frwll_hppy_vlds's reviews
135 reviews

Doubt, Atheism, and the Nineteenth-Century Russian Intelligentsia by Victoria Frede
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.

I realized that this doesn't discuss specific events that I am curious about. 

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Morrison does characters like no other. Such honesty and complexity. This is the longest book from her that I've read, and I think it had more internal monologuing than I prefer. I appreciate that it adds more depth to the characters and lends better to the social structures that Morrison is trying to shed light on, but it's just one of my least preferred devices. Otherwise, I love how her descriptions of places and objects are so vivid that they're visceral, and makes the story highly immersive. 

I Love Russia: Reporting from a Lost Country by Elena Kostyuchenko

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing by
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.

I'm swearing off books with excerpts. This book has chapters on some very interesting subjects, but as someone who's not adept in science, I would prefer more time with each subject so that I know I understand.

I'm definitely taking a picture of the table of contents, though, and I can't fucking wait until I get a turn with my library's copy of The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan. 

Word Virus: The William S. Burroughs Reader by William S. Burroughs
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

I'd rather read each work in full rather than excerpted.

The Paris Review Book for Planes, Trains, Elevators, and Waiting Rooms by The Paris Review, Richard Powers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.

I borrowed this book from the library because of it featuring 1 short story from J.G. Ballard and 1 from William S. Burroughs. While the first 3 stories were some that I mildly enjoyed, the overall theme - waiting - was not enough to help me pull through the 4th, which centered around a messy love triangle. I don't particularly enjoy stories centering on relationships unless it is complicated by something bigger or stranger. I'll cancel this one and read Ballard and Burroughs on their own.

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut

emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Vintage Book of War Fiction by Jörg Hensgen, Sebastian Faulks

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

SCUM Manifesto by Valerie Solanas

challenging dark funny tense fast-paced

4.0

A good manifesto. If you don't especially like manifestos, you probably won't like this one. 

Greatest Hits by Harlan Ellison

dark funny sad medium-paced

2.75

I loved "Deathbird" and "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", liked some others, but a lot of them brought the whole rating down, especially "I'm Looking for Kadak", "How's the Night Life on Cissalda?" and "All the Lies that Are My Life." I'll be trying his Web of the City someday in the far future. Hopefully it's in a more serious tone, because I think that's the mode of his that I prefer.