stephaniedchase
Multnomah County Library
stephaniedchase's Completed Shelf
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Feminist Cross-stitchFeminist Cross-stitch, eBook40 Bold & Fierce Patterns
by Rohr, StephanieeBook - 2019
Added Oct 11, 2020
Palaces for the PeoplePalaces for the People, BookHow Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life
by Klinenberg, EricBook - 2018 | First edition
stephaniedchase's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 31, 2019
Quotations
- "At Starbucks, and at most businesses, really, the assumption is that you, the customer, are better for having this thing that you purchase... At the library, the assumption is you *are* better. You have it in you already... The library assumes the best out of people.""At Starbucks, and at most businesses, really, the assumption is that you, the customer, are better for having this thing that you purchase... At the library, the assumption is you *are* better. You have it in you already... The library assumes the…
stephaniedchase's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Aug 12, 2017
Comment:
You have to be ready when you sit down to read this truly amazing book: ready for the honesty, ready for the sadness, ready to feel incredible heartache and admirable courage for Gay and everything she has been through. What a beautiful writer, what a beautiful and brave and honest person Gay is as she strips herself bare for us, and forces us to look at a society that can't and won't accept difference. I was so incredibly moved.You have to be ready when you sit down to read this truly amazing book: ready for the honesty, ready for the sadness, ready to feel incredible heartache and admirable courage for Gay and everything she has been through. What a beautiful writer, what…
Quotations
- This is what girls are taught -- that we should be slender and small. We should not take up space. We should be seen and not heard, and if we are seen, we should be pleasing to men, acceptable to society. And most women know this, that we are supposed to disappear, but it's something that needs to be said, loudly, over and over again, so that we can resist surrendering to what is expected of us.This is what girls are taught -- that we should be slender and small. We should not take up space. We should be seen and not heard, and if we are seen, we should be pleasing to men, acceptable to society. And most women know this, that we are…
- It is startling to realize that even Oprah, a woman in her early sixties, a billionaire and one of the most famous women in the world, isn't happy with herself, her body. That is how pervasive damaging cultural messages about unruly bodies are -- that even as we age, no matter what material successes we achieve, we cannot be satisfied or happy unless we are also thin.It is startling to realize that even Oprah, a woman in her early sixties, a billionaire and one of the most famous women in the world, isn't happy with herself, her body. That is how pervasive damaging cultural messages about unruly bodies are --…
stephaniedchase's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 16, 2017
Comment:
The perfect combination of steamy and sweet.
stephaniedchase's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 16, 2017
Comment:
If you need your military thrillers to be spot-on with their details, then whoo-eee, this book is not the one for you. But if you enjoy a fast-paced story with an interesting (if relatively undeveloped) cast of characters and a setting different from what we're used to, then you'll find this an enjoyable and quick confection of a read.If you need your military thrillers to be spot-on with their details, then whoo-eee, this book is not the one for you. But if you enjoy a fast-paced story with an interesting (if relatively undeveloped) cast of characters and a setting different…
The International Living Guide to Retiring Overseas on A BudgetThe International Living Guide to Retiring Overseas on A Budget, BookHow to Live Well on $25,000 A Year
by Haskins, SuzanBook - 2014
stephaniedchase's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 16, 2017
Comment:
This book is absolutely a starting point, not a reference -- and it is a starting point that delivers *exactly* what the title promises: a guide to where you can live well on $25,000 a year (that's mostly Latin America, folks, so the information leans heavily there) post-retirement.
This is not a book for people looking to work overseas, or start a business overseas, or move with children overseas; it's a book about asking yourself tough questions about what you want in life, including how much you want to spend to live that life, and giving some guidance about how you might get there.
While any book based on a financial number will quickly grow outdated, and some of the places mentioned may no longer be so affordable, the authors here stress the work people need to do to discover what might be a good fit as well as practical advice (such as living somewhere truly temperate will mean almost non-existent utility bills).This book is absolutely a starting point, not a reference -- and it is a starting point that delivers *exactly* what the title promises: a guide to where you can live well on $25,000 a year (that's mostly Latin America, folks, so the information…
From Duke Till DawnFrom Duke Till Dawn, BookThe London Underground
by Leigh, EvaBook - 2017 | First edition
stephaniedchase's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 16, 2017
Comment:
I'm a huge fan of Eva Leigh, and while this book was great in so many ways, it was also frustratingly cavalier in others. Swindler Cassandra Blake and Alex, the Duke of Greyland, had met years before, when Cassandra tricked him into handing over 500 pounds; when they meet again, the facade of her lie comes crashing down.
This book could have been so much richer if it had focused less on the money-stealing/revenge/how seedy the underbelly is/George Lacey/the hunt for Martin Hughes and instead shined a light on the intriguing desire for change in British society, with Alex realizing the rules that kept he and Cassandra apart are outdated, as well as the ways society could help those less fortunate. These glimpses would have made the abrupt reversal of "they can never be together," and the deceptions used to get there (even if we knew it would be coming) so much more satisfying. If we're starting a whole new series focusing on the same kind of pairings, I expect more as a reader.I'm a huge fan of Eva Leigh, and while this book was great in so many ways, it was also frustratingly cavalier in others. Swindler Cassandra Blake and Alex, the Duke of Greyland, had met years before, when Cassandra tricked him into handing over 500…
George & LizzieGeorge & Lizzie, BookA Novel
by Pearl, NancyBook - 2017 | First Touchstone hardcover edition
stephaniedchase's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 04, 2017
Comment:
GEORGE & LIZZIE is a book for readers who love characters. Imperfect -- and confused -- Lizzie will jump out at you from the beginning, and whether you immediately love her, as I did, or hate her, you must give her a chance, for along the way, you'll meet the wonderful Marla and James, and George's fantastic parents, Lizzie's not-so-fantastic parents, and George, of course.
Nancy Pearl talks about writing the kind of story she likes to read, and she's certainly written the kind I like to read as well: complex, messy characters who make choices in spite of themselves, writing and language full of energy, and an exploration of deep, long-time friendship. I was also pleasantly surprised at how pitch-perfect Pearl writes about Generation X; I went in, having read the "marriage at a crossroads" description, expecting to read about characters much older than George and Lizzie are, and I loved to instead see characters struggling through the same kinds of societal and generational challenges that I did. It is also to me not as much a story about a marriage as it is about choices and the tales we tell ourselves. I only wish I could have spent more time with George and Lizzie.GEORGE & LIZZIE is a book for readers who love characters. Imperfect -- and confused -- Lizzie will jump out at you from the beginning, and whether you immediately love her, as I did, or hate her, you must give her a chance, for along the way,…
The Last Mrs. ParrishThe Last Mrs. Parrish, BookA Novel
by Constantine, LivBook - 2017 | First edition
stephaniedchase's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 04, 2017
Comment:
This is the successor to GONE GIRL: sex, intrigue, and deceit.
The Misfortune of Marion PalmThe Misfortune of Marion Palm, BookA Novel
by Culliton, EmilyBook - 2017 | First edition
stephaniedchase's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 04, 2017
Comment:
Marion Palm has been embezzling money from her daughters' school, and, one day, picks up and leaves her family. Day by day, we follow her husband, Nathan, her children, Ginny and Jane, Marion's colleagues and the administrators at the school, the detective on the case, and others in a wonderful and motley crew of characters as they struggle to figure out what happened to Marion. Virtually no one in this novel is particularly likable, and that is absolutely part of the charm.
Readers may feel compelled to connect this novel with WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE, and I would simply warn that the humor and levity that many found so appealing about that book is absent in MARION PALM. Instead, through spare, stripped-down prose, which purposefully lets the reader feel like a voyeur looking in on the slow burn train wreck that is the Palm family, we learn, layer by layer, more about Marion Palm, with each small reveal so satisfying in creating the larger picture. Even better: the ending is absolute perfection.Marion Palm has been embezzling money from her daughters' school, and, one day, picks up and leaves her family. Day by day, we follow her husband, Nathan, her children, Ginny and Jane, Marion's colleagues and the administrators at the school, the…
The Templars' Last SecretThe Templars' Last Secret, BookA Bruno, Chief of Police Novel
by Walker, MartinBook - 2017 | First United States edition
stephaniedchase's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 04, 2017
Comment:
I absolutely adore Bruno, and in many ways, this book delivers the same things we've loved from past books: wonderful characters, delicious descriptions of food, and an obvious love and care for the Perigord region. This time, though, the mystery falls flat: it's overly complex, and the motive is not particularly well-explained, as the end is very rushed. Will I read the next Bruno book? Of course! Do I hope we return to mysteries less fantastical? I do.I absolutely adore Bruno, and in many ways, this book delivers the same things we've loved from past books: wonderful characters, delicious descriptions of food, and an obvious love and care for the Perigord region. This time, though, the mystery…
The Book of HyggeThe Book of Hygge, BookThe Danish Art of Contentment, Comfort, and Connection
by Brits, Louisa ThomsenBook - 2017
stephaniedchase's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 04, 2017
Comment:
A beautifully designed book that helps one feel hygge whilst reading it. A much more philosophical look at this concept than many of the other books currently available.
stephaniedchase's rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
Edin's book will likely be overshadowed by Matthew Desmond's incredibly compelling EVICTED, but in reality, the two books make a striking pair, one looking at the housing side of the equation, and $2.00 A DAY looking at the question of extreme poverty. It seems unbelievable that anyone can survive in our country with so little cash, but Edin highlights the incredible ingenuity of the people living on so little, and traces the path of government assistance to its current place, where it costs more to give fewer people the help they need. A must read.Edin's book will likely be overshadowed by Matthew Desmond's incredibly compelling EVICTED, but in reality, the two books make a striking pair, one looking at the housing side of the equation, and $2.00 A DAY looking at the question of extreme…
Ice GhostsIce Ghosts, BookThe Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition
by Watson, PaulBook - 2017 | First edition
stephaniedchase's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
The Franklin Expedition continues to be a story that fascinates, particularly through the many unsuccessful follow-up expeditions that sought to find answers to what happened to Franklin and his men. Watson's ICE GHOSTS tries to highlight those expeditions, as well as the long oral tradition of the Inuit and the Franklin shipwrecks.
Unfortunately, ICE GHOSTS suffers from trying to cram too much in. Nearly 200 pages of description of the Franklin Expedition itself still leaves many questions unanswered; the 150 years of expeditions that followed get short shrift. I wished for more maps, more photos, more description of the men who kept coming to search. So many of the people are fascinating that we the reader wish for more time spent.The Franklin Expedition continues to be a story that fascinates, particularly through the many unsuccessful follow-up expeditions that sought to find answers to what happened to Franklin and his men. Watson's ICE GHOSTS tries to highlight those…
stephaniedchase's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
stephaniedchase's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
A fascinating look at preparation for the first manned mission to Mars, with excellent character development.
stephaniedchase's rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
Classic Scalzi -- space opera with excellent characters. The only drawback: that this book ends when it does.
stephaniedchase's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
Almost entirely perfect.
stephaniedchase's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
Excellent plotting and pace, well-rounded characters, and a truly surprising ending -- this is the best psychological thriller I've read in some time.
The Girl Who Drank the MoonThe Girl Who Drank the Moon, Book
by Barnhill, Kelly ReganBook - 2016 | First edition
stephaniedchase's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
The story line for this book is wonderful, as are so many of the story's elements -- but I fear the execution doesn't quite live up to it. GIRL has an identity crisis, as though it can't decide if it wants to be a charming children's chapter book (Fyrian, the name Glerk, Luna's unwitting use of magic) or a pretty dark YA book (the Sorrow Eater, the way Xan and Luna are bound together, the Protectorate, the whole leaving-a-baby-in-the-woods thing). I suppose in a way that might make it a good middle grade read, as it will have parts that comfort and parts that challenge for a reader, but I found myself wishing it would be one or the other.The story line for this book is wonderful, as are so many of the story's elements -- but I fear the execution doesn't quite live up to it. GIRL has an identity crisis, as though it can't decide if it wants to be a charming children's chapter book…
stephaniedchase's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
Fans of Willig's PINK CARNATION series will love SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS, because the tone is so similar -- a little romp-y, a little dangerous, and only a little romance (sex, yes, but the development of a romance? Not really). I love Roselie as a spy, because she is full of confidence and wit... and I am annoyed with her as the lead female in this romance, as none of the skill she has as a spy seems to carry over into her personal life. Brody I am less split on -- he just seems a terrible spy and a dunderhead when it comes to romance.Fans of Willig's PINK CARNATION series will love SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS, because the tone is so similar -- a little romp-y, a little dangerous, and only a little romance (sex, yes, but the development of a romance? Not really). I love Roselie as a…
stephaniedchase's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
Another sweet and delightful and perfect read from Colgan. The going-home trope is not always as interesting as the running-away one, but readers who loved THE BOOKSHOP ON THE CORNER will also very much enjoy CAFE.
Well Fed WeeknightsWell Fed Weeknights, BookComplete Paleo Meals in 45 Minutes or Less
by Joulwan, MelissaBook - 2016 | First edition
stephaniedchase's rating:
2 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
Too many white potatoes, too many dishes with ground meat.
How to Retire OverseasHow to Retire Overseas, BookEverything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad
by Peddicord, KathleenBook - 2010
stephaniedchase's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 30, 2017
Comment:
Great for thinking about the possibilities -- though I am far from retirement, I found the author's list of things to consider and tips for research to be thought-provoking. Certainly by now the list of places may be hopelessly outdated, but again, the list serves as a group starting point.Great for thinking about the possibilities -- though I am far from retirement, I found the author's list of things to consider and tips for research to be thought-provoking. Certainly by now the list of places may be hopelessly outdated, but again,…
Added Mar 02, 2017
Comment:
The photos, of course, are beautiful and intriguing, but so are the accompanying essays, which shed light on the "things" and, particularly interesting, how their ages are known.
Comment: