Scan barcode
biblioauds's reviews
118 reviews
Star Wars: The High Republic, The Edge of Balance: Precedent by Daniel Older
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Precedent was one that I had set off for so long and I regret that. This story follows a "present day" (non-Phase 2) timeframe with a story told about The Night of Sorrows. It's absolutely masterful how Older portrays the story. Without spoiling it, it was a gut puncher and a great wrap up to Phase 2's events. This story also ties in to the Adventures comics, which I appreciated as a comic and book enjoyer. Overall, this was just an amazing little story that really added something to the timeline, as well as offered amazing illustrations for some of the things that we see/experience in the books.
Tales of Light and Life by Cavan Scott, Zoraida Córdova, George Mann, Daniel José Older, Charles Soule, Lydia Kang, Claudia Gray, Tessa Gratton, Justina Ireland
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I am a big fan of anthologies and short stories, especially in Star Wars (From a Certain Point of View love)! The fact that this collection is set in my favorite eras already places it up high on my "want to read" and interest level. I feel as though this book really met my expectations where they were at and even ran with it some. It does a good job highlighting characters' stories that we might not otherwise have gotten as well as connecting Phase 2 to Phase 3, which I desperately needed. While I won't spoil any of the stories themselves, I think my favorites would have to go out to:
A Closed Fist Has No Claws
After the Fall
All Jedi Walk Their Own Path
The Call of Coruscant
Although I picked these as my favorites, I genuinely enjoyed all of the stories in this collection, which really made me change my 4 star to a 5 star. I'd recommend this to anyone who is reading through the High Republic, especially for those bridging the gap between Phase 2 and Phase 3. It's short enough to be enjoyed within a few days but long enough to carry a substantial amount of plot and development that makes these stories truly "worth it" and even bordering on "necessary" for some of them!
For light and life.
A Closed Fist Has No Claws
After the Fall
All Jedi Walk Their Own Path
The Call of Coruscant
Although I picked these as my favorites, I genuinely enjoyed all of the stories in this collection, which really made me change my 4 star to a 5 star. I'd recommend this to anyone who is reading through the High Republic, especially for those bridging the gap between Phase 2 and Phase 3. It's short enough to be enjoyed within a few days but long enough to carry a substantial amount of plot and development that makes these stories truly "worth it" and even bordering on "necessary" for some of them!
For light and life.
Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II Vol. 1: Balance Of The Force by Ario Anindito, Cavan Scott, Andrea Broccardo
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Volume 1 (Phase II) by Michael Atiyeh, Daniel José Older, Toni Bruno
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
And just when you think it can't get worse.. it does.
Not Grann's story, however. His writing expertly navigates the Osage Murders in a capturing narrative, delving not just into the cases themselves, but the entire culture of the killing of Native Americans. The Osage Murders, though credited to one person, actually reveals that there's not too much anomaly in the evil that persisted throughout the 1900s in Western America. Grann not only tells this story from the viewpoint of the investigators, but also from the Osage tribe, and their grandsons and granddaughters that still bear the weight and fear of not knowing the truth.
I just couldn't put this book down, I thought about it every moment I wasn't reading it. I've never even had any interest in the "Wild West" stories until now, knowing that this uncovers a lot of the glitz and glamor of the oil rush, as well as depicts its downfall.
Not Grann's story, however. His writing expertly navigates the Osage Murders in a capturing narrative, delving not just into the cases themselves, but the entire culture of the killing of Native Americans. The Osage Murders, though credited to one person, actually reveals that there's not too much anomaly in the evil that persisted throughout the 1900s in Western America. Grann not only tells this story from the viewpoint of the investigators, but also from the Osage tribe, and their grandsons and granddaughters that still bear the weight and fear of not knowing the truth.
I just couldn't put this book down, I thought about it every moment I wasn't reading it. I've never even had any interest in the "Wild West" stories until now, knowing that this uncovers a lot of the glitz and glamor of the oil rush, as well as depicts its downfall.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Ethnography is not a term I've ever read before this book. This sociological field of study is the scientific description of the customs of individual peoples and cultures. By inserting himself right into the field, that being Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Matthew Desmond delivers a brutal narrative about human desperation in the private housing market.
Desmond doesn't waste much time by offering socialist solutions or playing politics. Evicted depicts devastation on both the predominantly black North Side and predominantly white South Side of Milwaukee. It tells an American story through the lens of both tenants AND landlords. This narrative format had me devastated and rooting for both.
Without a home, everything else falls apart. In his Epilogue, Desmond deviates from his narrative format and instead critically outlines how important not just a roof over one's head is to their survival, but to their well-being. Throughout the narrative you find people food-stamp-less for missing appointments, going hungry because their dates were mailed to the incorrect address from having moved so many times. In the Epilogue, statistics show how frequently this occurs. It reveals that the human desperation that happens in America's cities are not unique to the few people who have chapters dedicated to them and their families- it happens to the poor, period.
This book, published in 2016, lifts up a rock on American cities and shows what ecosystem lies beneath it, one that requires time to understand and has cultural intimacies I had never thought of. I believe that this book should be required reading for every American, in all schools. It actually had something new to say about poverty- something to say about people. Instead of focusing on statistics, Desmond focuses on stories. It was a truly enlightening read and actually one that empowers me to action, looking into what I can do for even just my smaller city's population. If you're American, or even just interested in the city-life of America, do yourself a favor and read this book.
Desmond doesn't waste much time by offering socialist solutions or playing politics. Evicted depicts devastation on both the predominantly black North Side and predominantly white South Side of Milwaukee. It tells an American story through the lens of both tenants AND landlords. This narrative format had me devastated and rooting for both.
Without a home, everything else falls apart. In his Epilogue, Desmond deviates from his narrative format and instead critically outlines how important not just a roof over one's head is to their survival, but to their well-being. Throughout the narrative you find people food-stamp-less for missing appointments, going hungry because their dates were mailed to the incorrect address from having moved so many times. In the Epilogue, statistics show how frequently this occurs. It reveals that the human desperation that happens in America's cities are not unique to the few people who have chapters dedicated to them and their families- it happens to the poor, period.
This book, published in 2016, lifts up a rock on American cities and shows what ecosystem lies beneath it, one that requires time to understand and has cultural intimacies I had never thought of. I believe that this book should be required reading for every American, in all schools. It actually had something new to say about poverty- something to say about people. Instead of focusing on statistics, Desmond focuses on stories. It was a truly enlightening read and actually one that empowers me to action, looking into what I can do for even just my smaller city's population. If you're American, or even just interested in the city-life of America, do yourself a favor and read this book.
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
A laugh-out-loud kind of book, this 3-ish hour audiobook narrated by Carrie Fisher herself had me ROLLING. Not only is she a brilliant author, but a brilliant narrator, and as she conveyed what could have been the most dreary, gruesome story of the child of two famous parents, she actually managed to entice me with her wittiness and realness. She's raw, and I liked that. She left everything out in the open, and I appreciated that about a memoir that somehow summarized so much in just 3 hours. A must-listen for fans of any of her work, or those who may have struggled with drug addiction- yes, she's open about that, too. I just couldn't get enough of this book, and was so sad it was only those short 3 hours I had to spend with it.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
5.0
I don't usually find myself gravitating towards nonfiction works about perilous journeys with men who have too much testosterone for their own good.. but I loved it. Grann had me absolutely CAPTIVATED by this story. The way he unfolds narratives is artful, giving you just enough information to keep you hooked and not enough to spoil the story. A master at his craft, Grann conveys a story not just about a ship that wrecked and its delusional men, but a story of companionship, loyalty, and the lengths a man might go to survive. A real page turner, and a very accessible read to any who might be wary of nonfiction.
The Language Hoax: Why the World Looks the Same in Any Language by John H. McWhorter
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
A fascinating and even humorous book in which McWhorter attempts to debunk both the Whorfian myths of the media as well as question the Neo-Whorfian revival. This book really had me questioning how much finding "evidence" towards something holds up when it is both inconsequential and trivial. A must-read for any linguistics student or enthusiast, in which readers find out that the Whorfian myth is not as attractive as it seems, progressivism can be hurtful, and the truth about language and thought is actually far more appealing.