knitreadkate's reviews
85 reviews

Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport

3.0

Cal does make it clear from the beginning who the book would benefit most and as a 9-5 office worker with little control over any aspects of my work, I read on anyway.

With most self-improvement books, I like to take what works and leave the rest.
I did find the pull vs push method really interesting and have researched this more to see if I have any hope to bring this to my work day.

Maybe one day I'll be in a positioned with more control and freedom and I'll remember what I've read from Slow Productivity.

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was really long. Reallllly long. I feel like 60% could have been cut down and summarised for a shorter book.

I really enjoyed Bryce & Hunt, Ruhn & Lidia. I wish Bryce took Hunt's feelings and warnings a bit more seriously.

That ending was fantastic. Amazing. So good.
I was more broken that Hunt wasn't there too.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The first 50% of the book took me so long to read. I was so lost, didn't understand the world or what was happening.
It took me a while to enjoy Bryce & Hunt. I took it like watching trashy TV - trying not to take the book too seriously.
SJM is good at making relationships - or else none of us would be here. I liked the slow reveal of Bryce to Hunt.

The drug bust with Hunt on the boat - what the hell? I'm still confused on this, it felt so out of character. Like he did this strange thing and then went back to the Hunt we knew before. I saw a comment on reddit - he did it out of desperation for his freedom with his relationship with Bryce. I don't know.

That ending was phenomenal, enlightening, shocking, amazing! SJM is fantastic in that last 10-15% of the book. I was unable to put the book down, the fast paced action, the heavy emotions - it's the stuff I eat up from SJM.

I wish the book wasn't so long but I loved the journey in the end.

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.75

I really enjoyed the first & second book... I don't know what happened but this 3rd book left me a bit deflated.

What happened with Bryce? She seems completely different and soooo annoying. It become distracting and hard to keep coming back to the book to continue. For me, Ruhn, Lidia, Jessiba and Hunt carried this book. I think it would have been better as a Lidia Redemption Story like others have mentioned.

Ithan and Tharion were fine but I was skim reading through their sections and found their story plots annoying and weighing this book down.

Annoyed Part:

We get teased of the cross over with Feyre's world AND WE BARELY HAVE THEM. I liked Nesta for the first time from this book but... were no other characters available? Could they not be written in for part of the loooonng tunnel journey?

I have enjoyed all of SJM's book but this one felt off. I didn't enjoy the writing style and plots as much. I think it ended well.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-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

4.75

The book is packaged as a cute, cosy read but it’s a heavy emotional hitter. I feel you need to be in the right headspace to read it. 

One of the best standalone books I’ve read this year. It was written beautifully and a great opener into the Sri Lankan civil war - something I had no knowledge about. 

The book had moments of shocking, emotional and uncomfortable feelings but felt they were really important to the story. 

I enjoyed the multiple POVs and timeline changes. 

I think the book handles race, trauma, migration, and the challenges of multiculturalism in a white Australia who doesn’t like to be told it can be racist. 

I really enjoyed the writing style from Chandran. It had a slower start but about halfway in, I was constantly thinking about it and when can I get some time to read more. 

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.75

 

I absolutely enjoyed Gimli, he needs his own main character story. 

I didn’t really understand much of what was going on in the story. I think I would need to watch the movie and do a re-read of the series. 

Treebeard was interesting, he did feel a little of Tom Bombadil but thankfully no singing. 

Legolas and Gimli, the unlikely friends, were a lot of fun. 

Merry & Pippin with Treebeard was alright. 

Gandalf is interesting and concerning how he’s changed. 

Boromir’s brother - I don’t know yet is he’s really a good guy. 

Gollum is creepy and weird as always. 

Sam was the best. Especially at the end. 

I’m not enthralled yet in the story, I’m still working on it. I think it’s a book of enjoying the journey and I’m wanting to get to the battle scenes. 

The Chocolate Factory by Mary-Lou Stephens

adventurous lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

3.75

1920s Tasmania, scandals and the culture of Cadbury's chocolate factory.

Cosy read with a wholesome ending.

I almost quit the book at 50 pages in. I found it so boring, overly descriptive and every thought or detail overly explained. It was a slow burn for the first 150 pages and felt like words on a page. 

I'm glad I stuck it out, after the slow start, the plot kicked off and the read was more enjoyable, immersive and I was invested in the characters.

Be warned, very slow start but I think it's worth it.

The Sarah character bugged me. She reminded me of Donna from the TV show SUITS. How can she possible know everything?

I feel let down with the other Bourneville women who journeyed across to Tasmania. I think there could have been more with Ida, Lizzie, Margaret and Esme. I felt like there could have been more character development.

I did love the wholesome ending.

I t was eye opening to learn so much about the Cadbury culture, Quakerism and the societal values and culture compared to life today.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.5

Light-hearted, friendships, sword fighting and brilliant pastries.

Travis Baldree’s vocabulary is phenomenal, or I’m severely lacking. Probably the latter.

I need to find a way to insert avarice, inanities, prodigious, dearth, frigate, apoplexy, avaricious and sepulchral in my daily vocabulary.

I’ve finished the Throne of Glass series and needed something cosy and easy to read after the heavy bulky pages of the series. This was a great book for this need and felt like a quick read.

I loved getting back into Viv’s world and the friendships she makes along the way. I found the plot underwhelming but I was more interested in the characters and their interactions anyway. I think Travis does a great job of humour and friendship.

That epilogue was fantastic, I loved the Legend & Lattes moment.

Anything Travis Baldree writes, I will happily read.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous 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

3.5

I have wanted to read LOTR for so many years but always found the book too much and could never finish it.

I'm glad I went with the audiobook. Andy Serkis' voice acting is terrific. I can hear and visualise each character so clearly. Gandalf sounds just like Ian McKellen and Boromir is fantastic, identical to Sean Bean. I love it.

The Tom Bambadil part was so cringe and unbearable. I had it on max speed to get through this part.

I have to remember this book was published in 1954. My 2024 attention span is absolutely terrible and found it so difficult to stay focused when the long descriptive parts are long and boring to me.

I really love Sam Gangee and Gimli so far.
I love the fiery heart of Gimli and his interactions with Legolas is enjoyable.

I did find it hard to feel attached to any of the other characters so far.

Highly recommend Andy Serkis' audiobook edition if you have struggled with getting through the book.

Denying Red: A hot Firefighter romance by Misha Blake
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

This book reads like a poorly written fan fic and desperately needs a decent editor. 
I can’t get past 30 pages.