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katrod's reviews
484 reviews
Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I was engaged by the concept and the MC, but the writing style didn’t quite work for me. Could be the translation, but I felt most of the story was told rather matter of factly, and I just got bored very easily by the detached storytelling. Important themes though, and definitely felt moved by the end.
The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence by Gavin de Becker
informative
medium-paced
2.5
I can see this being revolutionary in the 90’s… feels dated and preachy to me. Spent 300 pages reading that anxiety is a choice and that I should just trust my instincts when it comes to fear…
That being said, there were some interesting tidbits about the psychology behind violence.
That being said, there were some interesting tidbits about the psychology behind violence.
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The beginning was really rough but I found that by the end I was hooked. The MC is just so hard to root for… she’s so dumb! I wish the author would have made things less obvious to the readers because it just made the main character look so stupid. I’m really hoping in the next one she comes into her power a bit because right now she’s just a damsel in distress.
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I read almost half of this over a year ago, and while some parts were interesting, the majority of that second quarter really wasn’t keeping me engaged. I think Pollen could have done with a bit more editing in general.
However, I recently picked it back up and blew through the whole second half in just 2 or 3 days. The second half details his own personal experiences using psychedelic assisted therapy and then detailing the broader underground (and not so underground) therapeutic practices, which I found fascinating.
Overall, I wouldn’t say it’s a book about “how to change your mind” but rather an overview of the history of psychedelic use in western medicine (as most of these have been used in indigenous cultures for hundreds if not thousands of years) and the story of one man’s journey into altered consciousness.
However, I recently picked it back up and blew through the whole second half in just 2 or 3 days. The second half details his own personal experiences using psychedelic assisted therapy and then detailing the broader underground (and not so underground) therapeutic practices, which I found fascinating.
Overall, I wouldn’t say it’s a book about “how to change your mind” but rather an overview of the history of psychedelic use in western medicine (as most of these have been used in indigenous cultures for hundreds if not thousands of years) and the story of one man’s journey into altered consciousness.
The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm by Hilarie Burton Morgan
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
Such an easy, sweet read about love, loss, friendship, hard work, and learning to reconnect with the earth. Really needed this one.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2.5… I wanted to love this book so much… all of the ideas were there, but I just really didn’t like some of the ways Kuang told this story.
First, it read like all 3 books of a trilogy. It was just wayyyyy too much for one book, without getting some of the human relationship details I love. It was literally just war. I felt like our main character had 3 almost fleshed out relationships, but besides that, she kind of lived in a vacuum.
Second, the amount of real history that Kuang used as inspiration for the book was extremely graphic and detailed and felt wrong in the context of a fantasy book (that starts off with her innocently taking a test to get into school at the age of 16… it goes from 0-100 real quick). I didn’t know about the Massacre of Nanking and other details from the second Sino-Japanese war in the early 20th century. Kuang drew heavily from these events in her writing of The Poppy War. I can see why she wanted to write about it and bring awareness to such a heinous part of human history. I just really felt uncomfortable reading about it through the lens of a fantasy novel. And there was nothing about the book or descriptions that prepared me for that or for how absolutely horrifying and disturbing some of the things she describes are. Seriously… just google trigger warnings and this book. It’s like every trigger you could ever think of.
Third, I had no one to root for. I’m all for writing about flawed characters, but I felt like I truly had no one I could get behind. And Rin, our main character, kind of flip flopped a lot. Sometimes she behaved in a way that made her seem really sensitive and scared, and other times she was this unflinching, unyielding, fearless radical. It was confusing. I felt like I never really understood who she was at her core… and why she cared so much about a country that really didn’t give a rat’s ass about her.
I really reeeeally wanted to love this, but I almost put it down so many times, I really didn’t like it.
Love Kuang’s other stuff though (Yellowface and Babel). I won’t be reading the rest of this series but I still look forward to whatever she does next!
First, it read like all 3 books of a trilogy. It was just wayyyyy too much for one book, without getting some of the human relationship details I love. It was literally just war. I felt like our main character had 3 almost fleshed out relationships, but besides that, she kind of lived in a vacuum.
Second, the amount of real history that Kuang used as inspiration for the book was extremely graphic and detailed and felt wrong in the context of a fantasy book (that starts off with her innocently taking a test to get into school at the age of 16… it goes from 0-100 real quick). I didn’t know about the Massacre of Nanking and other details from the second Sino-Japanese war in the early 20th century. Kuang drew heavily from these events in her writing of The Poppy War. I can see why she wanted to write about it and bring awareness to such a heinous part of human history. I just really felt uncomfortable reading about it through the lens of a fantasy novel. And there was nothing about the book or descriptions that prepared me for that or for how absolutely horrifying and disturbing some of the things she describes are. Seriously… just google trigger warnings and this book. It’s like every trigger you could ever think of.
Third, I had no one to root for. I’m all for writing about flawed characters, but I felt like I truly had no one I could get behind. And Rin, our main character, kind of flip flopped a lot. Sometimes she behaved in a way that made her seem really sensitive and scared, and other times she was this unflinching, unyielding, fearless radical. It was confusing. I felt like I never really understood who she was at her core… and why she cared so much about a country that really didn’t give a rat’s ass about her.
I really reeeeally wanted to love this, but I almost put it down so many times, I really didn’t like it.
Love Kuang’s other stuff though (Yellowface and Babel). I won’t be reading the rest of this series but I still look forward to whatever she does next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Violence, War, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child death, Classism, Gore, Addiction, Colonisation, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual violence, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Torture
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book for the most part. I just love the way Holly Ringland writes. I read The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding earlier this year, and fell deeply I love with the story and the way Ringland told it.
Similarly, this book captured me in a way not many do. I felt fully transported each time I opened its pages and there’s a sense of magic you can’t deny in this tale.
However, I felt there were a few too many storylines and ideas so it began to feel disjointed and not fully fleshed out. By the end, I felt like things were wrapped up rather abruptly and I think we needed more in the transitions between Alice’s phases of life.
But again, overall, I still really loved this book and getting to live among another one of Holly Ringland’s beautifully complex female characters.
Similarly, this book captured me in a way not many do. I felt fully transported each time I opened its pages and there’s a sense of magic you can’t deny in this tale.
However, I felt there were a few too many storylines and ideas so it began to feel disjointed and not fully fleshed out. By the end, I felt like things were wrapped up rather abruptly and I think we needed more in the transitions between Alice’s phases of life.
But again, overall, I still really loved this book and getting to live among another one of Holly Ringland’s beautifully complex female characters.
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Such a great read told from the perspective of an 11 year old girl with cerebral palsy. I’ve never read anything like it and it was so moving. As an able bodied person, it’s really easy to forget all the ways society casts aside, judges, and babies disabled people who may be just as or even more able than others.
Melody is one of the smartest, if not the smartest kids in her grade, and yet, since she doesn’t have fine motor skills and can’t control her body, everyone around her assumes she can’t control her mind either.
I wish I had read this in middle school and I think it would be great to have in classrooms everywhere. So powerful, so inspiring, and a great reminder so never judge a book by its cover.
Melody is one of the smartest, if not the smartest kids in her grade, and yet, since she doesn’t have fine motor skills and can’t control her body, everyone around her assumes she can’t control her mind either.
I wish I had read this in middle school and I think it would be great to have in classrooms everywhere. So powerful, so inspiring, and a great reminder so never judge a book by its cover.
Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Just not for me. Too dark and too boring all at the same time. There were some well written passages and phrases, but overall such a struggle to get myself to finish.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Slow to start (especially with the huge hype around this book) but I really got into it about halfway through. You have to be willing to throw caution to the wind and let yourself be carried away by the love story, otherwise you’ll catch yourself going…. Really? 😒
But definitely a fun read, and would be enjoyed by someone who doesn’t typically read fantasy. It’s got more elements of a historical fiction with just a dash of magic.
But definitely a fun read, and would be enjoyed by someone who doesn’t typically read fantasy. It’s got more elements of a historical fiction with just a dash of magic.