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bnsfly's reviews
511 reviews
The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind by Michio Kaku
3.5
Some really interesting stuff that, over and over, descends into silliness that is not just goofy in how it relates sci fi to real world tech, but extremely credulous or over-ambitious and not at all wary of the dangers of the things it's proposing. The actual, scientific, brain stuff is interesting. The "maybe we could recreate The Force from Star Wars" stuff feels amateurish and goofy.
The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.75
I honestly couldn't tell you what the overall plot arc of this book was. I know how it started and ended and I know several things that happened it it but the focus of many characters for the whole book had little to do with what could be called the climax.
Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster
informative
4.25
Oster's stance on COVID matters has been disappointing to uncover after making it most of the way through this book; but the book in general is a pretty level-headed and un-opinionated overview of data that I found helpful. I'm not taking anything in it as gospel, but it was at least a good high-level overview of a lot of topics, including some I didn't know I needed to know about.
Zero Days by Ruth Ware
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Love Ruth Ware and her storytelling kept me in this till the end but it was disappointing overall—predictable almost from the start.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse
Morning Star by Pierce Brown
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Really enjoyed this. Resolved the series well. Found that I had grown really attached to the characters by the end.
two spoiler things:
First, dunno if it was this book or the last, but I wasn't up for the redemption of Tactus the rapist. I did not feel sad when he got his comeuppance.
And second, I feel like the twist near the end here could easily have come off as Deus Ex Machina but I believe it was pretty well-executed. My only gripe is that at no point in the trilogy before that point had we seen such an unreliable narrator. Yes, Sevrus had swooped in a few times without warning, but it seemed like we saw real emotion from the protagonist when he "died," which is more than withholding information. But still, even with that, I liked it. It was set up well and was a big moment of joy when it was revealed.
First, dunno if it was this book or the last, but I wasn't up for the redemption of Tactus the rapist. I did not feel sad when he got his comeuppance.
And second, I feel like the twist near the end here could easily have come off as Deus Ex Machina but I believe it was pretty well-executed. My only gripe is that at no point in the trilogy before that point had we seen such an unreliable narrator. Yes, Sevrus had swooped in a few times without warning, but it seemed like we saw real emotion from the protagonist when he "died," which is more than withholding information. But still, even with that, I liked it. It was set up well and was a big moment of joy when it was revealed.
You Are Not Alone by Sarah Pekkanen, Greer Hendricks
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I enjoyed it but it's a little unsatisfying once it's all unfolded. basically: "oh no, they're gonna frame her—but they failed, the end"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Still Life by Louise Penny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Honestly I'd rate this book higher if it weren't for the weird side plot with the junior detective. She seems to be on the spectrum, but she's played as this weird, angry "kids these days only care about themselves" character that seems to have no purpose and amounts to nothing other than weird, hateful scorn. I'm probably missing some subtext but it felt very out of place.
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Honestly I tend to enjoy Brent Weeks books and this was no exception but I have to knock it down a little because of several over-the-top "men writing women" bits and some implied or explicit sexual violence that really didn't need to be there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual violence