Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon

My Rating: 1.5

Florence lives in an old folks home and has fallen. As she lies on the carpet waiting for someone to rescue her, the story unfolds of a new resident in the home who she thinks is from her past.

The first chapter, I thought I knew what was going on but told myself "no, that wouldn't be so obvious". I kept reading and tried to put that thought out of my mind so, when right near the end they have "THE BIG REVEAL" and it happened exactly as I had thought in chapter 1, to say I felt it was cheezy and predictable is an understatement. I also felt the author was intentionally trying to manipulate our feelings (hate that!) with the sentimentality. There was a lot of over dramatic writing to try to pass it off as amazing prose or trying to be cute. Too bad as this had promise.

We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson

My rating: 1.0

Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers.

This had a sense of being creepy, only in the strangeness of the family not fitting in with the townsfolk and feeling ostracized by the townsfolk. Other than that, this is just plain boring. Definitely don't waste your time.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

My Rating: 4.8

Brian's parents are recently divorced and Brian is on his first plane trip when the small prop plane pilot suffers a heart attack. Brian crash lands the plane by a remote Canadian lake and soon realizes, he has no one to rely on for his survival except himself.

As 13 year old Brian learns lessons, many the hard way, you come to respect and grow with him. I can see why this Young Adult book won the Newberry Prize. 

The Trespasser by Tana French

My Rating: 4.8

Detective Antoinette Conway and Detective Stephen Moran are investigating the murder of beautiful Aislinn Murray. They are being pressured to close the case but things aren't as they seem.

I love how French makes us feel we know the Detectives and all the players in the case. As always, phenomenal writing! Can't wait to read Witch's Elm. Tana definitely deserves the title of First Lady of Irish Crime.

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

My Rating: 4.8

Kvothe is at University and takes an involuntary gap year. In his continued pursuit of the Chandrian, he ends up being hired to slaughter bandits and spends an indeterminate amount of time with a fairy. This book is very different than the first in that it meanders and feels like it is laying the foundation for the 3rd and final book. Although it was different, it was no less entertaining.

This is the continuation (second book in this trilogy) of the story of Kvothe. There is definitely a lot more fantasy in this book but the writing is so enjoyable. I can't wait for his third book to come out!