jess

Really enjoyable book about meditation and applying buddhist ideas to your actual, real, non-meditating life. The last few chapters are less fun than the rest of the book, but I suppose at some point, he did have to get serious. I would have really appreciated a concise reference in the back that just listed all of the lists (4 beings, 12 whatevers, etc.). Read it!

Hold up. Stop. Whether you like this book depends so much on, well, you.

Anne gives us basically a stream of consciousness scream for why we can be happy with more mercy for ourselves and others. I truly enjoyed it. I felt inspired by her lists, imperfections, sardonic humor, and questioning humanness. It is so easy to relate, to see the same failures, questions, and reasons for hope in our lives...or at least for me it was.

Whether or not you pick up or enjoy this book, I wish you mercy. Treat yourself like a friend. Listen to you, really listen. Chill out. Love.

This is a fascinating a detailed story covering the actions of Lawrence and other key players before, during, and after WW1.
So much of what is discussed in this book was not part of my public education on the war, so I needed to refer to additional texts to understand the geography and people discussed in this book.

I highly recommend this book if you are interested in history, other views of WW1, the middle east, or political development.

An excellent follow up to the Name of the Wind. The only downside to finishing this book is that Book 3 is not written yet (or at least not published). Kvothe continues recounting his tale to the Chronicler, as events in the little town unfold slowly. Like in the first book, there's intrigue, danger, magic, and, of course, lots of learning. I love the world that has been created here; the mythologies of the different peoples are fascinating.

Definitely read The Name of the Wind and then The Wise Man's Fear. I have to limit my recommendation to adults because there is some sexual content - it's not super graphic, but I most youth would squirm a bit at the reading.

A quick guide to prepare us for dealing with people (just like ourselves) who aren't perfect all the time.

This is a somewhat scary children's (maybe middle grade) story - our POV character finds a portal to a somewhat different dimension and has to be brave and use creativity to save herself and others. In the end, she realizes that real life is quite interesting after all, and love isn't about always getting what you want. Well done.

Justina Ireland gives us a beauty of an adventure through the eyes of Jane. Jane's story is challenging. She works hard. What makes the story such a delight is Jane's remarkable spirit, quick wit, deep love, and courage.

Even terrible zombies, racist jerks, and a society bent on making her life miserable do not keep Jane down.


I can't wait to follow along in her head for the next book in the series.

An informative and entertaining trip through different major functions of the body. I enjoyed Hamblin's humor and approach. The stories are illustrative, and the actual illustrations are whimsical (not expected in a medical/body/science book).

I'd recommend this to anyone who like pop science books. It's fun. Parent caution - there is graphic detail on sex organs.

One of the most surprising stories I've read in a Long time. Nicky takes us on a wild, magical, bit of science fiction.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale. Ernest Cline draws up a dystopian future that is somehow optimistic and fills it with lovable and despicable characters that have some depth and mystery. The main plot driver is compelling and keeps the characters and readers in line. There were a few points in the story where readers may go, “wha-at?” - I certainly did - like, when one lady is identified as a character's only real-life friend and may have died, but is not mentioned at all. The story still pulls you forward.

Readers who grew up in the 1970s and 80s will appreciate the nod to popular culture of the time. It's fun to read about a future world where familiar sitcoms, movies, and songs are called upon in almost biblical fashion by earnest youths.

With one completely unnecessary discussion of masturbation, this book limits its audience. Other than that, the book is completely PG. There is some violence, but it is always “off screen” and there is no gore. Parents can make their own decisions on whether to recommend this to middle grade readers.

Fun science fiction with magic. The characters have texture, the plot is compelling, the world is interesting. There are a few things that bug me - like whole worlds having a single language and government...but not enough to take away from the story. I look forward to the next one.

A particularly disturbing but fascinating book. The sense of unreality pervaded the story, as I could hardly imagine it to be true. A powerful work of nonfiction which brings new perspective on any previous “understanding” of how events leading up to the Second World War passed.

This book has a strong headed female POV character who just happens to be a little but if a badass...and she doesn't even realize it. The book is also a romance with three leading couples. The plot and setting give us castles and dragons...and other fierce creatures.

I found no love in this book, save maybe at the very end. None of the characters, though well developed, are likable! I do not recommend this one.

I can't say too much for fear of spoilers. If you liked The Maze Runner, and are over about age 12, you will probably like this story.

The fast pace of the action makes this one a real page turner. You are fully absorbed as a teenager in a virtual world. Are you going to survive the challenge?

I'm not a boss. This book is technically not for me.

However, I listened to the podcast, and I truly enjoyed the way that questions were handled on that show. This book offers more details on the foundations of Kim's thinking towards radical candor as well as many examples.

It's a helpful how to for different situations.

Some interesting new elements to the story and characters here. I still get frustrated with the exposition and sometimes preachy. The characters just don't realize that they've already made their point. I keep reading through it because I want to know what happens, and the world is still unfolding.

This is a perfect book to follow a reading of Enders Game. At first, I was skeptical, but the “same” story from a different perspective was even more compelling.

My goodness. I seriously made it through this whole series expecting for something good to be at the end.

Even with an ending I hated, this was a good series. Throughout, the characters are colorful and full of flaws, the plot drags you along, and there are mysterious powers to keep you guessing.

Takeaway - society is terrible, people need to be herded by almost-omnipotent-not-so-benevolent-rich-men. < I reject this takeaway completely - I still think people can change, good things do happen, and society is not terrible >

I mostly enjoyed this book. I'm already into the next one.

The world is vaguely recognizable. The key characters and places are vibrant. You love some characters and love to hate others. Character is a strong point. Joe makes everyone have good and bad points, so there's no-one unblemished. I rather like it – makes the story stronger as characters must navigate the world like real people with strengths and weaknesses - not everyone notices their failings, so the reader has some more information than the characters.

Some jumping between characters and scenes, but it is well done and doesn't feel too harsh. The different characters and events are in the same timeline; although I wasn't sure about that until about half way through this book.

There are points in the story where I got stuck - like at the very beginning where Logan goes over a cliff and then is somehow back at his camp shortly (time unclear) after. I kept thinking about how that happened. Cliffs and rivers lead to distance and time. Despite a few things like that, which the author probably covered and I missed, the story is definitely worth a read.

It ends in a place that practically begs for the next book, though, so be prepared before you finish it with Before They Were Hanged.

This story is well written from the perspective of a highly functioning autistic boy. However, people are so mean in the story that it made me sad.

Truth is so much stranger than fiction.
The characters in this history are hard to believe, and I am so glad that people of the time wrote so much. How would we be able to piece out all of the controversies, plots, loves, betrayals, and everyday life without the writing?

This book leaves me wanting to read still more history from this time. I read The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty a few years ago, and this book gives more life to the characters at the beginning of the Tudor dynasty.

Wow. Just, wow. Each of Louis' ordeals seems to crush the previous in terms of hardship and his response. The timeline is unthinkable. Most of the major incidents his life, as retold in this book, occur within a few short years of his youth. Such highs and lows seem like they would crush a human spirit, and he is crushed. His recovery and ascendence to peace makes the story heartwarming even as there is unspeakable cruelty within.

I'd recommend this book to folks interested in history, running (you'll be impressed), and life stories. I'm thankful that my dentist recommended this book several years ago and that I found it.

A page turner for such a topic. Hamilton is a fascinating figure, and this biography situates him within the American History we all learned in school but with a much more human element.

Khaled Hosseini writes gripping fiction here that pulls out the import of each of the choices and actions we make. This story is far less difficult to read, graphically, than The Kite Runner and takes a different perspective than A Thousand Splendid Suns ( which is a fantastic novel). The tragedy of human relationships, mental blocks, fears, and loves are magnified through the lives of generations.

Characters are developed internally, so the reader can relate to their views, biases, hopes, and pains while still able to see the characters mistakes and misjudgments by having the bigger picture supplied by other characters.

The story is certainly a tragedy (to me) but it is beautiful and real. Read it!