It's my first Discworld, and I hope it's not my last. I know this series is beloved, and I can fully understand why. It's so fun and funny. I LOVE4.5.
It's my first Discworld, and I hope it's not my last. I know this series is beloved, and I can fully understand why. It's so fun and funny. I LOVE the mundanity of the characters in extraordinary circumstances and vice versa. It's genuinely so charming.
I didn't get to read this as steadily as I would have liked, so I did find myself a little confused from time to time about the situations, but I fell back into place easily enough. It does wrap just a bit too nicely, though. I'm not really mad about it....more
It's so short and took all of two drives to get through, but it is bleak. I read A Little Life, so I can't say the bleakest I've read, but it's close.It's so short and took all of two drives to get through, but it is bleak. I read A Little Life, so I can't say the bleakest I've read, but it's close.
I think I liked it. I'm not sure I understand its status, though. I kept waiting for the hype moment to come, but it didn't. It's just relentlessly dark with the tiniest moments of less darkness thrown in. The kid is terrified. The man is determined, but who knows what for. It's this sense of survival for the sake of survival. I had a hard time picturing some of it - like the road itself.
I might watch the movie at some point or maybe read the graphic.
It did keep me engaged, though. I gasped at least once....more
I wish I had a copy to eye read, as I would have highlighted a few passages. I learned some wild stuff - mostly that medieval folks were pretty vulgarI wish I had a copy to eye read, as I would have highlighted a few passages. I learned some wild stuff - mostly that medieval folks were pretty vulgar. It's a good time.
On a more serious note, I do think this is a highly accessible text that shines a light on how women in medieval times lived and helps us to understand how we are not SO different.
I fully believe this would be a phenomenal work live. I got some of the tension, but I can see where it would probably make me almost sick to see it.
II fully believe this would be a phenomenal work live. I got some of the tension, but I can see where it would probably make me almost sick to see it.
I like that it's a two-hander. I like the dynamic between the characters. I like the card game setup. I like the end. I like the slow-mounting dread, and I like that I never felt entirely comfortable.
I listened to it while driving, so I didn't give it my full attention, but it really didn't compel me to either.
I was hoping to fall for it the way I I listened to it while driving, so I didn't give it my full attention, but it really didn't compel me to either.
I was hoping to fall for it the way I fell for The House on the Cerulean Sea. I just didn't connect to the characters that way. I understand why Mr. Nagg was with Isabella, but I never once came close to understanding why she was with him FOR DECADES.
I liked the Isabella-becomes-a-wizard plot. I didn't really like the goblin plot, and I don't think it added much that couldn't have been accomplished otherwise. The Lorenzo plot is silly, but I don't mind. I walked away thinking maybe the townspeople were right to keep their distance.
I really liked the donkey. He was my favorite part of the story. If that says anything.
I'd also like to note the audiobook is VERY well narrated....more
I didn't concentrate very well. Also, I've never read Richard Russo before, so the stakes were pretty low for me.
I liked the first half more than the I didn't concentrate very well. Also, I've never read Richard Russo before, so the stakes were pretty low for me.
I liked the first half more than the second half. I liked learning about his personal life and his response to the pandemic. I can imagine it would be more impactful if I had read some of his other work....more
Reading this in 2025 as an American was an experience. It was all a little too easy to visualize.
I think the speed at which things deteriorate in thisReading this in 2025 as an American was an experience. It was all a little too easy to visualize.
I think the speed at which things deteriorate in this is pretty perfect. It starts out so small, and everyone starts out so outraged, and then slowly so many are lulled that you start to question yourself. It's disturbing, and it's all the better for being shown to us through the eyes of a child.
I do think the end of the book felt a bit rushed. It didn't provide much (if any) closure, which I think is effective, even though I disliked it....more
Based on the reviews, I had a good idea it wasn't going to be the book I wanted it to be. I really didn't learn much about Taylor, and I'm not even thBased on the reviews, I had a good idea it wasn't going to be the book I wanted it to be. I really didn't learn much about Taylor, and I'm not even the fan who has her birthday memorized, so that might say something. I also don't feel like my idea of her influence and influences shifted much. I picked up on a couple of albums and artists that I hadn't connected to her before, but not enough for a whole book.
I really didn't enjoy how Sheffield squeezes her lyrics into his writing, which he does constantly. It's cringe, especially to listen to. I also wish he had talked more about The Tortured Poets Department, which is relegated to the epilogue.
What I liked about the book was reading Sheffield as a fan who has formed a personal connection to many of the songs. I think I'd have liked the book better if he'd just focused on his personal experience with her music. I like that he acknowledges her contradictions. I like that he doesn't shy away from her mistakes or the weirder aspects of her public persona.
I don't think this is the book for a big Swiftie. I do think it's an okay book for someone looking to hear about the personal connections a music journalist makes with music. In general, I wouldn't recommend it, but I don't regret listening to it....more
I didn't LOVE any of the stories, but I liked all of them, and I really liked "The Chaser" and "The Masker". I think I'dI'm rounding it up from a 3.5.
I didn't LOVE any of the stories, but I liked all of them, and I really liked "The Chaser" and "The Masker". I think I'd have appreciated "Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones" better if I had eye read it and been able to sit with it more. I enjoyed "Stag Dance". It just seemed to drag a bit from time to time, but then in the end, I also think I'd have benefited from eye reading it and sitting with it more.
I could feel the parallels to Covid-19, particularly in the descriptions of empty streets.
It's good. It's an interesting period of history - one whichI could feel the parallels to Covid-19, particularly in the descriptions of empty streets.
It's good. It's an interesting period of history - one which is surprisingly relatable. The characters are multi-dimensional, and their interactions and relationships are good. The sense of religious persecution is heavy. The various threats feel real. There's a sweet, somewhat rushed love story, but it is one developing in a time of plague, so I can imagine it unfolding more quickly.
I do love Jason Todd. I do not love the art style. I appreciated getting to learn about the training and lead-up to Jason becoming Red Hood. I just ulI do love Jason Todd. I do not love the art style. I appreciated getting to learn about the training and lead-up to Jason becoming Red Hood. I just ultimately found myself wishing I was reading a full-stop Red Hood comic instead. Nice to see Talia, though. I've not read much of that character despite being familiar with her lore....more
I don't know what to say. It's THE classic that launched a thousand ships. The language is beautiful; the story is tThe DRAMA. The ANGST. The POETRY.
I don't know what to say. It's THE classic that launched a thousand ships. The language is beautiful; the story is tragic and ridiculous (from a modern, non-teenage perspective). I fully understood we were making mistakes that were going to end in death, and I still found myself metaphorically leaning over the balcony.
Romeo is just so ridiculously funny. We meet him, and he is DYING over Rosaline. He's got some lines about Cupid's arrows pinning him to the Earth. His friends are trying to cheer him up, and he's essentially like, "Please just leave me here to die." This is on the way to the party where he meets Juliet, mind you. Then he sees her and suddenly, he's never known love before. He SEES her. I was rolling my eyes. I knew how it would go, and it still went sillier than I thought. Teenage hormones are something else.
Juliet. I don't know. She's thirteen. She's going to be married to Paris, and she doesn't like him (apparently). So I guess I'll give her a pass for throwing herself headfirst into a marriage with a complete stranger. Again, she's thirteen. She wasn't just moaning about how Cupid had pinned her heart to the ground.
These people are just super sensitive, and it gets them all killed. Needlessly. I loved Mercutio. I'd have loved him more with dummy translations for his witty banter. I hated to see him go, but his death wish could not have been clearer. Still, I think he'd be so fun on stage in a good production.
The Capulets had me rolling my eyes as well. Juliet tells them she doesn't want to marry Paris like maybe a day after her beloved cousin dies. That's DISRESPECTFUL. They are fully ready to throw her out on the street. Then, like maybe the very next day, when they think she's dead - WOW. Their hearts have never known such sorrow. Recently saw "& Juliet" in which they were VERY accurately portrayed.
So yes, as someone who is not a teenager and is living in the year 2025, I did have some issues with this, but damn, I still had a really nice time, mostly due to the absurdity as well as the famously beautiful text. Shakespeare knew how to woo.
Also, the key takeaway before I forget: COMMUNICATION IS KING....more
This is not a bad book. I saw someone say there is a Pollyanna vibe, and I do agree with that, but it's well written, and the audiobook is well narratThis is not a bad book. I saw someone say there is a Pollyanna vibe, and I do agree with that, but it's well written, and the audiobook is well narrated. The main issue for me is that I just did not find the subject matter, which largely consisted of work-life balance and law as interesting as I'd like to.
I admire how Ketanji discusses the shared sacrifices she and her husband have made to raise their children while also pursuing high-pressure careers. It's a lovely look into marriage as a partnership. I also really enjoyed hearing about her experiences with speech and debate and how she feels they contributed to her future.
I do feel like the career focus was less than the family one, but I'm not sure that I mind that. I'd have liked to have gotten a greater feel for her take on controversial topics, but I suppose I could review her history at large and get a picture....more
The only thing bad about Saga is waiting for it to release.
I'm so happy. I love this series. The art is great. The story is GREAT. The narration is exThe only thing bad about Saga is waiting for it to release.
I'm so happy. I love this series. The art is great. The story is GREAT. The narration is excellent. The characters are lovely. It's so human while also being so fantastical. I continue to love the focus on mental health. I really want to do a series reread soon, as I know I've forgotten a few of the referenced storylines. Can't recommend it enough....more
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