phidgt's reviews
468 reviews

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-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

One of the characteristics of reading ebooks is that you don't get a sense of how long a book is, all books are the size of my e-reader. I think I was about a third of the way through before I clued myself in on what I was in for. This is a long, sad story and if it weren't for the fact that Barbara Kingsolver is such an incredible storyteller, I would have probably given up. I suppose this is one reason that the novel won a Pulitzer.

The story touches on some serious topics; teen pregnancy, substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and the opioid epidemic. All of this takes place in the rural Appalachian country of Lee County, Virginia.

This is a tough book to say that I would recommend to anyone. If you are a fan of Kingsolver, you will have most likely read it already. If your new to Barbara Kingsolver, this is probably not the book to start with. 

The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides

adventurous informative medium-paced

3.5

Captain Cook is definitely a controversial figure. I think this is true for all of the explorers of the 1500's and onward. The British, Spanish, and Portuguese were pretty much in competition with each other, sailing around the globe mapping and claiming new territories. The problem is that much, if not all, newly discovered land was already inhabited by tribes of indigenous peoples who had been living on these lands for centuries.

I have no doubt that Captain Cook was an exceptional sailor. What is at issue is that all accounts of his interactions with native people are completely one-sided. All he have are the communications from Cook and the other officers and sailors aboard his ship, the Resolution, and the sister ship, the Discovery. None of the indigenous people had a written form of writing down their histories, therefor anthropologists have to rely solely on any oral histories that may have survived of which there are very, very few. 

For Britain, Cook was hailed as a hero. For the native Hawaiians, not so much. I would recommend this book to anyone who has never read about Captain Cook. It kept my interest, however, their were moments when the story dragged a bit.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with this book. The premise seems interesting and the writing is ok. I'm simply not a science fiction reader. Andy Weir's books get a lot of recommendations - just not my thing.

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

4.0

I really enjoy David Grann"s writing style. Narrative nonfiction is such a sneaky way to make me learn something. I also enjoy reading about the Victorian era explorers. They would just pack their bags, kiss the wife and kids goodbye, get on a ship, and head off into the unknown for years at a time; sometimes never to return.

Percy Hamilton Jackson (great name, by the way). was one of these explorers. Thankfully, Percy was also a man who liked to write. Also thankfully, his family allowed David Grann access to his writings. Of course, this is what good narrative nonfiction is all about - having the person's own words to describe their experiences.

I also enjoyed the format of the book. After giving us a bit of biographical and historical background, Grann alternates between Percy's treks through the Amazonian jungle in search of Z with his own attempt to follow in Percy's footsteps.

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

"There's no continuity and the world I have come from is utterly foreign to me. I haven't heard its music, seen its paintings, I haven't read its books , except for the handful I found in the refuge and of which I understood little. I know only the stony plain, wandering, and the gradual loss of hope. I am the sterile offspring of a race about which I know nothing, not even whether it has become extinct." 

This is one of those books you can pick up and reread, multiple times. One of those books you can leave laying around and just pick up and read a line here or a paragraph there. It's not very long and can be read quickly. But you won't want to. 

I enjoy reading a story where I, as the reader, am as confused about what is going on as are the characters. There are many unanswered questions that you are only able to speculate about. The plot is simple, the emotions are not. 

The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

It is fortunate for us that Elizabeth Packard was such a prolific writer and was able to write down her story. Much of this book comes from Elizabeth's own words, retelling her experiences at the asylum and her attempts at being heard and believed by the men who were so much in charge of her life. 

Kate Moore, once again, does an amazing job at researching her subjects. The reader can genuinely get a sense of what being a woman meant in the late 1860's. Her only purpose was to marry, have children and be her husband's property. She was absolutely not to speak her own mind, especially if her views differed from her husband. Moore also gives us a bit of the history of what other events were transpiring at the time. Lincoln had just been elected President and the Civil War was in full swing. While the abolition of slavery was occurring under the 13th Amendment, Elizabeth Packard was fighting for women's rights.

The book is written in a narrative style using Elizabeth's own words. It's informative and reads at a medium, sometimes slow, pace. Moore's other book, "The Radium Girls" is also very well written.

City of Thieves by David Benioff

adventurous dark emotional funny sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Set during WWII in a Russia desperately trying to fend off the German invaders, a deserter and a looter are sent on a mission to procure a dozen eggs for the colonel's daughter's upcoming wedding.

Amidst all of the depictions of war, the death, fear, famine and brutality, is an amazing story of camaraderie and resilience. There were even moments that I caught myself chuckling out loud at some of the dialogue between characters. Even with all of the depravity of wartime, the story is wonderful and flows continuously along. I couldn't put it down.

The ending is slightly predictable, but the ending itself doesn't really matter; it's the journey to get there that does.

Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet by Ben Goldfarb

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

"...'Flivverboob', the epithet for an inconsiderate motorist." Great word - can't wait to use it.

I was very happy when I heard that Ben Goldfarb was about to put out a new book. I thoroughly enjoyed "Eager", which is permanently on my recommendation list. 

"Crossings" is an informative book for those who haven't taken into consideration how the proliferation of roads has effected wildlife of all types. I live in a state where a major overhaul was conducted on a much traveled highway that took drivers through an area with high elk, deer and antelope encounters. With the addition of wider shoulders, fencing and overpasses, this highway has become a much safer commute for all involved. If properly engineered and by taking the natural migration of wildlife into account these crossings can make a huge difference and save states a lot of money in the long run.

Although I did find the pace to be a bit slow at times, I feel that this is due to the fact that Goldfarb was preaching to the choir. Road ecology is a very interesting topic in its own right and I think this book would well serve anyone who is considering further study in the field of ecology. It also provides a wealth of ideas for what communities can do to make their roadsides safer and more habitable for wildlife. 

Ben Goldfarb's writing style is informative, but not dry or inaccessible. He often throws in fun facts and anecdotes. I recommend reading the associated side notes. 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? N/A

5.0

This was an amazingly, beautiful novel. I loved everything; writing, characters, story. It was a sad moment when I reached the last page. I suppose that would be why Anthony Doerr won the Pulitzer Prize. 
The writing style is poetic with short chapters switching perspectives between the two main characters, Marie-Laure and Werner. It's a very sensory story relying on sight and sound. This is a book that you will want to take your time with as the writing is lovely. Otherwise, the story itself is fast paced with moments of suspense. 
This is a book that I will be recommending and one that I would enjoy rereading.

After the Eclipse: A Memoir by Sarah Perry
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

I was going to try to get to a solid 10% before putting it aside, but I just couldn't get there. The author was twelve when her mother was murdered and the book reads as if a twelve year old wrote it. Sorry, but am going to have to move on.