mads_jpg's reviews
200 reviews

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A chilling story, but one that still has this warmth that made me so invested in these unnamed characters.

The disappearances reminded me of my fears from the climate crisis. We're constantly losing endangered species and seeing alarmist articles about how we might lose foods like coffee or chocolate. It feels like the earth is constantly running out of things. Like the Florence Welch lyric "and what if one day there is no such thing as snow". 

But that's just one interpretation of many you could have with this book. Its themes of loss, control, agency, and more are very impactful, and I think I'll remember this book for a long time.

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What Does Israel Fear from Palestine? by Raja Shehadeh

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challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

I want to shove this book in the hands of so many people, it explains the situation so clearly it's hard to believe so much of the western world still thinks that Israel is acting in self defence.

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Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin Kleon

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adventurous informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Really insightful book for anyone pursuing a creative career. 
Recollections of My Non-Existence by Rebecca Solnit

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adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

Rebecca Solnit can even make the Acknowledgments section beautiful.

Very inspiring to read her story and learn the context around some of her books. She's such a wonderful writer and it was really interesting seeing the ways community and art and difficulties have all shaped her life.

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Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price

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challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

I feel like anyone who wants to read a self-help book needs to read this one first because chances are it probably covers whatever they're experiencing. 

I started the audiobook of this while working at my job that was burning me out, and immediately ordered the paperback so I could annotate it. It took ages to come in the mail, so by the time I picked it up again I had already quit that job and started properly resting for the first time in... ever?

I wish this book had found me earlier so I could've avoided the burnout I'm currently recovering from, I can see it helping many people either by preventing their burnout or learning compassion for others exhibiting signs of "laziness". Even just the title of this book changed my outlook when I first saw it online, hopefully it does the same for others.

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I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Bloody funny 
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

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challenging inspiring reflective slow-paced

2.75

I know this was influential at the time, but oh boy I struggled with this. It was like panning for gold, you'll occasionally find a nugget of gold that makes it worth the read, but most of time it's just dirt. Absolutely loved some sections but most of it either went over my head or dragged too long. 

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The Orange and other poems by Wendy Cope

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emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced

3.75

I have a love hate relationship with poetry books because on the one hand they're nice and short, but on the other they're often too short!

I adore the orange poem, and there were quite a few in this collection I really enjoyed, just leaves me wanting more.

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When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress by Gabor Maté

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challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

4.0

Really enlightening book, even though it's over 20 years old now I feel like it was still the first time I've heard most of the ideas presented. I think I definitely read it at the right time in my life, I've only recently listened to my body saying 'no' and hopefully I can now take on some of the advice from this book.

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Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen, Ivy Ross

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hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

3.75

Really interesting subject with a very inspiring message about how art enriches our lives. Slightly dry at times since the authors have to spend a lot of the book crediting different people and mentioning the countless fMRI studies they cute. Otherwise a great read overall.

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