ilikemandos's reviews
97 reviews

The Darksome Bounds of a Failing World: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era by Gareth Russell

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England by Marc Morris

adventurous informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

4.5

Dunstan: One Man Will Change the Fate of England by Conn Iggulden

adventurous informative inspiring relaxing medium-paced

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

4.25

The Complete Poems of Walt Whitman by Walt Whitman

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

5.0

Dune by Frank Herbert

adventurous dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Star Wars: Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear by Alexander Freed

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A fascinating incursion into the politics of post-Clone Wars Coruscant, Alexander Freed’s latest publication shows us the different attitudes towards the emergence of a well disguised dictatorship, as adopted by characters of various backgrounds and moral dispositions.

I think the primary known characters (Mon Mothma, Bail Organa and Saw Gerrera) were depicted in a manner consistent with their on-screen presence, while Freed’s original characters were likewise fairly well developed. The story itself provides some interesting commentary on the nature of democracy and authoritarianism, and on what forms legitimate (or possibly illegitimate) resistance can take, as well as a worthy dramatic framework for these conversations. However, as with most (if not all) Star Wars books, I do not know if I would read it without the SW connections. The prose is fairly simple and the ideas can be explored elsewhere. Alas, the work is fun and engaging (and enhances other Star Wars projects) so I think an 8.5/10 is appropriate. I certainly look forward to the next books in this trilogy!

Cea mai frumoasă poveste. Câteva adevăruri simple despre istoria românilor by Adrian Cioroianu

informative reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.0

The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder through Science & Poetry by Maria Popova

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.0

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

adventurous dark funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing tense 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

4.5