jcd1013's reviews
523 reviews
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
4.75
Now that's how you write a 1st person POV with an unreliable narrator. Excellent story, so much atmosphere.
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
I just couldn't deal with the fact that all of these deaths are going on around her and she's fretting about her relationship with Jamie. Too much soap opera teenage angst. I read a summary of the last half and decided that I was okay with stopping it.
The Romance Rx by Kathryn Riya
3.5
I think I'm the weird one where I wanted more medicine and medicine related drama in residency. Not Grey's Anatomy drama, exactly, just more of the emotions around being tired and taking care of sick patients who may die on you and the pressures of being right.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
3.75
I admit, I was disappointed in this book, after hearing it raved by so many people.
The octopus part was such a small part of the story. I had really wanted more.
The octopus part was such a small part of the story. I had really wanted more.
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
2.25
God that was painful. Poorly edited, too many plots that didn't go anywhere, characters that weren't developed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape
The Toll by Neal Shusterman
4.75
I can see why some might be frustrated, as the main characters from the first two books are in the background for the majority, but I thought this was an excellent conclusion to the trilogy.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
3.0
Me picking up this book: I've loved Emily Henry's books so much - this is the fourth that I've read in the last two months. Can't wait to read this one.
Me: Ooo, the MC is a surgery resident. Neat - oh wait, she's a neurosurgery resident! Awesome sauce!
Me: Residency IS exhausting and terrifying and electrifying and devastating! You're so right.
Me: hmm, well, as a second year, the MC should have moved way past just "scut work" and discharging patients. But that's okay.
Me: wait, why is this called a "brain surgery" residency?
Me: wait, why isn't the MC commiserating with her friend about early mornings? She's going to have to be at the hospital by 5 every day!
Me: she's a second year resident. Internship is only one year. And a fifth year is not a chief resident. Not in neurosurgery.
Me: wait, it's chapter 18 and I think that's the first time the word "neurosurgery" has been used. (ETA, did a word search - it's the only time it's used. Nor does "neurosurgeon" make an appearance).
Me: how on earth does she have time to go out with her friends drinking every night and go a local art studio to throw pottery?
Me: wait. we're 70% into this book and just now discovering that the MC doesn't like residency? Really? On the other hand, it's taken us 70% of the way through to even talk about feelings, so I guess that tracks.
Me: I mean, you (specifically the author) realize that people who go into fields like neurosurgery are big time passionate nerds, right? Those who just want to "help people and make money" go into dermatology (this is not a dis of dermatologists).
Me: her almost MIL has Parkinson's disease and she doesn't think that continuing her residency and doing functional neurosurgery on patients with Parkinson's SO THEY GET BETTER would also bring her joy and a happy place?
Me: her co-residents are going to be making a voodoo doll of her when she just doesn't show up on Monday morning.
Me: that really was the ultimate of the "throw away the big city career and move away to the country" hallmark ending I've ever read. And it sucked.
(Three stars because I like Emily Henry's writing style a lot. I didn't mind the flashbacks. I liked the core group of friends, because college also meant a great deal to me. But there was so much more than this book could have been.)
Me: Ooo, the MC is a surgery resident. Neat - oh wait, she's a neurosurgery resident! Awesome sauce!
Me: Residency IS exhausting and terrifying and electrifying and devastating! You're so right.
Me: hmm, well, as a second year, the MC should have moved way past just "scut work" and discharging patients. But that's okay.
Me: wait, why is this called a "brain surgery" residency?
Me: wait, why isn't the MC commiserating with her friend about early mornings? She's going to have to be at the hospital by 5 every day!
Me: she's a second year resident. Internship is only one year. And a fifth year is not a chief resident. Not in neurosurgery.
Me: wait, it's chapter 18 and I think that's the first time the word "neurosurgery" has been used. (ETA, did a word search - it's the only time it's used. Nor does "neurosurgeon" make an appearance).
Me: how on earth does she have time to go out with her friends drinking every night and go a local art studio to throw pottery?
Me: wait. we're 70% into this book and just now discovering that the MC doesn't like residency? Really? On the other hand, it's taken us 70% of the way through to even talk about feelings, so I guess that tracks.
Me: I mean, you (specifically the author) realize that people who go into fields like neurosurgery are big time passionate nerds, right? Those who just want to "help people and make money" go into dermatology (this is not a dis of dermatologists).
Me: her almost MIL has Parkinson's disease and she doesn't think that continuing her residency and doing functional neurosurgery on patients with Parkinson's SO THEY GET BETTER would also bring her joy and a happy place?
Me: her co-residents are going to be making a voodoo doll of her when she just doesn't show up on Monday morning.
Me: that really was the ultimate of the "throw away the big city career and move away to the country" hallmark ending I've ever read. And it sucked.
(Three stars because I like Emily Henry's writing style a lot. I didn't mind the flashbacks. I liked the core group of friends, because college also meant a great deal to me. But there was so much more than this book could have been.)
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
4.75
Airplane read. Sucked me in from the first chapter and I stayed up late to finish it. Worth it.