im always a sucker for harry potter esque school training/the coming up of someone who had special gifts but wasn't recognized til much later, and theim always a sucker for harry potter esque school training/the coming up of someone who had special gifts but wasn't recognized til much later, and the first part of the book sure fit that!
did not enjoy the 2nd half when the setting shifted, so i will prob not pick up the rest of the series...more
fantastic fantasy story based in the middle east — djinns, magic powers, love triangle, dark pasts, conspiracies, hidden enemies. ate it up, and lookifantastic fantasy story based in the middle east — djinns, magic powers, love triangle, dark pasts, conspiracies, hidden enemies. ate it up, and looking forward to book 3...more
i guess im at the age where self help books are actually helpful — while i don't fully identify as a "scanner" as defined in the book, the book contaii guess im at the age where self help books are actually helpful — while i don't fully identify as a "scanner" as defined in the book, the book contains many exercises that helped me tremendously while battling my perfectionism and deep dissatisfaction with my (creative/professional) life.
i am not finished with the book, but i enjoyed the main exercise of keeping a journal and writing about an idea, and considering that doing so may actually bring me enough closure to move on (and if not, i can alwayas come back). this has helped me get a lot of ideas in my head/subconscious down, and make me feel less panicked that i'm not doing them all. heck, most of the ones i write down, i no longer care too much about
it has several other exercises, like writing down your ideal day, visualization exercises using your home, identifying your rewards... all super duper helpful
highly recommend for any mid/quarter life crisis creatives (thanks to my friend amelie who recommended it)...more
Big fan of Jenny since watching her talks at EyeO over the years. Resisting in place is a concept that doesn't come naturally to me - I'm either all iBig fan of Jenny since watching her talks at EyeO over the years. Resisting in place is a concept that doesn't come naturally to me - I'm either all in or I'm all out, in life and work. So something still for me to think about...more
v enjoyed this book as someone who likes to learn new languages and understand how words and grammar are formed.
i picked up this book as i was studyiv enjoyed this book as someone who likes to learn new languages and understand how words and grammar are formed.
i picked up this book as i was studying arabic (recommended by a web peer), just to understand the logic behind it a bit more (which, to be totally fair, is a terrible way to learn a language), and the chapters on the similarities of semitic languages of arabic and hebrew were super fascinating, as were the others on how english is totally weird....more
best way to read this book is the way the book recommends you to read: skim thru it, find interesting parts, then move on
this book helped me move awaybest way to read this book is the way the book recommends you to read: skim thru it, find interesting parts, then move on
this book helped me move away from the front-to-back-cover reading mentality taught in compulsory education. story not gripping? jump to the end to see if the payoff is worth it (imo spoilers dont always ruin the story, especially if you were not enjoying the reading)...more
this was a TOUGH read and ultimately i found book 2 a bit more interesting (and skipped around the book to find the interesting parts). the detail putthis was a TOUGH read and ultimately i found book 2 a bit more interesting (and skipped around the book to find the interesting parts). the detail put into the book reminded me of lord of the rings in its ability to make me zone out (i'm not one for details — get to the dialogue!). definitely compelling world, and hope it gets an adaptation...more
this is an amazing collection of short stories, written by an east asian author, the titular story are heartbreaking, and incredibly relatable for anythis is an amazing collection of short stories, written by an east asian author, the titular story are heartbreaking, and incredibly relatable for any child of immigrants to a western country that felt ashamed of their parent's expression of their culture at any point in their lives...more
i was so looking forward to another collection of short stories by asian authors (following me reading the paper menagerie), but this one fell a bit fi was so looking forward to another collection of short stories by asian authors (following me reading the paper menagerie), but this one fell a bit flat to me, with lots of varying qualities of stories. i dont think i ended up finishing all of it (maybe like 80%)...more
**spoiler alert** this book did not go the way i thought it would (expected more focus on the mathematics setting/riemann hypothesis setup), but overa**spoiler alert** this book did not go the way i thought it would (expected more focus on the mathematics setting/riemann hypothesis setup), but overall was very enjoyable "finding of your roots" / "ill-fated romance" type of story.
i binged it in one late night (good weekend read)...more
not my fav le guin, but the point of the story is still compelling in the way it made me reflect on how stories are told and if the reliability of narnot my fav le guin, but the point of the story is still compelling in the way it made me reflect on how stories are told and if the reliability of narrators is as important as we make it seem...more
**spoiler alert** very much reminded me of "all you need is kill" (manga that live die repeat/edge of tomorrow was based on), and i cant say i hate a **spoiler alert** very much reminded me of "all you need is kill" (manga that live die repeat/edge of tomorrow was based on), and i cant say i hate a time travel recursion-til-you-win with deep romance/bonds formed...more
greatly enjoyed this series, its world-building, and potential for a v v v cool film/tv adaptation. would agree book 1/2 shined the most, but still — greatly enjoyed this series, its world-building, and potential for a v v v cool film/tv adaptation. would agree book 1/2 shined the most, but still — wholeheartedly recommend...more
really enjoyed this new world build by the author — the ideas of how magic is done in this universe are super fascinating, and the story is very compereally enjoyed this new world build by the author — the ideas of how magic is done in this universe are super fascinating, and the story is very compelling. cant wait for book 2...more
v interesting case studies, to be sure, but almost a year after having read it, i have a hard time recalling the main takeaways. it might be my memoryv interesting case studies, to be sure, but almost a year after having read it, i have a hard time recalling the main takeaways. it might be my memory, tho...more
i was pretty pumped by the setup, as someone who always enjoys non-western speculative fiction, but ultimately the story did not hit as hard as i was i was pretty pumped by the setup, as someone who always enjoys non-western speculative fiction, but ultimately the story did not hit as hard as i was expecting...more
i know that the points in this book are good, but it's just really really quite dry to read. im at like 60% on kindle, prob wont pick it up againi know that the points in this book are good, but it's just really really quite dry to read. im at like 60% on kindle, prob wont pick it up again...more
2nd book I've read by RJB and so far so good! Really like his world building, and this book is no exceptions!2nd book I've read by RJB and so far so good! Really like his world building, and this book is no exceptions!...more
a totally competent murder mystery set in space, just wasn't particularly memorablea totally competent murder mystery set in space, just wasn't particularly memorable...more
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