Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Alyssa T. - , - Reviews

1 to 9 of 9
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Author: John Boyne
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 218
Review Date: 4/5/2013


This is a quick and easy read that will stay with you for a long time. The book is compelling and should be a must read in schools. Was a very hard book to put down.


Change of Heart
Change of Heart
Author: Jodi Picoult
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 460
Review Date: 11/28/2011


This is my favorite Picoult read so far. The ending has a twist I did not see coming and normally I take a few weeks to get through a Picoult book, however this one I finished within a few days because I could not put it down. As always, Picoult leaves you questioning the ending and sympathizing with her characters.


The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
Review Date: 3/5/2012


This book has received a lot of hype recently and thus, I decided to give it a try but was disappointed. The book focused more on the history of the fair and less on the murders of H.H.Holmes, which is what I thought the book was about. I read the book thinking it would be a thriller/suspense novel and it was more of a history lesson on the creation of the fair. I did learn a lot due to all of the interesting facts throughout the novel, however it reminded me of a history lecture. History buffs will love this book, especially if you are interested in the history of the Midwest.


Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality
Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality
Author: Jacob Tomsky
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 7
Review Date: 5/24/2017


Having been a hotel manager, I was expecting this book to be a tell all and it was more about the author's life, coworkers and opinions and not so much about his experiences in the hotel with guests. The stories that he did tell were VERY tame and I was hoping for more. I have worked in hospitality for over a decade and I have way more interesting and juicy stories, I feel like he toned it back and could have shared more.


Killing Lincoln: The Assassination that Changed America Forever
Review Date: 1/3/2014
Helpful Score: 1


This was a very well written book. My only criticism was that the entire first half of the book was about the Civil War, specifically about Lee and Grant. Lincoln was barely mentioned in the first half of the book and it was more about the war tactics. I thought Lincoln should have been mentioned more often in the first half of the book and I wish they had talked more about his life before his assassination. Overall, a great read and I look forward to reading Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot.


The Next Person You Meet in Heaven (Five People You Meet in Heaven, Bk 2)
Review Date: 7/4/2020


Good but not nearly as good as the first one. I found this one weird and not in a good way.


Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars, Bk 1)
Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars, Bk 1)
Author: Sara Shepard
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 138
Review Date: 3/26/2012


If you have seen the TV show then do not expect the book series to follow the TV series. The first book, "Pretty Little Liars' is similar to the first season of the TV show however, the rest of the books are nothing like the TV show. The books are very easy reads and are not challenging. I read each book in one day. However, after reading the books I notice hints in the TV show about who "A" is... that I would have otherwise not noticed.


Songs of the Humpback Whale
Songs of the Humpback Whale
Author: Jodi Picoult
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 482
Review Date: 2/1/2012


Do not make this your first Jodi Picoult read. This is by far my least favorite Picoult novel and I much enjoy her more recent novels. This book is hard to follow in terms of time frame. It skips all over in time and it is hard to know when the story is taking place, without paying close attention and rereading.


The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story
The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story
Author: Diane Ackerman
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 319
Review Date: 7/11/2012


I always finish a book, however this was the first book I just had to put down half way through and forget about. I found it boring, and more of a history lesson than a story about the family that owned a zoo. I found myself skipping a lot of pages just to see if it would pick up at all...it didn't. I was very excited to read this book after reading a lot of reviews on it, however I would not suggest this book to anyone unless you are a history major or are interested in polish history.


1 to 9 of 9