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mariakureads's reviews
1023 reviews
The Longest Way Home: One Man's Quest for the Courage to Settle Down by Andrew McCarthy
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I wasn't aware of Andrew McCarthy as anything but an actor so it was surprising to know he wrote "Brat", another book I have on hold, but even more to see he had written more books, and a travel writer for National Geographic of all things, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
This book was smart, personal, inquiring, and a reflection of him, the person, not the actor although he briefly does talk about it. I feel that through writing, he's able to drop that persona, and be the almost seemingly awkward man who's finding his footing in life. The book title is apt as every chapter puts miles between him and his life, his family, his persona of brat fame, and forces him to accept the unexpected, the nature of travel, the moments of serendipitous fortune that can occur without realization and in doing so maybe find a way to use it for his gain in life.
I went in thinking this might be a straight memoir and was pleasantly surprised that it started that way before getting travel stories, reflection, smart introspection, and a lot of honesty of himself interwoven in a way that feels inherently his. I'm tempted to go and read some of his travel pieces but even I know I will find them to be rich in detail, colorful, and atmospheric in nature.
This book was smart, personal, inquiring, and a reflection of him, the person, not the actor although he briefly does talk about it. I feel that through writing, he's able to drop that persona, and be the almost seemingly awkward man who's finding his footing in life. The book title is apt as every chapter puts miles between him and his life, his family, his persona of brat fame, and forces him to accept the unexpected, the nature of travel, the moments of serendipitous fortune that can occur without realization and in doing so maybe find a way to use it for his gain in life.
I went in thinking this might be a straight memoir and was pleasantly surprised that it started that way before getting travel stories, reflection, smart introspection, and a lot of honesty of himself interwoven in a way that feels inherently his. I'm tempted to go and read some of his travel pieces but even I know I will find them to be rich in detail, colorful, and atmospheric in nature.
Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
And like that Dracula Daily is over.
Reading this with a large community like on Tumblr is honestly a fun ride. Closest thing I have gotten to a book club read, I normally don't do bookclubs, but it was, as usual, a fun ride.
Having read this one a few times over, reading it daily per the dates, is a different experience and really drives how long some of these moments can be. It creates tension and suspension in a way that reading the book through fails at whereas the community aspect, really lets me rethink moments or to share how comedic some parts are that film adaptations take to being a serious moment.
I said this last year but I love Quincy. The man is a character through and through and I'm sure he was Stoker's ideal of an American. But I love him so much.
Reading this with a large community like on Tumblr is honestly a fun ride. Closest thing I have gotten to a book club read, I normally don't do bookclubs, but it was, as usual, a fun ride.
Having read this one a few times over, reading it daily per the dates, is a different experience and really drives how long some of these moments can be. It creates tension and suspension in a way that reading the book through fails at whereas the community aspect, really lets me rethink moments or to share how comedic some parts are that film adaptations take to being a serious moment.
I said this last year but I love Quincy. The man is a character through and through and I'm sure he was Stoker's ideal of an American. But I love him so much.
Sakamoto Days, Vol. 10 by Yuto Suzuki
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another volume and more progression of the JCC storyline took center stage in this volume which I enjoyed.
Sakamoto is still in disguise trying to locate the database at the same time that Shin, Akira and Natsuki (of the invisible suit from so volumes ago) band together against a senior teacher who might have the info they're looking for but it comes at a price.
Honestly Satoda Sensei is probably my favorite of the new characters that were introduced lately. She's got a mysterious auro about her that speaks to her strength. I can only hope we see more of her again.
Sakamoto is still in disguise trying to locate the database at the same time that Shin, Akira and Natsuki (of the invisible suit from so volumes ago) band together against a senior teacher who might have the info they're looking for but it comes at a price.
Honestly Satoda Sensei is probably my favorite of the new characters that were introduced lately. She's got a mysterious auro about her that speaks to her strength. I can only hope we see more of her again.
Hearing Happiness: Deafness Cures in History by Jaipreet Virdi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
I found myself forcing to keep powering through and keep borrowing this over and over again and still not moving more than a few pages along.
I was intrigued by the preface which highlights the author's experience with d/Deafness but then the introduction is full of lots of historical facts and some times repeating over and over again, highlighting a lot of the historical inaccuracies of the time and chronicling the various and oft times disastrous potions, salves, techniques, implements, and devices.
The book is slow paced and the tone is that of a history text book, which I think I could be interested to read in another time but I was hoping that there was more of the author's own experience tied in and maybe there's more, but I just can't force myself to read this anymore.
I was intrigued by the preface which highlights the author's experience with d/Deafness but then the introduction is full of lots of historical facts and some times repeating over and over again, highlighting a lot of the historical inaccuracies of the time and chronicling the various and oft times disastrous potions, salves, techniques, implements, and devices.
The book is slow paced and the tone is that of a history text book, which I think I could be interested to read in another time but I was hoping that there was more of the author's own experience tied in and maybe there's more, but I just can't force myself to read this anymore.
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Never having read anything by this author, I wasn't sure to expect and that's the great thing about new to me authors - the unknown, and this was a well done medium paced read with a duo POV that added different aspects to the story that drove it along.
I will admit that it took me a while to get into this book. Different sections of the book felt a bit too slow and in some cases dragged a bit too long so it took me a while to get entranced by it but once I was in, I read the rest of the pages fairly easily and found myself intrigued by the characters as they were the main driving force behind the story as each introduction of a new character, from either Snow or Bao, the two protagonists we read the story through, gave another layer to the story as it jumped from past to present day from both of their perspectives.
Weaving folklore and historical facts along with the story, I enjoyed the overall effect and the first person perspective from both Snow and Bao, which played nicely into the overall story for me as I saw the characters from their eyes and in some case their past experiences.
I will admit that it took me a while to get into this book. Different sections of the book felt a bit too slow and in some cases dragged a bit too long so it took me a while to get entranced by it but once I was in, I read the rest of the pages fairly easily and found myself intrigued by the characters as they were the main driving force behind the story as each introduction of a new character, from either Snow or Bao, the two protagonists we read the story through, gave another layer to the story as it jumped from past to present day from both of their perspectives.
Weaving folklore and historical facts along with the story, I enjoyed the overall effect and the first person perspective from both Snow and Bao, which played nicely into the overall story for me as I saw the characters from their eyes and in some case their past experiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death
Sakamoto Days, Vol. 9 by Yuto Suzuki
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I continue to love the comedy in this series as it's not just a good way to break up all the action scenes but allows the characters to have some fun and in Sakamoto's case, shows how amazing his skill set really is as he uses the most random things for weapons and that's pretty awesome to see especially as he's undercover since he didn't pass the testing 😂.
Shin is in, as a student, which I guess is the most normal and mundane thing that has happened to him, since at one point he's trying to live up to school tropes from mangas for the "full school experience". This kid. 😂
Either way volume 9 ends the testing arc and and as the two try to infiltrate the school as they planned, the order is under attack, and Akira is just trying to survive.
Shin is in, as a student, which I guess is the most normal and mundane thing that has happened to him, since at one point he's trying to live up to school tropes from mangas for the "full school experience". This kid. 😂
Either way volume 9 ends the testing arc and and as the two try to infiltrate the school as they planned, the order is under attack, and Akira is just trying to survive.
Spy x Family, Vol. 6 by Tatsuya Endo
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Lol the inner monologue from Nightfall was a total delight for me. She is just soooo fun to read considering the one sided love she's carrying for Twilight.
Dude is just trying to get his mission done and I love how he's not paying attention to the "small stuff" anymore like his partner holding a very bright flaming torch for him, Your spiraling because of that same partner, and Anya trying to do her part of the mission.
And is Sy-on boy catching feelings? I saw some blushing happening
Dude is just trying to get his mission done and I love how he's not paying attention to the "small stuff" anymore like his partner holding a very bright flaming torch for him, Your spiraling because of that same partner, and Anya trying to do her part of the mission.
And is Sy-on boy catching feelings? I saw some blushing happening
Sakamoto Days, Vol. 8 by Yuto Suzuki
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Just when I think we've been introduced to a new and different character, I am proven wrong because this volume has lots of new faces, new settings, and in true Sakamoto fashion, new problems 😂
That being said, I don't see a lot of these characters going into the rest of the assasin's exam. Some are minor while others haven't spoken so I don't see much in them where as Sakamoto and Shin are still very much the driving force of the story so I really can't wait to see where the author takes this. I have a suspicion but let's see what happens.
That being said, I don't see a lot of these characters going into the rest of the assasin's exam. Some are minor while others haven't spoken so I don't see much in them where as Sakamoto and Shin are still very much the driving force of the story so I really can't wait to see where the author takes this. I have a suspicion but let's see what happens.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
This was way more adorable than I thought it was going to be.
I absolutely fell in love with Maribel and her inner monologues and day dreaming. Girl only knows how to dream but it makes sense considering her current situation at the start of the book and where she's been.
ok the MMC, Wesley, is adorable. Shy thanks to his social anxiety but he's adorbs once you get to know him. I was rooting for him halfway through the book, once I got passed his taciturn ways. He is a shy sweetheart under that anxiety.
I love that this was a slow burn because it highlighted both Maribel and Wesley's anxiety's, their dreams, wants, and they were able to communicate them and to each other which added to the overall cuteness of this book for me. Because it's not something I get a lot of lately in romance reads and I miss it
Plus the dialogue was really good between them, even the arguments, were not just valid but helped push the storyline and had them opening up and figuring out a lot together.
I absolutely fell in love with Maribel and her inner monologues and day dreaming. Girl only knows how to dream but it makes sense considering her current situation at the start of the book and where she's been.
ok the MMC, Wesley, is adorable. Shy thanks to his social anxiety but he's adorbs once you get to know him. I was rooting for him halfway through the book, once I got passed his taciturn ways. He is a shy sweetheart under that anxiety.
I love that this was a slow burn because it highlighted both Maribel and Wesley's anxiety's, their dreams, wants, and they were able to communicate them and to each other which added to the overall cuteness of this book for me. Because it's not something I get a lot of lately in romance reads and I miss it
Plus the dialogue was really good between them, even the arguments, were not just valid but helped push the storyline and had them opening up and figuring out a lot together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Sakamoto Days, Vol. 7 by Yuto Suzuki
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
This series continues to be so much fun!!
I had to borrow the next volume from the library right after the last and read it faster than I thought that I forgot to list it 🤣
We're introduced to some new characters and they are so mysterious and intriguing since we find out more on X, his history with Sakamoto is briefy hinted at before they run off thanks to old Takamura.
I need to know more about that dude in general! His character is definitely mysterious and I see he keeps his eyes closed but has amazing accuracy with the sword.
I do love the comedy aspect too since it gives the whole series a great segue way into another part of the arc and in this volume it's with Sakamoto and Shin having to enroll into the JCC to get some details on X but it's not like they can just walk in, so they enroll and unexpectedly in a comedic and action filled way that only these two can do find themselves in trouble again while we get more new faces thrown in 😂
I had to borrow the next volume from the library right after the last and read it faster than I thought that I forgot to list it 🤣
We're introduced to some new characters and they are so mysterious and intriguing since we find out more on X, his history with Sakamoto is briefy hinted at before they run off thanks to old Takamura.
I need to know more about that dude in general! His character is definitely mysterious and I see he keeps his eyes closed but has amazing accuracy with the sword.
I do love the comedy aspect too since it gives the whole series a great segue way into another part of the arc and in this volume it's with Sakamoto and Shin having to enroll into the JCC to get some details on X but it's not like they can just walk in, so they enroll and unexpectedly in a comedic and action filled way that only these two can do find themselves in trouble again while we get more new faces thrown in 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence