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realadhdoug's reviews
135 reviews
Happy Medium by Sarah Adler
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm Watching You by Karen Rose
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This story was fantastic, mostly because it was hilarious. It really was like watching a romcom in the best way possible. Lots of banter and shenanigans, along with lovable quirky side characters. I’d say this is a friends to lovers story but it almost feels more like a “friends to f**k buddies to best friends with great benefits to ah what the hell I guess this is love” story. You’ll see what I mean when you read it. Because you are going to read it, aren’t you?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content
Have You Seen Her? by Karen Rose
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence
City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a lot more slow-moving than I thought it would be. It involved a lot of political intrigue and maneuvering, and I had trouble keeping straight what was going on—especially given that integrates a lot of the lore into those conversations. It’s like the world-building is being done on C-SPAN.
That being said, it ended up being pretty good I guess. Once I got to know the characters and see where things were going, it kind of made me interested in continuing the series.
That being said, it ended up being pretty good I guess. Once I got to know the characters and see where things were going, it kind of made me interested in continuing the series.
We Are Water by Wally Lamb
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was long and meandering bringing in the first-person perspective of so many characters—most of which end up making sense in the end but some which seem unnecessary. So yes, this book is perhaps too long (and yes it contains a lot of material most people will find offensive and disturbing), but I still think the payoff is worth the journey.
The way the story all comes together in the end is so moving and left me emotionally wrecked. Really, the story is about intergenerational trauma and how our actions have ripple effects we don’t even realize. The characters are vivid and believable, though “likable” would be a stretch for any of them.
In short, this story is incredibly heavy but incredibly good. Read with caution and be prepared to shower of the gross feeling and maybe binge some cartoons to bring your mood back up.
The way the story all comes together in the end is so moving and left me emotionally wrecked. Really, the story is about intergenerational trauma and how our actions have ripple effects we don’t even realize. The characters are vivid and believable, though “likable” would be a stretch for any of them.
In short, this story is incredibly heavy but incredibly good. Read with caution and be prepared to shower of the gross feeling and maybe binge some cartoons to bring your mood back up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Racial slurs
Repeated references to child rape—including the first-person perspective of the rapist. Also separate instances of physical abuse of a child. There are some various “moderate” racial slurs (for Arab and Chinese people) and one use of the “N” word that I remember.
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam M. Grant
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
The premise of this book is one that I wholeheartedly endorse—that, as the author says, the “ability to rethink and unlearn” is more important than the ability to think and learn. Basically, it’s all about the value of keeping an open mind, being willing to adapt to new information, and to take joy in being wrong because it gives you the opportunity to learn and grow. The author uses a lot of academic studies, stories from various domains of society, and personal anecdotes to illustrate his points. The book is well-written and very engaging.
I’d read a lot of what he’s talked about in other cognitive psychology books, but it was still a fun read with some great takeaways. For example, the author draws a distinction between beliefs in values—with the former being something you should be willing to change with new information and the latter being personal reasonable to cling to and refuse to compromise on. “Who you are should be a question of what you value and not what you believe.”
I’d read a lot of what he’s talked about in other cognitive psychology books, but it was still a fun read with some great takeaways. For example, the author draws a distinction between beliefs in values—with the former being something you should be willing to change with new information and the latter being personal reasonable to cling to and refuse to compromise on. “Who you are should be a question of what you value and not what you believe.”
The Third Reconstruction: How a Moral Movement Is Overcoming the Politics of Division and Fear by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, William J. Barber II
4.25
In this book, the author Dr. William Barber tells the story of how he grew up during the Civil Rights movement as the son of activists. As he grew and ended up becoming a preacher, he developed a passion for reviving that spiritually-driven activism that had died down in the church as institutional racism became less explicit and more covert, or as the author says “Jim Crow went to law school and became James Crowe, Esquire.” Eventually, he becomes a key figure in North Carolina’s “Moral Mondays” movement, a grassroots coalition of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and secular organizations joining together to protest and lobby on behalf of poor and marginalized folks in the south.
Most of this book is biographical, but there’s also some very good theological and sociological analysis sprinkled in. One thing I really appreciated is Dr. Barber’s conviction that he is operating from a theologically conservative framework despite the fact that his work translates as progressive in modern politics. According to Barber, the Gospel is fundamentally about liberation and justice for the poor and oppressed, and it has simply been hijacked by the “religious right” to justify policies that harm the disadvantaged and benefit the wealthy. For Barber, advocacy for the oppressed isn’t just about politics—it’s about morality.
As someone who’s read a decent amount on the subject, there really wasn’t anything new for me here. Still, I really enjoyed this work and found the writing style easy to follow. I’d definitely recommend it for anyone interested in community organizing, especially from a spiritual perspective.
Most of this book is biographical, but there’s also some very good theological and sociological analysis sprinkled in. One thing I really appreciated is Dr. Barber’s conviction that he is operating from a theologically conservative framework despite the fact that his work translates as progressive in modern politics. According to Barber, the Gospel is fundamentally about liberation and justice for the poor and oppressed, and it has simply been hijacked by the “religious right” to justify policies that harm the disadvantaged and benefit the wealthy. For Barber, advocacy for the oppressed isn’t just about politics—it’s about morality.
As someone who’s read a decent amount on the subject, there really wasn’t anything new for me here. Still, I really enjoyed this work and found the writing style easy to follow. I’d definitely recommend it for anyone interested in community organizing, especially from a spiritual perspective.
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
3.25
I didn’t enjoy this as much of the first book. It was okay, but it didn’t feel like much really happened. I thought Murderbot’s internal dialogue was less interesting this time around and most of the book was just him talking with a new robot he encounters. All of the action happens in the last two chapters and I found it hard to understand exactly what was going on.
All of that being said, it’s really short so it was worth reading to continue the story. This was kind of a side quest, so I’m hoping it gets back to him learning more about his past and focusing on his self-discovery. Looking forward to the next one!
All of that being said, it’s really short so it was worth reading to continue the story. This was kind of a side quest, so I’m hoping it gets back to him learning more about his past and focusing on his self-discovery. Looking forward to the next one!
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
2.75
The narrative style was a little dry, the characters were a little flat, and the time travel elements seemed kind of absurd in incongruous. That being said, the premise was super cool—telling the story by traveling incrementally backwards in time. Also, it was a good mystery for the most part. Worth reading, but ultimately forgettable, in my opinion.