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hannahleelovestoread's reviews
613 reviews
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In his captivating novel An Intimate Suggestion: King George V’s Bigamy Ordeal, Robin Callender Smith flawlessly relays the story of a seldom-discussed article which, if proven true, could have irreversibly altered Western history and culture. In the novel, Smith relates the tale of Edward Mylius, who wrote a scandalous 1910 article accusing the King of England of having already been married when he wed his queen. If this allegation is proven true, it could render the royal children — including the heir — illegitimate, thus permanently altering the line of succession at the head of a sprawling empire. Mylius is taken to trial for criminal libel, the verdict an obviously foregone conclusion to almost all his contemporaries. What will at turns surprise, delight, horrify, and render speechless Smith’s readers are the turbulent personal lives of the other characters. Primarily following an up-and-coming lawyer torn between new developments in his personal life and his Machiavellian rise to prominence in his field, the work is simultaneously gritty and symbolic. Within its pages, suffragettes are subject to violent and humiliating assaults in the streets of London for demanding the right to vote like their male contemporaries, even the thought of voicing their opinions being swiftly and severely punished by those who are bound to protect them. The King — whose influence can hardly be overstated even within the confines of a constitutional monarchy — is voiceless throughout most of the story, as well, though for an entirely different reason: he cannot legally testify on his own behalf. I devoured this book from start to finish, as will any historical fiction fan. Smith has painted a vivid and unflinching portrait of history sure to be loved by many readers. I, for one, can’t wait to see what takes on the stories of the past he has in mind to write in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Murder
Minor: War
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, War
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
The Shadow Work Experience for Beginners by Eleonor Diaz is a must-read for anyone interested in the hot psychology topic of the inner shadow. There was so much material I did not expect in this book, starting with the history of what is hardly a trend at all: (in)famous Swiss psychologist Carl Jung designated the parts of a person’s mind he or she downplayed the “shadow” in 1951. In addition to packing in the historical facts, Diaz often seems to take on the role of the therapist in her writing; she presents readers with benefits of various aspects of shadow work while reminding them of certain drawbacks. Perhaps the entire purpose of her book is summarized when Diaz writes, “You could easily become lost in the process without first grasping [shadow work]’s fundamentals.” Though even the beginner’s introduction to such a heavy topic can be difficult to read, I loved the way Diaz ties up loose ends: “By embracing your shadow…you have the power to consciously choose how you want to show up in the world.” I recommend this book to anyone looking to do just that.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Admittedly, this novel was difficult for me to get into. The beginning is gory and convoluted, and it did not immediately capture my interest. But I am exceedingly glad that I stuck it out, because this book is a masterpiece truly crafted in the vein of that complicated and mysterious literary legend, H. P. Lovecraft. It is written from the perspectives of various societal misfits—my favorite of whom is the indigenous Canadian “raven,” Malachi—who are laden with irreversible knowledge of dark, apocalyptic forces and seemingly impossible but unavoidable tasks. Author Christian A. Brown’s greatest strength is perhaps his character development, as shown by his elegant balance of tension and comfort between forced companions in a desperate setting. The book’s Lovecraftian inspiration should fool no one into thinking Brown lacks his own distinct voice, however. Raven’s Cry is a work of art, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the remainder of this series or on the rest of Brown’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
informative
fast-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
informative
medium-paced
Business Communication Essentials You Always Wanted to Know by Vibrant Publishers and Dr. AnnaMaria Bliven is a crash course in how to communicate effectively both in the workplace and on a personal level. I was particularly impressed with the authors’ assertion that one of the tenets of assuring perpetually credible communication is familiarity with one’s audience. In fact, they go on to suggest that of the four—not two, as common believed—types of listeners, only those who are “active” or fully engaged recipients of information significantly propel conversations forward. While reading this book, I quickly arrived at the conclusion that business communication and personal communication are quite alike. “Communication,” as American psychologist Rollo May aptly put it, “leads to community, that is, to understanding intimacy and mutual valuing.” Overall, this work was well-organized and easy to read. It packaged a significant amount of potentially intimidating data in a fun, digestible volume appropriate for nearly all audiences. It was a relevant, informative read.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Chief Everything Officer: 15 Years in the Boardroom by Kunal Gupta is a fascinating and rewarding read. Best categorized as a business memoir, the book recounts Gupta’s time so far as a successful entrepreneur and relays his tips for running the optimally successful business. While I do not necessarily agree with Gupta’s heavily leadership-centered approach—hence the phrase “Chief Everything Officer”—it is clear that, for some, this outlook reaps numerous benefits. Gupta helpfully maintains a linear storyline within the chapter entries while sandwiching advice in between his anecdotes. Many of his observations—such as the one that every individual has a different reason for working toward the same collective goal—are true of life in general, not just business ventures. I was particularly struck by his observation that, in many cases, constraints counterintuitively lead to more freedom. I also found “perfection is the enemy” to be a maxim that I would like to emphasize in various aspects of my own life. Overall, Gupta has written a memorable and enjoyable work.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Unlearning by Kunal Gupta is a riveting account of a series of fifteen behavioral experiments the author conducts to make drastic changes in his life. Originally inspired by a powerful documentary to reverse his escalating habit of excessive consumerism, Gupta first embarks on a short-term, minimalistic journey of making only the most necessary purchase. After following this lifestyle for a year, he informs readers, he finds himself in a pattern of continuous inspiration to “unlearn” unhealthy or limiting habits and belief systems. Gupta is impressive in tackling topics as light as his fear of heights and as heavy as grief, and he maintains a tone that is easy to read but respectful of people he meets around the world—in addition to his readers—and their various feelings, cultures, and belief systems. He skillfully employs inspirational quotes at the beginning of each chapter as well as helpfully offering his readers digestible summaries of each of the fifteen experiments. Unlearning is a helpful and enjoyable read, and I look forward to exploring more of Gupta’s work.