mgerboc's reviews
278 reviews

A Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham

4.0

Book Towns: Forty Five Paradises of the Printed Word by Alex Johnson

informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

A perfect Sunday afternoon read. Combining gorgeous photos and 4-6 page snippets for each of the listed Book Towns (which I didn't know was an actual thing) - this book is basically pornography for those who love travel and literature.

Night Watch by Terry Pratchett

adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

While this was certainly the darkest of the Discworld/Watch books that I've read so far, it was just as enjoyable as the others. A few well-placed puns aside, Pratchett uses this tale of time travel to explore revolution, urban guerrilla warfare, testing one's ideals, and, I think importantly, what we owe our younger, more naïve selves. How would an 18-year-old me judge me today? At what point does violence become justifiable? How do we honor those who have died fighting for a righteous cause while recognizing that most of them had little choice in the matter, influenced more by circumstance than any true conviction?

While I missed a few things from the typical Discworld/Watch experience - the regularly occurring laugh-out-loud humor, the well developed cast of characters - we do get a just as much, if not more, of a discussion on persistently relevant topics, and, uniquely, a much deeper dive into Sam Vimes, and that's always welcome.

A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a tough book to review. I REALLY like some of the concepts - the fantastical element is something I haven't encountered before (basically super advanced poets who use language to bring a concept/idea to "life" but who are then bound to the poet and basically a slave to their will but who have fantastical/magical abilities) and it was super cool. The slow burn political and economic intrigue with a focus on international trade, with one geographical region having a monopoly on this magic system, was super cool. The relationship between language (a lot of the language in this particular culture is based on physical posturing and is way more subtle than spoken language) and politics and economics was super cool. The plot, while slow-burning, really kept me on the edge of my seat to see where things were going to end up. Lastly, the relationships are really great - they are complicated, passionate, subtle, and relatable. As a side note on characters, the strongest character in this book, Amat Kyaan, is a woman in her late 50's indigenous to the Asian-inspired city of Saraykhet.  I didn't realize how rare it was to have an older woman cast as the most compelling central character until I read this, and it was great.

There are some drawbacks though - the prose is pretty clunky. This is the author's first novel so I can overlook it, and the truth is, the conceit is interesting enough that I'm going to continue. Sometimes, despite the detail given, I felt like I couldn't really see the city that well. Lastly, as a foundational book in a series, there's a LOT of setup.

Anyway, definitely gonna keep going because I hear that the follow up books get continually better.

Overcoming Binge Eating by Christopher G. Fairburn

hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

Sort of personal but I like book tracking so here goes...

I have an unhealthy relationship with food and have for most of my life. I finally sought professional help for it last year and have been seeing a therapist (virtually) for several months now with very good results. She recommended this book to me a little while ago and I got around to reading it today. It is broken into two parts - Part I gives the context of disordered eating, specifically for those who have binge habits. The testimonials were extremely relatable and the history itself was interesting. This section also includes the psychological and physical effects that come along with disordered eating, as well as some conclusions about the cause (although this has, to this day, eluded most researchers).

Part II is an up-to-date enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy plan for those who have disordered eating. It is very similar to the therapy I am participating in right now, and gives more reasoning behind why it should help (and also stating that it's okay if it doesn't - not all therapies work for everyone).

I really like the tone Dr. Fairburn uses throughout the book. It is accessible while still providing all the appropriate research and data, and, most importantly, empowering for the person who is dealing with these issues. It avoids all-or-nothing abstinence/avoidance, and indeed argues that that leads to further binging behavior. What helps me as well is the idea of separating the eating problem from the weight problem. They can both be dealt with, but they are separate issues, and dealing with weight problems will be much easier when you have better control over eating problems. Ultimately, the message is hopeful - disordered eating can be overcome.

It's all very personal, so I won't say I'd recommend this to everyone, but if you suspect you have a binge eating disorder and want to clarity on what that means and help determining if you need help and if so, what that help looks like, this is a good starting point.

Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5 Stars - It's so hard to review this book. It's so massive in scope, with so many moving parts and characters. While the plot of this book is epic and amazing on its own, there is also a lot of payoff for investment in Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates. Pieces of the Malazan universe start coming together in a more coherent way (of course, there remains some utterly baffling events which I'm sure will be explained later, or not).

More than the plot, though, the characters and themes really take center stage here. What really is a war of liberation? Certain tyranny comes about not because one strong despot just shows up and starts dictating, but because of a million factors which slowly change and give rise to a lot of normal people succumbing to that type of rule. So when you "liberate" those people, what's to stop them from looking for another tyrant?  This is just one example of a ton of important themes explored in this book, eg - motherhood, memory, trauma, loyalty, the blurred distinctions between good and evil, freedom, free will vs. destiny, and, of course, the necessity of compassion for human advancement.

Kruppe solidified himself as one of my all time favorite literary characters.  Shield Anvil Itkovian turned out to be one of the most honorable characters ever written.  Picker's attitude is hilarious and sort of devastating, and I love the running gag that Blend keeps sneaking up on her by accident. Overall, this series has maintained its quality and I can't wait to continue reading.

Some quotes I liked:

“Recruit, I trust you have not deluded yourself into believing that witnessing the destruction of more K’Chain Che’Malle will silence the cries within you. Soldiers are issued armour for their flesh and bones, but they must fashion their own for their souls. Piece by piece.”
- Shield Anvil Itkovian, Memories of Ice; Steven Erikson

“We fight against the imposition of order and the mailed fist that must hide behind it, because we’re not the ones wielding that fist.”
- Anomander Rake, Memories of Ice; Steven Erikson

“War has its necessities, Korlat, and I have always understood that.  Always known the cost.  But, this day, by my own hand, I have realized something else.  War is not a natural state.  It is an imposition, and a damned unhealthy one.  With its rules, we willingly yield our humanity.  Speak not of just causes, worthy goals.  We are takers of life.  Servants of Hood, one and all.”
- Whiskeyjack, Memories of Ice; Steven Erikson

“Compassion is priceless in the truest sense of the word. It must be given freely. In abundance.”
- Itkovian, Memories of Ice; Steven Erikson

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

So I finally got around to reading some Brandon Sanderson, and I can understand the hype. Despite being a 650+ page book, the pacing of Mistborn is basically perfect, a plot so tight and efficiently told and well-described that it's near impossible to put down. There were some slight disappointments, like occasional cheesy dialogue, comically evil baddies, and some obstacles that are overcome a tad too easily, and despite the back stories of a few of the main characters, I felt the characters lacked a bit of depth. However, the story is intriguing enough (especially the little prologues to each chapter which look backwards to the events leading up to the founding of the empire), and inspiring enough that my cynical brain felt pulled into a full on cheering for the protagonists mentality by the end, and I was totally bought in. It also ends with just enough mystery that I want to keep reading the series.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

challenging emotional informative reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

OH SNAP. Throughout this entire book, I was pretty riveted. The story is that of a woman roughly my age growing up in South Korea and the institutional sexism she experiences at every stage of life. Despite progressive changes in the law, the patriarchy ingrained into Korean culture is rigid and, paired with the perils of a highly competitive capitalist economic system, leaves very little room for any kind of freedom for even middle class women.

The prose hits like a blunt instrument, and the story itself is unsentimental yet fascinating...And then the last chapter hits in such a profound, unexpected way. It's not gimmicky; not a "twist." But it is a bit jarring at first, and then ends exactly how the reality has been portrayed the entire time, which, in its mundanity, says more in its last few lines about societal oppression than almost any other book I've read.

Friends - please read this so we can talk about it!

The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My only complaint in this book is the diminished role of Vetinari, Nobbs, and Colon (Nobby and Colon having a slightly larger storyline than the Patrician).  Other than that, I thought this was a great entry to the Discworld guards series. While it lacked the consistent humor in previous Pratchett books, the more serious themes were developed more elegantly. International diplomacy, the importance of symbols, progress vs. tradition, impermanence, multiculturalism, and the evils of racial superiority are all very present. The conversation between Vimes and the new Low King about the importance of lore as it relates to political stability was particularly well written. And of course, the characters who are present are those we've come to know and love - Sam Vimes, Angua, Littlebottom, Carrot, and Detritus all shine and, to my great pleasure, an extended role and further development of Lady Sybil.  I keep expecting this series to deteriorate because of sheer number of books written in it, but Pratchett kept it fresh with his insightful clarity into the condition of human society.

Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5 stars - Another powerhouse in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series.  I'm really enjoying the whole series so far, especially the strong but beautifully written thematic elements. My only complaint really is that sometimes the plot can be confusingly written (thinking specifically of the middle part of the Felisin/Heboric storyline).  But as jumbled as things can start to seem in Deadhouse Gates, the resolution is incredibly powerful, tying together so many open questions (including some questions that have been open since the first book, and some which I had even forgotten about in the denseness of these books).

Some particular things I enjoyed/noted:

1. I like that one of the POV characters is an official historian.  So much of what happens in the Chain of Dogs sequence depends deeply on how that story is told - true heroes, acts of bravery, class-based treachery, etc. There is one scene in particular (not really a spoiler so no worries) when Duiker the Historian is in the middle of a battle and approaches the Army's standard surrounded by 4 veterans, one mortally wounded. Duiker asks them how they want their story to be told - as he sees it, 1 of them gave their life in the noble protection of their flag and the other 3 continue to protect it.  The soldiers are incredulous, pointing out that the standard is just a piece of clothe - their friend was mortally injured and they didn't want him to fall into the hands of the enemy, known to torture prisoners of war.  The reality of that moment subverts so entirely the glorification of war we are fed (think the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima statue); I found it profound.

2. Felisin's recurring dreams associating the gaining of power with a river of blood.  She desires it, she seeks revenge, but she knows that, like being in a river, she won't be able to control her direction and that it is a bloody cause.

3. Kalam's feeling of helplessness not as an inability to help himself but an inability to help others - the dread feeling of not having any significance or effect outside of the boundaries of yourself.

4. The friendship between Icarium and Mappo - this is one of the most heartbreaking tales within the book, which is slowly revealed over the course of the story so I won't get into it here. But the questions is raises - What happens when friendship and duty clash?  What happens when you expand that question by monumental directions, where the time lasts millennia and the consequences could be utter annihilation?

As with Gardens of the Moon, this is epic on the most epic of scales, however, the real power in the story lies in the small moments, the relationships that are built, moments of empathy and compassion.  Attempts at control, dominance, and power all lead to naught, and the constant quest for those things raise the question of whether or not humanity is even worth salvation.

To end, here are some quotes I thought were particularly good:

“What makes a Malazan soldier so dangerous? They’re allowed to think.”
- Duiker

“She wondered if the gift of revelation - of discovering the meaning underlying humanity - offered nothing more than a devastating sense of futility.”
- Felisin

“How does a mortal make answer to what his or her kind are capable of?  Does each of us, soldier or no, reach a point when all that we’ve seen, survived, changes us inside?  Irrevocably changes us.  What do we become, then?  Less human, or more human?  Human enough, or too human?”
- Captain Lull

“When I Ascended (became a god), Lady, it was to escape the nightmares of feeling…” He grimaced. “Imagine my surprise that I now thank you for such chains.”
- Cotillion

“We are all lone souls.  It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms.  And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, and and ever again…”
- Fiddler