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philibin's reviews
831 reviews
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
informative
medium-paced
5.0
(5.0 Stars)
This book is very informative and arranged nicely. I'm sure not everyone would like this book, but everyone (especially in America) should read it...now!
It explores the intersectionality between Race, "Class", employment status, housing, education, and just about everything else.
If you want to understand the state of the US (and the World), this book is for you.
This book is very informative and arranged nicely. I'm sure not everyone would like this book, but everyone (especially in America) should read it...now!
It explores the intersectionality between Race, "Class", employment status, housing, education, and just about everything else.
If you want to understand the state of the US (and the World), this book is for you.
Red Rising (Part 2 of 2) (Dramatized Adaptation) by Pierce Brown
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
(2.75 Stars)
This story is good, but I just don't know if I like the Graphic Audio production. I think for the next book in the series I am just going to read the audiobook version and not the graphic audio version.
This is similar (in feel) to The Hunger Games, but in space... although the "in space" part is more of a backdrop and not integral to the story (at all). It is also very similar to the Ender Wiggins saga, but mostly in the books that deal with Battle School, and not necessarily when Ender is an adult. Although, to be fair, even though I listened to the graphic audio in two parts, it is just one book in the series, so it could change the way the Ender Saga did.
My impression currently is that this is a very simplistic, predictable story... with impossibly (and unnecessarily) complicated/convoluted plot twists and situational elements thrown in to make it seem more clever than it is. But maybe that is an effect of the Graphic Audio Production? That's why I am switching to the Audiobook for the next book in the series.
I've had this series compared to The Expanse, and I just don't see the comparison. The disconnect for me is that the characters: In The expanse, the characters seem so real... This book seems to make all the characters into stereotypes, or videogame archetypes... or maybe bad anime from the 1970's.
This story is good, but I just don't know if I like the Graphic Audio production. I think for the next book in the series I am just going to read the audiobook version and not the graphic audio version.
This is similar (in feel) to The Hunger Games, but in space... although the "in space" part is more of a backdrop and not integral to the story (at all). It is also very similar to the Ender Wiggins saga, but mostly in the books that deal with Battle School, and not necessarily when Ender is an adult. Although, to be fair, even though I listened to the graphic audio in two parts, it is just one book in the series, so it could change the way the Ender Saga did.
My impression currently is that this is a very simplistic, predictable story... with impossibly (and unnecessarily) complicated/convoluted plot twists and situational elements thrown in to make it seem more clever than it is. But maybe that is an effect of the Graphic Audio Production? That's why I am switching to the Audiobook for the next book in the series.
I've had this series compared to The Expanse, and I just don't see the comparison. The disconnect for me is that the characters: In The expanse, the characters seem so real... This book seems to make all the characters into stereotypes, or videogame archetypes... or maybe bad anime from the 1970's.
Deadman's Road by Joe R. Lansdale
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
(1.5 Stars)
I want to say... I've never been a fan of the Pulps, and I have never read a Western (Unless you can count The Dark Tower Series)... So maybe I just expected too much from this book? But since I really liked Bubba Ho-Tep (the movie), which is based on a novella written by this author, so
I expected to like this.
I'm not sure what I should have expected from the genre, but I found this to be unnecessarily crass. I don't mind gutter humor or whatever, it just didn't really add to the story, and in fact might have had the opposite effect.
The author also lists one of his influences as HP Lovecraft, so I should have been forewarned, but I found the racist slurs, stereotypes, misogyny, and even incest, to be uncomfortable and insulting. I don't know anything about the author, so maybe it was done to make fun of the genre or something? But there comes a point where when you need to explain your irony, it no longer is ironic. Then again, I don't know this author so maybe it was intentional? But be warned... It is a big part of each storyline.
The narrator was just ok... mostly deadpan, no tonal changes for female or child characters, but he spoke clearly and was well paced.
I will probably read the Bubba Ho-Tep novella, but I honestly can't say if I'd read anything else by this author. Lansdale mentions the possibility of writing more of this character, but I would not read it if it does come out.
I want to say... I've never been a fan of the Pulps, and I have never read a Western (Unless you can count The Dark Tower Series)... So maybe I just expected too much from this book? But since I really liked Bubba Ho-Tep (the movie), which is based on a novella written by this author, so
I expected to like this.
I'm not sure what I should have expected from the genre, but I found this to be unnecessarily crass. I don't mind gutter humor or whatever, it just didn't really add to the story, and in fact might have had the opposite effect.
The author also lists one of his influences as HP Lovecraft, so I should have been forewarned, but I found the racist slurs, stereotypes, misogyny, and even incest, to be uncomfortable and insulting. I don't know anything about the author, so maybe it was done to make fun of the genre or something? But there comes a point where when you need to explain your irony, it no longer is ironic. Then again, I don't know this author so maybe it was intentional? But be warned... It is a big part of each storyline.
The narrator was just ok... mostly deadpan, no tonal changes for female or child characters, but he spoke clearly and was well paced.
I will probably read the Bubba Ho-Tep novella, but I honestly can't say if I'd read anything else by this author. Lansdale mentions the possibility of writing more of this character, but I would not read it if it does come out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Racial slurs, and Suicide
A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
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? It's complicated
2.5
(2.5 Stars)
This book was well written, had good character development, great world building, developed plots and subplot elements, and a good pace... However, I just couldn't seem to connect to any of the characters, or even bring myself to care what happened to them.
It is very apparent that this author is an excellent writer, and I will read another book by him... It just might not be with this series.
I really wanted to like this book, the description puts it firmly in my wheelhouse, I just couldn't. The narrator (Steven Pacey) was not bad, but didn't really bring any emotion to the telling.
Maybe it was just me... or bad timing?
This book was well written, had good character development, great world building, developed plots and subplot elements, and a good pace... However, I just couldn't seem to connect to any of the characters, or even bring myself to care what happened to them.
It is very apparent that this author is an excellent writer, and I will read another book by him... It just might not be with this series.
I really wanted to like this book, the description puts it firmly in my wheelhouse, I just couldn't. The narrator (Steven Pacey) was not bad, but didn't really bring any emotion to the telling.
Maybe it was just me... or bad timing?
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
(3.5 Stars)
This reminded me a lot of Chuck Palahniuk... but not quite. With Chuck, he is an absurdist satirical writer with a lot of horror elements in his writing. With Grady, he is a horror writer, who leans towards the absurdist satirical...
The book was good, but (IMHO) a little too long and too slowly paced. It's not the first time I have found myself thinking that this book would make a better screenplay than a novel. It was interesting and enjoyable, but a lot of the characters were cookie cutter copies of each other and didn't really draw me into their stories.
The narrator did a decent job but didn't bring much emotion into the reading. If you like the movie Scream, or maybe even I Know What You Did Last Summer, you will probably like this book.
This reminded me a lot of Chuck Palahniuk... but not quite. With Chuck, he is an absurdist satirical writer with a lot of horror elements in his writing. With Grady, he is a horror writer, who leans towards the absurdist satirical...
The book was good, but (IMHO) a little too long and too slowly paced. It's not the first time I have found myself thinking that this book would make a better screenplay than a novel. It was interesting and enjoyable, but a lot of the characters were cookie cutter copies of each other and didn't really draw me into their stories.
The narrator did a decent job but didn't bring much emotion into the reading. If you like the movie Scream, or maybe even I Know What You Did Last Summer, you will probably like this book.
The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
(4.5 Stars)
I really liked this. It was fun to read, enjoyable to listen to, and super entertaining. The book description doesn't do it justice. This is a road-trip, this is traveling through uncharted territory, this is a spaghetti western, this is a love story.
Relatable, maybe even loveable, characters... a perfect pace, it's just the right length, and a world that is on point and familiar.
This is a great book for anyone who likes a good story.
I really liked this. It was fun to read, enjoyable to listen to, and super entertaining. The book description doesn't do it justice. This is a road-trip, this is traveling through uncharted territory, this is a spaghetti western, this is a love story.
Relatable, maybe even loveable, characters... a perfect pace, it's just the right length, and a world that is on point and familiar.
This is a great book for anyone who likes a good story.
Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air: The Frost Files #02 [With Battery] by Jackson Ford
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
(4.35 Stars)
This was very good. I liked this book a lot, even more than the first one in the series. I feel like the author has grown exponentially as an author from the first book to this one.
This is a good book for anyone who likes paranormal urban fantasies. Kinda like The Tomorrow People, if there was a lot of swearing, a lot of drinking, rap music, and maybe a mix of shady governmental organizations and underworld villains.
The narrator did an excellent job, the pace was good. The character growth is great, and the urban environment is realistic and easy to visualize.
This was very good. I liked this book a lot, even more than the first one in the series. I feel like the author has grown exponentially as an author from the first book to this one.
This is a good book for anyone who likes paranormal urban fantasies. Kinda like The Tomorrow People, if there was a lot of swearing, a lot of drinking, rap music, and maybe a mix of shady governmental organizations and underworld villains.
The narrator did an excellent job, the pace was good. The character growth is great, and the urban environment is realistic and easy to visualize.
The World Record Book of Racist Stories by Amber Ruffin, Lacey Lamar
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.5
(4.5 Stars)
This was a good book of bad things. Amber and Lacey deliver their stories with a humor and gracefulness that makes these stories accessible and also makes you think.
The Audiobook was narrated by the authors and I think that really adds to it.
This was a good book of bad things. Amber and Lacey deliver their stories with a humor and gracefulness that makes these stories accessible and also makes you think.
The Audiobook was narrated by the authors and I think that really adds to it.
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
(5.0 Stars)
This book was equal parts fascinating, depressing, informative, and just downright scary.
I honestly had to take a few minutes to just think about things after reading it.
There isn't much I can say about it that isn't in the title... It is about Nuclear War, it is a real-life scenario. It is a minute by minute, sometimes down to the second, of just how long it take from a nuclear first strike, to the complete collapse of the entire world. Spoiler alert... it is less than you think. A LOT less than you think.
This book was equal parts fascinating, depressing, informative, and just downright scary.
I honestly had to take a few minutes to just think about things after reading it.
There isn't much I can say about it that isn't in the title... It is about Nuclear War, it is a real-life scenario. It is a minute by minute, sometimes down to the second, of just how long it take from a nuclear first strike, to the complete collapse of the entire world. Spoiler alert... it is less than you think. A LOT less than you think.
The Bezzle by Cory Doctorow
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
(4.0 Stars)
This was a great follow-up to the first book in the series (not necessary to read in order, but might make more sense to do so).
For some reason, this book seemed a little more personal to the author.
Cory Doctorow is a master of backstory and character development. His world is dystopian, but eerily accurate and relevant.
This was a great follow-up to the first book in the series (not necessary to read in order, but might make more sense to do so).
For some reason, this book seemed a little more personal to the author.
Cory Doctorow is a master of backstory and character development. His world is dystopian, but eerily accurate and relevant.