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hannahleelovestoread's reviews
613 reviews
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
This book is aptly titled, because it most certainly held my interest from start to finish. The chapters are centered on broad categories such as laws, wellness, and art, and there are more specified sections within them. One of my favorite parts of the book, for example, was the “Languages Lores” section of the chapter titled “Literal Lexicon Lingua.” As an avid reader and college English major, I was excited to find facts there about the Tower of Babel, Morse Code, the Epic of Gilgamesh, and more of my favorite linguistic topics. I had two major disappointments with this book, however. For one, the grammar and punctuation needs extensive work; I noticed at least one mistake on nearly every page. Second, many of the historical facts lack context. For example, the book tells readers that Joan of Arc was nineteen years old when she led the French army to victory. This is not strictly true; Joan was nineteen when she was executed by English authorities, so she was years younger in her brief heyday. Overall, though, this is a fun and thought-provoking read.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This book is ideal for those caught between adolescence and adulthood. A sort of cheat sheet for surviving and thriving in life’s most important circumstances, its chapters focuses on numerous broad categories: communication skills; time management; personal health and wellness; and the like. Each chapter hones in on its subject in great detail, informing readers on the basics of the topic and empowering them to excel in applying related skills to their everyday lives. In my opinion, the definitive chapter of the book is the fifth, titled “Developing Social Skills.” In it, Davis defines crucial words and terms such as “networking” and “social etiquette” and gives examples of the latter, such as chivalry, small talk, and conformity. Furthermore, as someone who has struggled with social skills myself, I applaud Davis for challenging her readers to reframe their negative and anxious thoughts. Overall, this is a crucial read for the teenager seeking success in life.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
dark
funny
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Misogyny
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Murder
This unexpectedly left the Plus catalog on Audible, and it honestly wasn’t holding my interest enough for me to pay for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Murder, Abandonment
informative
fast-paced
By cracking open The Healing Herbal Teas Beginners’ Guide by Astrid Brown, readers sign up for nothing less than a crash course in the title subject. Brown sets the stage by bringing to light the importance of her subject, highlighting the use of herbal teas in ancient Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, and Celtic civilizations. The artful and meditative Chinese ceremony of Gongfu Cha, for example, was a very early use of herbal tea as a nonverbal social and cultural tool. Tea made its mark on the trade conducted along the Silk Road made (in)famous largely by explorer and teller of tall tales Marco Polo, as well. As someone who struggles with chronic health issues, however, I most enjoyed learning about the seemingly endless healing properties of different types of herbal teas. The antispasmodic properties of peppermint tea can soothe the symptoms of digestive disorders, the sedative effects of chamomile tea can produce restful night’s sleep, and a cup of elderberry tea can boost the immune system. My only minor complaint about the book is that, at certain points, the text was wordy and redundant. This, however, did not greatly reduce the book’s value as an educational resource.
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Cultivating Healthy Boundaries by Erin Caldwell defines boundaries as “tools of empowerment [giving] us the freedom to choose how we spend our energy and time.” The book thoroughly defines physical, digital, work-related, social, and spiritual boundaries. Emotional boundaries, for example, let us separate our feelings from others’ pressures and emotions. The most helpful part of the book was its discussion of how to put these boundaries into practice and what steps to take if they are violated. Turning down non-essential obligations that conflict with time for prayer, meditation, and quiet reflection is essential for establishing solid spiritual boundaries, for example. Caldwell also stresses that it is important to maintain relationships only with people who respect your time, space, and well-being. This book is full of lofty psychological concepts, but the average reader shouldn’t be deterred; it’s written in easily understandable language and a clear, concise format. I recommend it to anyone and everyone, particularly those struggling to establish healthy boundaries in any aspect of life.
I was honored to receive this book as an advanced reader’s copy (ARC)/galley. However, this was my first dark romance novel, and I simply could not get into it. I’m not sure if the genre is not for me or if this book just wasn’t my style. I am willing to try another dark romance or two before giving up the genre entirely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape