nadia's reviews
566 reviews

Ghostroots by ‘Pemi Aguda

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emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.0

A solid collection. I really loved the writing and the concepts but a lot of the stories did leave me wanting more!
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

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challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I was surprised by how I enjoyed reading this book, especially given the uncomfortable subject matter. The writing was brilliant and there were some gripping scenes. It did drag at times and some things went a little over my head but overall it was very good and I'm glad to have finally read this classic. Thanks Stacks Pod.
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Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell by John Preston

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informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

I ended up really liking this! I thought the writing was really good and I remained intrigued the whole way through, having gone into this book knowing nothing at all about Robert Maxwell.
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Delay Deny Defend by Jay M. Feinman

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informative slow-paced

2.5

This book was so dry and dull and the narration didn't help. It started promisingly, but it ended up becoming a long detailed list of a bunch of stats and case description. It was also far too repetitive and felt like it could have been a snappier 'longread' article. It wins points for how informative it is though. Very US-centric, so not sure how it is in the UK, but I wouldn't be surprised if the practices and malformed structures and incentives are very similar everywhere.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

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adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

2.75

I was intrigued by the setup and the concept but I just feel like the execution wasn't there. I never really felt invested in the characters or their relationships and I've ended the book confused as to what really happened, who was on who's side, what the motivations of the different characters were...can't wait to listen to The Stacks Book Club episode on this to see if more light is shed and to check I'm not alone in some of the things I was confused by. I wouldn't say I was ever really bored though! But I was hoping everything would click into place in the end...and it just didn't. It all felt rushed and messy.
Badass: Making Users Awesome by Kathy Sierra

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informative inspiring fast-paced

3.75

I really loved the perspective on building excellent products that this book provided (and a lot of what Seirra wrote about matches with what we see at TSG). I took a handful of notes that I'll be revisiting as I work on StoryGraph. However, at times, the format felt a little off and it felt like the book went on a bit of a tangent at times — on expertise and mastery — and didn't always effectively tie it back to actionable insights for your product. On the whole, a great, quick read and I'd recommend it to any product person!
The Murder After the Night Before by Katy Brent

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I saw another review which, in its entirety, said: "Gripping but unconvincing" and I think that accurately summarises how I felt about this book! I didn't feel connected to any of the characters or invested in what happened. I didn't really care but I was still intrigued to keep listening! Funny that!
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

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adventurous challenging funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.25

I went into this book with low to middling expectations - especially after Tom Sawyer (both books I’m reading in preparation for Everett’s James) - but I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun I did have with parts of this book. Some parts really made me laugh, some parts had me turning the pages fast, and some parts got me a lil’ emotional, but it dragged and got too silly for me towards the end. 
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Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken

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informative medium-paced

4.0

Really hits home just how stacked against us the food industry is! I enjoyed the variety of science, personal anecdotes, and practical tips, and how the chemical, biological, economical, and environmental aspects are all explored. I also enjoyed the bonus material on the audiobook, with BTS-seeming convos between the author and his brother. The structure and organisation of the book didn’t always seem on point, but no biggie!

I have no clue how accurate the claims made are but until I learn otherwise I’m taking them at face value! It does all seem to check out!
Wellness by Nathan Hill

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

4.5

I really had a great time with this book. It's not perfect, no. Some of it was a slog, yes. But on the whole I was intrigued and I loved the various ways Hill told the story. It felt different and yet all the various styles and storytelling devices fit together into a cohesive whole for me. Lots of thought-provoking stuff in there, from romantic love and conventional and non-conventional relationship structures, parenthood, identity and fulfilment, big tech, the wellness industry itself, and more!

A friend and I have an annual tradition where we go to a bookstore in December and buy the other a book that was a fave of the year that the recipient knows nothing about. When my friend asked me if I knew anything about Wellness I said that I don't think I'd ever even seen it! Making it a perfect candidate!
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