Mikhael

Haven't listened to the podcast in a while but the book brought me right back. Like everything in the night vale universe, this story is funny, sometimes horrific, and topped off with a strong helping of social commentary. But the semi preachy undertones feel well delivered when told through para-non-sequiturs that, in night vale, actually do follow

Feels mean to say Dostoyevsky did it better but... I can see how this appeals to angsty teenage nihilists. Still a very good book though (that probably merited more time), so four stars seems fair

Some stuff tracks. Some doesn't. Adger makes a lot of stuff clear/accessible on the surface, but enough poking around will probably reveal minimalism isn't enough to model language adequately.

Almost all hits, just a few stories that wound up “eh.” Not a frequent reader of horror, but this was really accessible

Arguably more psychology than linguistics, but still does a great job with the breadth of field. One star off because of some unnecessary, gross simplifications (on the linguistics side at least). Very pretty design/pictures/layout too!

Very good memoir/bio that I picked up at half price. Already was a fan of the album Hollywood Park, but the story behind Mikel's family/cult/addiction/faith/triumph augments the listening experience a ton

Bastante comprensivo en solo 200 páginas, mas también bastante farragoso

Far from my usual genres, this was a fantastical detective novel that got my attention right away... and then lost it. Still whimsical and fun, which is weird (in a good way) for a hardboiled detective story

Good little overview of the history of the Basques, in particular their language

Feel like I lived in France, I can see why a bunch of stuffy yet maybe sensitive literary critics awarded this the Pulitzer

Brutal. Well written and provocative, but for my money, gratuitous. I want to read more Ōe

Brilliant and (for the most part) concise. I deduct one star because the editor must have forgotten their glasses in several sections.

Insightful studies that could be quick to consume but definitely merit digestion

Trask makes academic writing funny; this wasn't a slog. Very informative

Was gonna give this four stars, but honestly it's a great assemblage of articles on Basque language history, no real reason to deduct a full star

Uf, este Don Miguel me hace pensar más que debería, pero con esta nivola, pues ahora me vuelvo loco reflexionando en mi libre albedrío (lo cual tengo, pero lo tengo inútil)

Ward is clearly a deft writer, and despite the generally straightforward tale, the author has managed to weave emotional twists and still occasionally subvert the reader's expectations. This story isn't really about hurricane Katrina, but the storm in these pages is still disruptive, forcing readers to reflect on class, race, and the incensed heart of a mother.

I initially clicked on the fifth star, that's how good this book is. It's thoroughly researched (almost a fifth of the pages are references), and the author cites diverse believers of Protestantism, Western, and Eastern Christian traditions. I've been exploring Orthodoxy a lot these last few months, and my biggest complaint about this book is that Gavin doesn't sufficiently address the things that make Orthodoxy distinct from Catholicism. That's where he loses the fifth star. He makes a compelling case for iconoclasty/aniconicty, but even icons aren't uniquely Orthodox. Anyways, read this book if you want evidence for why even the so-called “Catholic/Orthodox Church Fathers” held much more so-called “Protestant” beliefs.

Perfect listen on a windy walk to school in October. Recommended by my pastor, who knows well my disposition towards rationalism.