gracefullypunk's reviews
1678 reviews

Creation Care Discipleship: Why Earthkeeping Is an Essential Christian Practice by Steven Bouma-Prediger

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The Endless Beach by Jenny Colgan

medium-paced

3.75

Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot

challenging informative medium-paced

4.75

Should be required reading for everyone in the United States.

Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I feel like this book would've been much stronger if written solely from the point of view of the FMC. For me, it was hard to relate to the MMC (and not only because he wanted to leave his job at a MICROBREWERY to work at an ACCOUNTING FIRM). We don't see why he wants to change his life so desperately, or more importantly, why he really connects to his chosen career path. The majority of his chapters are him reiterating why he could never have a romantic relationship with his best friend. I guess she didn't want him when they were ten? 
Lizzie gets shorted, I believe. It's easy to see that her job -- and her mother's expectations -- leave her anxious, but concentrating on her POV entirely could've delved deeper into both her frustrations and her desires to change. We could've heard more about how much she loves food (this author is excellent at describing flavors!) and, more importantly, been given more evidence of her love of reading, like the books she'd recommend to various people.

Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Lee Stone is hard to love, but easy to leave. At least, Stoner thinks this about herself. Her drinking, smoking, and sexing might put some readers off, but it's both tied to a past event that changed her life . . . and, quite frankly, something plenty of 30 year old women do. I appreciate genuine flaws in a character, even when it means they're often not likeable.
But the thing is, Stoner IS likeable, as evidenced by the solid group of friends that stick around and show up. It's just that it's her passion that makes people like her, not her niceness or sweetness -- how refreshing. Even better that this passion is tied to the climate crisis and general social justice. The author did a great job working these in without making you feel like you're reading the news or a textbook. 
Yeah, most of us might read romance to escape the horrors of the world, but I see nothing wrong with a strong female lead trying to challenge those horrors. More of this, please.

Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and its Origins by Jacob L. Wright

informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

The Ottomans: Khans, Caesars, and Caliphs by Marc David Baer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.

Content was boring to me

American Indian Liberation: A Theology of Sovereignty by George E. Tinker
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

Class assignment

She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse by Elizabeth A. Johnson

informative slow-paced

4.0