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piabo's reviews
287 reviews
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
2.0
I felt captured by neither story nor characters. Interesting stuff happened in one or two sentences in between, while all the boring stuff happened in long paragraphs. I really wanted more descriptions and background. And I still don't really understand the fantasy aspect of it. Should I read the 2nd book?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's been on my reading list for years. Now my friend Linn died of cancer in July and I thought I finally have to pick it up. Also John Green wrote this, the brother of Hank Green who also has cancer right now. They are the science geeks who educate the internet, and I only recently realized.
The book is kinda short, and it could have been longer. But for young adults as an audience, just right. The story definitely helped me process my own emotions towards dealing with death and disease. Of course, it is just a single cancer story, and so many extra factors are missing. But at least there is this story. At least there is a person who has written about so many thoughts and feelings going through everyone's mind when facing death. I liked it.
I am definitely emotionally invested and biased right now. Don't know what else to write. The book didn't change my world, but still.
People should read a book about death at least once in their lives. And I think this is a good one.
The book is kinda short, and it could have been longer. But for young adults as an audience, just right. The story definitely helped me process my own emotions towards dealing with death and disease. Of course, it is just a single cancer story, and so many extra factors are missing. But at least there is this story. At least there is a person who has written about so many thoughts and feelings going through everyone's mind when facing death. I liked it.
I am definitely emotionally invested and biased right now. Don't know what else to write. The book didn't change my world, but still.
People should read a book about death at least once in their lives. And I think this is a good one.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
I came across this book by a random coincidence and did not realize who the author was until well into the book. I find it funny how I sometimes just start reading without knowing what awaits me.
Read like a podcast. Light. Sweet explanations and spiritual descriptions about ideas and creativity. An inspiration to create stuff, no matter the outcome or circumstances, just for its own sake.
Read like a podcast. Light. Sweet explanations and spiritual descriptions about ideas and creativity. An inspiration to create stuff, no matter the outcome or circumstances, just for its own sake.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
3.0
Well, trees are indeed wonderful. And humans are often not respecting that too much. Unconditional love seems nice at first, but if the person loving does not set boundaries to take care of themselves, then its not good. Does the book teach that or did I misinterpret?
Read this really short children's book because I saw it being referenced a few times and I did not want to miss out.
Read this really short children's book because I saw it being referenced a few times and I did not want to miss out.
Gehen, ging, gegangen by Jenny Erpenbeck
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Die Idee des Buches klingt irgendwie viel versprechend. Das einzige wo es mich abgeholt hat war bei dem gelegentlichen Geschichtsfakten über einige afrikanische Länder und beim beschreiben der Hürden des Asylprozesses.
Aber sonst leider ein Reinfall. Auch wenn es vielleicht gut geschrieben ist, kann ich ein Buch welches so viel Potential hatte, aber es doch geschafft hat nicht über Rassismus zu reflektieren, und gleichzeitig rassistische Wörter zu verwenden (das N- und M-Wort wurden mehrfach genannt), nicht mehr als zwei Sterne geben.
Dieses Buch verfolgt einen alten weißen reichen Mann, der sich in der Geflüchtetenarbeit engagiert, und beschreibt seine Gedanken ausführlich. Die Menschen, die er während dessen kennenlernt bestehen kaum aus Tiefe. Nur das Elend und Trauma wird beschrieben, kaum aber vermenschlichende Dinge.
Ich verstehe nicht, wie dieses Buch so gefeiert wird. Was es mir beibringt ist die Denkweise eines alten Mannes der sein White Guilt in White Savior umsetzt. Aber dies ist wirklich keine Perspektive mit der ich so gerne sympathisieren wollte. Definitiv keine Figur die es verdient hat, Sympathie oder Anerkennung zu bekommen. Aber das scheint irgendwie die Idee des Buches. Echt doof.
Aber sonst leider ein Reinfall. Auch wenn es vielleicht gut geschrieben ist, kann ich ein Buch welches so viel Potential hatte, aber es doch geschafft hat nicht über Rassismus zu reflektieren, und gleichzeitig rassistische Wörter zu verwenden (das N- und M-Wort wurden mehrfach genannt), nicht mehr als zwei Sterne geben.
Dieses Buch verfolgt einen alten weißen reichen Mann, der sich in der Geflüchtetenarbeit engagiert, und beschreibt seine Gedanken ausführlich. Die Menschen, die er während dessen kennenlernt bestehen kaum aus Tiefe. Nur das Elend und Trauma wird beschrieben, kaum aber vermenschlichende Dinge.
Ich verstehe nicht, wie dieses Buch so gefeiert wird. Was es mir beibringt ist die Denkweise eines alten Mannes der sein White Guilt in White Savior umsetzt. Aber dies ist wirklich keine Perspektive mit der ich so gerne sympathisieren wollte. Definitiv keine Figur die es verdient hat, Sympathie oder Anerkennung zu bekommen. Aber das scheint irgendwie die Idee des Buches. Echt doof.
Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener
reflective
4.0
Very canny observations of start up life in Silicon Valley. Interesting insights into data security practices and work habits of entrepreneurs and early employees. So many of the descriptions felt very familiar to what I experienced in my bay-area-based university and its people. I still have no idea if it is good or bad but this book definitely helped to find words to describe certain behaviors. I liked it!
This book came out when I was still in San Francisco and I wished I had read it then. But even four years later it still felt relevant and helped me process my time there!
The author was constantly critiquing the working and general culture in the Bay Area, while at the same time participating and relativizing it. Very fascinating way of writing a book. Definitely animated to think about it a lot.
This book came out when I was still in San Francisco and I wished I had read it then. But even four years later it still felt relevant and helped me process my time there!
The author was constantly critiquing the working and general culture in the Bay Area, while at the same time participating and relativizing it. Very fascinating way of writing a book. Definitely animated to think about it a lot.
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey, Eric Hagerman
4.0
We all know exercise is good, and we should do more of it. But for me the messaging was usually mixed with either the aim to shrink people's bodies or to achieve great things in sport. Only later did I realize that moving increases mental health and resilience. This book gave more of the scientific background on it, especially connected to the brain (e.g. learning, memory, and brain degenerative diseases).
I find it crazy how much of this knowledge is not concretely taught in schools or made public knowledge. The anecdotal ideas we all have on working out are not nearly as motivating and hopeful as this book.
This book feels like the movement equivalent to "Why We Sleep", it is good to read to be reminded of why physical activity is important, but it also makes some bold claims or uses correlation instead of causation. I think the author could have been a little more differentiating when talking about a lot of the science to make it less scandalous or act as if one size fits all. People's body and what is their ideal movement are a lot more nuanced than I felt the author made it seem. Or maybe I was just annoyed that it was written kind of dry with little empathy, just facts.
Out of the three books I read on movement back to back, this was the most neuroscience heavy, and least personal.
I find it crazy how much of this knowledge is not concretely taught in schools or made public knowledge. The anecdotal ideas we all have on working out are not nearly as motivating and hopeful as this book.
This book feels like the movement equivalent to "Why We Sleep", it is good to read to be reminded of why physical activity is important, but it also makes some bold claims or uses correlation instead of causation. I think the author could have been a little more differentiating when talking about a lot of the science to make it less scandalous or act as if one size fits all. People's body and what is their ideal movement are a lot more nuanced than I felt the author made it seem. Or maybe I was just annoyed that it was written kind of dry with little empathy, just facts.
Out of the three books I read on movement back to back, this was the most neuroscience heavy, and least personal.
Der Buchspazierer by Carsten Henn
3.0
Ach, ein süßes Buch. Bücher sind schon cool, und Menschen, die lesen halt auch. Das ist einfach nur ein wholesome Buch über solche Menschen. Und über eine Kleinstadt und über Freundschaft.
The Joy of Movement: How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage by Kelly McGonigal
5.0
I loved this book because it included both science and realistic self-help guidance. The author made great science-based suggestions on how everyone can start integrating movement into their life and how to stick with it. As well as how to improve the joy and other returns we get from it.
At no point was the book judgmental towards different body weights and forms, it was inclusive in gender, age, disability status, race, and many more.
Movement really is for everyone, and I love how this book approached it.
A right dose of everything and I think it really got me hooked.
Out of the three books I read back to back on the science of movement, I enjoyed this the most.
At no point was the book judgmental towards different body weights and forms, it was inclusive in gender, age, disability status, race, and many more.
Movement really is for everyone, and I love how this book approached it.
A right dose of everything and I think it really got me hooked.
Out of the three books I read back to back on the science of movement, I enjoyed this the most.
White Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color by Ruby Hamad
5.0
Yes, it's possible to write an entire book about white tears and how damaging they are, without too much repetition and staying relevant the entire time.
I, as a white woman, felt called out many times. Which I honestly love at this point. It is crazy how many dynamics go unnoticed even though I am trying.
The patriarchy obviously affects all women (and men), but white women still manage to significantly benefit compared to women of color, indigenous and black women.
This book used the historical context so well to explain what gave rise to current sexist and racist structures. It was so clear on the intersectional connections. I really learned a lot and loved it.
10/10 would recommend.
Although not the focus of the book, here is a thought I had:
Lately I have been realizing a lot how important history actually is. Not specific dates and names of rulers etc. but laws and norms and exploitation. And how these get carried over generations and centuries and still affect our systems today. I always thought history does not matter much to me, because all the people who lived before are dead. I thought the only thing why history is interesting, is to learn from past mistakes.
But it's not true, society and why it is like it is, is heavily influenced by what came before. It's like evolution. "Nothing is biology makes sense except in the light of evolution".
I, as a white woman, felt called out many times. Which I honestly love at this point. It is crazy how many dynamics go unnoticed even though I am trying.
The patriarchy obviously affects all women (and men), but white women still manage to significantly benefit compared to women of color, indigenous and black women.
This book used the historical context so well to explain what gave rise to current sexist and racist structures. It was so clear on the intersectional connections. I really learned a lot and loved it.
10/10 would recommend.
Although not the focus of the book, here is a thought I had:
Lately I have been realizing a lot how important history actually is. Not specific dates and names of rulers etc. but laws and norms and exploitation. And how these get carried over generations and centuries and still affect our systems today. I always thought history does not matter much to me, because all the people who lived before are dead. I thought the only thing why history is interesting, is to learn from past mistakes.
But it's not true, society and why it is like it is, is heavily influenced by what came before. It's like evolution. "Nothing is biology makes sense except in the light of evolution".