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ninetalevixen
Very thorough, very interesting. Lots of original insights that really bring the subjects to life, balancing historical detail with personal anecdotes to make this book both credible and relatable. Maybe I should start reading more microhistories, if this one is at all a good representation of the genre.
3.5, maybe 3.75 stars.
Finkel is a great writer, and he well knows it. As expected of an acclaimed journalist, he does a terrific job sketching the scene based on Longo’s retellings; he also knows how to get to the bottom of the matter as far as is possible (though I’m less sure about his conclusions, I wasn’t there and he has first-hand accounts to draw from). Both stories being told, Longo’s murder “mystery” and Finkel’s own ethical transgression, are well-developed and draw sympathy; it’s all too easy to get wrapped up in the narrative and forget that it’s all true.
Finkel is a great writer, and he well knows it. As expected of an acclaimed journalist, he does a terrific job sketching the scene based on Longo’s retellings; he also knows how to get to the bottom of the matter as far as is possible (though I’m less sure about his conclusions, I wasn’t there and he has first-hand accounts to draw from). Both stories being told, Longo’s murder “mystery” and Finkel’s own ethical transgression, are well-developed and draw sympathy; it’s all too easy to get wrapped up in the narrative and forget that it’s all true.
2.5 stars.
I’ll admit it upfront: I never really connected with this book. Normally I love reading slice-of-life and (auto)biography/memoir and historical fiction, but I just couldn’t get into this one. The writing style felt awkward to me, the photographs too dark and indistinguishable from each other — though that could just be a failing of the Kindle format — and while I liked hearing about each emigrant’s life story, a lot of the book (mostly the parts about the author’s journeys in their footsteps, but in some places the interviews and journal excerpts too) dragged on interminably.
I’ll admit it upfront: I never really connected with this book. Normally I love reading slice-of-life and (auto)biography/memoir and historical fiction, but I just couldn’t get into this one. The writing style felt awkward to me, the photographs too dark and indistinguishable from each other — though that could just be a failing of the Kindle format — and while I liked hearing about each emigrant’s life story, a lot of the book (mostly the parts about the author’s journeys in their footsteps, but in some places the interviews and journal excerpts too) dragged on interminably.
2.5 stars.
I read this book in mostly one sitting, and ironically fell asleep in the process. (My sleep/wake schedule's been a lot better this semester, but going to bed early is really hard when you live in a college dorm with five suitemates, as is having a peaceful antisocial morning.)
There's some good, concrete advice, in this book, but the general attitude kind of irked me. It seemed really self-congratulatory, at the cost of others: "You've taken the first step to improve your life! That makes you better than the 'mediocre majority' of the world's population!" There was also a no-excuses mentality that I can't help but view as privileged; while to some degree it's probably true, it doesn't explore the different external factors that might genuinely hinder someone's progress, instead going through the author's personal tragedies. Actually - a lot of the book depends on anecdotes and "personal" experimentation on the author's part, rather than scientific citation/rationale, which doesn't work for me. Several points are truncated in favor of a web link or another "self-help" book to read; others are diminished to an acronym that is never referenced again (RMS: Rearview Mirror Syndrome; NYR: New Year's Resolutions; neither appears more than once or twice outside of its dedicated section). Finally, the title itself is misleading - the author himself acknowledges that depending on your biological rhythms, you can change the timeline of the Miracle Morning, even making it an afternoon/evening process.
On the other hand, it's a very brief read, which I appreciated; it can be summed up in a few concrete bullet points, so you don't have to reread the book to pick out meaning (though the book itself encourages doing so with particularly helpful books, a category which I clearly don't place it in). I don't regret having read the book and do plan to add aspects of SAVERS into my morning routine that aren't already there. (Though, to be quite honest, none of them are inherently revolutionary, nor is the idea of combining them all into a "Miracle Morning," and I can probably identify them all in some form in my existing routine.)
I read this book in mostly one sitting, and ironically fell asleep in the process. (My sleep/wake schedule's been a lot better this semester, but going to bed early is really hard when you live in a college dorm with five suitemates, as is having a peaceful antisocial morning.)
There's some good, concrete advice, in this book, but the general attitude kind of irked me. It seemed really self-congratulatory, at the cost of others: "You've taken the first step to improve your life! That makes you better than the 'mediocre majority' of the world's population!" There was also a no-excuses mentality that I can't help but view as privileged; while to some degree it's probably true, it doesn't explore the different external factors that might genuinely hinder someone's progress, instead going through the author's personal tragedies. Actually - a lot of the book depends on anecdotes and "personal" experimentation on the author's part, rather than scientific citation/rationale, which doesn't work for me. Several points are truncated in favor of a web link or another "self-help" book to read; others are diminished to an acronym that is never referenced again (RMS: Rearview Mirror Syndrome; NYR: New Year's Resolutions; neither appears more than once or twice outside of its dedicated section). Finally, the title itself is misleading - the author himself acknowledges that depending on your biological rhythms, you can change the timeline of the Miracle Morning, even making it an afternoon/evening process.
On the other hand, it's a very brief read, which I appreciated; it can be summed up in a few concrete bullet points, so you don't have to reread the book to pick out meaning (though the book itself encourages doing so with particularly helpful books, a category which I clearly don't place it in). I don't regret having read the book and do plan to add aspects of SAVERS into my morning routine that aren't already there. (Though, to be quite honest, none of them are inherently revolutionary, nor is the idea of combining them all into a "Miracle Morning," and I can probably identify them all in some form in my existing routine.)
3.5 stars, rounded up for the ending.
I don’t know if it’s just that I haven’t read these books in too long or if Apollo/Lester is just particularly annoying, but this book didn’t quite have that Riordan magic. The characters are still awesome, the Waystation and its inhabitants are particularly lovable, and I love that we’re venturing into more obscure mythology, but something just seemed to be missing from the package.
I don’t know if it’s just that I haven’t read these books in too long or if Apollo/Lester is just particularly annoying, but this book didn’t quite have that Riordan magic. The characters are still awesome, the Waystation and its inhabitants are particularly lovable, and I love that we’re venturing into more obscure mythology, but something just seemed to be missing from the package.
Solid Riordan storytelling in Percy Jackson’s comfortingly familiar sarcastic voice. Funny, creative, and above all entertaining.
