panderkins's Reviews (279)

It was oddly episodic and yet with nothing happening. I couldn't keep track of who all the J names were in the beginning. Just boring and unlikable. I kept waiting for the plot to start but from reading other reviews I'm glad I didn't wait around for it.

I firmly believe metabolic solutions are the answer to my mental health issues and regret that I have several years ahead of titrating off multiple meds I wish I'd never been put on. It is very risky to go on psych meds, so this approach is very good. I wish he'd gone into technical information about why keto works.

Got bored of being told how rich everyone was with hardly any plot or character development even by almost 20% in. I think Goodreads reviewers are more brutally honest. That is where I found out this behemoth is one of a series and hardly has an ending. No payoff. No read. DNF 

It had so much potential. I kept waiting for some plot cohesion, but the first part was a series of vignettes about parties...almost every scene featured remarks on the kinds of bottles and glasses people were drinking out of. The romance fizzles out...I guess becuase of ridiculous class reasons? Then suddenly they meet up again, no explanation or intrigue in what should be an important plot point -- suddenly they are married. The part about working as an intern or 9/11 could have been so colorful. I guess the author had some racial thematic intention and if that was where it was going, this isn't for me. Wasted a few hours on the first 65 pages, dnf. Won't read this author again. 

The low ratings appear to be ratings relative to the rest of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series...the other ones were five stars for me, as with a lot of people I imagine, but this one didn't live up to many expectations. 

The description of the central Maine woods was very well done for someone "from away," as we are known for calling outsiders here. I respect the Hermit's choice to live off grid and his ways of doing it, including his wish to go out with the Lady of the Woods. I relate to camping in solitude for days without sign of civilization, the practice of Buddhist meditation, and a love for being alone. I enjoyed all the literary quotes and insights into thinkers and writers such as Lao T'su. I agree with other reviewers that the author intruded too much into Knight's life at the end, especially when he was considering calling the authorities, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. I also enjoyed Finkel's book about the European art thief.

So good. It's going to take me a while to process after reading the last 130 pages in one sitting. It is such a great book.

Helpful, convincing, would've liked talking points for specific objections doctors might present me with, such as my primary care said HRT would worsen cholesterol. Not sure how to talk to her about that point...research and other doctors say the opposite.