amrabad's reviews
424 reviews

Nuclear War by Annie Jacobsen

informative tense medium-paced

4.5

 An anxiety-inducing minute by minute explanation of what could happen in the US and some other countries around the world should WW3 be a nuclear war. Told by using a hypothetical story line, but using information she gathered from interviewing a large number of people that are well informed on the subject. It reads like a docudrama, which I was not expecting, but it kept my attention. 

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

informative fast-paced

4.5

It’s wild that this was published eight years ago because it feels like it was published yesterday.

Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

It was on page 1 that I knew this book was out to hurt my feelings. I’ve always loved Haymitch so I should have expected it.

This had exactly what you’d expect from a Hunger Games book. It was heavier on the fan service than I prefer. Also a weirdly large amount of Edgar Allen Poe was included. It did succeed in making me cry and I look forward to the movie.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous hopeful lighthearted tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is my third or so read through of Fellowship and I have loved it every time.

For those of you considering reading this for the first time, I would absolutely recommend it. BUT with some expectations in place. This is not an action adventure like the movies. It is a slower paced story about the journey with complex and detailed world building including many songs and poems. There is some action in it, but that is not the focus in the books. 

I would definitely recommend doing a dual ear and eye read if it’s your first time through with the series. The Andy Serkis narration is great.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

This is a delightful romcom that has the same energy as 90s romcoms. Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, it starts with a call to a romance radio show. The conversation ends up going viral and Lucie is persuaded into joining the radio program with Heartstrings host, Aiden, who is supposed to help her find the magic and romance she is looking for.

If you want to giggle and kick your feet, this is for you. If you want a good romcom, this is for you. If you want to like every single character, this is for you. I’ve been feeling a bit burned out on spice lately, but what was in this book was well written.

Overall, quite enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun romance.

Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Liska has magic that she doesn’t want anymore. In order to get rid of it she makes a bargain with the forest demon, The Leszy. She stays in his manor in a sentient forest and finds both friends and herself. She experiences magic and the forest during her time in the manor, giving her a lot to consider. 

This was a blind date from my bookshelf pick by my husband (based on the cover, which is beautiful). This book absorbed me. I started it and forgot about every other book I was reading. And while I typically don’t enjoy reading YA much anymore, this was lovely. The writing was beautiful, the magic, which is based on Polish folklore, was fascinating, and the story itself was well structured and well paced. It gave a cozy but a little bit spooky vibe, which I’m learning is one of my favorites.

I will absolutely read this book again.

At the end there was you by Wendy Heiss

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A priestess helps a mage look for a reason for the God of Death to not end the world in the promised seven days.

It follows the week that Winter and Azriel spend together researching a way to save the world and touches on what it means to feel and be alive. This novella can be read in a day and will make you feel a variety of emotions in less than 150 pages.

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I started Mistborn early last summer and was really enjoying it, but then got a massive spoiler by an inconsiderate person on TT and put the book down for months. I recently picked it back up because I simply could not have it sitting at the halfway point any longer and there was no point in being mad about the spoiler, I might as well see how it plays out. 

I genuinely enjoyed the magic system and thank goodness for the index in the back because I referred to it many times. The story was complex and detailed and engaging. It also made great use of epigraphs, which I feel is not often done well. The characters were flawed, but in a way that made them realistic and lovable. The story itself didn’t end where I was expecting so I’m interested to see where the next book takes it.

Ultimately, I think I would have had a stronger emotional impact at the end had it not been for the spoiler, but I don’t think it would have changed my rating. My biggest complaint is that one of the characters' storylines did not play out in the way I had hoped. I can’t get into it further without spoilers, but that truly is my only complaint.

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis

informative fast-paced

4.5

KC Davis popped up on my FYP while scrolling one day. I realized she was a therapist and thought her book may be beneficial for some of my patients too. I like to read the books that I recommend to my patients, so I found it on Libby. It’s only 3 hours long so it’s a nice quick listen. I was not expecting was for it to resonate so well with my own habits and feelings. 

This is a great read if you constantly feel overwhelmed by keeping up with housework and need a new, and kinder to yourself approach to maintaining your home.

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

informative medium-paced

4.0

I went into this already having some knowledge about how religion has impacted US politics and helped dismantle Roe. What I didn’t realize is how much evangelicalism has impacted the toxic masculinity that exists today. Unfortunately, I’m not too surprised by that.

I found this to be an interesting read to learn a little more about these belief systems along with specifics about how it has impacted politics for decades.