BeckyR21
Calgary Public Library
BeckyR21's Completed Shelf
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BeckyR21's rating:
Added Mar 26, 2024
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Mar 21, 2024
Comment:
Enjoyable read. The plot was not fast paced. The characters well imagined; I think fiction based on historical people without having any real basis for the character development is a challenge. No one even knows for sure who the girl with the pearl earring was. That being said, Chevalier does an amazing job transporting you to 1600 Delft. Her attention to historical detail is quite good.Enjoyable read. The plot was not fast paced. The characters well imagined; I think fiction based on historical people without having any real basis for the character development is a challenge. No one even knows for sure who the girl with the pearl…
OppenheimerOppenheimer, DVD
DVD - 2023DVD, 2023
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Mar 11, 2024
Comment:
A masterpiece. Enthralling. Deserving of all the accolades.
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Mar 11, 2024
Comment:
This was a pleasant, if not enthralling, read. It took me longer to read than it really should have. Pleasant characters, nice relationship development. To anyone who loves books and libraries, it was a gentle, lovely book, but it is not going to knock your socks off.This was a pleasant, if not enthralling, read. It took me longer to read than it really should have. Pleasant characters, nice relationship development. To anyone who loves books and libraries, it was a gentle, lovely book, but it is not going to…
Sisters FirstSisters First, Large PrintStories From Our Wild and Wonderful Life
by Hager, Jenna BushLarge Print - 2017Large Print, 2017
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Feb 06, 2024
An Italian Girl in BrooklynAn Italian Girl in Brooklyn, BookA Novel
by Montefiore, SantaBook - 2022Book, 2022
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Jan 26, 2024
Comment:
Enjoyable, if predictable, read. Montefiore creates wonderful characters. The complexity of human relationships, circumstances and the different types of loves and stages of life are all examined.
Why the publisher gives away so much of the book on the cover is a mystery to me, but it was an enjoyable read, even knowing how it all might work out in the end.Enjoyable, if predictable, read. Montefiore creates wonderful characters. The complexity of human relationships, circumstances and the different types of loves and stages of life are all examined.
Why the publisher gives away so much of the book on…
Quotations
- "Well, as you know, my lovely listeners, Mamma Forte says it like it is and I don't hide my meatballs under a mountain of spaghetti." p. 325
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Jan 21, 2024
Comment:
An entertaining read. I've never been disappointed with a Jenkins Reid book. She creates memorable characters that you will be cheering for right to the last page. I look forward to watching the movie, but I'll wait until it's free. :)
The Things We Leave UnfinishedThe Things We Leave Unfinished, BookA Novel
by Yarros, RebeccaBook - 2021Book, 2021
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Dec 22, 2023
Comment:
I really enjoyed this book. There is a twist that I was figured out well in advance to the reveal, but it did not take away from the enjoyment of the novel.
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Nov 27, 2023
Comment:
A quick read. The plot pretty much given away by the back of the book, but still a compelling read. Likeable, well developed characters. Really interesting era and the author did an excellent job portraying the struggles of the different characters. This would be a good mini-series.A quick read. The plot pretty much given away by the back of the book, but still a compelling read. Likeable, well developed characters. Really interesting era and the author did an excellent job portraying the struggles of the different characters.…
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Nov 20, 2023
Comment:
This was a good read. I'm not sure why publishers pretty much give away the plot on the back cover, but even knowing how it was going to end, I enjoyed this book. Terribly sad at times, but the ending was quite touching.
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Oct 31, 2023
Comment:
An interesting read, and while it might be a fictional book about an alternate history, it's more an alt reality fantasy. There is absolutely no way Hitler would have agreed to a political prisoner midwife to be anywhere near Eva Braun, himself, or anyone at Berghof. To suggest otherwise lacks any historical knowledge and I would call this a fantasy novel more than a historical fiction. Also, after the horrors of the camp, Anke's relationship with an SS officer is highly unlikely as well; it borders on Stockholm Syndrome. There is absolutely no way she would be able to see past the SS. You didn't become an SS officer because you were a nice guy. So unrealistic.
That being said, the plot moved fairly well, most of the characters were likeable (obviously excepting Hitler) and the author's use of past worked well to understand what Anke had dealt with to where she was in the current state.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend against this book, but keep in mind you won't learn anything about the actual history of war. My kids roared with laughter when I told them about it. It's definitely a great book to spark discussion.An interesting read, and while it might be a fictional book about an alternate history, it's more an alt reality fantasy. There is absolutely no way Hitler would have agreed to a political prisoner midwife to be anywhere near Eva Braun, himself, or…
Quotations
- "And so we lived, and survived.... our expectations of life slowly lowered by degrees."
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Oct 14, 2023
Comment:
Not sure why I'm so late to the party, but this book was dynamite. Wow, Backman can write. His societal insights are bang on. This is the type of book that you want to reread to write down all the amazing quotes and observations of society and human nature. I thought the build up to the pivotal event was well paced, and the aftermath realistic and well managed. My only critique would be the ending seemed a bit all over the place as he tied up loose ends.Not sure why I'm so late to the party, but this book was dynamite. Wow, Backman can write. His societal insights are bang on. This is the type of book that you want to reread to write down all the amazing quotes and observations of society and human…
BelfastBelfast, DVD
DVD - 2022DVD, 2022
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Sep 24, 2023
Comment:
A masterpiece. Compelling. The writing and acting are excellent. The plot is riveting. There are not enough words to describe how great this movie is. Definitely should have won more Oscars.
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Sep 15, 2023
Comment:
This book is not good. I've read all of Jeannette Walls books, and enjoyed Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses. Silver Star was ok, if not memorable. This book is just ridiculous. The era and the family dynamics and small town drama was an excellent set up for a compelling read, but it did not deliver. I'm not quite finished, so perhaps the ending will change my opinion, but as it stands now, this will be the last book I read of Jeannette Walls.
Edit: finished the book, and I haven't changed my opinion. If anything, it becomes even crazier. It would be a good basis for a tv series, with enough episodes to fully develop the characters and plot.This book is not good. I've read all of Jeannette Walls books, and enjoyed Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses. Silver Star was ok, if not memorable. This book is just ridiculous. The era and the family dynamics and small town drama was an excellent…
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Aug 30, 2023
Comment:
An entertaining read. Likeable characters, interesting time period, the plot may have been a bit slow, the mystery not too complex, but an enjoyable read nonetheless.
Quotations
- “Please take no notice of my colleague’s antediluvian notions.’ p. 33
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Aug 29, 2023
Comment:
This book took me a long time to read. Kate Morton is a skilled writer, and having read her books before, I knew to pay attention. There's always some seemingly random person or event that is going to pop back up later in the book and be far more important than you would think.
I didn't love it as much as some of her other books, quite a bit seemed a bit out there, but I stuck with it to see the final resolution. I think it could have been better with 100 or so less pages.This book took me a long time to read. Kate Morton is a skilled writer, and having read her books before, I knew to pay attention. There's always some seemingly random person or event that is going to pop back up later in the book and be far more…
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Jul 17, 2023
Comment:
I enjoyed this book up until the disappearance of Raven. I liked the characters, I thought the author did a good job with the setting, but as soon as Wren started her revenge rampage, it lost me. I would have enjoyed the book much more if it had focused on the search for Raven, and not the road it did take.I enjoyed this book up until the disappearance of Raven. I liked the characters, I thought the author did a good job with the setting, but as soon as Wren started her revenge rampage, it lost me. I would have enjoyed the book much more if it had…
The Imitation GameThe Imitation Game, Unknown
Unknown - 2015Unknown, 2015
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Jul 08, 2023
Comment:
Superb! Fascinating characters, intriguing time period, well paced plot. This movie is dynamite. Terrible how a true war hero was treated, but at least they have righted their wrongs. Benedict Cumberbatch was fantastic as Alan Turing.
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Jul 01, 2023
Comment:
A good read. Not a five star for me. It was a bit slow at times. I liked the characters (most of them anyway), and the setting was amazing. The author's skill at description puts you right amongst the characters. As most of the book is strictly from Victoria's POV, a lot of detail is lost. I think the book would have been even stronger with more perspective from the other characters. I liked the ending.
**The publisher doesn't do any favours to the author comparing this to Crawdads. I didn't really see any similarity with Crawdads at all. Kya's relationship with the marshes is very different than Victoria's relationship with the Colorado wilderness. **A good read. Not a five star for me. It was a bit slow at times. I liked the characters (most of them anyway), and the setting was amazing. The author's skill at description puts you right amongst the characters. As most of the book is strictly from…
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Jun 22, 2023
Comment:
Quite a fascinating read. I have never read anything from the North Vietnamese perspective, and I found it to be enlightening and intriguing. Proof that the real story is not what we see on the news or read in history books, but is with the people who live it.
I found the back and forth between time lines to be a bit disjointed. It took me too long to keep all the characters straight. As noted by another review, the family tree at the beginning of the book was helpful. The characters are well developed and endearing (except the villains, of course). It covers quite a few decades, and I think it could have been just as good, if not better, focusing on one time line. There's so much to delve into, it could have been three books!Quite a fascinating read. I have never read anything from the North Vietnamese perspective, and I found it to be enlightening and intriguing. Proof that the real story is not what we see on the news or read in history books, but is with the people…
Quotations
- But I also know that on the verge of death, there is no time for nostalgia. p.10
The Best of MeThe Best of Me, DVD
DVD - 2015DVD, 2015
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Jun 12, 2023
Comment:
Typical Sparks. A bit of unsettling violence that is not typical Sparks, but the rest of pretty much as expected. The alternate ending is WAY better.
The Storied Life of A. J. FikryThe Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, BookA Novel
by Zevin, GabrielleBook - 2014Book, 2014
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Apr 15, 2023
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Apr 10, 2023
Comment:
This is the first novel by this author that I have read. I picked it up because it had such high reviews, and they have just announced it will be made into the movie. A disappointment for me. Fairly boring, the secondary characters completely boring. I found the sisters' relationship ridiculous and unrealistic. I liked the ending, so I rounded it up to 3 stars, but I sure don't know what book other people were reading to rate it so high.This is the first novel by this author that I have read. I picked it up because it had such high reviews, and they have just announced it will be made into the movie. A disappointment for me. Fairly boring, the secondary characters completely…
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Mar 25, 2023
Comment:
Great book! I loved this book. Almost 600 pages, and I didn't want it to end. Great characters, so well written. What an ending.
Towles is fantastic, and I've loved all of his books.
Quotations
- ....But an equally important point that Jesus is making is that we do not always get to choose to whom we should show our charity. p. 132
Extraordinary CanadiansExtraordinary Canadians, BookInspiring Stories From the Heart of Our Nation
by Mansbridge, PeterBook - 2020Book, 2020
BeckyR21's rating:
Added Mar 01, 2023
Comment: