Attachments, The Stupidest Angel and V Is For Vengeance Reviews
by Jenners • 03/06/2012 • 3 Stars, 4 Stars, A Titles, Chick Lit, Fiction, G Authors, Humor, M Authors, Mystery/Thriller, R Authors, S Titles, V Titles • 66 Comments
Three mini-reviews for your reading pleasure.
Attachments by Rainbow RowellPublisher: Dutton Adult, 2011
Pages: 336
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit (?)
Where I Got It: Bought it
Why I Read It: I kept seeing reviews of bloggers who just loved this book to pieces
My Rating: 4 stars
Brief Description: Lincoln is an underachieving IT specialist working at a Midwestern newspaper. One of his primary tasks is to monitor company e-mails and oversee the college kids who are working to prevent the Y2K meltdown (The book is set in 1999 when e-mail was still a bit of a novelty and we were all holding out breath for the end of the world when it became 2000.) Still living with his mom, Lincoln has just broken out of “permanent student” mode but is finding it hard to figure out what he wants to do in his life. One night, while monitoring e-mails, he comes across a series of exchanges between two employees, Beth and Jennifer. Beth and Jennifer are witty, honest and amusing (as only people in books seem to be), and Lincoln finds himself becoming more and more engrossed in their conversations and lives. However, when Lincoln realizes that he is beginning to fall in love with Beth and real life developments begin to intrude, he has some decisions to make about what to do next.
My Thoughts: Although Lincoln might sound a little creepy and stalkerish, I swear that he isn’t. Just like Lincoln, the reader begins to get involved in Beth and Jennifer’s lives, and you begin to root for Lincoln to make contact with them. This was a fun, fast read that was one of the better “fluff’ books I’ve read in quite some time. Recommended!
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher MoorePublisher: William Morrow, 2005
Pages: 320
Genre: Fiction, Humor
Where I Got It: Paperback Swap
Why I Read It: I’m a Christopher Moore fan and it was Christmas time
My Rating: 3 stars
Brief Description: It is Christmas in Pine Cove, California, and a cast of characters (featured in previous Moore books) are facing crises big and small—including covering up an accidental murder, the arrival of a dim-witted angel out to grant a child’s wish, and the rise of formerly dead citizens in the form of zombies. (OK … I guess all the crises are big.) In typical Moore fashion, the humor is up front and center and everything works out OK in the end.
My Thoughts: Better than your average sappy Christmas book (for which I have an intense dislike) yet not one of Moore’s finest efforts, this was a good antidote to the mawkishness of the holiday season. After all, I doubt you’ll find brain-eating zombies in any other holiday-themed book! Still, you either like this kind of stuff or you don’t.
V Is For Vengeance by Sue GraftonPublisher: Marian Wood Book/Putnam, 2011
Pages: 448
Genre: Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
Where I Got It: A Christmas gift from Mr. Jenners
Why I Read It: I’ve read every book in this series starting with A. Why stop now?
My Rating: 3 stars
Brief Description: Kinsey Millhone is back (and still stuck in the 1980s). This time, the story hinges on Kinsey’s accidental involvement in a shoplifting ring that leads to more dangerous people and a complicated web of lies and deceit. As with some of the latest books in the series, the narrative is not just Kinsey’s alone; we’re also privy to the thoughts and deeds of a Santa Teresa crime “kingpin” and a bored rich housewife
My Thoughts: I’ve read every Kinsey Millhone book since A Is For Alibi so I’m not going to stop now. However, I don’t look forward to the books as I once did, and I just wish Kinsey could have more of a personal life and/or progress out of the 1980s. Still, Grafton is doing better with this series than many other series that go on for extended lengths of time (cough Janet Evanovich cough). By this point, you pretty much know what you’re going to get so that is all I have to say about this.
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i never read chick flicks, but you made
me want to read this one!
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Attachments sounds like a fun read and I’ll take your word for it that the guy isn’t really a stalker! ha!
He really isn’t!! I give the author credit for making him so likable. You end up rooting for him.
I am glad that you liked Attachments. I have been wanting to read that one for a while. Thanks for the reviews Jenners.
Be sure to enter my giveaway for it!
Thanks for the reviews…although I’m way behind on my reading right now!
I haven’t read a Sue Grafton since about B, but I do recall that I like them – and I totally agree about certain other authors being stuck in a rut. I may have to try this series again – if I can get past one of my newest pet peeves: 20-year-old paperbacks selling for full price in e-book form. But that’s a whole other rant. Thanks for the reminder about a good series.
I share your pet peeve … especially when you can pick them up at a used bookstore or library sale for something like 50 cents. You’d think they would discount older books that are readily available in their e-book form. Odd.
Attachments sounds interesting. Except, I find it hard to read about workplace stuff. I read to escape and reading about the workplace makes me feel as if I am back at work.
But these are people who are unlike anyone in your workplace — you know, witty, funny, interesting. (Perhaps I shouldn’t judge …maybe you do work with people like that.)
I think I gave up on Sue Grafton at about M is for Malice…..I think…..
You certainly gave her a fair shot!
What you said about the last book is how I feel about Danielle Steel, yet I still read them. I’m a fool that way. And I like sappy Christmas books!
Lots of people love sappy Christmas books — just not me. And back in the day, I read every Danielle Steel ever released. She must have a ton of books but they aren’t series so I was able to quit them.
Oh Attachments sounds great- I like fluff books. I just use my reading time reading blogs so when I do read I want to be entertained and not have to think too much
hehe
A good fluff book is just the ticket when you need to escape. And moms need that … a lot!
A colleague gave me a bag full of Sue Grafton books a couple of weeks ago. For some reason, I’ve never picked up her books… I don’t know if it’s the length of the series that’s putting me off or what.
It is a really fun, easy reading series. Of course, I wouldn’t read them all at once but a few a year is definitely doable.
I hate Christmas books, but I don’t usually admit it publicly because it makes me sound like a grinch.
I’d probably skip that book anyway though since I’m not into that author (of course this being based on a pre-judgment since I haven’t read his books).
I guess I have no problem sounding like a Grinch! I just can’t stand the manufactured Christmas stories. They make me ill. And I can’t believe you haven’t read one MOORE!! If you’re going to try just ONE, try Lamb. It is soooo good!
Did you know Jason tried to convince me to name our yet-to-be-born son Lincoln for many months? It stayed on the shortlist for a while. Does Sundays with Linc sound right to you?
This was the next Moore book I want to read, but maybe now I’ll go with something else.
No … Sundays with Linc just doesn’t have the same ring to it!
By the way, thank you for your lovely note!! I got it in the mail the other day and it was such a wonderful surprise and it was very touching. Thank you!
Vengeance is waiting for me at the library. Wonder what she will come up with for X. With your sense of humor, maybe you could come up with an answer or start your own alphabetical series.
I know … I can’t imagine what would work for X. She’ll be limited. I’m really curious how she’ll end the series. (I’m assuming Z is the end of the line for Kinsey.)
I think the last Grafton book I read was H or I. I guess I fell behind.
Am the only person who’s never read Moore?
You did fall behind!!! That is some ground to make up.
And there are a few others who haven’t read Moore … but not too many! HAHA!
I have had The Stupidest Angel out from the library a couple times, but I still haven’t read it..
Hmmm…sounds like it might not be your destiny to read the book.
I’ve heard lots of good things about Attachments. Sounds fun!
I feel like sometimes I get pulled into a series and then end up reading the books just for the mere purpose of keeping up with the series and not because I’m super excited about the books, lol.
Attachments is a good fun read!! I haven’t seen anything bad about it either.
And I do feel committed to this series — despite not being super excited about the books when they are released. I told my husband I didn’t need the hardcover and could get it from the library sometime but he didn’t listen.
Did you know that I live right down the road from Pine Cove? Really! Moore based Pine Cove on Cambria, CA, where he lived once upon a time. You should go on a pilgrimage. Not that there’s anything to see…but we could hang out and talk smack about Howard Zinn.
It is a date!! Of course, don’t hold your breath. It will take me forever to get out there. That is a cool little factoid though.
I might try Attachments. Have you read 50 shades of grey and is it really “mommy porn”
I’ve not read 50 Shades of Grey. I must be thinking of a different book than you are talking about as I thought it was a WWII novel about concentration camps. Certainly doesn’t sound like “mommy porn.” What would that be exactly?
Nice mini reviews. I have Attachments on Mt. TBR, it’s been there for a year almost. You just reminded me I need to read it. and I’ve always been curious about the Grafton books.
The Stupidest Angel sounds interesting!
I think you’ll LOVE Attachments. Make time for it. It was such a delightful read. And I think the Grafton books are one of the better long-running series around. You really get to know Kinsey and enjoy meeting up with her each year.
I’m right there in your boat…I must finish the Sue Grafton series, and just hope she lives until Z. This series has literally consumed her entire life. My problem is that I forget which letter I’m on. I don’t THINK I’ve read V though.
My husband buys me the new ones whenever they come out so I know I’m up to date. I hope she gets to Z too — it would be a really good accomplishment.
zombies + Christmas= just not right
I know … that is why I love his stuff! : )
I need to read Attachments – I think I would like it. I also like that I’m not typing in all caps. Now I’m going to try one of the little faces to see if I can make them work.
Attachments is a delightfully good read. Definitely make time for it. And I’m glad we’re not all yelling at each other. And I got your little face! : )
I should get into Sue Grafton. I’ve only read the first book in the series, and although it was many years ago, I remember that I really enjoyed it. I’ve read almost all of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books, and I agree with you that her series hasn’t progressed all that well. And yet, I still continue with it. Because I need to see what happens next. Or if things change. Darn.
I think I got to Book 8 on the Stephanie Plum books and felt like I was reading the same book over and over again. And when I hear that she STILL hasn’t decided between Ranger and Morelli, I just roll my eyes. Although Kinsey doesn’t progress all that much in some ways, the whole series really takes place over just a few years and Grafton mixes things up along the way.
I saw the Christopher Moore book awhile back and wondered then if you had read it….I remembered a review you had done and gushed on his writing and comedic style. I’ll add it to my Christmas list of books to read in November – I’m a sucker for Christmas stories….don’t know why, just one of those things
And the Grafton book, all I can say is I’m glad you’ve enjoyed her alphabet books. I read one of hers and one of Evanovich’s and hated both. The Grafton series, you hit the nail on the head – I thought she would never get a life and Evanovich just did not do it for me.
Love the mini-reviews!
Well, if you’re a sucker for Christmas stories, The Stupidest Angel is probably not the best fit! It is like the anti-Christmas book, which is why I liked it. Still, there are better Moore books out there to read — like LAMB!
Each of these sounds good in its own way. I enjoy these mini reviews. Attachments sounds like a fun book, sort of like Holly’s Inbox.
I didn’t read Holly’s Inbox but it seems to have a similar idea — although it isn’t ALL e-mails and I thought was the premise of the other one.
I have to be honest, I read sappy Christmas books all the time, so maybe I’ll add Moores book for my holiday read of 2012. My kids have forbidden me to watch Rob Lowe in that Christmas Shoe story, (I sneak around and watch it anyway, what can I say, I love Rob Lowe.) I enjoyed Lamb as well. The Attachment book sounds kinda neat. I always wondered how employers knew we were sending e mails on company time. Thanks for your mini review.
Just so you know this isn’t a sappy Christmas book — that is why I liked it!! : )
Good for you for pursuing your Rob Lowe crush.
I haven’t read any of Moore’s books, but know they have great titles. I’ll have to buy a few and read them!
He does have some funky titles. He’s got a new book coming out in April that I scored an ARC for and I’m really excited to read it.
I’ve not read any Christopher Moore books, but like you have read all the Grafton series and will continue until she finishes the alphabet. I thought the last few (S,T & U) were a bit better than some of those in the middle. I do get frustrated at times with the 80s stuff, but at least she’s staying true to real time from when the series began.
I imagine quite a few of us are in with Grafton for the long haul. I’m assuming she’ll end with Z. I wonder how she’ll wrap it up. When I think about it, I think all the books really take place within the same year or two so I guess it makes sense that she stays in the 1980s. She has been mixing them up lately with adding in the other viewpoints besides Kinsey. I do appreciate that.
I’ve been wanting to read attachments for a while since I read Raych’s review of it a while back. I’m glad you liked it too. I’m keeping an eye on my library and waiting for them to buy it.
Series drive me crazy! Once you start, even if they’re just okay, I feel like I have to keep going.
I think Raych’s review was what pushed me to actually buy the book. It was a good fun read. And I’ll quit a series if it gets too bad, but Grafton hasn’t really faltered yet.
I LOVED Attachments. It shouldn’t have worked, with the internet stalking, etc, but it did and this is a sign of how awesome Rainbow Rowell is as a writer.
I think it was your review as well as Raych’s that pushed me to buy Attachments. It was a great book and you’re right — it shouldn’t have worked but it totally does.
I would love to read Attachments, and think that it sounds really intriguing. It probably takes a lot of skill for the author to create a character like Lincoln and not have him seem stalkerish. I also love Christopher Moore, and need to read more of his work, so this is going on the Christmas list. Thanks for the great mini-reviews. They were wonderful!
I’m going to put up Attachments in my March giveaway so be sure to enter. It was a really fun read, and I was rooting for Lincoln.
And The Stupidest Angel is a good choice if you want a Christmas themed book that isn’t ridiculously sentimental.
I love the idea of brain-eating zombies in a Christmas book!
I know!! I can’t STAND regular Christmas books. I like a little blood and mayhem in mine.
Three great mini reviews, I have to say that V Is For Vengeance appeals to me more than Attachments.
As for The Stupidest Angel, I read this at Christmas and largely agree with all you had to say except, never having read any of Moore’s other books, I couldn’t make any comparisons. My husband has read Lamb and thinks that is a much better book so perhaps one day I’ll get around to reading it.
I agree with your husband … LAMB is a much better book. Perhaps his best. I gave it five stars. I would highly recommend it!