Happened to pick this up on a whim after seeing a review by a fellow GR member.
Loved the artwork and idea of it better than the book itself, althoughHappened to pick this up on a whim after seeing a review by a fellow GR member.
Loved the artwork and idea of it better than the book itself, although it wasn’t horrible.
I’m guessing I would have liked it a lot more if I’d been previously familiar with the series. Not the best book to jump in on—as with many short stories—it left me wanting more details and context. ...more
3.5 stars rounded up. Better than the Jason Bourne movies.
This book reminded me of a more (attempted) serious version of the Archer cartoon series, whi3.5 stars rounded up. Better than the Jason Bourne movies.
This book reminded me of a more (attempted) serious version of the Archer cartoon series, which I am a fan of. There was a fun, wild adventure aspect to the book, as well as some more sobering tie-ins with 9/11 and torture.
Pros: - fast paced - decent plot - amusing one liners
Cons: - hollow characters - could have been at least 100 pages shorter
A friend of mine described it as frat-boy lingo, and it is an apt description for a majority of the book. The main character was not as funny or self aware as Archer, but he was more similar to the cartoon in relation to his flat personality.
All in all this was an amusing spy book, if not very substantial, it was still entertaining. I have hope for the movie adaption as Terry Hayes is also a screenwriter, having worked on a couple Mad Max movies, Dead Calm, and From Hell....more
What can I say? This book is unique and unlike anything I've ever read!
For the first half of the book, I kept having to double check the title, I thoWhat can I say? This book is unique and unlike anything I've ever read!
For the first half of the book, I kept having to double check the title, I thought it was MR. Hancock. A slow reveal, the mermaid is also not quite what you're probably expecting.
Which is great! Set in 1785 the book is very atmospheric. Lots of ladies of pleasure, petticoats, and lifestyle elements.
The magical, ephemeral writing laces an intricate tale, guaranteed to entertain.
"Touch me again with your speaking. The hectic crowded feeling of being: I would drink it all in. Brimming with things that swell, and make me flip over on myself: elation and jealousy and spasms of love."
"First I sink, Then I trickle, Then I rush. I am here; and here; and here. I touch this surface and also that. I mingle, I quiver with a thousand voices, and all these voices my own. I am a great tumble of motion which torrents all in unison. And learning and knowing are the same, and I am a mite, and we are all the space allowed to us. And if I am made of grief, well! Here is joy, and if I am made a fury, here is peace. Rush, rush, we rush, a sparkling stream through rock and moss, deep in the cold stone of the earth. No daylight here, no dying breaths to catch up. We rush young and bright, and ever-widening, and these bitter atoms are lost in new-minted freshness. We hasten, hasten, onward to the boundless sea." ...more
Reads like a cozy kitchen chat with a close friend.
Prior to this book, I wasn't overly familiar with Michelle Obama in general other than the factReads like a cozy kitchen chat with a close friend.
Prior to this book, I wasn't overly familiar with Michelle Obama in general other than the fact she was married to the president and had attended law school.
Becoming fills in all the background, from Michelle's early life in Chicago to the very days in the White House.
One of my favorite autobiographies of 2018, this book is an intimate journey through Michelle's existence. I was surprised to find myself tearing up more than once, the tone is so unaffected, open, and honest.
Entertaining, inspirational, light hearted, and serious — this book has it all. Obama comes across as extremely relatable and down to earth. I had to chuckle at her use of words like "thirsty" and "bougie," no doubt gleaned from her daughters.
These three quotes are probably my favorites, although there are many good ones:
On Barack: "His money went largely toward books, which to him were like sacred objects, providing ballast for his mind."
On friends: "Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses like these, swapped back and forth and over again."
On branding: "If you don't get out there and define yourself, you'll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others."...more
I wanted to like this book, I really did. At the beginning of the year, I thoroughly enjoyed KSR's Red Mars — five stars!!
Granted, maybe I just wasn'I wanted to like this book, I really did. At the beginning of the year, I thoroughly enjoyed KSR's Red Mars — five stars!!
Granted, maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this book, but I'm not sure I ever would have been "in the mood" for this kind of story.
New York 2140 felt like the "smarter" (warmer) version of the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" / an educational/fictional attempt at futurecasting what life would be like in NYC after major climate change.
A nonfiction book speculating on life in the future after climate change would have been much more palatable in my opinion.
This book felt like homework, and not the good kind. Like a wacky teacher trying too hard to be "hip." I couldn't care about any of the characters, and the "story" didn't really go anywhere. It was like an attempt at Seinfeld-ing a book, a book about nothing — minus the humor and fun.
I take it back, this book was most definitely a book about something. You might as well have been clubbed over the head with "THE REPERCUSSIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE!"
In summary, this book is basically like sitting in front of a terrarium you've violently shaken up and watching all the little creatures trying to adapt and survive. Not too exciting, excruciating in detail, and not much in terms of plot.
Should have been 300 pages, max—it might have been decent with literally HALF the content....more
Newsflash: The earth and many of its species are dying and in danger of dying out.
Mildly entertaining (/sad) in regards to Kolbert’s fieldwork and haNewsflash: The earth and many of its species are dying and in danger of dying out.
Mildly entertaining (/sad) in regards to Kolbert’s fieldwork and hands on approach to investigating the sixth extinction. Middle of the road in terms of doomsday books.
This is storytelling lite, almost (dare I say), geriatric? At 71 yearHow on earth is this a Goodreads Choice 2018 winner? I honestly don't understand.
This is storytelling lite, almost (dare I say), geriatric? At 71 years old, it feels like King is reminiscing about old tales, and regurgitating a rose-colored retelling of Thinner. Fluffy and lacking in substance, there remains a general nice-ness at the core of the brief tale.
One might even call it ... elevating.
Strong enough to hold down more stars? I think not.
I went into this almost completely blind and was pleasantly surprised.
Betty Ford was a strong, unique woman who What an absolutely lovely biography.
I went into this almost completely blind and was pleasantly surprised.
Betty Ford was a strong, unique woman who wasn't afraid to speak her mind, especially about women's issues/rights, mental health, sex, and addiction. In the mid 1970s mind you.
She was also one of the first First Lady's to openly sleep in the same bedroom as her husband, which was news to me.
Random Observation: Two weeks ago I first heard about the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" in an impossible game of charades. I had to laugh when it popped up in this book. ...more
My first Mary Roach book, and definitely not my last.
A warm, even touching approach to a cold subject. This book was incredible, and at times, both diMy first Mary Roach book, and definitely not my last.
A warm, even touching approach to a cold subject. This book was incredible, and at times, both disgusting and humorous. It brought back visits to cadaver labs and that unmistakable smell.
It also made me want to donate my body to science when I die.
Flew through this one, and had my mom and sister read it after I did — they enjoyed it too.
"Feminism is a choice, and if a woman does not want to be a feminist, that is her right, but it is still my responsibility to fight for her rights."
I "Feminism is a choice, and if a woman does not want to be a feminist, that is her right, but it is still my responsibility to fight for her rights."
I respect, admire, and am thankful for Roxane Gay. For her honesty, her words, and her public fight for women's rights.
However, I did not love this book. I was hoping for more feminist related content, suggestions on ways forward, proactive discussion.
Instead, this book is largely devoted to analyzing pop culture, from music, TV shows, and books—and not always in a strictly feminist light.
An alternate title could be: "Bad Feminist: Or, Why I personally like/don't like, and am offended (or not) by many popular forms of entertainment"
Needless to say, I will never be reading "The Help" or any of the "Fifty Shades of Grey" books—but I also wasn't planning on slogging through page after page about why Gay doesn't like them. Or why she still likes some music, even though it's demeaning to women.
Alternate title number two: "Bad Feminist Book Not Really About Feminism"
It's not that bad—not great either—and surprisingly light on the feminism, which I should have probably taken the actual title more literally.
This is a tough one. Roxane bravely lays out the most difficult aspects and history of her life, revealing details that are easier left unsaid, but thThis is a tough one. Roxane bravely lays out the most difficult aspects and history of her life, revealing details that are easier left unsaid, but that so many women can relate with.
It's impossible not to respect, admire, and empathize for Roxane—for everything she's gone through, lives with, and her courage in being so honest, raw, and open with the world. While reading, I felt a wide range of emotions, the two strongest being anger and commiseration.
By telling her story, she is giving voice to the voiceless, and helping to raise awareness concerning the many issues modern society still grapples with. Weight and sexual violence are the main focus.
Roxane has lived a difficult life, and is resilient.
However, this book left me wanting something more. The story is full of information, but, other than spreading awareness of certain issues, there wasn't much ... closure?
Not that my opinion should even matter in judging someone's personal truth. Still, I couldn't give such a harrowing (often depressing) account five stars. It's an important book, and one every woman should read, but it's also hard to say that you love someone's story concerning the worst day of their life—especially when they still struggle from the repercussions, decades later....more
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