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nere's reviews
82 reviews
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
At first, I was pretty clear as to what the book was for and what it was trying to achieve. It later spun out of control and lost its central thesis. Pretty interesting collection of research, but otherwise I was left with the impression it didn’t have much else to say.
informative
fast-paced
2.75
Saturday, April 23, 2022
“And the truth is that our unconscious is really good at this, to the point where thin-slicing often delivers a better answer than more deliberate and exhaustive ways of thinking.”
At first, I was pretty clear as to what the book was for and what it was trying to achieve. It later spun out of control and lost its central thesis. Pretty interesting collection of research, but otherwise I was left with the impression it didn’t have much else to say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Police brutality
Dare to Lead; Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown
I get the message she’s trying to send here. However, I have a REALLY hard time clicking with her writing style/explanations. Not sure why, which results in a reading experience with an appreciation for what she’s trying to do here, but little in the way of digestion and implementation. I can see, however, how it can be useful to somebody else. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for me.
medium-paced
2.75
Friday, April 22, 2022
“[...] because the only thing I know for sure after all of this research is that if you’re going to dare greatly, you’re going to get your ass kicked at some point. If you choose courage, you will absolutely know failure, disappointment, setback, even heartbreak. That’s why we call it courage. That’s why it’s so rare.”
I get the message she’s trying to send here. However, I have a REALLY hard time clicking with her writing style/explanations. Not sure why, which results in a reading experience with an appreciation for what she’s trying to do here, but little in the way of digestion and implementation. I can see, however, how it can be useful to somebody else. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for me.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Did not finish book. Stopped at 62%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 62%.
my audiobook kept glitching and I kept losing my place! I’ll revisit it eventually
Editors Pages: The Long and Short of It by Richard Siken
emotional
reflective
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee
I adored the approach when aging them up.Monty never loses his characteristic snark, but you can tell he's dulled and exhausted. Seeing Felicity as a respected physician was splendid. Aging characters up is always a little tricky, it’s difficult to strike that balance between years of experience and age has changed them and this is still fundamentally the same person, but I think Lee does it extraordinarily well. I believed Monty was older the second he made his appearance, I felt it. I'm a WEE bit disappointed we didn’t get to spend more time with Louisa and Edward , though considering it's the last book I understand the decision to do so. And the plot this time around unfortunately didn’t quite click for me. I think I would’ve preferred it if there had really been no ship . I think that would’ve landed the message more heavily, but that’s my onion. Regardless I loved spending time with these characters one last time and I cried at the end.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Friday, March 18, 2022
“She purses her lips, then says directly and with no room for misinterpretation, “How often is your daily living impeded by your mental illness?”
And maybe it’s not always this bad. And maybe I’m not always convinced I’ve been poisoned and my body needs to be drained of blood. And maybe it’s not always like this, but that doesn’t mean it never is, nor that what it is instead is any easier to bear. So I tell the truth. “Every day.”
I adored the approach when aging them up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Sleep Smarter: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to a Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success by Shawn Stevenson
There are several different ideas that are very insufficiently sourced: magnesium as a valuable supplement when not deficient, cellphone radiation affecting sleep. I cross-checked the sources and MANY were from blog posts or led me to a dead site or dot coms. One was from honest-to-god the Daily Mail.
There are—admittedly—breadcrumbs here and there of ideas that are of merit when the sources are well-backed and credible. But honestly, you would be MUCH better off just reading “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker, Ph.D. which says just as much as this book and more with reputable references.
I would just remind fellow nonfiction readers to be diligent with their sources and always read critically. It’s dangerous to read blindly and take it as fact just because “you read it in a book,” regardless of the title or self-proclaimed expertise of the author. A healthy amount of skepticism is crucial.
1.0
Saturday, March 5, 2022
"There’s an old Irish proverb that says, “A good laugh and a long sleep are two best cures for anything.”
There are several different ideas that are very insufficiently sourced: magnesium as a valuable supplement when not deficient, cellphone radiation affecting sleep. I cross-checked the sources and MANY were from blog posts or led me to a dead site or dot coms. One was from honest-to-god the Daily Mail.
There are—admittedly—breadcrumbs here and there of ideas that are of merit when the sources are well-backed and credible. But honestly, you would be MUCH better off just reading “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker, Ph.D. which says just as much as this book and more with reputable references.
I would just remind fellow nonfiction readers to be diligent with their sources and always read critically. It’s dangerous to read blindly and take it as fact just because “you read it in a book,” regardless of the title or self-proclaimed expertise of the author. A healthy amount of skepticism is crucial.
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Francesc Miralles, Héctor García Puigcerver
informative
medium-paced
3.0
The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin
informative
medium-paced
3.25
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
No Spoilers
I’m starting to remember that melancholy feeling all of John’s fiction writing has. I think I prefer his nonfiction writing in that regard. It feels less hopeless.
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
"I’m a story they’re telling. I am circumstances."
No Spoilers
I’m starting to remember that melancholy feeling all of John’s fiction writing has. I think I prefer his nonfiction writing in that regard. It feels less hopeless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
CW: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
No spoilers
I’m going to be honest with you, I’m not entirely sure why I reread this. I remember sort of liking it in middle school. That’s as far as it went. Considering that was my reaction when I was still the target audience, can you imagine now? It’s certainly a cute story. Sodapop, as I recalled, is the most likable and sympathetic character. Otherwise, I forgot it almost as soon as I put it down. Something just does not fully click for me.
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.75
Saturday, January 22, 2022 (Reread)
"Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold."
No spoilers
I’m going to be honest with you, I’m not entirely sure why I reread this. I remember sort of liking it in middle school. That’s as far as it went. Considering that was my reaction when I was still the target audience, can you imagine now? It’s certainly a cute story. Sodapop, as I recalled, is the most likable and sympathetic character. Otherwise, I forgot it almost as soon as I put it down. Something just does not fully click for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury