russellreitsema's reviews
109 reviews

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

3.25

Loved this modern Gothic tale with tragic twists and an interestingly grotesque conflict. Essentially a Victorian "The Last of Us" and I was happy to tag along for the ride. Also, the perfect length for a story like this, where you can get bogged down with the lack of action at times. Plans are already in place to consume the sequel! 

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann

3.5

This feels like fiction! Reading through this epic tale of disaster and death, of murder and marooning, I could barely believe this all happened hundreds of years ago. I was blown away by the deep knowledge the author has for this subject as well as his masterful style of weaving a believable yet incredible narrative that captivates and had me hook, line, and sinker. 

Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide by John Cleese

4.0

A humorous and indulgent romp into the mind of a comedic genius. Powered through this on audio in under an hour and it does not disappoint. I will be using Cleese's teachings in the future, especially his Hare-brain/Tortoise-mind idea. Great for anyone looking to expand their creative process.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

2.5

After thoroughly enjoying my Gone Girl experience, I was looking forward to more from Flynn. This story was not what I was hoping for but still well written and twisted in Flynn's trademark style. This novel felt a bit over the top in its exhibition of the broken human psyche but pulled me back in with the uniqueness of the murder mystery aspects. Definitely a good example of what bad parenting can cause. 

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

3.75

I had no idea of the plot going into this novel, and I was very pleasantly surprised. The harsh realities of Alaska living combined with a strong female protagonist and a well driven plot coalesce into a fantastic nail-biting journey of love and loss and the intricacies of family. 

Diamonds Are Forever by Ian Fleming

3.25

A solid addition to the series, this hair-raising, edge of your seat spy thriller gives us the whole package! between the villains and the love interests, Bond never disappoints. didn't quite enjoy this one as much as the previous 3 but definitely not stopping now!

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

4.5

The Modern Rustic Book Club's November pick did not disappoint. This Nobel prize winning novel takes us into the life of a Chinese farmer who just wants to get married and work the land. He is then thrust into a tumultuous journey where he sees the best and worst of the human condition, In himself and others. He sees wealth and poverty, life and death, and the encroaching inevitability that age brings to us all. I'm excited to find the rest of the trilogy and would definitely recomend. 

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

3.0

Yowza! what a deeply unsettling story! The world building was incredibly thorough from a societal standpoint, and the author clearly had an atmosphere they were going for and succeeded. The comparisons to real world issues, not to mention the thought experiment just following along with the protagonist definitely gets you thinking on some macabre and meaningful ideas. I will definitely be recommending this to others, with a healthy disclaimer. Also, that ending! My jaw dropped. 

Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell

4.0

I can finally say I've read everything from Gladwell! He quickly became one of my favorite non-fiction authors, the way he can interprete data into digestible chapters is very appreciated. Thoroughly enjoyed this newest collection of social science shenanigans as well, and very topical for our times. Definitely recomend to anyone. 

Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer

2.5

The 3rd installment in one of the strangest series I've ever read. this one gave some more background to characters and honestly just confused me more but I'm still here for it! the writing is stellar no matter what, excited for book 4.