Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It is rare to find a book set in/about my home state (Rhode Island), so I try to grab them and read them when I can. There are five story lines set in different time periods: 2011, 1896, 1863, 1778, and 1692. The premise sounded interesting and appealing. Reading this book was like being in an airplane circling the airport. You do not go anywhere and the plane will not land and get to the point. The intensity of the book did not really show its face until the last 76 pages. None of the story lines offer any real closure (except maybe one of them), so you are just left with some suspense and no climax.

I really wanted to love this book, but it was a disappointment.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A book about or involving a sport. (The 2011 story line has a character that is a tennis instructor. Tennis metaphors are use throughout that particular timeline. Croquet, archery, and other sports are mentioned in passing throughout the book.)

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Review: The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall, I enjoyed this book. At one point it felt like a battle of who was more insane, Rachel or Megan. The downside to this book was that you have get an idea of who the killer is very early, but it felt like it took forever to get to it. I am still giving it 4 stars because I love the whole mind game feeling. It has been a while since I have read a book that was creepy in the mind game sense. I got a thrill out of it.

Now that I finished I can finally watch the movie! It has been on my DVR for weeks. I hope it's as good as the book.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A past Goodreads award winner (2015).

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Review: The Settlers

The Settlers by Jason Gurley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book takes place over the course of approximately 100 years. The story is about people migrating from a dying Earth to space stations. One space station becomes a sociological experiment (and not in a good way).

I have read more sci-fi books for this reading challenge than I have in my entire life combined. I took on the challenge to expand my horizons in different genres. I will say, though, it is books like this one, that are turning me off from the genre. While I did enjoy the story, the lack of quotation marks for dialogue was extremely annoying and distracting. I do not see the purpose of leaving them out. I would have given this book a 4 because I really did enjoy the story itself.

Unfortunately, this is not the first sci-fi book I have read this year to have a distracting writing style. It's just another straw that is about to break the camel's back. I might have to give up on sci-fi soon.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A cyberpunk book.

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