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doragt's reviews
597 reviews
Mourn Not Your Dead by Deborah Crombie
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Really liked this one. I like that the main characters are flawed, but in a way that’s relatable. And that they learn and grow from experiences, even when the events are unpleasant.
Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life: A Memoir by Delia Ephron
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Excellent book. Some of it is awful. Anything that involves a bone-marrow transplant isn’t fun; I think this was more excruciating than Between Two Kingdoms. But it’s a lovely story, incredibly well written, and made me feel like there’s always a way to get through hard times.
The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Interesting, more detailed story than the film. But not terribly original. I thought the ending was a bit clunky, a detailed happily-ever-after.
All Shall Be Well by Deborah Crombie
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
Enjoyed this one a lot. Sentimental in places without being sappy. Interesting cast of characters.
A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Fast-moving plot. Interesting characters. Easy to get caught up in.
Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten by Ina Garten
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
I’ve never followed Ina closely, but thought it sounded like an entertaining book. On the whole, it was, but I thought it was inconsistently structured and paced.
The big events and lessons along the way were interspersed with smaller, mundane episodes that sometimes felt like filler.
She seemed very honest about her high and low points, but there were moments where she came too close to either bragging or self-pity.
All of that said, there were parts that made me laugh out loud. And there were some very moving and thoughtful parts, especially at the end where 1)she talks about never fully overcoming the cruelty and lack of support from her parents, and 2) talks about Oprah and Lesley Stahl calling her out for attributing her success to luck and not to talent and hard work.
The big events and lessons along the way were interspersed with smaller, mundane episodes that sometimes felt like filler.
She seemed very honest about her high and low points, but there were moments where she came too close to either bragging or self-pity.
All of that said, there were parts that made me laugh out loud. And there were some very moving and thoughtful parts, especially at the end where 1)she talks about never fully overcoming the cruelty and lack of support from her parents, and 2) talks about Oprah and Lesley Stahl calling her out for attributing her success to luck and not to talent and hard work.
Sick to Death: An Andy Hayes Mystery by Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Andrew Welsh-Huggins
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Really liked the story. Good representation of pandemic and post-pandemic behavior.
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Very quick, but impressive read. It’s a long essay; the hardcover is 105 small pages, but several of the pages contain illustrations.
It’s really a book about economics and community and suggests that we shouldn’t look at economics in terms of scarcity, but rather in terms of abundance and “enoughness.”
She talks about the gift economy, where people share their wealth, rather than hoarding it. In other words: it’s about mutual aid, based on indigenous peoples’ worldview, using examples from nature, especially the serviceberry.
4.75, because there were parts that felt repetitive.
It’s really a book about economics and community and suggests that we shouldn’t look at economics in terms of scarcity, but rather in terms of abundance and “enoughness.”
She talks about the gift economy, where people share their wealth, rather than hoarding it. In other words: it’s about mutual aid, based on indigenous peoples’ worldview, using examples from nature, especially the serviceberry.
4.75, because there were parts that felt repetitive.
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Interesting book. I read it in two parts, so had trouble keeping secondary characters straight. Need to go back to reread. She writes really well, but I think I prefer having a more coherent plot.
Survive and Thrive: How to Prepare for Any Disaster Without Ammo, Camo, Or Eating Your Neighbor by Jeanne Devon, Bill Fulton
fast-paced
4.5
Thorough and well-structured. Has checklists for many scenarios.