Darkø
If you love sci-fi and space operas, this is a must! As the first book in that genre, it wasn't always easy to follow all the more scientific things, but it was manageable!
Really a unique reading experience and an incredibly complex and though-out novel!
Dan Simmons rarely disappoint!
In my honest opinion, this is just like a less serious version of The Dune. It is weird at moments, but the art style is great and the story grabs attention, no matter how silly or non-sensical it gets at times.
Somehow, I fell like I've missed the point/story of the book... I can't believe that I'm giving just 3 stars to King's book, but after reading this book left more questions than answers, the book feels rushed, the story lacks a proper depth and characters are just bland and I didn't feel connected to any of them.
Interesting book overall, but with a few parts that bore the hell out of me.
I like the fact that the book story slightly diverges from the tv show story, so it didn't feel spoiled that much.
I was interested in the story around Martians and their technology but there are a very few mentions about it and it's origin, so I guess that I will have to read more about it in the 2nd book (:
Another thing that troubled me is that Kovach has neurochems which are giving him an edge in the combat, but his opponents (except Trep (Blink?)) doesn't seem to be using that advantage and are dying like a flies :/
After finishing the book, I really don't understand why it's called The Passage, I'm not a native speaker so it's maybe some kind of wordplay? Anyway, I'll recommend this as a really good horror/thriller story, despite the true ending is kinda missing. Cronin combines two classic and bit overused literary elements–vampires and the end of the world–and spins them into something entirely fresh and new, and to me this was like a combination of King's The Stand and Dark Tower, McCarthy's The Road and a bit of the Guillermo del Toro's The Strain, all the good parts. 7/10
One thing that I disliked is how we're suddenly introduced to a whole new set of characters, I feel that the author missed the chance to write a bit more about conflict with infected, but oh well. Once you get used to new characters and get to know them better it's just another good part of the story. Another (big time) thing that was really a let down is how the book ended, I really wanted to know what happens with Peter, Alicia, Amy and rest of the crew...
Says published in 2018, but packages used are outdated. The current version of the Electron is 5 but in the book, we are using version 1.x.x in code examples. That aside, it is a solid introduction to Electron, I've hoped for a bit more advanced dive but still satisfied with what I've read.
A solid introduction to Electron, this book has everything you need to get up and running with Electron.js. On the other hand, the Electron version used in the book is outdated, as at a time of this review the latest version is 5.0.2 but in the book, it's 1.6.x, there is a few breaking changes in API since this book is published, but nothing that a few minutes of googling can't solve.
Really great chapters about packaging, distributing and updating applications, though I've hoped for a bit advanced dive (delta updates, AWS releases, etc.).
Very poor executed sci-fi. The background story is really interesting, but the main characters feel like they have been moved from some 5c sci-fi detective story, just could not keep my attention on them and kept forgetting who is who. The main character is a bit annoying, jack of all trades and hidden schizophrenic...
I skimmed through the book, but as after reading the Foundation book by David Brind I'm really disappointed. I hope that the quality of writing and story improves in 2nd book in Uplift series.
Had a long trip ahead and a few Audible books on the phone so I've decided to give this book a go. And all I had in mind while listening to this is that there is no way that you can make any books that have code or program instructions to be comfortable to listen instead of reading. I, also, don't get the point of reading whole URLs (sometimes with queries) or describing software interface and where to click.
Don't get me wrong, this book is probably a good choice for beginners but it's utterly useless for any individual familiar with programming on security testing. To quote part of another review:
“It skims over the basic history and types of attacks and then spews a bunch of penetration testing tools which will be outdated shortly. There are no true hacking or penetration tips that you couldn't resolve from common sense or a basic security seminar. This is more of a pamphlet than a book.”
So, 1/5 from me, it's not worth the read for any devs with basic knowledge of the security.
3.5
Ian McDonald's books are so vivid and captivating, and I always feel as though I have learned a lot about whichever culture the story is set in. I'm fascinated by his switching of the places where the book story happens while being able to really immerse the reader into that place culture.
Regarding Brasyl, the author evoked a pretty vivid picture of Brazil, but while having a great story, this book is one of the books that I was impatient to be done with reading. Perhaps because the first 40% of the book was all about character and world-building but in the end, a few of these characters, in my opinion, were left fragmented and undeveloped. After that, the story gains the pace, and I binge-read it in two days.
Brushing the lives of different characters living in Brazil in different times and centuries, the author finally has their stories strangely overlapping in a universe comprehensible only through the prism of mystical believes of indigenous people from the Amazon, mixed with some of the most baffling theories and hypothesis in contemporary physics -quantum theory, multiverse, computation, etc. A very good book but definitely, not an easy read.
An incredible book with loads of insight and an excellent understanding of human nature, the fog of war, and the unnecessary but inevitable conflict between different cultures with no real communication. This is my new favorite book!
Probably my favorite graphic novel, the story opens on the surface with a young, angsty girl trying to follow her passion for D&D. However, as the story progresses, we find that Barbara and her family are dealing with extra issues out of their control that Barbara personally chooses not to tackle, deciding to hide behind fantasy instead.
Beautiful art and story.
Absolutely brilliant.
The (audio)book itself was such a slog to get through, and the scientific developments and terminology were exhausting to listen to sometimes, but the story is compelling as hell, and it was actually really worth it in the end. The Dark Forest idea is an interesting answer to Fermi's paradox.
This is one of those series of books that draws you in hard and right with the narration, story, intriguing and characters. The author did a superb job investing time and energy and emotion and life into the whole story. Easily one of the best fictions I've ever read.
Initially, the book's writing style nearly led me to abandon it—it felt raw and lazily crafted. However, as I delved deeper, the captivating story held me spellbound, keeping me awake until 2 am for several consecutive nights. Surprisingly, the not-so-elegant writing style melds with the narrative and characters.
The gradual yet intriguing development of characters and world-building unfolds seamlessly. The intricacies of politics, schemes, and the daily machinations within a sprawling city, coupled with the ambitions, struggles, and excesses of its inhabitants, create a captivating tapestry. This book encompasses everything from parliamentary drama to stadium excitement, and each element is skillfully executed. It stands as a stellar example of the grim-dark fantasy genre.
Steven Erikson's concluding installment in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series is a tour de force that delivers on all fronts. The intricate storytelling, rich character development, and breathtaking world-building continue to shine in this final chapter. The epic battles and magical confrontations in “The Crippled God” are nothing short of awe-inspiring, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
The characters in this series have become like old friends, and seeing their stories reach their culmination was both heart-wrenching and uplifting. Moreover, the thematic depth of the story, exploring concepts of redemption, sacrifice, and the consequences of power, left me pondering long after I finished the last page. The moral dilemmas faced by the characters were thought-provoking and added layers of complexity to the narrative.
Since this is going to be my review for the whole series, I can't give it anything less than five stars, but while I appreciate the depth of the world-building and intricate plotlines, there were times when the complexity became overwhelming. It's not the kind of series where you can casually skim through a chapter. I'm pretty sure I missed some important details that would help with understanding the story later in other books. The series assumes that you've been following along diligently, and it doesn't hold your hand when it comes to recaps or explanations. If you take breaks between books or aren't fully committed to the series, you might struggle to keep up with the intricate narrative.
Also, as I finished reading “The Crippled God,” I couldn't help but feel that some plot threads and character arcs were left somewhat unresolved. Given the vast number of characters and subplots in the series, it's challenging to tie up everything neatly, but it left me with some lingering questions and a sense of wanting more closure in certain areas.
Last, but not the least, the series, including “The Crippled God,” is emotionally heavy. The themes of loss, war, and tragedy are prevalent throughout, and it can be emotionally draining. While I appreciate the depth of these themes, it's not a series I would recommend if you're looking for a lighter or more uplifting fantasy read.
Ultimately, I can't help but be grateful for the (years-long) journey the Malazan Book of the Fallen series has taken me on. It's a series that has challenged, entertained, and enriched my reading experience in ways I couldn't have imagined. “The Crippled God” is a stunning conclusion to an epic tale, and I'm sure I'll be reading other books from the same universe in the future.
Loved it! Brilliant and thought-provoking!
This is a book that delves deeply into philosophy and metaphysics, even more deeply into religion (and why you shouldn't preach it to an alien race), and has no doubt left a lot of readers feeling a little uneasy as this book asks very difficult questions and challenges its readers.
Looking at those poor reviews I can only assume that this book (alongside the 2nd one) isn't for everyone, especially if you are expecting more like the first book. There is more philosophy than action, with the question of how do we eventually treat an alien species examined from just about every perspective, and in contrast with the first book which can be placed between the young adult genre, the 2nd and this one are definitely for the adult public.
I myself very much enjoyed the first 2 books in the series, and I think this one is the best so far.
On the other hand, Greg and Quara's character development is really poor (i guess intentionally), annoying brats.
This is a very quick read and also a very enjoyable read. I have always thought the scariest horror is the horror that explores the unknown. This book explores that concept, gripping you with a surreal feeling which reminded me of Lovecraft's books.
The ending surprised me, tho, as I was expecting the same one from the movie. The book doesn't seem to have an actual ending, just a cliffhanger.
Each story consistently became darker and darker. Even the initial dark was a lot darker than I'm comfortable with, not the type of story I would normally pick to read. On the other side, each and every story had me hooked from the start, and I hated for it to end. My favorites were 1922 and Fair Extention, but other stories were also close.
Recommendation for readers that want to leave their comfort zone for a while.
Slightly better than the previous book, but seems to be written in a rush, with not enough focus on story and some characters. Readable 7/10
Peopleware emphasizes the importance of understanding people's individual characteristics and building strong relationships between team members to help teams reach their goals. So-called jelled teams - self-managing and independent.
I learned that creating a productive team environment is about having the right tools and processes in place and understanding the individuals in the team and how they interact with each other. This book also provides strategies for improving teamwork, communication, motivation, and morale to help teams reach their goals. It also outlines how to create an environment where teams can thrive and be successful, and to be honest, this is something that has been nagging me for a long time but I couldn't put my finger on it - open offices are a bane of the modern workspaces and can either destroy or improve collaboration, so it's important to pay attention to that as well.
Peopleware is a must-read for anyone in the workplace, from executives and managers to employees. It is a great resource for those who want to understand how to create productive projects and teams and is also beneficial for those who want to learn more about how to effectively manage and lead teams and foster an atmosphere of collaboration and cooperation.
I'm not into this kind of books, but I've had this on the phone and a long commute so I've decided to give it a go.
2.5/5, rounding to 3 just because I've listened to it to the end.
All I can say is that this was an interesting experience. Eckhart Tolle clearly had a lot of time to think over his answers and questions, and here and there I had to admit that he's right. It's kinda, that he's talking about (at least for me) basic stuff, to not get stressed, stay calm and think about your situation at the moment (now, it is) and to not depend too much on the things that will (if) happen in the future. But he wraps all of this into his new-age, neo-religion, mysticism and it sounds totally different, yet the same, once you try really hard to understand what's he talking about.
But, we, people, are not the same, and not everyone can just turn off all toward unconsciousness (bad stuff) that happens to most of us, so the best thing that we can do is to do our best to get our shit together :)
Some cons:
The part about (physical) healing was really not something you want to depend on when you need, so please go to the doctor if you need, and then meditate how much you want. Also, a chapter about giving up and surrendering to the others that are mistreating and abusing you... Maybe I've misunderstood but, there is a proper way to deal with that kind of stuff, and trying to think it away won't help in most of the cases.
TLDR: Take everything from this book with a grain of salt and with a clear mind, there are some good
pieces of advice, but there is a lot of opinionated ones.