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326 reviews
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Lots of characters and a few different timelines kept me on my toes. It was fun to have an author and bookshops at the center of the novel.
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Really enjoyed the first few chapters that discussed ways people have allowed technology to have an overwhelming role in our society. Later chapters critique social sciences disciplines but I found them less persuasive.
Political Humility The Limits of Knowledge in Our Partisan Political Climate by Blake Roeber
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I found myself talking about this book with friends while reading. Helpful stories based on research for a general audience. Plus strategies you can use right away
Disunited Nations: The Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned World by Peter Zeihan
adventurous
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Lots of anecdotes and analysis about what to expect in the near and mid-term future. It’s going to feel overwhelming but US will likely emerge as strongest country among peers. The country reports are fascinating and worth diving into. I started listening to the author’ s podcast and I find he gives helpful context to the day’s events.
Call If You Need Me: The Uncollected Fiction and Other Prose by Tess Gallagher, Raymond Carver
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.5
Nice mix of essays, short stories and reflections.
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Covers the time period from Lincoln’s election to the Confederacy’s taking of Fort Sumter. Rich descriptions of key figures on the different sides of what became the Civil War. Lots of details gleaned from personal papers and diaries. The story moves along quickly. I gained a better understanding of white southern culture and how they validated slavery in their minds and rhetoric. Edmund Ruffin, a prominent secessionist, will haunt me for awhile. Anderson’s holding of Sumpter for so long and with so little support also demonstrates his valor and sense of duty. Glad to read another Erik Larson book. Thanks to my public library for having this title on its book mobile when I visited.
Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety by Alan Watts
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Faith and belief are two important concepts in this book. Also oneness and continuity.
Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O'Neill
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
4.0
Quite the ride. The author discovers lots of connections between the Manson family murder spree and local, state and national issues. The author describes his 20 year journey to publish the book. I felt sorry for his obsession and his sometimes strange commitment to it. I don’t read a lot of true crime but this book is history and medical drama too.