Gio'
Girl with Curious Hair – Did Not Finish:
I really loved Consider the Lobster (even with the sometimes excessive length), so I started this collection with a lot of enthusiasm—but it honestly turned out to be a disaster.
There are super long, monotone stretches that pushed me to the limit of resistance, and I had to give up about one-third of the way through to avoid falling asleep. Yes, the English is immaculate, and the setups are interesting, but everything else feels diluted to the max.
The Absolutist – 5 stars
Wow. Second book I’ve read by John Boyne, and second masterpiece. LGBTQ+ themes aren’t something I often seek out, but if a book looks compelling, I’ll give it a shot—and this time, I was rewarded with a truly exceptional read. What I love about Boyne’s style is the gravitas he brings to the story. It’s not light material, but he somehow balances the emotional weight with a brisk narrative pace. You move through this deeply affecting story quickly, almost like watching a film—the scenes are so vivid and dynamic. A truly talented writer.
Last Night in Montreal – 5 Stars:
A very impressive debut novel. The author shows total control over the structure, handling multiple timelines, characters, and perspectives with real maturity. Even here, she’s already developed the distinctive tone that made her more famous later on.
The story is absorbing, the plot is tight, and the pacing is steady—it really takes you for a satisfying ride. The rise of this writer is clearly no accident. The talent is real, and the voice is genuinely different.
To Be Taught, If Fortunate – Did Not Finish:
I was very curious about this author, given the great following she has—but it turns out she’s not for me.
What others might call contemplative, I found simply boring. The writing is fine, and the world-building is fairly light, but the real issue is that nothing happens. The entire story feels like scaffolding for an almost uninterrupted stream of consciousness, which for me was thoroughly uninteresting.
Just when it seems like something might finally start to happen, the dreaded internal monologue kicks in again. I couldn’t get through it.
Essentialism – 5 Stars
The big caveat here is that I read this in 2025, even though it came out in 2011. A lot of the ideas have since gone mainstream and been repeated endlessly in books and podcasts. At first, I thought it would just be a helpful reminder—but I ended up finding several nuggets that were either new to me or phrased in a way that made me see things differently.
The book is well written and fairly concise, though it could’ve been shorter. The author also narrates the audiobook and does a great job.
I didn’t really disagree with anything in it. It goes well with The One Thing by Gary Keller. The interesting challenge now is figuring out how to blend essentialism with all the GTDing, pomodoring, and time-blocking that I rely on.
Never Split the Difference – 5 Stars:
What a great book. Over the years, I’ve read so many business and self-help books that I consider it a win even if a book gives me just one or two fresh insights or helps crystallize things I already know.
This one way over-delivered. It gave me empirical, usable techniques that I can actually apply in day-to-day life. I’m even thinking of creating a personal cheat sheet because I see this book as fundamental—I want to master the concepts.
The writing is tight, clear, and refreshingly free of filler. Best of all, it avoids the self-congratulatory, overly patriotic tone that often plagues books by former military or law enforcement folks.
Deep Work – 4.5 Stars:
Overall, this is a great book that grounds essential concepts in a practical structure with suggestions you can adapt to your own routine.
Before reading it, I saw some reviews saying the book’s ideas are too extreme—I don’t think that’s true. High performance simply isn’t possible without something resembling “deep work.” People who think these concepts are too much either didn’t understand the book or aren’t the intended audience, and that’s fine.
A couple of criticisms: the author’s academic background makes it a bit abstract at times, which can make it harder to connect with if you're not in a similar profession. Also, the real-life examples feel somewhat forced, lacking the smooth narrative integration of, say, Gladwell’s writing.
Still, I feel this book will have a lasting influence on how I organize my life.
Keep the Aspidistra Flying – 3.5 stars
For this book, I think it’s helpful to clearly separate style from content. Stylistically, it’s exactly what you’d expect from Orwell: masterful command of language, impeccable pacing, and a beautiful, fluid tone. As for the story itself, it’s quite simple and intentionally repetitive around its central theme. The characters are one-dimensional, and the book often feels more like a personal catharsis or a stylistic exercise than a fully developed work of literature. Still, even when Orwell writes something uneven or overly introspective, his prose makes it a pleasure to read.
Blindsight – Did Not Finish:
I tried and tried and tried, but I was so bored I gave up around one-third of the way in. The story moves slowly, filled with meaningless introspection, and the plot is so sparse that it feels like nothing really happens.
Not my cup of tea.
Crook Manifesto – Did Not Finish
Start of a bad streak with Colson Whitehead, unfortunately.
I 5-starred The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, but I was deeply unsatisfied with Harlem Shuffle. I hoped Crook Manifesto would be better—especially since its ratings seemed slightly higher—but it turned out to be the same fast-paced, confused nothingness.
I just can't listen to hours of something that doesn’t interest me at all. I’m definitely waiting for better work from this author.
The Violinist's Thumb – 4 Stars:
Another strong book from Sam Kean after The Disappearing Spoon. He takes one of the most complex topics in science and makes it approachable by weaving in the stories of people involved—some central, some just on the fringe—and takes us all on a fun, insightful ride.
That said, the book isn't always smooth. The transitions between anecdotes and scientific explanations can feel a bit forced or contrived at times. But the final section on the genome is the best part: clean narration, sharp historical context, and highly engaging.
This is the second book I’ve read from Kean, and it’s clear he’s a special kind of science writer. I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
The Housemaid – Did Not Finish
This didn't work at all for me.
The writing is very basic, the plot is risible, and it’s filled with unrealistic situations straight out of countless B-movies and books.
I’m sure this book works for a lot of people in some situations, but not for me. I won’t be giving this author another chance.
A Master of Djinn – 4 Stars:
The story has a great setup, and the way it blends real historical references, old myths, and new imaginative elements makes for a lively and exciting world. The characters feel alive, and the story is fun, though not particularly original. I’d give 5 stars for the world-building, but the plot is a bit too familiar, and the book feels slightly too long—tighter editing would have made a difference.
As for the audiobook, it was problematic. The narrator is over-enthusiastic, with dramatic volume shifts—especially during accents or intense moments—that were ear-splitting. I had to constantly adjust the volume, which is a first for a professional audiobook. It's a shame because the narrator is pretty good at a normal volume, but the production quality is definitely below average.
The Terminal Man – 3.5 Stars:
This is a fairly short and not overly ambitious novel from Crichton. Probably a step back from The Andromeda Strain, but still very entertaining.
The technical concepts are more accessible than in some of his other works and are used in a creative and fun way. Crichton’s talent is undeniable, and while this book isn’t among his most memorable, it still holds up as a solid entry in his body of work.
Solaris – 4.5 Stars:
Reading this, I immediately noticed a lot of similarities to Sphere by Michael Crichton—and I’m clearly not the first to draw that comparison. The big difference is that Solaris is a vastly superior book on every level.
Lem masterfully blends plot, science, introspection, and internal monologue, resulting in a truly artistic take on science fiction. The book meanders in a few sections, which occasionally distracted me—hence the 4.5 instead of a full 5 stars, though that might be unfair.
On the “Definitive Edition”: I can’t read Polish and haven’t read earlier translations, but I found Bill Johnston’s prose exquisite—clear and easy to read. And Alessandro Juliani’s audiobook narration is among the best I’ve ever heard.
Wonder Boys – Did Not Finish:
I’m short on time and patience for men in mid-life crisis acting badly. Real life—especially for people my age—is more interesting and complex, and I don’t need to spend hours being bored by a self-indulgent book.
It started off funny, but degraded quickly. I got to 20% and pulled the plug.
The Library at Mount Char - 5 Stars
Let’s get one thing out of the way: the author has a sick imagination—this book clearly comes from a very damaged mind, and I mean that as a compliment.
The first part was a bit light on plot, and I started to lose interest. But once it gets going… oh boy. There’s a great setup, super cool characters, no-holds-barred scenes, and a solid writing style holding it all together.
It’s weird in all the right ways, the kind of story that sticks with you for its sheer originality.
I read an interview where the author admitted he’s been struggling to write a second book up to this standard. I thought that was a bit extreme—until I finished this. Now I get it. The Library at Mount Char is so unique, it would be hard to follow it up with anything average.
How High We Go in the Dark – 5 Stars:
First of all, I’d describe this as a collection of interrelated short stories, though I saw it classified as a novel—interesting distinction.
Telling a larger, overarching story through short, connected chapters isn’t new, but it’s done exceptionally well here. The variety of settings, voices, and timelines never feels confusing. Instead, it keeps the book focused and dynamic. Every chapter has immediacy and weight, allowing the author to show off a sophisticated prose style in multiple tones.
I really enjoyed this book. The theme is bleak, but it’s not a tearjerker—it’s an exploration of human behavior under extreme conditions. That said, a lot of people during COVID behaved 100 times crazier than anything in this book.
The Girl with All the Gifts – 3.5 Stars:
A fairly run-of-the-mill post-apocalyptic horror, though I’d say it’s written a little better than average. There are some good, riveting scenes, and a clear effort in developing the characters, but overall it felt like a very inconsequential book.
The Red Pony – 5 Stars
I was a little undecided between 4.5 and 5 stars, but in the end, I can’t find any significant faults in this short and intense book.
My main question before starting was whether this was (in modern terms) a YA book. I’d say it’s accessible, with a strong coming-of-age theme, but Steinbeck packs in so much intensity and depth that it remains a powerful read for adults as well—and might even be too much for early teens.
The story delves into loss, responsibility, and complex family and extended family dynamics, all set against the incredible tapestry of the Monterey area in an important historical moment.
I enjoyed the book very much, though the sad moments hit hard.
The Universe in a Nutshell – 3 Stars:
I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but it didn’t really work for me. It’s mostly a science book, with very little of the science philosophy or history that made me love Brief Answers to the Big Questions.
Even on the science side, the rhythm felt off—the author moved too quickly for me to get truly engaged with the concepts.
An okay book, but nothing more than that for me.
Underground – 5 Stars:
This is a massive undertaking from Murakami. I was very impressed to read about the background of the project—how it came together, why it mattered, and how it evolved over time.
Murakami brings together a wide range of perspectives, driven by curiosity and a deep social need to shed light on a terrible event. He’s at his most restrained here—professional, fair, and meticulous, inserting his thoughts in an open and non-sneaky way, never mixing opinion with fact, never playing politics.
One of the defining traits of Murakami’s work is his indifference to convention and expectation, and here he pushes that mindset to the limit, assembling a memorable, surprising, and thought-provoking book filled with wisdom and social awareness.
I’ve always found Murakami’s nonfiction deeply impressive. He has so many ideas and the bravery to explore them openly, even at the risk of being seen as a hyper-individualistic weirdo.
Keep up your weirdness, Murakami-san. The Nobel committee may not value it, but a lot of people around the world do.
After the Quake – 3.5 Stars:
These short stories are “cute” and carry a consistent theme, but for me, they’re missing that Murakami magic. I found myself a little bored and often distracted while listening.
The only story that really stood out was “Super-Frog Saves Tokyo”—it had the right energy and vibe I associate with his best work.
Not my favorite from the author, but not without charm.
The Elephant Vanishes – 5 Stars
Murakami’s writing in these stories is, as usual: free, unapologetic, unembarrassed, and politically incorrect.
The short story format fits his style perfectly, forcing the narratives to be sharp and focused, avoiding the hard-to-follow stretches that appear in some of his novels.
Some stories are downright fun, some are haunting, some evoke that nostalgic, dreamlike mood Murakami is known for, and some I didn’t understand—but enjoyed reading anyway.
Not every story is a 5-star masterpiece, but enough of them are to justify the overall rating.