badbrad002's reviews
160 reviews

The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by bell hooks

5.0

Wow. Read this book. Hooks is an excellent writer, and wordsmith when it comes to love. This one, about men's ability to love and be loved. She reiterates that men are emotionally stunted by patriarchy and yet, unwilling or unaware how they reinforce its tropes (in fact, most humans often unknowingly do). And that being feminist does NOT mean anti-man, but rather that all of us humans coexist together; the advancements in the realm of women will succeed far better if floundering men are taught to love and are accepted for doing so. Powerful book.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

4.0

This was an exceptional novel. Fascinating to "see" the experiences of both the Allied & Axis sides, and the affect that war had on the lives and experiences of both. I often think that in modern times, we are so far removed from combat that we have difficulty relating to and understanding it... but this novel really puts suffering and perseverance on full display. "What the war did to dreamers..." ...especially in that immediate generation, but also, to those that came after.

Lost a few points for some confusing time jumps, but that tactic never resonates well with me.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

4.0

A re-read: hated it in high school but found I appreciate the tragedy of the story more as an adult. The old man and his isolation as he ages out of prosperity, but the beautiful plutonic relationship he has with his apprentice boy. A nice read about persistence, commitment, and eventual acceptance of a tragic outcome.

Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson

2.0

The stakes within this book felt... unearned? So I didn't follow what was so compelling to elicit the reactions that the characters had to events and each other. Relationships and characters felt overly simple and unnatural. It did have some nice focus on individualism and mental health, but overall I found myself reading quickly just to get it over with.

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong

4.0

I really enjoyed this book, though admittedly, I am the type to flip to "Nature" or "NOVA" on PBS instead of Netflix. A really fascinating look at how a wide range of animals perceive our World -both through senses similar to our own and those that are completely unrelatable (e.g., magnetoreception). Ultimately, we must avoid anthropomorphizing animals to our senses, and also take responsibility for the effects humans have that can easily overload other species senses and even kill. I learned a lot and won't look at animals (even including bugs) the same moving forward.

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

4.0

A compelling read that ultimately felt like the movies "Ghost," "Beetlejuice," and "Coco," focused on the our impact in life, the transition to afterlife, and our ability to affect our World during and after. Interesting insights into the long-standing and complicated socio-political dynamics of Sri Lanka, and how the history of the country continues to exacerbate conflict even today. Lots of characters and names and some difficult-to-follow time dashes (which never resonate well with me), but ultimately a captivating and enjoyable read.

Compost City: Practical Composting Know-How for Small-Space Living by Rebecca Louie

4.0

This was an enjoyable read that explained the science and mechanics of composting in an understandable and entertaining way. Also, the impact of reducing, reusing, and recycling (literally). If you have any curiosity or interest in starting to compost --whether independently or through a community organization-- this is your handbook!

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

4.0

A really fascinating book & exploration into a morbid topic, yes, but the author imbues an entertaining and refreshing air of levity to make it more palatable. Less about the mechanics of what happens after death, and more about how the living manage and learn about each body and themselves through forensics, testing, clinical practice, and more. Ends with a beautiful chapter about better ways to leave our bodies …to leave a final, positive mark on the living world.

Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make and Keep Friends by Marisa G. Franco

5.0

I really enjoyed this book! Great resource explaining how and why we carry ourselves to others, and how we adapt and interpret them doing the same. You might say I’ve always valued strong platonic relationships over romantic ones, but I never really understood what I (subconsciously) do to foster these, to a point that my therapist calls my EQ and ability to connect with others my “super power.”

Don’t neglect your friends —be that relatives, lovers, or acquaintances— for they help us build better relationships across the board, and make us happier!

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

5.0

One of my favorite books to read growing-up surely held-up as an adult, too. A harrowing tale of survival and adaptation, Brian's experience reminds us that few things like luck are ever fully good or bad, but rather likely a combination of the two. The vivid descriptions and captivating developments have stuck with me to this day --especially this one: "fighting to clear the picture of the pilot from his mind." I was unaware this is the first of a 4-part series, and look forward to reading subsequent editions.