shetef's Reviews (133)

The Crimean War: A History

5.0

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

This was a good (but sobering) read. Reading this after reading Bismarck's War earlier this year really lay bare for me how damaging poorly managed bureaucracies can be. Hard not to despair at so many lives lost due to mismanagement and incompetent leadership.

Content Warnings

Fadeout

Joseph Hansen

4.75

adventurous mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

For a 1970s mystery, this reads surprisingly modern. Brandstetter provides a good mix of Dashiell Hammett-style rugged masculinity and earnest sensitivity. Definitely planning to read the rest of these.

Content Warnings

The Secret History of Twin Peaks

Mark Frost

4.5

dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A good source of additional information for anyone interested in the wider world of Twin Peaks. I honestly should have read this ages ago.

King Kong: The Great War #1

Alex Cox

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is a compelling start. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

Revolusi: Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World

David Van Reybrouck

5.0

dark informative reflective slow-paced

An eye-opening overview of a time and place with much more far-reaching influence on later events than I ever realized.

Content Warnings

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Michael Chabon

5.0

adventurous emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I read The Yiddish Policemen's Union earlier this year and that was probably my favorite book I read in 2024 at the time. Happy to say that this book gives YPU a serious run for its money.

It's hard to succinctly summarize how I felt about this. I haven't read a lot of books that have so many layers, so many expertly woven themes. Like YPU, I'm glad I read this now rather than when I first noticed it at my hometown public library. I don't think I would have fully understood or appreciated it at the time.

Content Warnings

Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas

Natasha Dow Schüll

5.0

challenging dark informative slow-paced

Chilling and relevant over a decade later. Found this book through Jimmy McGee's "Pay to Win" series on YouTube about the influence of machine gambling design on video games.

Content Warnings

Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East

Amanda H. Podany

5.0

challenging informative slow-paced

An excellent exploration of a topic I didn't know I would enjoy so much. This book helped me realize how fascinated I actually am with ancient Near Eastern history.

The Name of the Rose

Umberto Eco

5.0

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Do you like murder mysteries?

Do you also like extended dialogues on Christian theology and semiotics?

Do I have a book for you

Content Warnings

The Accomplice

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson

3.0

dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I don't think I've read a lot of books that simultaneously make my eyes roll back into my head while also demanding my attention. This is not a very good book:

the dialogue feels inauthentic
the characters are flat
the plot, while serviceable, has some elements that make me struggle to suspend disbelief

but at the same time, I can't pretend I didn't have fun with parts of this. Wouldn't recommend this to most people and I probably won't read any future sequels but it might be fun for a (however unintentional) laugh.

Content Warnings

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