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2024 Independent Challenge
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Ioana's 2024 Independent Challenge
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Ioana
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Sep 18, 2024 11:00AM
The Graveyard Book I'm not a big Gaiman fan, but this little book unexpectedly warmed my heart. Loved Bod, the way he discovers the world, the graveyard and its magic, the relationships between characters and their magic. Solid 4 stars.
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It's been a while since my last update, life has been busy, but in a good way. There have been a few good books and a few DNFs (mostly my fault, not the books'). The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story Interesting story about jungle trekking in Honduras in search of a lost city called the White City or the Lost City of the Monkey God and its civilization. The author, Douglas Preston, is the brother of Richard Preston (author of The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus ). I had no idea, but it seems they both can tell a good story.
The jungle is wild and impenetrable, inhabited by jaguars, poisonous snakes and lots of deadly insects. It's an adventure that I loved reading about, but would never, never want to be part of. 3 stars
Save Me from Dangerous Men had potential, but I was not sold. Nikki Griffin is a PI tracking men who are dangerous for her women clients, but of course, this case is one in which roles get reversed, and one of these dangerous men starts tracking her. Interesting setup, but there were many situations hard to digest, and a lot of "I know what's happening, I'll tell you later" moments - and I don't like those. I want to know what you, the PI knows, when you know it.
I'm not sure I'll read the 2nd book in this series, and it seems the author was in no rush to add a 3rd book to this series, either. 3.5 stars.
The Graveyard Book. I'm not a big Gaiman fan, but this little book unexpectedly warmed my heart. Loved Bod, the way he discovers the world, the graveyard and its magic, the relationships between characters and their magic. 4 stars
Dawn - one of the best books I've read this year. After the earth is destroyed by people in a final war, some people are rescued by the Oankalis, placed in some sort of hibernation, and later awakened, one by one.
They are not benevolent friends, they have their plans, and the story is both horrifying and hopeful. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. 4.5 stars
Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and FalloutShort book about the life of Marie Curie, and from it, stories about Chernobyl, the Three Mile Island, the radium girls, the WW2 bombs, etc. Fascinating. 4 stars
The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings another NF, interesting, but too heavy on dates and names I was not familiar with, so keeping all straight was a struggle. 2.5 stars
Somewhere Beyond the Sea I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and I wanted to love this one too, but I didn't.I still liked the characters and the whimsical setup, but it bothered me how thick and heavy the message was...way too much. 3 stars
The Art of Hearing Heartbeats Beautiful prose, but too lyrical for my taste, and too heavy on magical realism, which is not my thing. Others would love it, I'm sure, but for me, 2.5 stars.
Saving Noah I don't know what to say about this book without spoiling it...it's pretty dark and not an easy read, disturbing and definitely thought provoking. 4 starsThe Measure gets mixed reviews, and I'm in the camp of readers who liked it. Maybe because I'm an "what if" person, always trying to anticipate what can go wrong and what to do not to get there, this book really spoke to me. There are things in life that we do not control...Que Sera, Sera.
Normally, an ending where we don't get an answer would bother me. Who sent the boxes? Why?...but not in this case.
The measure of one's life is not the length of the life, but the way the life is lived.
The implications of knowing how long everybody will live has impacts not only on each individual's life (get married or not? have children or not?), but in the care they receive at the hospital (why bother if he/she will die soon anyway?), in the military recruitment process, in the job hiring process, in the risks one would take during every day activities, in the political scene... basically all aspects of our lives. There is discrimination at all levels, relationships change, etc.
So glad we don't know... 4 stars
Reamde. Very entertaining, but way too long. There are Americans, Russians, Chinese and Arab jihadists. Car chases, boat chases, computer games, lots of money (both real and false, both in the real world and in the game), lots of guns, grenades, explosions, lots of coincidences....and way too many words. 3 stars, maybe 3.5.
You've been busy! Lots of good reading. I've been thinking of reading more Octavia Butler as I've only read Kindred and I really liked it. Will have to add Dawn to my list.
Mod
I loved this book; but I agree. He could have shaved at least 250 pages and it would still be good.
Readme sounds like typical Stephenson. Good stories, good writing but looooooonng books.
Alondra wrote: "I loved this book; but I agree. He could have shaved at least 250 pages and it would still be good."So true...
Michelle wrote: "Readme sounds like typical Stephenson. Good stories, good writing but looooooonng books."This was my first Stephenson, so I don't know what his "typical" book is. But it was a lot of fun, and I'll read more of his books. I just wish he was less verbose though.
Mod
This was my first Stephenson, so I don't know what his "typical" book is. But it was a lo..."
I think my next of his, will be Cryptonomicon. Sounds weird!!! Hhehehehe
Alondra wrote: "I think my next of his, will be Cryptonomicon. Sounds weird!!! Hhehehehe"I want to read that one, too. But 1100+ pages???? Someday.
Prophet's Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints Buddy read with Alissa and Lea, but we did not "talk" about it as much as about other books in the past. Not my first book about FLDS, but the first from a law enforcement perspective, and it was as terrifying as the victims' perspective. 4 starsMurder Road. I really wanted to like this, because I liked The Sun Down Motel. But no...
(view spoiler) 2 stars
Adulthood Rites The 2nd book in the series, and I enjoyed it a lot, even though parts of the world are not clear to me. And still, this does not take away from how good this series is. I don't want to spoil it, so I'll just say that I'll read book #3 soon. 4 stars
The Answer Is No: A Short Story One of my favorite authors, but this short story was a disappointment. The blurb describes it as hilarious...well, not my king of humor, that's for sure. 2.5 stars, rounded down.Burning Bright Good thriller, the 2nd book in a series that I want to continue. We learn more about Peter Ash, his claustrophobia and PTSD, and we follow him again fighting to protect the good people against money-hungry, bad people. 4 stars
Mod
I agree about the Xexogenesis series. Hard to understand at times but such a beautiful writer. I plan to finish Imago in 2025 as one of my challenges.
Bill wrote: "I agree about the Xexogenesis series. Hard to understand at times but such a beautiful writer. I plan to finish Imago in 2025 as one of my challenges"I think Imago will be my next read, as soon as I finish my current audiobook; I like to keep books in a series close to each other. I think Imago will be Akin's story after his metamorphosis, and the "rebirth" of humans. Can't wait to see how it's done.
Mod
I think Imago will be my next re..."
I hope you enjoy.
Mod
I want to read that one, too. But 1100+ pages???? Someday."
I know; but all of his books are like that. LOL
Alondra wrote: "Ioana wrote: "Alondra wrote: "I think my next of his, will be Cryptonomicon. Sounds weird!!! Hhehehehe"I want to read that one, too. But 1100+ pages???? Someday."
I know; but all of his books ar..."
I have this on my library waiting list, and it came some time ago. I'm delaying it until I'll be in the right frame of mind to attack it. It's the audiobook, almost 43 hours....😱😱
Steve Jobs. Fascinating person, both a genius and a very difficult individual to live and/or work with. I wanted to call him a jerk so many times…but his visions and his personality inspired his team to achieve impossible things.He gave us things we didn't know we wanted or needed, and now we can't live without them. And they are all beautiful, nice to hold and simple to use, intuitive.
He died in 2011, and makes you wonder, where would Apple be today if he was still alive?
I loved Isaacson's biography and will definitely read more of his books. 4.5* for this one. I wish there was more about Job's family. I wish I knew how they lived with this genius who was so demanding, how their relationship was, with him and with each other.
Imago, the last in Octavia E. Butler's Xenogenesis trilogy. It did not work for me. 2 stars.Bill, I can't wait for you to read and review it.
Mod
That sounds about right. Good grief!
Mod
Bill, I can't wait for you to read and review it."
It's in one of my 2025 12 + 4 challenges.. 😃👍
Bill wrote: "It's in one of my 2025 12 + 4 challenges.. "I hope you enjoy it more than I did. It's not the writing, that was excellent, as always. But some concepts really bothered me, the same way as similar concepts bothered me in Fledgling. Did you read that one?
Mod
I hope you enjoy it more than I did. It's not the writing, that was excellent, as always. But some concepts really bothered me, the same w..."
I've only read the 1st two Xexogenesis books so far. I have the Parables on my shelf too...
Bill wrote: "I have the Parables on my shelf too..."I enjoyed both books in that duology.
Piranesi I don't know why I liked this book, but I did. It was not the plot, nor the characters, nor the ending (which was somewhat disappointing, to be honest). But I loved the atmosphere in the book, the house description, the tides, the smell of the sea and the sounds of the birds, the statues, the puzzle of the journals, the memory lost and the way he put together all the information to reconstruct again the facts, and of course, Piranesi's attitude towards life and his surroundings. 4 stars
Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America Another book on the opioid crisis, but this is the book of the mothers and the fathers of the ones affected. It's all about the human toll, about how we got here and it even suggests ways to solve the crisis. It can be done, other countries have done it, it just takes political will and to treat all humans as humans. Providing healthcare and mental health care to them would be cheaper than incarcerating them, but would not be as profitable, because the majority have no health insurance. And prisons are for profit organizations. 4 stars.
Ioana wrote: "Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America Another book on the opioid crisis, but this is the book of the mothers and the fathers of the ones affected. I..."A great book.Glad you enjoyed it.
Mod
That sounds legit, Ioana. Sometimes, the description of things is my favorite thing about a book. The atmosphere and environment. The things that go on outside of the main characters. Nice review.
Michelle wrote: "A great book.Glad you enjoyed it"A sobering read, and I know I'll read more on this topic.
Alondra wrote: "That sounds legit, Ioana. Sometimes, the description of things is my favorite thing about a book. The atmosphere and environment. The things that go on outside of the main characters. Nice review."Thank you. It's a short book, I think you would like it.
From the TBR of 2010 came The Blood of Flowers. Beautiful story, mixing old Persian fairy tales with the story of a young woman and her life. Born poor, befriending a wealthy girl of her age, becoming good friends, and ultimately taking the blame for her friend, which cost her her future. Life is cruel and their lives continue to interwind, but one wealthy marries well, one is poor, cannot afford a dowery and must accept a sigheh, a marriage in anme only, for 3 months, where the husband does not need to provide food or housing, for her or her mother. In a world where women cannot do anything without a man.
She is smart and hard working and she learns to make beautiful rugs, and that will be her salvation. But the way to get there is long and she has to deal with poverty, homelessness, the meanness of men, the sickness of her mother and much more.
All in all, beautiful story and beautifully narrated. 3.5 stars
Sociopath: A Memoir"A sociopath is someone with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), a mental health condition that involves a disregard for the feelings and rights of others"
Which she is not. At a minimum, she deepluy cares about the feelings of her mother and sister. Narcissist? Maybe. Pathological liar? Yes. But not a sociopath.
I did not believe her story, it sounded like someone just looking for attention. And because she auto-diagnosed herself as a sociopath, and wrote a book about it, she got it.
The Escape Room - not a bad mystery, and it had enough to keep me interested, even though the story is sooo unbelievable. Once again, money will make some people "willfully blind" and corrupt their morals. These were some despicable human beings and colleagues. 3.5 stars.
The Exchange. This was definitely not necessary. The 1st book in the series The Firm was published in 1991 and it was then a stand alone.Other than using the same characters, Mitch and Abby McDeere, this had almost nothing to do with The Firm. The initial case that takes him to Memphis, supposedly to link this book to the 1st one, is dropped after a few pages when the man he was supposed to defend commits suicide.
Then the entire book is about a kidnapping in Libya, and the way it was resolved was completely unbelievable and a let-down.
No, not a "riveting sequel", as described in the blurb.
Shut Your Eyes Tight - another #2 in the series. A weird murder, a victim that is decapitated on her wedding day, with lots of cameras all over the place. Still, no footage of the killer. I guessed that early on, although I had no idea how it was done. But I still enjoyed the ride and will continue the series. 3.5 stars.
Ioana wrote: "Shut Your Eyes Tight - another #2 in the series. A weird murder, a victim that is decapitated on her wedding day, with lots of cameras all over the place. Still, no footage of the ki..."That looks like a good series! Adding it to my series challenge
Ring Shout a buddy read with Lea, Alissa and Linda. I did not watch 1915 The Birth of a Nation movie, and I did not know the significance of a ring shout dance before reading this book. It's short, only 185 pages, but it packs a lot. Very graphic, combining KKK and monsters, but in reality, they are all the same. You should read it.
Soul Full of Coal Dust: A Fight for Breath and Justice in Appalachia. There is a lot of injustice in Appalachia, and black lung sufferers and their families are in the top when it comes to it. This books is about them, politics, coal mine owners, lack of regulations and ways to go around existing regulations, Don Blankenship and Massey Energy Company, health insurance or lack of it, unions, legal representations, shady law firms, crook doctors, and so much more. In my mind, I cannot link this suffering to everything that came later to this area and these people during the opioid crisis. 3.5 stars
In God's Name. The original title of this book was: In God's Name: An Investigation Into the Murder of Pope John Paul I.A pope who ruled the Vatican for only about a month and died in unexplained circumstances. Was it a heart attack or something else?
Very interesting book, unfortunately badly presented. Too many names and connections, not sufficiently described, so everything is a mumble-jumble of names and dates.
But the ramifications and connections between the Vatican Bank, Mafia, CIA, South American countries, Mussolini, American politicians, Swiss banks, etc. are scary. 3 stars.
A Little Life. Generally books that make you feel pain and sorrow do that in manageable doses, with breaks when good things happen to good people. But this book….it's a gut wrenching story of abuse and suffering from page 1 to the last one. Nothing good ever happens to anybody. In the end, they all die. It seems all gratuitous, for shock value only. And still, I could not put it down.There are a lot of unbelievable things in the book, but they all become unimportant, a distant second after the constant abuse and heartbreak we are witnessing.
The characters are either good or bad, all enormously wealthy and successful, all living in Architecture Digest decorated lofts in Soho, vacationing all around the globe all the time, etc. No, I did not enjoy this book. 2.5 stars
I felt much the same about Ring Shout and A Little Life. :-)
Mod
Its on my tbr. .... I want to read it, but I don't want to read it. *sigh*
Glad you enjoyed Ring, Shout. It was a great read for me. It did not feel like it was under 200 pgs.
Lea wrote: "I felt much the same about Ring Shout and A Little Life. :-)"I really don't understand how or why some people think this (A Little Life) was the best book they've ever read.
Ioana wrote: "I really don't understand how or why some people think this (A Little Life) was the best book they've ever read."For me, the best books are 1) well written, 2) either entertaining or informative, and 3) enjoyable. A Little Life only meets criteria #1 for me.
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