blolo
Ottawa Public Library
blolo's Completed Shelf
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blolo's rating:
Added Mar 25, 2016
blolo's rating:
Added Mar 16, 2016
blolo's rating:
Added Dec 23, 2015
Comment:
A teenage girl with social anxiety disorder begins to improve, upon finding friendship/romance with her brother’s friend. This really didn’t do anything for me. I should probably quit Sophie Kinsella!
Me Before YouMe Before You, Book
by Moyes, JojoBook - 2012 | 1st American ed.Book, 2012. 1st American ed.
blolo's rating:
Added Dec 23, 2015
Comment:
The premise is that a 26-year old girl becomes a paid companion/caregiver for a quadriplegic man in his mid 30s. Through their developing friendship, the book explores theme about what it means to live and to really love. Heartwarming and heartbreaking. I couldn't put it down.The premise is that a 26-year old girl becomes a paid companion/caregiver for a quadriplegic man in his mid 30s. Through their developing friendship, the book explores theme about what it means to live and to really love. Heartwarming and…
Shopaholic to the StarsShopaholic to the Stars, BookA Novel
by Kinsella, SophieBook - 2014 | First U.S. edition.Book, 2014. First U.S. edition.
blolo's rating:
Added Dec 23, 2015
Comment:
The worst one in the series. Although I did have a good laugh at the hamster discrimination scene.
blolo's rating:
Added Dec 23, 2015
Comment:
I liked Eleanor and Park so much, I decided to try another one of Rainbow Rowell’s books. This one was not as good - just okay. I felt like E&P was written for adults and made me nostalgic about HS… this one felt like it was written for HS students about the “adventures to come” in university or something.I liked Eleanor and Park so much, I decided to try another one of Rainbow Rowell’s books. This one was not as good - just okay. I felt like E&P was written for adults and made me nostalgic about HS… this one felt like it was written for HS students…
FreakonomicsFreakonomics, BookA Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
by Levitt, Steven D.Book - 2020 | Second William Morrow paperback edition.Book, 2020. Second William Morrow paperback edition.
blolo's rating:
Added Oct 28, 2015
Comment:
I couldn’t help compare this to Malcolm Gladwell books. While I thought it was okay, I didn’t enjoy it as much as MG books. Partially I think the blurbs talking about how awesome this economist is turned me off. Partially I think it was the lack of a central question/thesis like MG books usually have. Also, some of the correlations and stuff had me pretty skeptical - there are just SO MANY variables to a lot of the questions this book examines and I’m dubious that it is possible to control for everything.I couldn’t help compare this to Malcolm Gladwell books. While I thought it was okay, I didn’t enjoy it as much as MG books. Partially I think the blurbs talking about how awesome this economist is turned me off. Partially I think it was the lack of…
David and GoliathDavid and Goliath, BookUnderdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
by Gladwell, MalcolmBook - 2013 | 1st ed.Book, 2013. 1st ed.
blolo's rating:
Added Sep 28, 2015
Comment:
The weakest of the Gladwell books that I've read. Some interesting stories and insights, but not as tightly woven together with a strong central "thesis" as the others.
blolo's rating:
Added Sep 02, 2015
Comment:
I loved this book & could not put it down, in a way that happens rarely! It is about two high-schoolers who are kinda “outsiders” and they fall in love. It is kinda light, but not total fluff – there are some really tragic things going on in Eleanor’s life that makes the story quite bittersweet. Park’s family is also really interesting, and the secondary characters all come to life. It gives you alllll the feels, in the best kind of way.I loved this book & could not put it down, in a way that happens rarely! It is about two high-schoolers who are kinda “outsiders” and they fall in love. It is kinda light, but not total fluff – there are some really tragic things going on in…
Circling the SunCircling the Sun, Large PrintA Novel
by McLain, PaulaLarge Print - 2015 | First large print edition.Large Print, 2015. First large print edition.
blolo's rating:
Added Aug 28, 2015
Comment:
I really loved McLain’s first novel, “the paris wife”, so I went into this one with high expectations and couldn’t help but compare the two. This – like the paris wife – was a fictional history of a real-life person. I didn’t like it as much as the paris wife, but it was still a good read. McLain is very good at conjuring up a time and a place, and creating a feeling /atmosphere.
This novel is mostly set in colonial Kenya and it was quite fascinating to read about how all these european aristocrats adapted to life in the colonies. It was fascinating, - many of the colonialists were hedonistic and were free to break social norms in ways that they weren’t “free” to do so in Europe, and they seemed drunk on a spirit of adventure and freedom. The main character, Beryl Markham, was a fascinating person who broke gender norms and accomplished a lot of pretty incredible things. I found her fierce, determined and bold personality quite a contrast from Hadley, the principal character in the paris wife.I really loved McLain’s first novel, “the paris wife”, so I went into this one with high expectations and couldn’t help but compare the two. This – like the paris wife – was a fictional history of a real-life person. I didn’t like it as much as the…
The Rosie EffectThe Rosie Effect, Book
by Simsion, Graeme C.Book - 2014 | First Canadian edition.Book, 2014. First Canadian edition.
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 28, 2015
Comment:
I didn’t think this was as good as the Rosie project, but I still found myself laughing out loud a few times and I couldn’t wait to get back to my book when I was interrupted.
Squirrel Seeks ChipmunkSquirrel Seeks Chipmunk, BookA Modest Bestiary
by Sedaris, DavidBook - 2010 | 1st ed.Book, 2010. 1st ed.
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
Comment:
This was a dark set of fables, and it was a quick read. I didn’t really care too much for it.
Anne of AvonleaAnne of Avonlea, Book
by Montgomery, L. M.Book - 2013 | Collector's edition.Book, 2013. Collector's edition.
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
Anne of Green GablesAnne of Green Gables, DVDThe Complete Four Part Film Collection
DVD - 2012 | Kevin Sullivan restoration ed.DVD, 2012. Kevin Sullivan restoration ed.
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
The Last Great Dance on EarthThe Last Great Dance on Earth, Book
by Gulland, SandraBook - 2000 | 1st Scribner paperback fiction ed.Book, 2000. 1st Scribner paperback fiction ed.
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
Comment:
The “Josephine B Triology” is the best series I’ve read in years. It is epic in length and subject material, and I was completely absorbed into her world. I highly, highly recommend.
Tales of Passion, Tales of WoeTales of Passion, Tales of Woe, Book
by Gulland, SandraBook - 1998Book, 1998
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
Comment:
The “Jospehine B Triology” is the best series I’ve read in years. It is epic in length and subject material, and I was completely absorbed into her world. I highly, highly recommend.
The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine BThe Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B, Book
by Gulland, SandraBook - 1995Book, 1995
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
Comment:
The “Jospehine B Triology” is the best series I’ve read in years. It is epic in length and subject material, and I was completely absorbed into her world. I highly, highly recommend.
AmericanahAmericanah, Book
by Adichie, Chimamanda NgoziBook - 2014 | Vintage Canada edition.Book, 2014. Vintage Canada edition.
Added Jul 02, 2015
Comment:
A funny and touching read, with a lot of insightful social commentary throughout. Didn’t want to put it down.
The BetrayersThe Betrayers, BookA Novel
by Bezmozgis, DavidBook - 2014 | First Canadian edition.Book, 2014. First Canadian edition.
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
Comment:
This author was more interesting in having a political and religious discussion than writing a good, compelling story. I felt like I was reading a treatise more that a novel at times.
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
Comment:
A good thriller with a pretty satisfying ending.
blolo's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
Comment:
This was a light vacation read about a family (and some friends) on a trip to Spain. It could have been funnier and it was kind of a “take it or leave it” read for me. It reminded me of a madeline wickham book called “sleeping arrangements”.
The Opposite of LonelinessThe Opposite of Loneliness, BookEssays and Stories
by Keegan, MarinaBook - 2014 | 1st Scribner hardcover ed.Book, 2014. 1st Scribner hardcover ed.
blolo's rating:
Added Mar 09, 2015
Comment:
I liked some of the stories more than others, but I didn’t really love any of them. Then again, I'm not generally a huge short-story lover either.
The Glass CastleThe Glass Castle, BookA Memoir
by Walls, JeannetteBook - 2006 | First Scribner trade paperback edition.Book, 2006. First Scribner trade paperback edition.
blolo's rating:
Added Feb 24, 2015
Comment:
Super well-written, the story is so crazy it is hard to believe, and - what I really appreciated - is how she wrote with such compassion about the family who caused her so much pain. I got into it, and just wanted to be reading it all the time.
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