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nadia's reviews
565 reviews
Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A really good collection! I'm definitely a fan of Jhumpa Lahiri's writing and it's doubly cool that she wrote this in Italian and then translated most of it into English herself.
Some of the stories lacked a little something for me, but I loved Part II β The Steps! Such a cool idea.
Some of the stories lacked a little something for me, but I loved Part II β The Steps! Such a cool idea.
This Place: 150 Years Retold by Sonny Assu, Katherena Vermette, Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Jen Storm, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Brandon Mitchell, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Richard Van Camp, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Chelsea Vowel
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A great short story anthology! The graphics were beautiful and I learnt so much about this part of history.
It's more vignettes into different parts of the Indigieous peoples history in Canada as opposed to your more traditional short story, and though I was hoping for the latter, I very much appreciated what I got!
It's more vignettes into different parts of the Indigieous peoples history in Canada as opposed to your more traditional short story, and though I was hoping for the latter, I very much appreciated what I got!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence
Minor: Cannibalism
#CrimeTime by Jeneva Rose
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was very cringe and one of the characters was sooo annoying, too annoying β and it didn't help that I listened to this on audio and he was the second main character always talking to the main character called....Nadia... β but the full cast audio with sound effects was fun, they got a couple chuckles out of me, and I was intrigued to see what was going on. The authors' voice note at the end was fun too, though nearly as cringe as the book at times! π
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent
Losers by Michael Lewis
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I love Michael Lewis so was surprised at how boring this one got sometimes. It didn't really have a structure or arc at all, so kept jumping around but, if you're like me, a fascination with US politics and a BTS look at anything will keep you intrigued.
It's also especially interesting reading this now, knowing what's to come for some of the characters, e.g. John McCain.
It is tough to follow and keep track of all of the characters if you're not already familiar with the 1996 US Presidential Election, so keep that in mind!
It's also especially interesting reading this now, knowing what's to come for some of the characters, e.g. John McCain.
It is tough to follow and keep track of all of the characters if you're not already familiar with the 1996 US Presidential Election, so keep that in mind!
The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A super solid collection! I really enjoyed it. I don't remember feeling too much like: "What?? That's it? I want/expected more!" with there, which is my number one pain point with short stories.
The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science by Culadasa (John Yates)
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Wow β it took me 5.5 years to get through this book! Originally I was planning on only progressing through the book as I reached each meditation stage, but then I realised that take forever (even longer than what it did take me to read the book...) or that I may never get to the end.
So I decided instead to read it cover-to-cover, highlighting and taking notes along the way.
Overall, this is a fantastic book and highly recommended to anyone who wants to get more out of their mindfulness practice. However, while I originally thought it might be a 5-star read, the book does get a little too bogged down in technical terms, which are tricky to grasp, especially for the layperson.
So I decided instead to read it cover-to-cover, highlighting and taking notes along the way.
Overall, this is a fantastic book and highly recommended to anyone who wants to get more out of their mindfulness practice. However, while I originally thought it might be a 5-star read, the book does get a little too bogged down in technical terms, which are tricky to grasp, especially for the layperson.
The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
What an incredible, emotional, heart-wrenching book!
I'm so glad I started listening to audiobooks a few years back so I could experience The Only Plane in the Sky in this format, because reading this in print, while surely still being a 5-star read for me, would not have had the same impact.
I'm so glad I started listening to audiobooks a few years back so I could experience The Only Plane in the Sky in this format, because reading this in print, while surely still being a 5-star read for me, would not have had the same impact.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana EnrΓquez
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
A super solid collection of stories! I did not realise I was going into such dark, creepy, horror vibes, but I was here for it. As always, some stories were just okay, and even with some of my faves, I felt a little let-down with the endings. It's not that I'd need an explanation of what happens β oh no, that'd take away from the story β it's just that I felt like I spent time building up to an ending and then all of a sudden it was over. I guess you'd say it was a pacing thing.
Anyway, really good, with my faves being The Neighbor's Courtyard, Adela's House, and, Under The Black Water.
Anyway, really good, with my faves being The Neighbor's Courtyard, Adela's House, and, Under The Black Water.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Rape
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
4.0
I think this was a solid, clever resolution to the trilogy! There were parts of this I really enjoyed and parts I never fully grokked β mainly around character alliances, motivations, and some of the fantasy elements β but just went with!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Colonisation
Cobble Hill by Cecily von Ziegesar
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I actually got into this a lot more than I thought I would. I decided to finally listen to this book, which I'd redeemed for free ages ago as part of Libro.fm's ALC Program, while in Cobble Hill.
Despite that, I didn't care for the characters at all and nothing really happens. Sometimes nothing really happens in a book but you still feel you took something deeper away from the experience of reading it. With this one, I didn't take anything away from it at all beyond the surface level entertainment I got from peeking into the characters' lives.
Also, lots of fatphobic comments in this one!
Despite that, I didn't care for the characters at all and nothing really happens. Sometimes nothing really happens in a book but you still feel you took something deeper away from the experience of reading it. With this one, I didn't take anything away from it at all beyond the surface level entertainment I got from peeking into the characters' lives.
Also, lots of fatphobic comments in this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Infidelity