This was a good intro to climate change. I think it would be appropriate for teens and beyond. It would work great for a book club or as a school bookThis was a good intro to climate change. I think it would be appropriate for teens and beyond. It would work great for a book club or as a school book because of the short chapters and sections. The main premise of this book is as humanity we always want more and because of that we are harming the earth. We talk about population growth, how we get our food (most interesting for me), energy use, and the physical earth changing.
I thought the connections to climate change were loose for a lot of the chapters (except earth section because that one is very specifically how climate change has affected the earth) but I can see how the author doesn't directly say it because she wants you to figure it out, but for an intro I don't think it works. My favorite part of this book was how expertly the author presented her material and transitioned between chapters, seriously it was so simple and seamless. This book was published in 2020 and I wish we talked more about consumerism and AI or crypto. We don't get any info on how big corporations are damaging the earth, just how individuals are and how individuals can lessen their own impact. Which is the point of the book, it is very personal and reflective. Not super in depth on climate change specifically though until the last section on the earth. ...more
So here's the thing. This book was NOT what I thought it would be but I liked it more because of that. I thought this would be very supernatural with So here's the thing. This book was NOT what I thought it would be but I liked it more because of that. I thought this would be very supernatural with a ton of battles between good and evil. It was not at all! The REAL synopsis of this book is:
A superflu wipes out most of the people in the world. We follow a handful of survivors as they first survive the destruction of society and life as they know it, then get dreams/ visions of a place in the Rocky Mountains and a good old woman living there. Then they set off on journeys there and on their way meet other survivors and all together they settle in the mountains where they begin a new society. There is a small good vs evil story here but it was more of a side plot for me. Most people also have dreams of a bad man and in theory they would choose between leaving for Las Vegas, where the bad man lives, or going to the good place in Colorado with this old good woman. However there wasn't much of a struggle for anybody and for those that did have a struggle we didn't see their POVs during it. This whole good vs evil plot also got very intense very quickly and very quickly was resolved--I am talking 60 pages or so. And after that were are right back to the survivors and their society for the rest of the book.
Now my thoughts on the major parts of the book: - Plot: worked for me because after reading Nuclear War by Annie Jacobson I was looking for a survival post apocalypse book and this delivered. I wasn't a fan of the good vs evil because it felt like an aside, at least for me. I didn't know where the plot was going and I was just along for the ride. It felt like we were just vibing for most of it. - Characters: I enjoyed some POVs, I was sad we followed only one girl for the whole book but got a chapter here or there of another female character but they were one offs. The rest are male POVs and I believe the book is geared towards men. Because of this I didn't connect with any characters a ton and when some died it was barely a blip in the story for me. Those who survives, I was happy they did, but those who died I forgot all about them quick. - Themes: a lot of biblical good vs evil and there were certainly long discussions about it or about life in general. Especially at the start when survivors are isolated we get a ton of character development for them in their own minds. - Supernatural elements: basically nonexistent except the bad man can do minor magic like seeing other parts of the world. And those dreams everyone had but I wouldn't call them really mystical. This book was also NOT horror at all and not SF. There were moments I was anxious but it was more so because we recently had a pandemic and we are living in a world with authoritarianism on the rise and we see both of these elements in the book. It was a little thriller esque at times because a lot of plot was happening but I had no clue what was about to happen. - Length: worked for me because I was okay with reading a survival story. If you are looking for an epic good vs evil fight on earth this would not work for you. Should you read the uncut or cut version? Well I was only able to find the uncut version easily. I am not sure what was taken out. If you want the good vs evil plot line read the uncut (this) version because I know there are POVs taken out that concern a character from the dark side. And his POV is some of the only insight we get into Las Vegas, although his POV is also weird.
Am I glad I read this book? It took me 26 to 30 hours depending on how I round my times. While reading I felt like it took me longer and some chapters are 30-50 pages so it did give me this feeling of ugh. Had I known it wouldn't actually take me that long, I think I would have enjoyed it more, so keep that in mind: it doesn't actually take forever. I did not feel compelled to read other books during this time. I am not mad I read it, I am glad to have achieved this feat of such a long book. It didn't blow me away or change my brain chemistry at all.
Again, I think if you are looking for a survival story with a lot of inner dialogue and character study, go for it. If you want supernatural or scary, you might be disappointed. ...more
SO cute and SO sweet. This book is about a woman who takes care of her family while believing she is dying from the disease that took her mom and sistSO cute and SO sweet. This book is about a woman who takes care of her family while believing she is dying from the disease that took her mom and sister and about the man that loves her so much. This isn't a passionate chemistry fueled romance. It is tender and sweet and they take the whole book to get together (yay slow burn from AJ finally!). The MMC loves her and does so much for her I loved it, and it was kind of best friends to lovers. It was also the cleanest of this trilogy, I would say closed door. The ending made me roll my eyes. ...more
This memoir was very career focused. Half the book was Bishop talking about her time on Broadway and the other half on television with a majoAudiobook
This memoir was very career focused. Half the book was Bishop talking about her time on Broadway and the other half on television with a major part about Gilmore Girls. It is a book that I didn't love because I am not interested in either. We only got glimpses of her life outside of work. Overall I did enjoy it and I am very easy to please with memoirs. I am shocked it won Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ choice for memoir in 2024 by such a crazy margin (50k votes!) it did not deserve it by far. Ina Garten's memoir was so good that year so definitely check it out, it was a lot richer than this one.
I will say though that this inspired me to give GG another chance and so far I am enjoying watching it with my little sister!...more
Unexpected hate!? I was really looking forward to reading this tortured combat veteran x tortured sad girl having a passionate romance and fixing eachUnexpected hate!? I was really looking forward to reading this tortured combat veteran x tortured sad girl having a passionate romance and fixing each other but it was nothing like that! Beau was barely sad and besides one recurring nightmare he was not tortured at all. Bailey was so flat that I felt like her POV was not there and I remember none of it. It was only Beau's story (and all but one of the spice scenes was in his POV btw).
Their engagement was SO dumb. They got together so Beau could have a break from his family asking if he was okay (I didn't see any progress in this aspect) and so Bailey could get a better reputation by being associated with him (she didn't, and in fact it was Beau's sister in law Summer<3 that ultimately gave Bailey a job!). At least the age gap here wasn't the whole focus of the romance unlike in Cade and Willa's where he kept saying omg Willa so young and innocent I can't have you. Beau took care of Bailey but it wasn't a fetish or anything.
Overall I felt like this book was just dumb, total filler. I know it had the potential to be the best in the series though. Off to Gold Rush Ranch!...more
DNF at 68%. Ok something happened here and I am not totally sure what. I think I started this book at a time I was unmotivated to read and because of DNF at 68%. Ok something happened here and I am not totally sure what. I think I started this book at a time I was unmotivated to read and because of that I dreaded reading it. However even if I read it at a different time I probably would finish it but would still hate it. Here are my reasons:
1. I said in my review of the friend zone that it did give me Emily Henry vibes and I get why these authors are recommended together. However THIS book gave me Lucy Score vibes and she is an enemy so that instantly gave me an ick.
6. The other major thing I disliked was this book is supposed to be about a grief journey. Yeah everyone is different. But Brandon here seemed like an ex Sloan didn't actually care about, not the love of her life! He was a catalyst to Jason and Sloan meeting, not a reason Sloan's personal life changed. I didn't feel her sadness at all and after a short time together Sloan was totally healed. She had no reservations about being in love with Jason, just about sleeping with him (but even that was very quickly resolved). 7. The book went on too long, most had to do with that back and forth, And it got to a point where we just saw time forwards to months or weeks every couple chapters. Ugh. 8. Sloan deserves so much more than this crappy book :( ...more
A short book about a girl who lived during Yugoslavia war and then her time in America dealing with her past. This book is very emotionless and not exA short book about a girl who lived during Yugoslavia war and then her time in America dealing with her past. This book is very emotionless and not exciting. The book feels detached and like the author is outside looking in, almost like a memoir and not a fiction book.
The conflicts are very personal and not really developed or discussed by our main character, instead they are introduced and left in the air, forcing you to reflect on your own experience with the ideas. The conflicts include dual identities and your place in your homeland. For that reason, I think only immigrants with instability in their homeland will truly appreciate and understand this book. If you are not someone like that but are looking for a story about a child during war and beyond, this will seem very dry and disconnected. ...more
Literally the greatest swimmer of all time. This book changed my outlook on something. I initially thought that athletes at this level were jAudiobook
Literally the greatest swimmer of all time. This book changed my outlook on something. I initially thought that athletes at this level were just that good. Yeah they may be out of breath after a long race but it was easy for them and they aren't tired or anything after. Actually competing at this level is very painful and difficult and requires a ton of physical tuning and mental strength, which Ledecky is exceptional at.
A major component of this book is her taking about how she loves swimming and is good at being in the zone. It was so fun reading about a person who loves what they do. And they are so good at it that they really compete with themselves and are always looking for ways rio better themselves. This book contains a ton of swimming technique info that would be great for swimmers. We also learn about her time at the Olympics and other world championships, but this isn't an Olympics memoir so if you are looking for that you will be disappointed. It is about Ledecky specifically swimming, not living at, the Olympics.
She also talks about her family. She actually has a pretty rich family history and a lot of her family is involved in sports; her uncle owns a team and her mom was a famous local swimmer. She talks about being a woman in sports and being an American in sports (drug testing).
I think this would be a great book for anybody interested in the Olympics (swimming primarily), swimming, and great athletes. If you don't care about these things, you won't like this since it is a very focused book. ...more
Really enjoyed this. It would be a five star except this book made me anxious and I was already anxious in real life so it was not a very good time foReally enjoyed this. It would be a five star except this book made me anxious and I was already anxious in real life so it was not a very good time for me.
Carrie Soto is a retired tennis player, the GOAT with the most slam titles, until her record is tied and she decides to come out of retirement to reclaim her status. We follow her as she prepares and plays in the four competitions that would give her a title. Alongside her is Nicki Chan who has just tied her and who is Carrie's fiercest rival. The book's plot is very compact and fast. We do not dwell on much. But it is also very immersive and you will feel Carrie's feelings and actions as she plays. Tennis terminology and game play by plays are loaded in here so if you don't enjoy reading about sports, you will not like this. This book talks about rivalries, perfectionism, parental guidance, and opening up your heart.
If I read this at a different time I would have rated it higher. However I would still at this time put it higher than some other TJR historical books....more
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