Olivia Denning

Olivia DenningI enjoyed the journalistic take on the historical Los Angeles fire of 1986 and the devastation it caused the city library. This book was more than just the fire, Orlean gives a brief history of libraries and their pivotal role in the US. I very much enjoyed learning about the cast of characters that ran the LA library before and after the fire. The most intriguing aspect of this book was the focus on arson, how it was viewed at the time of the fire, how it’s viewed now, and the suspect that the LA firefighters wanted to arrest. I learned different myths surrounding fires and have a new appreciation for just how powerful of fire can be. I’m going to take away from this book just how universal the public want of libraries is. Even in a technology driven society libraries are plentiful and thriving. Countries all over the world utilize libraries and they continue to grow and change with the times. At the start of every chapter, Orlean previews it by listing titles of books and other media that give a chapter a sneak peek. This gives the book a personal flare that kept me reading. This was unlike any nonfiction I have read before and I’m glad I read a hard copy of the book. Fans of history would enjoy this book: 3.5/5 stars

Olivia DenningI was skeptical about reading a book with an octopus narrator, but ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. I found the characters refreshingly down to earth and not driven by emotion. I thought the ending was a little cookie-cutter and dry at a few points. The best aspect of this book was the character development. Despite being a generally unlikable character, Cameron and his self-fulfilling prophecies become the driving force of the novels plot. Van Pelt does a remarkable job of creating a very real character. This pushed me a little out of my comfort zone. I usually see clear of the TikTok popular books, but I’m glad I gave this one a chance. The writing is decent, the characters are great, and it’s an overall wholesome book. Throughout reading, I felt like this book was begging to be made into a movie. That’s not always a bad thing, but it may have been trying a little too hard to land a Hollywood deal. 3.5/5 stars

Olivia DenningIf you are a fan of Lisa Jewell, I would recommend this book. I was captured from the first page. This book is told from a few different perspectives which allowed suspense and intrigue to each one. That being the case, however, none of the big reveals in the book were that shocking. Because of the predictability, this book may be soon forgotten. Additionally, I thought the author overused the “f” word and it made some of the characters feel less authentic. It was a quick read that kept my attention, but not a lot stands out for me. 3.5/5 stars.

Olivia DenningThe appeal of Lisa Jewell novels is that there is always some horror, mystery, and intrigue that makes her books hard to put down. This is also one of those novels. Switching between three character perspectives, the reader begins to put together what traumas happened in one home in the 80s through 90s. Despite the overall darkness of the novel, the ending had unexpected feelings that were both satisfying, and yet disconcerting. A quick read, and an excellent audiobook as well. I would recommend to those who like thrilling books, but not gore or horror. 4/5

Olivia DenningI think this book will stick with me for years to come. Overall, it was a very wholesome read with the range of characters that Krauss expertly and beautifully intertwined. Very few novels have endings as beautiful as this one, and I will cherish it. “And yet” are two words that are often repeated by an elderly character that give hope, but also a pang of sadness. It is a phrase used as a tool of reflection, and simultaneously, as a tool of looking at the present and beyond. I enjoyed the book, the plot, the characters, and above all the ending. 4.5/5