graywild's reviews
476 reviews

Drive: Stories from Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere by Sharon Wheatley

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adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

I like the writing style of Sharon Wheatley so this was a fun and easy read for me.  Sharon tells the story of her mother's passing, her life with her wife Martha during COVID and their travels during that time in a RV.  Many of her stories are told in a humorous way and makes you feel like you are along for the adventure.  Recommend.
Raise a Fist, Take a Knee: Race and the Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports by John Feinstein, John Feinstein

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challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

Well written book discussing the racism that still exists in all the major sports focusing on the US.  Broken down into basic sections for football, basketball, baseball but also covers swimming, golf and tennis.  Feinstein backs up all the stories with interviews from those who experienced it as well as advocates for change.  Recommend if a sports fan.
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Listed as a short story book but the short stories are interwoven and characters reappear in different stories so more than just a random collection.  The book covers a plague that is unleashed upon the world as the permafrost starts to melt in Siberia.  The stories cover various points during the plague.  I enjoyed most of the stories and thought it was interesting how they interconnected.  Recommend for short stories as well as dystopian.
Old Country by Harrison Query, Matt Query

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Story about Harry and Sasha who move to a remote house in Idaho near the Tetons.  Their closest neighbors, Dan and Lucy, introduce themselves and then tell them about how the valley they live in is haunted and each season a spirit comes.  Dan has written out how to deal with each seasonal spirit.  At first Harry doesn't believe the stories but eventually he does.  The haunting is interesting but not sure at the end I totally understand why it happens.  Ending is satisfying.
Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin

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

3.25

I debated for a while what rating- maybe a 3 maybe a 3.5.  The basic story is people around the world start buying or receiving ketunkis - a stuff animal of sorts that can move on wheels and have cameras in its eyes.  These ketunkis are being controlled by another person around the world that you don't know.  It doesn't go into who is selling or how the world's governments are trying to regulate privacy.  Most people start off with the curiousity of peeking into another person's life OR people treat their new kentukis as pets.  The dark side of humanity creeps in toward the end.  Relatively short book and a fast read. 
On the Beach by Nevil Shute

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Definitely not a feel good book.  End of the world story focused on Australia.  A short war has occurred and it ended in nuclear war.  People in Australia are waiting for the radiation to drift south and overtake them just like the rest of the world.  Interesting take on how people would react to the thought of knowing they will die within the next year.  This story takes a more live for the day type attitude.  No riots or anarchy just waiting for the end.
Episodes by Christopher Priest

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

In general I like short stories mixed with sci/fi or horror.  This collection was just ok for.  More misses than hits in the general set.
Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura

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

2.0

I received this as an ARC. Story about the relationship between Tatum and Mateo.  Tatum meets Mateo as a fan of his.  He is an acclaimed author.  They develop a friendship/relationship.  The book covers a few different time periods.  One involves Tatum being interviewed by a NYT reporter.  The other, earlier time, involves her life with Mateo.  It is told in parts via an email from Tatum to Mateo.  The writing style was okay but the story was boring.
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

4th book of the Percy Jackson series - read the others or you will be confused.  Continuing story of Percy Jackson and his friends.  This story involves Annabeth and her quest (with Percy, Grover and Tyson) to find Daedalus and the Labyrinth (the maze that held the Minotaur).  Along the way they fight Luke and the growing Titan allies of Kronos.  Good pace on this story.
Last Bets by Mary Carroll Moore

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adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

2.0

Story takes place on Bonaire.  A painter, Elly, is there to finish her portrait of Trevor.  Other characters include Rosie, a 16-year-old, who is there with her rich day.  Rosie likes to steal money from the other rich guests.  Story was sort of flat for me.  Lots of backgammon play as a form of gambling where people win big and lose big.  Maybe a beach vacation read but not a recommendation from me