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labbyreads's reviews
267 reviews
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
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This spellbinding tale of love, loss, and the weight of our choices swept me off my feet, but the ending had me questioning some of my love.
In a moment of desperation to define her life for herself, Adeline makes a Faustian bargain. She exchanges her anonymity for an endless life of adventure. After 300 years alone, she finally finds someone she can connect with for more than just a night.
The interplay between the real world and the mystical one is flawlessly executed, with V.E. Schwab crafting a universe where past and present intertwine with captivating ease.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is not just a story; it's a deep exploration of the human experience and our quest for legacy. Schwab weaves a delicate tapestry of emotions, forcing the reader ponder the significance of our own impact on the world and those around us.
While I was captivated by Addie's incredible journey throughout the pages, I must admit that the ending left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
This is a haunting tale that pushes the boundaries of time, love, and the fleeting nature of life itself. While the ending may not be everyone's cup of tea, the journey is worth every page turned.
This spellbinding tale of love, loss, and the weight of our choices swept me off my feet, but the ending had me questioning some of my love.
In a moment of desperation to define her life for herself, Adeline makes a Faustian bargain. She exchanges her anonymity for an endless life of adventure. After 300 years alone, she finally finds someone she can connect with for more than just a night.
The interplay between the real world and the mystical one is flawlessly executed, with V.E. Schwab crafting a universe where past and present intertwine with captivating ease.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is not just a story; it's a deep exploration of the human experience and our quest for legacy. Schwab weaves a delicate tapestry of emotions, forcing the reader ponder the significance of our own impact on the world and those around us.
While I was captivated by Addie's incredible journey throughout the pages, I must admit that the ending left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
This is a haunting tale that pushes the boundaries of time, love, and the fleeting nature of life itself. While the ending may not be everyone's cup of tea, the journey is worth every page turned.
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.0
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When you consider the politics, heartache, betrayals and passion that the Church of Latter Day Saints is built on, there is a true "Game of Thrones" aspect to all of it. Unfortunately, Under the Banner of Heaven reads more like a history book than Martin's series.
Although Under the Banner of Heaven covers much of the history of the Church of Latter Day Saints, at the core of the book are the brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty who insist God commanded them to kill a young woman and her daughter.
Krakauer's exploration of religious fundamentalism and its violent consequences is undeniably intriguing. The book provides an eye-opening account of true events that often feel stranger than fiction.
However, the excitement of the narrative is dampened by the confusing switches between timelines. Just as I got emotionally invested in one character's story, I was abruptly transported to another era or perspective.
If you're a true crime buff and you don't mind a more documentary approach to storytelling, then give this book a chance. Just be prepared for a history lesson more than a drama.
When you consider the politics, heartache, betrayals and passion that the Church of Latter Day Saints is built on, there is a true "Game of Thrones" aspect to all of it. Unfortunately, Under the Banner of Heaven reads more like a history book than Martin's series.
Although Under the Banner of Heaven covers much of the history of the Church of Latter Day Saints, at the core of the book are the brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty who insist God commanded them to kill a young woman and her daughter.
Krakauer's exploration of religious fundamentalism and its violent consequences is undeniably intriguing. The book provides an eye-opening account of true events that often feel stranger than fiction.
However, the excitement of the narrative is dampened by the confusing switches between timelines. Just as I got emotionally invested in one character's story, I was abruptly transported to another era or perspective.
If you're a true crime buff and you don't mind a more documentary approach to storytelling, then give this book a chance. Just be prepared for a history lesson more than a drama.
Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids by Scott Hershovitz
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
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Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids by Scott Hershovitz | Book Review
Hershovitz is a professor of philosophy at the University of Michigan, and he uses his expertise to engage his children in conversations about big questions, such as the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the existence of God.
Hershovitz's approach is playful and engaging, and he does a great job of making complex philosophical concepts accessible to a lay audience. He also does a good job of highlighting the philosophical insights that children are capable of.
Hershovitz's book is a reminder that children are natural philosophers. By engaging with their children's philosophical questions, parents can help them to develop their critical thinking skills and to become more thoughtful citizens.
Although Herovitz covers a wide variety of topics in the book, he does not delve very deep into any of them. This is good news for the average lay reader, but if you're looking for deep knowledge of philosophy then you might prefer another read.
Hershovitz's conversations with his children are both insightful and hilarious, and they offer a unique perspective on the philosophical potential of children.
Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids by Scott Hershovitz | Book Review
Hershovitz is a professor of philosophy at the University of Michigan, and he uses his expertise to engage his children in conversations about big questions, such as the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the existence of God.
Hershovitz's approach is playful and engaging, and he does a great job of making complex philosophical concepts accessible to a lay audience. He also does a good job of highlighting the philosophical insights that children are capable of.
Hershovitz's book is a reminder that children are natural philosophers. By engaging with their children's philosophical questions, parents can help them to develop their critical thinking skills and to become more thoughtful citizens.
Although Herovitz covers a wide variety of topics in the book, he does not delve very deep into any of them. This is good news for the average lay reader, but if you're looking for deep knowledge of philosophy then you might prefer another read.
Hershovitz's conversations with his children are both insightful and hilarious, and they offer a unique perspective on the philosophical potential of children.
How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of Intangibles in Business by Douglas W. Hubbard
informative
slow-paced
2.0
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This one was incredibly difficult for me to find a rating for.
How to Measure Anything outlines his process for reducing uncertainty in decisions by measuring what is critical for the decision. Often measurements that seem impossible really come down to accurately defining the definition.
Understanding the framework that Hubbard lays out for defining what to measure is priceless. The questions that he uses to calibrate estimates are now my default way to estimate anything from "How early do I need to leave to arrive on time?" to "How many hours of work will this project take?"
Unfortunately, it took a lot of digging to get to those golden nuggets. The first third of the book could have easily been skipped. It was overloaded with unnecessary self-justification.
Overall, this was just okay to me. There are key concepts that will stay with me, but the book is need of some serious editing before it becomes one of my top shelf choices.
This one was incredibly difficult for me to find a rating for.
How to Measure Anything outlines his process for reducing uncertainty in decisions by measuring what is critical for the decision. Often measurements that seem impossible really come down to accurately defining the definition.
Understanding the framework that Hubbard lays out for defining what to measure is priceless. The questions that he uses to calibrate estimates are now my default way to estimate anything from "How early do I need to leave to arrive on time?" to "How many hours of work will this project take?"
Unfortunately, it took a lot of digging to get to those golden nuggets. The first third of the book could have easily been skipped. It was overloaded with unnecessary self-justification.
Overall, this was just okay to me. There are key concepts that will stay with me, but the book is need of some serious editing before it becomes one of my top shelf choices.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
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? No
4.0
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This Thursday we're spending time with the elderly residents of Cooper's Chase retirement village and their amateur sleuthing club, the Thursday Murder Club. It's hard not to smile as you follow along with their investigations, which are equal parts bumbling and brilliant.
But don't be fooled by the cozy vibe of this novel – there's much more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye. As the members of the Thursday Murder Club dig deeper into a decades-old murder case, they find themselves uncovering secrets that some would prefer to keep buried.
Overall, I highly recommend The Thursday Murder Club to anyone looking for a fun, engaging crime novel with a unique cast of characters and a complex, satisfying plot.
This Thursday we're spending time with the elderly residents of Cooper's Chase retirement village and their amateur sleuthing club, the Thursday Murder Club. It's hard not to smile as you follow along with their investigations, which are equal parts bumbling and brilliant.
But don't be fooled by the cozy vibe of this novel – there's much more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye. As the members of the Thursday Murder Club dig deeper into a decades-old murder case, they find themselves uncovering secrets that some would prefer to keep buried.
Overall, I highly recommend The Thursday Murder Club to anyone looking for a fun, engaging crime novel with a unique cast of characters and a complex, satisfying plot.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
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Verity is definitely a book that will keep you hooked. The story revolves around a young writer named Lowen, who's been hired to complete a book series written by Verity Crawford, an incredibly successful author who's been involved in a tragic car accident and is unable to continue writing.
As Lowen moves into Verity's home to go through her notes and outlines for the series, she discovers an autobiography that Verity has written and hidden in her office. As she reads through it, she finds herself getting increasingly drawn into the dark and twisted story of Verity's life, her marriage to a handsome and wealthy man, Jeremy, and the death of their young twins.
The aptly titled Verity encourages you to question who is telling the truth, which starts out intriguing; however, at the end I'm still not sure who to believe, which is a bit frustrating.
Despite my frustrations with the somewhat dubious narrative, Hoover more than delivers on the suspense. This is a guaranteed page-turner, a "stay up all night for "one more chapter" kind of read.
All in all, Verity is a great read for people who are looking for a suspenseful psychological tale. While the story is a little predictable, the excellent writing and intriguing characters more than make up for it.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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Verity is definitely a book that will keep you hooked. The story revolves around a young writer named Lowen, who's been hired to complete a book series written by Verity Crawford, an incredibly successful author who's been involved in a tragic car accident and is unable to continue writing.
As Lowen moves into Verity's home to go through her notes and outlines for the series, she discovers an autobiography that Verity has written and hidden in her office. As she reads through it, she finds herself getting increasingly drawn into the dark and twisted story of Verity's life, her marriage to a handsome and wealthy man, Jeremy, and the death of their young twins.
The aptly titled Verity encourages you to question who is telling the truth, which starts out intriguing; however, at the end I'm still not sure who to believe, which is a bit frustrating.
Despite my frustrations with the somewhat dubious narrative, Hoover more than delivers on the suspense. This is a guaranteed page-turner, a "stay up all night for "one more chapter" kind of read.
All in all, Verity is a great read for people who are looking for a suspenseful psychological tale. While the story is a little predictable, the excellent writing and intriguing characters more than make up for it.
How to Prevent the Next Pandemic by Bill Gates
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
3.0
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Since today marks the official end of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems only timely to discuss how impressed I was by How to Prevent the Next Pandemic.
This book breaks down complex scientific terminology and concepts in a way that was easy to understand and digest. The style is casual and approachable, which made listening to the audiobook easy.
Gates emphasizes the importance of investing in public health infrastructure. Although I agree, I think Gates could have done a better job of emphasizing the warnings we got from SARS or even the H1N1.
Overall, I enjoyed reading How to Prevent the Next Pandemic. While it is certainly not a light-hearted read, it is an important one that is both informative and thought-provoking
Since today marks the official end of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems only timely to discuss how impressed I was by How to Prevent the Next Pandemic.
This book breaks down complex scientific terminology and concepts in a way that was easy to understand and digest. The style is casual and approachable, which made listening to the audiobook easy.
Gates emphasizes the importance of investing in public health infrastructure. Although I agree, I think Gates could have done a better job of emphasizing the warnings we got from SARS or even the H1N1.
Overall, I enjoyed reading How to Prevent the Next Pandemic. While it is certainly not a light-hearted read, it is an important one that is both informative and thought-provoking
Designing Your Life: Build a Life that Works for You by Bill Burnett, Dave Evans
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
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Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans is a must-read book for anyone looking to improve their life. The authors, both professors at Stanford University, apply the principles of design thinking to help readers create fulfilling, meaningful lives. The result is a book that is both practical and inspiring.
The authors walk you through tactical practices to ensure that you are focusing your efforts on the parts of your life that really need the most attention. It covers a wide range of topics, from career development to relationships to health and wellness. The authors provide detailed guidance and exercises on each topic, helping readers to identify their goals and take concrete steps to achieve them.
The key concept of prototyping was an enlightening way to think about what might be next for your career. The authors argue that instead of simply planning and analyzing, we should be actively testing and iterating our ideas to see what works best.
The authors use real-life examples, personal anecdotes, and humor to make their points. They also use a variety of tools, including diagrams and charts, to help readers visualize their ideas and progress.
Overall, I really liked this book. In retrospect, a lot of what they were saying about the effectiveness of these approaches was largely known information based on my background in design and development, but the application of how to really apply them to life design was revolutionary. Its accessible style, powerful concepts, and emphasis on action make it an essential read for anyone seeking to create a better, more fulfilling life.
Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans is a must-read book for anyone looking to improve their life. The authors, both professors at Stanford University, apply the principles of design thinking to help readers create fulfilling, meaningful lives. The result is a book that is both practical and inspiring.
The authors walk you through tactical practices to ensure that you are focusing your efforts on the parts of your life that really need the most attention. It covers a wide range of topics, from career development to relationships to health and wellness. The authors provide detailed guidance and exercises on each topic, helping readers to identify their goals and take concrete steps to achieve them.
The key concept of prototyping was an enlightening way to think about what might be next for your career. The authors argue that instead of simply planning and analyzing, we should be actively testing and iterating our ideas to see what works best.
The authors use real-life examples, personal anecdotes, and humor to make their points. They also use a variety of tools, including diagrams and charts, to help readers visualize their ideas and progress.
Overall, I really liked this book. In retrospect, a lot of what they were saying about the effectiveness of these approaches was largely known information based on my background in design and development, but the application of how to really apply them to life design was revolutionary. Its accessible style, powerful concepts, and emphasis on action make it an essential read for anyone seeking to create a better, more fulfilling life.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
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Calling all my Hallmark movie peeps. Whether you love watching them or just love mocking them, this is for you.
Nora Stephens is a cutthroat literary agent and a proud workaholic, but when her sister Libby asks her to spend a month in the small town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, Nora can't turn her down.
Emily Henry is a master of romantic comedy in a way I haven't seen since the Meg Ryan movies of the 90s. This is the second book of hers that I've read, and both have been funny, heartwarming, and thoroughly entertaining.
This book is pretty predictable, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment. Sometimes you just want a good story about relatable characters who overcome their flaws and change their lives for the better. There are plenty of moments of delight that make this worth reading, even if you already suspect the ending.
Henry obviously wrote this book about book lovers for book lovers. It is filled with warm fuzzy feelings about the smell of books and the love of good stories. It's an opportunity to take these tropes off the shelf (free-spirit, city girl, loner, farm boy, love story) and really look at their facets. Each character's development proves that they are more than their designated trope.
Although, this is obviously a romance, it is also largely also about the relationship between Libby and Nora. Nora is forced to adapt to the way that relationship has changed and to the story that she has told herself about what her responsibility is to her sister. As she does, she also realizes that she might be able to change the story she has for herself. It's a beautiful and poignant reminder that no matter what plan we have for ourselves, we always have the opportunity to rewrite our ending.
Ultimately, I really liked this one because I so clearly relate to the characters. I love a good checklist, and I hate being vulnerable. Plus, the Roy Kent vibes are so intense that I will be devastated if Brett Goldstein does not play Charlie in the film adaptation.
Despite the predictability, this was a total win for me. I laughed, I cried, and it moved me.
Calling all my Hallmark movie peeps. Whether you love watching them or just love mocking them, this is for you.
Nora Stephens is a cutthroat literary agent and a proud workaholic, but when her sister Libby asks her to spend a month in the small town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, Nora can't turn her down.
Emily Henry is a master of romantic comedy in a way I haven't seen since the Meg Ryan movies of the 90s. This is the second book of hers that I've read, and both have been funny, heartwarming, and thoroughly entertaining.
This book is pretty predictable, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment. Sometimes you just want a good story about relatable characters who overcome their flaws and change their lives for the better. There are plenty of moments of delight that make this worth reading, even if you already suspect the ending.
Henry obviously wrote this book about book lovers for book lovers. It is filled with warm fuzzy feelings about the smell of books and the love of good stories. It's an opportunity to take these tropes off the shelf (free-spirit, city girl, loner, farm boy, love story) and really look at their facets. Each character's development proves that they are more than their designated trope.
Although, this is obviously a romance, it is also largely also about the relationship between Libby and Nora. Nora is forced to adapt to the way that relationship has changed and to the story that she has told herself about what her responsibility is to her sister. As she does, she also realizes that she might be able to change the story she has for herself. It's a beautiful and poignant reminder that no matter what plan we have for ourselves, we always have the opportunity to rewrite our ending.
Ultimately, I really liked this one because I so clearly relate to the characters. I love a good checklist, and I hate being vulnerable. Plus, the Roy Kent vibes are so intense that I will be devastated if Brett Goldstein does not play Charlie in the film adaptation.
Despite the predictability, this was a total win for me. I laughed, I cried, and it moved me.
The Peripheral by William Gibson
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
1.0
Full transparency: I love a dystopian novel, especially the kind with a strong female lead. I love science fiction. I love a tale of time travel or multiverses. I thoroughly enjoyed Lisa Joy and John Nolan's adaptation of Westworld so after seeing something like 800 previews from Amazon Prime I determined it better to read the source material before watching their new show The Peripheral. It was a decision I lived to regret.
Channeling his inner Ernest Hemingway, Gibson's sentences and chapters are short with little to no "fluff" included. He leaves off attribution on sentences or at best will go through entire multi-character conversations with only pronouns. As a result, it was incredibly difficult in writing to understand who was talking in conversations.
Each of the short chapters switches between different characters in different times and universes. I spent the majority of the beginning of the book just trying to figure out where I was and who was talking.
As a result, I didn't care about any of the characters. I didn't understand why I should. Even when she or any of the other characters were facing life-threatening situations, I found myself apathetic towards their plight.
The pacing was incredibly slow. I found myself growing increasingly bored as the story dragged on. By the time anything of substance happened, I was already so disinterested that I didn't care what was going on.
Overall, this was a huge disappointment for me. I wish that I had just watched the TV show.
Channeling his inner Ernest Hemingway, Gibson's sentences and chapters are short with little to no "fluff" included. He leaves off attribution on sentences or at best will go through entire multi-character conversations with only pronouns. As a result, it was incredibly difficult in writing to understand who was talking in conversations.
Each of the short chapters switches between different characters in different times and universes. I spent the majority of the beginning of the book just trying to figure out where I was and who was talking.
As a result, I didn't care about any of the characters. I didn't understand why I should. Even when she or any of the other characters were facing life-threatening situations, I found myself apathetic towards their plight.
The pacing was incredibly slow. I found myself growing increasingly bored as the story dragged on. By the time anything of substance happened, I was already so disinterested that I didn't care what was going on.
Overall, this was a huge disappointment for me. I wish that I had just watched the TV show.