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cpaul89's reviews
248 reviews
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Yet another classic I hadn't read. I dThe writing style of this book is so distinct. I've never read anything like it. Golding really captured the innocence of youth and its extreme end in the circumstances these boys find themselves. He also is spot on with the nuances of false confidence, imposter syndrome, pride, cruelty and all the ways in which these traits can become violently overpowering.
The content is certainly challenging and just made my heart ache. The truest voice of reason is ridiculed for being fat and other. These examples of judgement are as resounding in truth today as they were over 70 years ago.
I am glad to say I have read this book. I am glad to never read it again, unless it becomes an assignment for one of my children. I often like to read along with their assigned reading so we can engage about the material and so I can be prepared to support any tricky assignments.
If more people read this and saw Piggy as the hero and were able to see the lessons in the weaknesses made over by pride in both Ralph and Jack, maybe things would be different.
The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
the year of less
By Cait Flanders
I have goals and plans. Cait had goals and plans. This memoir/lifestyle book details Cait's shopping ban year. She also discusses her sobriety and difficult experiences that threatened to derail her goals for the shopping ban year. Her honesty and transparency about the ways she did cope really helps make this a relatable human experience, rather than a set of unrealistic rules for saving money.
Many of the things that she implemented as part of her shopping ban I already do, so those ideas, while helpful for many readers, don't give me much new to try. However, one idea that I will use going forward is lists of what I'm not buying and what is an approved purchase.
My word for this year is "learn," and I'm learning a lot about personal finance. I've never really felt like there was much I could do in this regard. I haven't had a "real" job since Jonah was born (over a decade now.) One of the things I appreciate about what I've been learning through the podcast Financial Feminist is that it is doable, even for me. AND I've been empowered to embrace what my journey has been, and just how much of a job I have been doing by managing my family and our finances for that past decade.
Another thing I've learned is how much we don't talk about things like finances and investing and navigating these sometimes confusing things, which could be so much easier if we shared information and resources instead of shying away.
Yet another acknowledgement is how it can feel like saving money or saving for retirement doesn't matter because will the world or our country even be here? Well, a decision I've landed on is that I would much rather try to be prepared and be wrong than get to that point of my life with no investments and have been wrong.
This book definitely takes some implementable steps in this direction. Cait shared her story honestly and transparently. I'm appreciative and inspired, and I'm in the process of making more specific plans for my own shopping ban and how to prepare for my future in this way
By Cait Flanders
I have goals and plans. Cait had goals and plans. This memoir/lifestyle book details Cait's shopping ban year. She also discusses her sobriety and difficult experiences that threatened to derail her goals for the shopping ban year. Her honesty and transparency about the ways she did cope really helps make this a relatable human experience, rather than a set of unrealistic rules for saving money.
Many of the things that she implemented as part of her shopping ban I already do, so those ideas, while helpful for many readers, don't give me much new to try. However, one idea that I will use going forward is lists of what I'm not buying and what is an approved purchase.
My word for this year is "learn," and I'm learning a lot about personal finance. I've never really felt like there was much I could do in this regard. I haven't had a "real" job since Jonah was born (over a decade now.) One of the things I appreciate about what I've been learning through the podcast Financial Feminist is that it is doable, even for me. AND I've been empowered to embrace what my journey has been, and just how much of a job I have been doing by managing my family and our finances for that past decade.
Another thing I've learned is how much we don't talk about things like finances and investing and navigating these sometimes confusing things, which could be so much easier if we shared information and resources instead of shying away.
Yet another acknowledgement is how it can feel like saving money or saving for retirement doesn't matter because will the world or our country even be here? Well, a decision I've landed on is that I would much rather try to be prepared and be wrong than get to that point of my life with no investments and have been wrong.
This book definitely takes some implementable steps in this direction. Cait shared her story honestly and transparently. I'm appreciative and inspired, and I'm in the process of making more specific plans for my own shopping ban and how to prepare for my future in this way
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The House in the Pines
By Ana Reyes
This was an engaging thriller. It's a pretty quick read. An excellent first novel from Ana Reyes.
The story spans about 7 years with some further flashbacks interspersed of the main character's mother. The main character is Maya who begins the story at age 24, but we spend a lot of time with her at age 17.
At 24, Maya has become an addict and has some big gaps in her memory. At 17, she witnessed her friend be mysteriously murdered... That's right. She witnessed it, but could never explain what happened.
Throughout the story, Maya battles the gaps in her memory and her unwillingness/inability to dive into those gaps to figure out what happened.
What transpires is interesting and unsettling. I think if you like an easy thriller you might like this one. Even if you don't like thrillers (like me) this one is very accessible.
By Ana Reyes
This was an engaging thriller. It's a pretty quick read. An excellent first novel from Ana Reyes.
The story spans about 7 years with some further flashbacks interspersed of the main character's mother. The main character is Maya who begins the story at age 24, but we spend a lot of time with her at age 17.
At 24, Maya has become an addict and has some big gaps in her memory. At 17, she witnessed her friend be mysteriously murdered... That's right. She witnessed it, but could never explain what happened.
Throughout the story, Maya battles the gaps in her memory and her unwillingness/inability to dive into those gaps to figure out what happened.
What transpires is interesting and unsettling. I think if you like an easy thriller you might like this one. Even if you don't like thrillers (like me) this one is very accessible.
Actress by Anne Enright
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Actress
By Anne Enright
I guess I just didn't get it. It didn't evoke much connection or emotion from me.
The narrator is the daughter, Norah, of a B-list actress of the golden age of Hollywood. Though she was not truly Irish, her managers dyed her hair red, gave her an Irish stage name (Katherine O'Dell), and had her speak in a fake Irish accent.
Norah documents Katherine's life through non-chronoligical tangents. From the beginning we know that Katherine shot a man, with whom she had history throughout her career, who was tortured with the pain of the injury for a decade before succumbing to the gunshot. Katherine was found effectively unfit to stand trial and withered away in and out of asylums for the remainder of her life.
There is a lot of hardship and the journey Norah undertakes to understand her mother and her mother's experiences through the lens of adulthood rather than her childhood witness. I suppose there is something in that to be acknowledged.
The writing style of the book is very fluid and enjoyable, but the content is disjointed and confusing, and, at times, mostly uninteresting.
By Anne Enright
I guess I just didn't get it. It didn't evoke much connection or emotion from me.
The narrator is the daughter, Norah, of a B-list actress of the golden age of Hollywood. Though she was not truly Irish, her managers dyed her hair red, gave her an Irish stage name (Katherine O'Dell), and had her speak in a fake Irish accent.
Norah documents Katherine's life through non-chronoligical tangents. From the beginning we know that Katherine shot a man, with whom she had history throughout her career, who was tortured with the pain of the injury for a decade before succumbing to the gunshot. Katherine was found effectively unfit to stand trial and withered away in and out of asylums for the remainder of her life.
There is a lot of hardship and the journey Norah undertakes to understand her mother and her mother's experiences through the lens of adulthood rather than her childhood witness. I suppose there is something in that to be acknowledged.
The writing style of the book is very fluid and enjoyable, but the content is disjointed and confusing, and, at times, mostly uninteresting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Accidental Presidents: Eight Men Who Changed America by Jared Cohen
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Accidental Presidents
By Jared Cohen
I heard about this book on a podcast about 6 years ago now. (Oh dear, I can't believe how quickly that time passed in regard to this being on my TBR.)
I loved this book.
Biography is one of my favorite genres. This collection of biographies of America's eight vice-presidents who had to assume the presidency is fascinating. It's engaging, it's funny, it's informative... it's a good read.
There's an element of comfort I was able to find in how the great experiment that is the USA has always been a shit show. There were senators bringing guns to hearings, there were brawls, there was backstabbing and undercutting and unfounded privilege. It's always been a mess.
It is so interesting to read about all of the things in place today that ALSO weren't outlined in the Constitution...it isn't just equal rights that were overlooked...even what the vice president is supposed to do isn't outlined.
I love reading things that get me thinking outside of what I already know. I really enjoy expanding my point of view. The research presented within this book will teach every reader something new.
And of course I had to play around with trying to match the faces on the cover!
By Jared Cohen
I heard about this book on a podcast about 6 years ago now. (Oh dear, I can't believe how quickly that time passed in regard to this being on my TBR.)
I loved this book.
Biography is one of my favorite genres. This collection of biographies of America's eight vice-presidents who had to assume the presidency is fascinating. It's engaging, it's funny, it's informative... it's a good read.
There's an element of comfort I was able to find in how the great experiment that is the USA has always been a shit show. There were senators bringing guns to hearings, there were brawls, there was backstabbing and undercutting and unfounded privilege. It's always been a mess.
It is so interesting to read about all of the things in place today that ALSO weren't outlined in the Constitution...it isn't just equal rights that were overlooked...even what the vice president is supposed to do isn't outlined.
I love reading things that get me thinking outside of what I already know. I really enjoy expanding my point of view. The research presented within this book will teach every reader something new.
And of course I had to play around with trying to match the faces on the cover!