patlo's reviews
1306 reviews

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

After reading this via audiobook  a month or two ago, I sat down to consume the print book. I should’ve started here. I’m highlighting nearly every page and thinking deeply. What a glorious gift the author has given us. This is a world I want to be part of.

The Relentless Legion by J.S. Dewes

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a solid wrapup (?) to a good trilogy. It's got some intriguing ideas and I *LOVE* the use of wit and humor in the series - that's hard to write well, and Dewes does a great job with it. The third book has some overly convenient plot resolutions that fall a bit flat, but it's an entertaining book and a good series.

As a pitch - The Expanse meets Game of Thrones' Night Watch - it falls short in execution, but still a good idea and a good read. I'd recommend it if it's your thing.

Also, this may be just me - I read all 3 books on audiobook and they were great this way - but they may be better in print/ebook form. 

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

Super fun, and more denise (especially politically) followup to The Iron Widow. The author has grown . Some really interesting Chinese culture and history wrapped up in this, some of which I understood, some would make more sense to people more familiar with Chinese history.  The overall story is interesting, the characters are complex. There are a few clunker moments, but at least two HOLY CRAP moments. 

For some reason I thought this concluded the series. It wasn't until 6 or 8 chapters left when I realized there's more story to come. That's great news.

Hazel Soan's Art of the Limited Palette: A Step-By-Step Practical Watercolour Guide by Hazel Soan

challenging informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing

5.0

I have read A LOT of watercolor books over the years, and I find Hazel Soan's content to be among my favorites. This appears to be a bit of a mix of already published content from other books, with some new stuff. I read the initial copy from my library and wanted to grab a copy for myself, which was a bit spendy because it's a UK-only printing.  Anyway, a great overview of watercolor techniques for advanced beginner to intermediate painters, with some great ideas and examples for more advanced folks too.

Understanding Knowledge as a Commons: From Theory to Practice by Charlotte Hess, Elinor Ostrom

informative slow-paced

3.5

Good but very dated. Was already dated when it was published in 2007 based upon some of the references used.

I would love to read an update to this, because the subject is still important, and even more so today.

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

adventurous informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

Something of an extended meditation/monograph on the gift economy that you first read about in Kimmerer‘s previous book Braiding Sweetgrass. As before, a wonderful invitation to a better world.

Although I heard this on audiobook read by the author and it’s good that way, this is probably best consumed a few pages at a time in print with reflection. I will reread that way, and soon.

House of Frank by Kay Synclaire

adventurous challenging emotional sad 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? Yes

4.5

Gorgeous fairy tale exploration of grief, bargaining, death, found family, intentional community and love. This story will stay with you for a long, long time.

The Exiled Fleet by J.S. Dewes

adventurous challenging funny medium-paced

3.75

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring tense medium-paced

5.0

Super interesting and super powerful book. You will likely have heard about this book through the author’s perspective on Palestine. It is that and much more. 

It’s a beautiful blend memoir, writing craft and vocation, and then a very deft look at Jim Crow in the US and Palestine occupation and the US’s role in crafting a narrative for easy consumption of our own ideologies. Like Coates’ other work, there is nothing simplistic or jingoistic about this. It is deep and complex and offers no easy answers to the observations Coates raises. And well worth reading and wrestling with. Highly recommended.

How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley

challenging informative medium-paced

3.25