Mer Barr
I would have liked a reminder of what happened in the previous book, there are so many folks referred to in this one that have died in prior books. I hate getting those shockers all over again.
I thought the authors did a great job of wrapping things up! Considering the middle section started taking the concepts so far ‘out there' I was wondering how they were going to bring those to a closure AND THEN bring a closure of the book and series that wouldn't leave their fans wanting to throw big penalty flags and flashing red cards at them. [as in those authors that wrap up 6 storylines in the last 2 paragraphs of a book!]
A very fast listen, read by Ms Beard herself. It's a great introduction to how things are and why. It does not go into how to make changes.
Being a female in a male dominated industry starting in the 1980s means I've been on the receiving end of the sort of bias and prejudice the author is writing about. I've even had to point out to women how their view of ‘pushy' or ‘loud' women is most likely inaccurate due to bias and that I'm most likely described the same way just for being a woman in this time and place and not sticking to the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant.
I'm looking forward to a book that talks about how to make changes.
So much comedy is contrived, which is probably what I don't like about that sort of comedy. This book, on the other hand, is natural comedy. And the audio version is so good! I'm not sure how the interaction between the 2 authors is done in the book, but the audio was like sitting there, with a good whiskey in hand, listening to 2 good friends roast each other while regaling you with their recent trip.
Sounds like this is about a travel show Mr. Heughan put together. I bet the show is even funnier, capturing the visual as well as the verbal humor.
Tons of good information about the history of Scotland, and both authors' careers, and I especially liked the songs and poetry scattered amongst the story.
This book gives me a better idea of what was going on back in February and March 2020 in New York hospitals. Gut wrenching, bring a kleenex sad but also so good to know that there are still doctors and hospital staff that truly care about people, not just the money.
I'm thankful this is such a short book [4 hours]; I don't think I could have handled a 10 hour book.
Horrifying topic and frightening at how some people looked at things. Disregard for someone's human rights still exists today but I'm glad that there have been improvements here n there since the 40s.
The author has organized the story into logical topics by chapter, and although I was really wanting to get to the stories of the individuals themselves faster than the author had things organized, I did find the chapters helpful in seeing the roadblocks put up to delay justice.
As I had to request this thru Interlibrary Loan, I wasn't able to complete the book in the time allowed to me but in the end I got what I really wanted to know.
The humor and the storytelling of this series reminds me of [b:The Atrocity Archives 101869 The Atrocity Archives (Laundry Files, #1) Charles Stross https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440461724l/101869.SY75.jpg 322252] and the Laundry Files series. Good flow to the plot, characters you can like and dislike, no sidetracking from the storyline, no jumping back-n-forth between plots, all things I like when I'm reading.Definitely will continue to the next in the series.
Not the usual Stephen King read. I scratched my head thru the whole book looking for Mr King's signature twist into alternate reality, looking for the creepy part to arrive that I assumed was referred to in the book jacket summary. Just a couple easter eggs to [b:The Stand|149267|The Stand|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1213131305l/149267._SX50_.jpg|1742269] and [b:The Shining|11588|The Shining|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353277730l/11588._SY75_.jpg|849585] about the 3/4 mark.
Many interesting ideas to contemplate thru the entire book! The traumas of childhood, war, rape, and revenge, the meticulousness and [can I really call it] split personalities required for an assassin, and the master craftsmanship of a good and long time writer as Mr King.
Interesting twist on the murder mystery theme.
Well written story wise and good movement of the plot although it went on a very long time. I didn't get a hint of the murderer til ‘the butler did it' scene, which I like.
I didn't like the structure of the paragraphs. There was absolutely no visual [and probably audio as well] transition of the storylines switching, not even a graphic separator or extra blank lines! I had to quickly reread the top of the paragraph to do the catch up and there was alot of switching going on.
I may try the next in the series, although I'm not a murder-based mystery fan.
Wish I would have read this book before [b:Across the Nightingale Floor 77160 Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, #1) Lian Hearn https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438630231l/77160.SY75.jpg 161332] as it does a great job of filling in the backstory of all the adults and rolls right into the beginning of that book. Thankfully I've read this immediately after and the details are still fresh in my mind to connect the characters' stories.Nicely written, doesn't tangent off the main story the author wants to tell [I hate when authors do that!], there's some jumping back and forth between the several parallel stories but it's pretty easy to catch back up.
Finally! A book that brings Pompeii to life! Not just those who were caught and entombed by the lava as so many documentaries have done. This author, tho she doesn't seem to have been one of those who did the direct work of unearthing and restoration, has definitely done her research of what Pompeii was like well before the life-changing explosion.
The author covers topics like games, businesses, politics and governance. It's amazing how much writing has been uncovered over the centuries and what folks can surmise from the depth of a rut.
This book was the result of ‘shelf surfing' and it never results in an enjoyable read for me. Perusing the ‘new books' or ‘fiction' shelf at the local library or buying an interesting book cover at the local bookstore seems to always result in a very depressing or unsatisfactory read. And this was was not different.
It seemed like 95% of the characters were ‘seedy' and what they were saying was negative and depressing. I was hoping to get a sense of storytelling in South Africa, I'm crossing my fingers this was the exception and not the rule.
Not as enjoyable as [b:Golden Buddha 41703 Golden Buddha (Oregon Files, #1) Clive Cussler https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338482352l/41703.SY75.jpg 1666204]. It doesn't have as much as the humorous interactions between the characters and there are several different plots going on at the same time, which got me lost at times and forgetting where different plots left off.But still lots of great action.
The plot was great! I'd always wondered what major transitions, of any kind, would look like. And being a fan of science, this hit the mark.
I'm a science fan who doesn't want the nitty-gritty details of the sciences involved, nor do I want to spend time making sure the science is accurate or viable. I want it to be thought provoking and support the plot. Interestingly, this book was all over the place in this area for me.
It seemed the author was thinking out loud, walking thru the situations to solve the various issues of what it would take to make all the transitions necessary. I liked some of the detail but not paragraphs and paragraphs that stalled plot over and over. I'm sure someone who likes to deep dive will really enjoy this aspect of the book.
You can tell this book is written by a fellow journalist that feels research and the facts are important, not sensationalism and inflammatory wording. [a:Marie Colvin 6425697 Marie Colvin https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s name didn't ring a bell and I suspect it's because she reported for a UK news agency and I intentionally limit my exposure to news.I'm thankful I didn't read this during 2020 or the start of 2021 when my mood was dark and troubled by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on my daily life. The horrors experienced by others is already difficult for me to deal with and adding Marie's life on top of these 2 would have been too much.The author did an amazing job of showing Marie's good points and bad points. How both aspects made her a good fit for the type of work she chose to live. I'm not yet done with the book and I suspect I'm not going to make it to the end. She's already into conflicts I remember seeing and hearing on the news that I would see on tvs that I would pass in my daily comings and goings. It's starting to add detail and the horror [which she wanted people to know about now that I think about it].Interestingly, I came across a reference to the documentary/movie “A Private War” that I watched, and which picks up where I am now in her life, to her last moments. And while writing this review I see [b:On the Front Line: The Collected Journalism of Marie Colvin 19015506 On the Front Line The Collected Journalism of Marie Colvin Marie Colvin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385622146l/19015506.SY75.jpg 21378920] as a recommend. I'd love to read this, to experience her thoughts directly.... but not right now.
I love the Smithsonian and all the museums and work they do. I've even worked behind the scenes in the Natural History Museum's archives on a research project. And I love the idea of a Secretary of the Smithsonian combing thru all their collections and taking advantage of the staff on a treasure hunt of sorts.
Which is why I'm surprised that I wasn't so interested in the story itself. I didn't make it very far in the book even after having it 6 weeks on my book shelf. In hindsight I should have known better. I've never visited the Natural History Museum. Not even when I worked on the research project in that building. I've always visited the air and space, the cultural history, and the non-modern art museums.
The interest here was what it might have been like the ‘eve' of the Nazi army's invasion of Paris. What are people worrying about, what are they doing or not doing, who is cutting and running? The list of characters are pretty seedy and not altruistic and of course not alot of action but there is alot of interaction between characters and lots of mystery.
