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ksparks's reviews
1677 reviews
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
I loved this one. Every time I picked it up I didn't want to put it down. Firstly, she really captures the experience of living in the house with a deeply depressed parent, something that I know well. The heavy atmosphere, and the way that it's an invisible problem-nobody outside the family really knows, and there is collusion to hide it in the family (in this case, Leigh's parents hiding from her what is going on.) Second--the romance is awesome. Third--the surreal/mythic way that Leigh is lead to travel to Taiwan and uncover her mother's past history. And finally, the way Leigh has to fight against her father's opposition to her passion for art. So many elements come together in this book making for a completely immersive experience.
Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang
emotional
reflective
- 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
4.0
Some parts of this book are more effective than others. It does meander in a stream of consciousness, fragmented kind of way, interrupted by lots of tidbits of the research she is doing and the social media bits she is reading. But--isn't that symptomatic of all of our experience now? It's a quiet and reflective book, and there isn't a huge amount of plot. Nonetheless, I will remember this one. I could so relate to her experiences working for a tech company, where she is invisible and underappreciated as an Asian American woman. To her decision whether to move with her boyfriend to Ithaca or stay with her career. To her worries about her relationship and her conversations with her dad. And to the racist micro-aggressions she experiences everywhere, that her boyfriend is oblivious to. I especially enjoyed the parts about her father, who seemed very real to me. A father who is so loveable and could drive you up the wall at the same time.
The Price of Salt, or Carol by Patricia Highsmith
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I appreciate that, for it's time, this book is awesome. But, I didn't enjoy it that much. The book has a melancholy tone with Carol ambivalent about Therese most of the time, and Therese not sure where she stands with Carol. Even on their road trip, they don't seem to have that much fun. Also, fyi, there are no steamy sex scenes in this book. I did like the ending.
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Lacey Lamar, Amber Ruffin
This is an amazing book. These true stories are both hilarious and horrible. You really won't believe what happened to Lacey, except you will. And while you might be tempted to think while reading, that's just Omaha, it isn't. I want everybody to read this book, because I think it will help people to understand racism more than any nonfiction book ever could. These are real stories, they are contemporary, they happened to Lacey or Amber, and they are jaw-droppingly awful.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
fast-paced
5.0
This is an amazing book. These true stories are both hilarious and horrible. You really won't believe what happened to Lacey, except you will. And while you might be tempted to think while reading, that's just Omaha, it isn't. I want everybody to read this book, because I think it will help people to understand racism more than any nonfiction book ever could. These are real stories, they are contemporary, they happened to Lacey or Amber, and they are jaw-droppingly awful.
Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Sanjay Gupta
This is an extremely well-researched, clearly written, and persuasive book about how you can keep your brain sharp at any age. He's a neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent at CNN and definitely knows what he is talking about. I learned that dementia and Alzheimer's both start 10-20 years before any symptoms appear. But he is not a fear-monger. Even if you already have Alzheimer's there are things that can be done to slow it down and improve quality of life. And, it can be prevented. I thought he'd talk about doing things like crossword puzzles--but actually what is far more important is getting regular exercise--most important. Eating well--with a focus on eating fruits, vegetables and other good things rather than avoiding bad things. Getting good sleep, having quality connections to other people, learning and discovering new things, and having purpose and meaning in your life. At the end of the book are tons of resources for caretakers and people with brain disease. This is one of those books that I think everyone would benefit from reading.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
This is an extremely well-researched, clearly written, and persuasive book about how you can keep your brain sharp at any age. He's a neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent at CNN and definitely knows what he is talking about. I learned that dementia and Alzheimer's both start 10-20 years before any symptoms appear. But he is not a fear-monger. Even if you already have Alzheimer's there are things that can be done to slow it down and improve quality of life. And, it can be prevented. I thought he'd talk about doing things like crossword puzzles--but actually what is far more important is getting regular exercise--most important. Eating well--with a focus on eating fruits, vegetables and other good things rather than avoiding bad things. Getting good sleep, having quality connections to other people, learning and discovering new things, and having purpose and meaning in your life. At the end of the book are tons of resources for caretakers and people with brain disease. This is one of those books that I think everyone would benefit from reading.
Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier
This was ok, but not very much happens in it. It's about a depressed alcoholic Korean-American teenager who is pregnant, living with her very sweet boyfriend and mom, and ignoring them both. She's grieving the death of her dad and obsessed with a woman named Jenny she delivers pizza for. I enjoyed reading it but I would have liked it to have had more development of the relationship with Jeannie and more development of the main character.
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
This was ok, but not very much happens in it. It's about a depressed alcoholic Korean-American teenager who is pregnant, living with her very sweet boyfriend and mom, and ignoring them both. She's grieving the death of her dad and obsessed with a woman named Jenny she delivers pizza for. I enjoyed reading it but I would have liked it to have had more development of the relationship with Jeannie and more development of the main character.
The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
This is a classic book for a good reason, and I'm so glad I read it. I have always been very interested in cities and reading this made me understand not just what I like in a city (walkability, lively street life, a mix of different businesses and organizations, uniqueness, messiness, visual interest) but why so few places are like that anymore. Because city zoning not only discourages successful city development in America--it outright outlaws it in many cases. This is why all of our suburbs look like boring identical cookie cutters of each other. Great cities grow organically--but only if they are allowed and encouraged to grow. I've always been on the hunt for the "right"city. Now I understand that what is more important is engaging in activism to make all cities better, by changing the short sighted planning rules and regulations that kill lively cities. I'll write a better review of this book at a later date. For now I'll just say that I read this book for an online "Books to change your life" book club, and in this case, this book actually is life changing for me.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
This is a classic book for a good reason, and I'm so glad I read it. I have always been very interested in cities and reading this made me understand not just what I like in a city (walkability, lively street life, a mix of different businesses and organizations, uniqueness, messiness, visual interest) but why so few places are like that anymore. Because city zoning not only discourages successful city development in America--it outright outlaws it in many cases. This is why all of our suburbs look like boring identical cookie cutters of each other. Great cities grow organically--but only if they are allowed and encouraged to grow. I've always been on the hunt for the "right"city. Now I understand that what is more important is engaging in activism to make all cities better, by changing the short sighted planning rules and regulations that kill lively cities. I'll write a better review of this book at a later date. For now I'll just say that I read this book for an online "Books to change your life" book club, and in this case, this book actually is life changing for me.
The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I put this book on hold because someone said a librarian had recommended it highly. Whoever that librarian was, thank you! I loved this book. Space opera with queer characters, multiple points of view but done well so that I can keep straight who the characters are. An interesting plot with a twist. And it's the beginning of a trilogy.
I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O'Farrell
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
Fellow Scorpios like myself--this is a book for you. It is all about those intense life or death moments. Dramatic, raw, and deeply moving. So many of these stories made me cry--with sadness, with happiness, with recognition. Reminding me of those intense moments in my own life and also of those angels in your life who are there for you when something terrible happens. And about how moments like that are when you feel the most fully alive and the most aware of what is important to you. I highly recommend listening to this one as an audiobook, it is beautifully read by Daisy Donovan.
Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
I am concerned that he may have glossed over Washington's role in the atrocities against Native Americans, as a "war hero." This was something I was less aware of when I first read this book.