Scan barcode
mads_jpg's reviews
187 reviews
Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.25
I regret listening to the audiobook because there were so many sections I wanted to annotate the hell out of, so I'm gonna have to reread this once I've got a physical copy.
While this is a very zeitgeisty book, I think it'll age better than others, as it serves almost as a history book mixed with memoir mixed with psychology.
While this is a very zeitgeisty book, I think it'll age better than others, as it serves almost as a history book mixed with memoir mixed with psychology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Body shaming, Classism, Eating disorder, Chronic illness, Confinement, Mass/school shootings, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Genocide, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Police brutality, Colonisation, Racism, and War
Minor: Sexual violence, Slavery, Transphobia, and Abortion
Regarding the Pain of Others by Susan Sontag
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
After seeing so many haunting images from Gaza of Palestinians either dead or dying, many of them children, I wanted to understand it all better. Whether violent imagery creates lasting pathos, whether we should look or if it's just self flagellation, and whether images like these can actually make significant change.
These are admittedly very complicated questions to answer, so Sontag's ideas have left me feeling both less and more confused. Maybe it's harder to compare the almost real-time images from Motaz's Instagram stories to the war images filtered through television companies and journalists. Maybe it's a whole different beast seeing images of death through the eyes of someone you have a parasocial relationship with.
But I did leave this book feeling like I understood the desire to document and witness these atrocities, despite all the complications that come along with it. And all the emotions that can come up for people for different reasons, how sympathy can turn to apathy when someone feels hopeless to stop the suffering.
These are admittedly very complicated questions to answer, so Sontag's ideas have left me feeling both less and more confused. Maybe it's harder to compare the almost real-time images from Motaz's Instagram stories to the war images filtered through television companies and journalists. Maybe it's a whole different beast seeing images of death through the eyes of someone you have a parasocial relationship with.
But I did leave this book feeling like I understood the desire to document and witness these atrocities, despite all the complications that come along with it. And all the emotions that can come up for people for different reasons, how sympathy can turn to apathy when someone feels hopeless to stop the suffering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Slavery, Violence, Body horror, Colonisation, Gore, Grief, Blood, Torture, Death, Racism, Sexism, Rape, Sexual violence, and War
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think this book may have been advertised wrong, because I went in to this book STOKED for the premise of a man trying to figure out why his girlfriend dumped him. In the prime time of people discussing weaponised incompetence and men doing the bare minimum, I really expected this to be an interesting story about a man slowly realising all the ways he mistreated his partner. But it honestly wasn't.
The book is mostly just a critique of how men aren't very good at emotionally supporting each other through events like breakups and the general shittiness of being dumped. But that's pretty much it, he doesn't really make any revelations or grow a lot as a character. Maybe that's the point, since that's the case for most men like him in reality, but that's not as interesting to me.
Ironically, the best part of the book is the final chapter from Jen's perspective. I think this book would've really benefitted from either alternating between them, or being solely from her view, because she was far more interesting than Andy.
I also hated the whole side plot about him dating a 23 year old, the book was definitely critical of it, but not enough in my opinion.
Overall it was still an alright book, I read it very quickly and it flowed well, but I think the advertised premise was a lot more interesting than the execution.
If you want a book with a similar premise but slightly better execution, Out of Love by Hazel Hayes plays out a relationship in reverse, starting with the breakup and ending with the day they met, to me it was much more impactful.
The book is mostly just a critique of how men aren't very good at emotionally supporting each other through events like breakups and the general shittiness of being dumped. But that's pretty much it, he doesn't really make any revelations or grow a lot as a character. Maybe that's the point, since that's the case for most men like him in reality, but that's not as interesting to me.
I also hated the whole side plot about him dating a 23 year old, the book was definitely critical of it, but not enough in my opinion.
Overall it was still an alright book, I read it very quickly and it flowed well, but I think the advertised premise was a lot more interesting than the execution.
If you want a book with a similar premise but slightly better execution, Out of Love by Hazel Hayes plays out a relationship in reverse, starting with the breakup and ending with the day they met, to me it was much more impactful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, Sexism, Grief, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Eating disorder, Abandonment, Medical content, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Stalking
Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
2.5
I really liked the message of the book and definitely took away some good tactics from it (I've already limited my screen time and social media usage) but the writing itself just didn't land with me. Which is surprising given that it came at the perfect time in my life, as I've been overworked for weeks staying up past midnight ever night. I even fell asleep reading this on the tram at one point.
I found it incredibly repetitive (if I have to see the word "bamboozled" or "portal" one more time) and it frequently referenced other books to the point where I felt like I was reading them instead (Octavia Butler especially). The writing read more like a mantra or wishy-washy meditation, and that might work for some people but I just didn't connect with it. Even though the book has distinct chapters I felt like I was just rereading the last one each time. I think this would've worked better if it was either edited heavily or written as more of a memoir. That being said, I still think people should read it or at least look into the Nap Ministry.
I found it incredibly repetitive (if I have to see the word "bamboozled" or "portal" one more time) and it frequently referenced other books to the point where I felt like I was reading them instead (Octavia Butler especially). The writing read more like a mantra or wishy-washy meditation, and that might work for some people but I just didn't connect with it. Even though the book has distinct chapters I felt like I was just rereading the last one each time. I think this would've worked better if it was either edited heavily or written as more of a memoir. That being said, I still think people should read it or at least look into the Nap Ministry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, Classism, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Death, Racial slurs, Violence, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
How to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone by Alex Norris
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.75
Alex Norris is such an amazing visual storyteller, there were so many comics in this where I was just baffled at the ways he represented certain scenarios/feelings/etc. Even the About The Author section is really clever. Everyone should read this for both some solid advice and solid laughs.
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship and Grief
This Winter by Alice Oseman
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.75
Really good representation of both the fun side of Christmas but also how it can be a difficult time. I also really liked how we got the perspectives of all the siblings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Homophobia, Self harm, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
1.25
It's ironic that Nelson spends so much of this book debating whether putting something in writing robs it of its essence, since I thought I'd love reading about blue but I actually really disliked this book. Maybe it was her frequent insistence on referring to sex as "fucking". Idk maybe this is just my asexuality showing but I find it so annoying when writers talk about their "lovers" *gag*. There were some lines that I did like but overall it just wasn't what I thought this book would be, I guess.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Animal death, Alcohol, and Cursing
The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World by Antony Loewenstein
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
4.5
A scary and therefore important read. Really lays all of Israel's defence policies out in the open to see the damage they've contributed to, not just in Palestine but globally.
I usually avoid books that are solely focussed on war/politics since they tend to be quite dense with assumed knowledge but this was surprisingly accessible. I still struggled with some parts but it was mostly very informative and easy to understand.
Main critique is for the editor because my god were there a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes, what happened??
I usually avoid books that are solely focussed on war/politics since they tend to be quite dense with assumed knowledge but this was surprisingly accessible. I still struggled with some parts but it was mostly very informative and easy to understand.
Main critique is for the editor because my god were there a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes, what happened??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, War, Colonisation, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Antisemitism, Death, and Murder
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.25
Reading anything by Alice Oseman is so fun, she's so good at capturing both the giddiness of young romance but also the complex feelings around asexuality, it's just so damn good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Eating disorder, and Cursing
Minor: Self harm, Bullying, Mental illness, and Child abuse
Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict by Elizabeth Day
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Love seeing friendships being seen as valuable in their own right alongside romantic relationships, rather than inherently beneath them. Part of me wishes I'd read a physical copy rather than the audiobook because I think I would've appreciated certain passages better, so will definitely be one I revisit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Toxic relationship, and Death
Minor: Sexual harassment