bookish_brain1's reviews
131 reviews

Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott

4.0

Art and Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto Fujimura

4.0

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

4.0

Book 2 of this trilogy and Netflix special did not disappoint. I enjoyed it immensely. My critique of the 1st book also applies to this one, the romance aspect is very shallow and one-dimensional. I don't get much from it really, but the action and storyline are very good. It moves quickly, and draws you in. I love how the series doesn't paint good or evil in a binary fashion. It really explores this idea that all of us are capable of great good as well as great evil. I listened to this amazing podcast by Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History on why the Little Mermaid is a terrible film. Disney films in general do not represent diversity well (not to mention the mother is almost always dead), and they present this idea that good things will happen to good people and bad things will happen to bad people and everything can be solved with a bad love story. On the surface, it's a cute film, but when you really explore the themes and the messages that we internalize, it's not good. I recommend the podcast, it's really a fascinating listen and Malcolm is delightful. So I love that Bardugo is able to explore this concept of good and evil in her writing. Also it's just a fun YA fantasy.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

5.0

This book came in my quarterly book club selection from the ladies at Pantsuit Politics. I get 3 books every quarter from the Wild Geese Bookshop, an independent bookseller. They always include books that I would never have picked for myself and I love it! It's like $60 per quarter. Totally worth it. Another fantasy book, but one that explores culture and identity in refreshing new ways. It explores the idea of "other", dominant cultures, oppression, political and social violence through an allegorical lens. The supporting characters in this book are phenomenal and at times even overshadow the central protagonist. I found myself wanting more of them as the book moves forward. The author explores the themes behind BLM (Black Lives Matter) without losing all of the things we love about fantasy and fiction writing. It's a book with a thematic message that I think is powerful and beautiful, yet you will lose yourself in this magical realm.
My favorite quote:
"I teach you in the art of the staff, why? It avoids rather than hurts, it hurts rather than maims, it maims rather than kills - the staff does not destroy. I teach you to be warriors in the garden, so that you will never be gardeners in the war."

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

4.0

The secret history of the Sackler dynasty, this book reads like fiction, so if you find nonfiction difficult to read, I would definitely recommend this book. A fun side note, this author also has a podcast called Winds of Change on Spotify which explores this conspiracy theory that the CIA used the band The Scorpions and the song Winds of Change to infiltrate the communist Soviet Union and break it up from within. It's a really fun listen, and Patrick is a master of recreating real events in a way that feels interesting and fictional. This book though...y'all it was tough. I could not find one redeeming quality in this entire family. How this tragic story of opioids begins with the Sackler family but then spiderwebs out in a million different directions from doctors to pharmacies to the FDA and the DEA is just heartbreakingly sickening. The grave injustices committed and illustrated within the pages of this book are hard to digest. The arguments made by Purdue Pharma aka the Sackler family "mirrored the libertarian position of a firearms manufacturer who insists that he bears no responsibility for gun deaths. It is a peculiar hallmark of the American economy that you can produce a dangerous product and effectively off-load any legal liability for whatever destruction that product may cause by pointing to the individual responsibility of the consumer." The problem with this particular hypothesis is that addiction to oxycontin didn't just occur in recreational abusers, it also victimized those legitimately needing pain management and only initially taking as prescribed. Patrick explores the history of the Sackler family and the timeline of the opioid epidemic through his brand of masterful storytelling. It's not an issue that has impacted me directly, but after reading this book, it feels deeply personal.

A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

5.0

This book was so precious, and I love that it's a series. It is a gender bending retelling of the famous Sherlock Holmes mysteries set in Victorian England. The delightful Charlotte Holmes defies convention and propriety in trying to establish a career and a living for herself outside of the traditional marriage mart. It has a deliciously delectable forbidden romance and all the things we love most about Sherlock Holmes mysteries. It's fun, it's the perfect escape read. It doesn't require anything from the reader except to open the book and delight in the contents. NPR made this book the Best Book of 2016 and I've heard that each book is better than the last, so definitely something to savor and enjoy!

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

2.0

Listen, this book was really difficult to slog through and not necessarily because of the content; although, some of the content was difficult to absorb. It's an important book exploring the history of racist ideas in America. It covers so much ground. I don't want my criticisms of the style to overshadow the substance offered by Kendi. I think the YA adult version offers the same content but in a much more digestible format. Kendi suggests reading this book from a bird's eye view so that you can easily discern patterns of racist ideas and behaviors throughout American history. I had to keep reminding myself to do this. It is very easy to feel bogged down by the sheer number of historical references and facts. I did this book with a wonderful book club group, and if I'm being honest, I might not have finished it otherwise. I want to recommend it, but I also think that anyone picking up this book might hate me for recommending it. Reader beware. I can't overstate the important work being defined within the pages of Kendi's treatise. I think the format is just too dense, making it difficult to consume. If you are sincerely on a journey to understand the history of racism in this country, then you should definitely commit to reading this book, but it is a commitment.

Falling by T.J. Newman

5.0

BE STILL MY BEATING HEART. This thriller took me for a ride! Oh my goodness. So the author of this book is/was a flight attendant and she wrote it during red-eye flights while the passengers were sleeping. It's already got a movie deal I believe, so when I say it's a terrific on the edge of your seat thriller, I am not exaggerating. I read it in 2 days. I could not put it down. It took me on the plane ride from hell. Nonstop, page-turning, madness. It read like a movie to me, and I found myself playing it out in my head as I read along. If you're afraid of flying, probably not a great choice. Of course, there are undertones of a deeper meaning about American exceptionalism, colonialism, and imperialism, but mostly it's just a thrill ride y'all. Enjoy it!

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

4.0

I love books about strong, intelligent women doing extraordinary things in troublesome times. I would label this book historical fiction, loosely based or inspired by actual women and events during WWII. One of the main characters is based on a real person, who really did carry on a passionate romance with Prince Philip before he married Queen Elizabeth. The story follow three female codebreakers installed at Bletchley Park during the war. This story has everything: intrigue, mystery, love, romance, heartbreak, tragedy, spies, humor... Kate Quinn is also the author of "The Alice Network" and "The Huntress." I have "The Huntress queued up to read soon. She is fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

I'm Black. I'm Christian. I'm Methodist. by Rudy Rasmus

3.0

Ten essays written by various authors on their experiences being black, Christian, and Methodist. Each essay centers around a different thematic element and is supported by personal anecdotes and lived experiences. Each author recounts their personal spiritual and faith journey's within and without the Methodist church. I love storytelling. I think it's a powerful tool in the quest to understand perspectives that might feel vastly different to our own. It is harder to dehumanize others when we hear and know their stories. It becomes personal and tangible and serves to connect people with common purpose. Connection can be transformative.