cody_crumley's reviews
126 reviews

Taylor Jenkins Reid continues being one of my favorite modern contemporary writers with Daisy Jones & The Six. The format of this book is extremely interesting. They do such a good job of making this seem like a real band, to the point that I wish I could listen to the songs they wrote in the story (they also put the lyrics in the back of the book, which is a nice touch) The main characters are well defined, with some of the surrounding characters leaving something to be desired but that dynamic also fits with the dynamic of the band.

If you have read any of Reid’s previous books, then I would definitely give it a shot, especially if you have a fascination with the rock and roll lifestyle of the 70’s, and want something that has a more happy ending then most real 70’s rock bands actually had

Rereading the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire series really makes me appreciate Martin’s writing style. He says at the end in his author note that “the devil is in the details and there are a lot of devils” and I think that perfectly capsulate what makes his universe so great. Even the smallest thing matters, and how well future events are set up and the foreshadowing that is hinted at in future books without making it very obvious is wonderful.

If the shows left a bad taste in your mouth, and you have not already I can not recommend reading the books enough

Taylor Jenkins Reid has moved into a category that I really reserve for just a handful of writers, someone who I will try to read any book that they published because of how amazing and unique each story is.

The latest one I have read of her work is Malibu Rising, the story of the Riva family told within the backdrop of twenty-four hours, culminating with the famous Riva Family party. While reading this I could not help but to relate it to my own family's trauma and how the mistakes that our parents make cause trauma and hurt, just like it did with their own parents. That unless corrected, family trauma has a cascading effect on the next generation.

I am still wrapping my head around my thoughts with this book in full, seeing as when I am writing this I have only been finished for about 15 minutes. I will say that this book goes at a neck-break pace that I normally would think is too much, but with the emotional rollercoaster that these characters find themselves in, it fits perfectly. Reid uses fire as a sort of personification of this, and I think that it is absolutely brilliant.

Unless something comes out to really blow my mind, Malibu Rising is in the top 3 of books I have read this year, and if you asked me right now it could be number one

This is one of those books that makes me think that I missed something that everyone else got. With Project Hail Mary, I enjoyed the science and how believable and plausible it was. I feel like I learned a lot about micro biology and the testing that goes into it.

Where the story falls apart for me is the most relatable character is Rocky, who is the alien creature you meet in the first third of the book. Every human, especially Grace is kinda insufferable, and gets worst the more you see of them in the Flashbacks. Speaking of the flashbacks, most of them are kinda pointless or really don’t do a good job of fleshing the plot out.

Overall I don’t think this is a terrible book it just seems pretty average, but I have no desire to ever go back to it or this world again

Definitely one of the best mystery novels that I have ever read. Probably one of my favorite things from this book are the rules that are set up for how the different days and hosts work. The author does a great job of setting up the setting and while the concept is a more complicated version of Groundhogs Day, because he is so explicit with how things works, I did not have a hard time understanding and following it.

I do think that while I enjoyed the twists and turns that happen in the final 100ish pages, it is almost too much and does kinda undermine some of the journey that you go on throughout the book. Also for a concept that is of a more complicated nature, it does end almost too perfectly, though it does a good job of showing its major theme of trust and believing that people can change for the better. For a mystery novel, it is extremely positive where I feel like other books in the genre are not

If you have a book club, I would definitely read this with them, seems to be the perfect book for discussion, also there are great questions in the back. Gonna think on this more and probably have more thoughts on my blog but definitely recommend checking this out!

This is one of the most interesting formatted books that I have ever read. The Appeal means multiple things in regards to the books title. It uses the letters, emails, and messages of its cast of characters to tell the story of what happened with The Fairway Players and the mystery surrounding all of the events of the book. Being the reader of the book, you almost feel a third-degree of separation from it because you are reading through two OTHER characters (Charlotte and Femi) as they are reading through the same letters and emails of the Fairway Players.

It is a satisfying mystery that spends the last fourth going through all the theories of what could have happened and who actually did it. I think that is a very smart way of ending this type of book because it makes sure the audience is on the same page with what is happening and it makes it easy to follow along with the changing of suspects. Because of that, it does not really end with a major twist (like another mystery novel I read this year 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle) but I think it is better for it, you can easily go back through the emails and notes to figure out where this information is coming from and pick up on things you might have missed.

If you are a part of a a reading/book club then I think this book is absolutely made for that type of weekly discussion and is paced exactly perfect for it.

In the second book of the Song of Ice and Fire, it takes a while to really get going, it starts a lot slower than what I remember from when I read it the first time. I think this is the book that you really figure out what the strengths of the series are: the political intrigue, the conversations, the strategy of war.

Like the first book there are POVs that are better than others, the stand outs from this book (to me) are Davos, who does a great job of representing the perspective of Stannis and has a interesting wrinkle of being a former smuggler turned “Onion” knight. Caitlyn continues to be a high mark for the series, which just makes how poorly utilized she is in the show even worst. Her conversation with Jamie is one of the strongest so far in the series and is a great look at a future POV. Another POV holdover from the first book that continues to be great is Tyrion, this is where a lot of the political intrigue and strategy is and it is fantastic

With the POV strategy of storytelling, there are weaker ones as well. Daenerys feels very stagnant for most of the novel and Theon is just so unlikeable that it is hard to connect to and his sections of dialogue feel so cheesy and juvenile, in the worst ways.

Overall the second half of this book (especially the final third) are among the best of the series, and do a great job of showing where the books continue to go and how they grow in the right direction. If my memory is correct, the series continues to better itself from here on out.

Color of Dragons is a average YA novel, nothing really to write home about but nothing that is very bad either. Now that I am finished with it, I don’t think I will think about it again.

The world is interesting but there really is not a lot of effort out into building out the world beyond the Walled City and they don’t really do a good job of fleshing out the Walled City. The characters and places within the Walled City are not really distinct and get kind of mixed up in my head

The only characters that have any kind of positive growth are Maggie and Griffin, but even that feels rushed and not given enough time. The twist at the end is super rushed and I don’t think really make sense, seems like it came out of nowhere.

Overall it is not super amazing and really does not hold up to other YA novels. I would try a sequel if there is one, but the expectations are extremely low