Alex's Updates en-US Thu, 08 May 2025 08:15:12 -0700 60 Alex's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg ReadStatus9401560771 Thu, 08 May 2025 08:15:12 -0700 <![CDATA[Alex is currently reading 'Kingdom of Ash']]> /review/show/7553029877 Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas Alex is currently reading Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
]]> Rating855431086 Thu, 08 May 2025 08:11:20 -0700 <![CDATA[Alex Vandivier liked a review]]> /
Alex Vandivier liked Lckeller's review of Kate & Frida:
Kate & Frida by Kim Fay
"3.5 stars. I enjoyed this story of friendship told through letters, although not as much as I enjoyed Love & Saffron. "
]]> ReadStatus9382222889 Sat, 03 May 2025 09:54:16 -0700 <![CDATA[Alex is currently reading 'My Side of the Mountain']]> /review/show/7539584217 My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George Alex is currently reading My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
]]> Review7517904288 Sat, 03 May 2025 09:48:05 -0700 <![CDATA[Alex added 'The Long Walk']]> /review/show/7517904288 The Long Walk by Richard Bachman Alex gave 4 stars to The Long Walk (Mass Market Paperback) by Richard Bachman
High 4 stars. Hard to put down each night (read for 3 hours straight to finish it), had me thinking about it outside of reading time, and had me looking up discussions on the book afterwards.

A testament to the writing skill Stephen King has that a book based on such a simple premise can be captivating. The characters were fairly well balanced and developed well over the course of the book. The psychological side was fascinating too. ]]> Review7365477264 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:49 -0700 <![CDATA[Alex added 'Tower of Dawn']]> /review/show/7365477264 Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas Alex gave 4 stars to Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6) by Sarah J. Maas
Read as part of a tandem read with Empire of Storms.

Started off a bit confusing because we were introduced to like 6 new characters at the very beginning of the book. In my opinion, the book was largely carried by the character we've known for the longest. This character has gone from being one of my favorites, to largely being frustrating, back to really enjoying them. I loved seeing the growth in this book and the romantic aspects were a positive addition. ]]> Review7365476043 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 08:43:07 -0700 <![CDATA[Alex added 'Empire of Storms']]> /review/show/7365476043 Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas Alex gave 3 stars to Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5) by Sarah J. Maas
Read as part of a tandem read with Tower of Dawn. The book overall was good and we found out some key information, but for as much as was going on, I was bored throughout much of the book. I think it could have been half as long and nothing would have been missing. Of the 4 primary storylines that converged, I think I was indifferent about 3 of them and into 1 of them. ]]> ReadStatus9265239165 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 21:59:41 -0700 <![CDATA[Alex is currently reading 'The House in the Cerulean Sea']]> /review/show/7458407989 The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune Alex is currently reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
]]> Rating834455089 Sun, 09 Mar 2025 20:25:57 -0700 <![CDATA[Alex Vandivier liked a review]]> /
Alex Vandivier liked Lckeller's review of The Dream Hotel:
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
"Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this book, which was published on March 4. The story grabbed me immediately. We meet Sara Hussein in the not too distant (and scary) future, where our data is being mined (more than it is today).

Laila Lalami is particularly effective at describing scents and smells. My one criticism is that her use of “artifacts” disrupted the flow of the story for me. Maybe that was intentional.

Themes include power/control, art, scary algorithms, freedom and friendship.

“Freedom isn’t a blank slate, she wants to tell them. Freedom is teeming and complicated and, yes, risky, and it can only be written in the company of others.”

I plan to read more of Laila Lalami’s books. "
]]> ReadStatus9132453471 Sat, 01 Mar 2025 08:48:31 -0800 <![CDATA[Alex is currently reading 'Tower of Dawn']]> /review/show/7365477264 Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas Alex is currently reading Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
]]> ReadStatus9132451749 Sat, 01 Mar 2025 08:48:06 -0800 <![CDATA[Alex is currently reading 'Empire of Storms']]> /review/show/7365476043 Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas Alex is currently reading Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
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