adubie's reviews
59 reviews

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

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5.0

Started this in the backcountry three years ago and finished it this past week in those same backcountry woods. The book is phenomenally written, mixing philosophical musings with harrowing first hand accounts of how one man’s desire could turn deadly simply by chance. Some may look at Alex/Chris and think him stupid, careless, and/or disrespectful. It may be wiser to think him human, for better or worse.
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

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5.0

Although Satrapi has a very simple illustrative style, the biggest mistake a reader could make would be considering it unsubstantial. The choice to portray her past world and life in Iran in drawings that are only in B/W and with no shading is just that: An intentional choice. Consider the fact that this memoir is about childhood experience and memory under the thumb of governmental oppression. The drawings have a childlike air about them, which Satrapi is using to further this childlike memory space. This is the beauty of graphic novels; although they are not my favorite type of lit, they can provide visual layers beyond most of what any prose could achieve.

The story itself is also important. If you are confused about Iran and its fundamentalist present and past, this would be a useful text for you.
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

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5.0

Wrapped up this book feeling sick to my stomach and extremely paranoid. Absolutely incredible book that is accessible to those of us who are not super familiar with different scientific theories. We are taught foundational understandings and otherwise are welcomed into these higher level quantum discussions with profound imagery tapping into the typical reader’s imagination. This is a must read book for all interested in both humanity and the threat of nonexistence. As a side thought, perhaps we should stop exploring around in space so much. Just a thought.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

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4.0

Felt relevant. I enjoy texts that focus on the unreliable narrator, and this narrator is that and simply in a space of delusion. The train of thought structure makes the read quick and very reflective for the reader (for me at least).
The Age of McCarthyism: A Brief History with Documents by Ellen W. Schrecker, Phillip Deery

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4.0

A really helpful book to better understanding the Red Scare of McCarthyism. Having half the book function as context and the other as a rich collection of documents is so smart in regards to book set-up. This is a must have book on a historian's bookshelf.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

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4.0

I told my friend that I would take one star off if it had the ending I thought it would.

I was not wrong.