sneha
“why has no one told me this before” the kind of stuff you wish your parents, educators, GP OB/GYN, friend, coach should tell you about.
I know the book can be tl;dr into 30-40 mins of cardio most days and some strength training too. I know exercise is necessary and good but the HOW of it, impact and effects of it on body and brain was really fun to read and learn from. I'll be revisiting this every time i feel like i am falling off the wagon.
if only the science of it all was gelled a bit smother with case studies (really enjoyed those) but really i am being being nitpicky.
I wonder what's behind the rise in senior-citizen-focused books, particularly in the true crime genre. In the last quarter alone, I've read five books where elderly women living alone have been the main characters, and I've really enjoyed their portrayal – independent, cheerful, and happily surrounded by their older female friends. This one doesn't do anything particularly unique, but it was a pleasant, cosy read. Engaging enough for me to reach for book two. :)
In the midst of a war, this man manages to date while having both Germany and Britain fund his three girlfriends, continues to party like it's his last day (again, on the dime of two opposing nations), then seamlessly returns to a successful criminal life—avoiding prosecution under the guise of his “wartime secret service.”
I want to dislike him, but my God, it's hard not to be weirdly impressed.
IMO this book went a little heavy-handed with Ben Macintyre's pro-British leaning.
You rarely run into books that feel like sipping iced coffee in a pool by the beach in the soft winter sun. Everything is perfectly fine. This is that kind of book. The concept, characters, pacing, execution, and prose are all just perfect. When I say cosy, fun murder mysteries – this is what I mean. Please take notes and make more of this. The joy I got was unmatched.
It felt like a self-centred stream of thought while looking at others' lives like a fish in a bowl, hoping to refine your own lie. It's difficult to categorise this book based on my reading experience. It felt too long and short simultaneously. This isn't about the immigrant experience, start-home journey, socialising as adults, or finding familiar ties while growing old. It is a relatable book to the extent that you get mad at characters because they show your flaws and fears, but it gets stuck there – doesn't move further to integrate these feelings and experiences. Does it need no? No, but wouldn't that be more fun?
The book is incredibly frustrating. I can't make sense of the disconnected chapters; there's no rhyme or reason to their organization. It's not linear—neither by her age, her album releases, nor her years in the music industry. It doesn't delve deeply into her lyricism or the lore surrounding her, nor does it explore her personal life or professional struggles in any meaningful way. The entire book feels like a scattershot approach—dabbling here and there without focus.
I expected more from a Rolling Stone journalist. The only way I managed to finish it was by switching to the audiobook version and treating each chapter as a standalone ramble. If you're looking for a deeper dive into the cultural phenomenon of Taylor Allison Swift, I recommend checking out Swiftologist or Evolution of Snake.
The reason my rating is somewhat generous is that I did learn new things about her musical influences, and I've discovered a trove of new music to explore further.
This is probably the simplest yet most unique book I've read this year. There's no plot—just vibes—but the emotional depth is something you can really sink into. A lot of the experiences feel like they're pulled from the author's own life or his family's, but they hit on something universal about the immigrant experience. It's such a warm, straightforward book, full of love, sadness, and small, beautiful joys. I also love how he sticks to the screenplay style all the way through, even in the acknowledgments. I'm really curious to see how they'll bring this to life as a TV show.
DNF-ing it after 63% because I would have killed soneone if I carried on.
The title and the premise is as misleading as the main characters ability to write a novel. I haven't seen a “cosy crime” book this bad in a long long time. maybe things drastically get better in the last few chapters but honestly you couldn't pay me to push through the rest of the book. skip it, please. and someone compensate me for the emotional damage caused by it.
