bookbrig's reviews
1803 reviews

Thunder Song by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe

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3.5

A bit of a memoir via essays, this book has a strong core of family and love running through it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked it up, but it was an engaging read.
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Box Office Poison: Hollywood's Story in a Century of Flops by Tim Robey

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informative medium-paced

4.0

Informative and sometimes funny, but also just a great peek behind the scenes of movie making. 
Uvalde's Darkest Hour by Craig Garnett

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Just a heartbreaking and enraging read, but still filled with truly hopeful and loving moments. The reporting here is excellent, the writing engaging, and the story absolutely horrifying. Definitely worth a read if you enjoyed reading Iverson's Full Body Burden or Sheeler's Final Salute. Avoid if you're not in the headspace for truly gut-wrenching loss. Genuinely, check the content warnings on this one. You can probably guess what most of them are based on the subject matter, but still. Even so, it was such a well written book, I highly recommend it. It's not an easy read, but it is an important one, and I couldn't put it down once I started.
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That Takes the Cookie: 85 Tasty Treats for Every Occasion (A Cookbook) by Adam Merrin, Ryan Alvarez

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informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

There are some delicious sounding recipes in this book, and I really appreciated the full color images for each finished cookie. But the descriptions weren't terribly interesting, and nearly all of the cookies require hours of refrigeration prior to baking. I'm definitely going to try one or two of these recipes, but I don't know that I'll buy this cookbook as a keeper. I'm returning the library's copy for now, and we'll see how it goes!
The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor

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emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

There are so many excellent pieces to this book. I think I'd like to buy it so I can go through and actually use it as a workbook next. 
The Racc Pack, Volume 1 by Stephanie Cooke

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Very silly and cute! This was a perfect gift for our oldest niece who's 7, and the silly story mixed with the fun raccoon facts was a good time for me as an adult reader too. Would probably work for kids in middle school, though maybe would read a bit young for high schoolers.
The Garden Against Time: In Search of a Common Paradise by Olivia Laing

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emotional reflective slow-paced

3.75

This is full of beautiful writing, and the author reads the audiobook with a lovely cadence. It was just a little too meandering for my taste, with the historical bits a mixture of interesting and kind of dry or dull. Depending on your knowledge of plants, this may vary, since I know almost nothing about them and definitely had trouble picturing what the author was describing at different points. Not sad I tried it, but might only recommend it to readers looking for something on the quieter side.
Ghosts of Waikiki by Jennifer K. Morita

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mysterious medium-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? No

4.5

This was a compelling and breezy mystery, perfect for a quick listen or read. I really liked the main character, the hint of romantic tension, and the delicious sounding foods! It read like a buddy cop drama, but more gentle and less enamored with police. I hope this turns into a series, because I really loved the characters.
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What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman

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informative medium-paced

3.75

I learned a lot about owls! If you're on the fence about trying this, one of the things I particularly liked was the last bit where there are a bunch of examples of people from all over the world making a difference for owl populations in ways large and small. It's a very hopeful ending.
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The Perfect Cake: Your Ultimate Guide to Classic, Modern, and Whimsical Cakes by America's Test Kitchen

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informative medium-paced

4.0

I love a Test Kitchen cookbook because of the giant photos and clear steps. I've made one or two of these, and I'm planning to make the confetti cake for new year's eve. Sometimes their baking stuff is a bit wonky at high altitude, but so far so good!