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sisa_moyo's reviews
192 reviews
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever by Martin Dugard, Bill O'Reilly
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Killing Lincoln chronicles the last few weeks of Lincoln’s life and the state of American politics at that time. From the North-South divide, the hatred of Lincoln owing to the emancipation proclamation to the detailed end of the Civil war between Grants Union forces and Lee’s Confederate forces.
As always O’Reiley And Dugard manage to take some time in American and or world history and factually and artfully weave it into a thrilleresque narrative of an assassination of some key historical figure. Killing Lincoln is no exception as the authors are able to build up to the final moments of the president’s life and lay out the various conspiracies on the plot to end it that still hang to this day - from the various players who’s involvement was indisputable to those that history suspects.
And while I felt that quite a lot of time was spent detailing the end of the Civil War, and he cat and mouse between Grant and Lee, overall it was a thoroughly informative and enjoyable listen me. It would be too for those interested in history generally, American history especially, and the life of Lincoln at Civil War’s end particularly. I also enjoyed listening to the audiobooks in this series as they are read by the author Bill O’Reiley who masterfully delivers each line and chapter as if it were a plot twist in some fictional work.
The Red Years: Forbidden Poems from Inside North Korea by Bandi
In the Red Years, Bandi presents poems that present life in the totalitarian state of North Korea and the Worker's Party, from the trials of the arduous march to state violence against its own people, hopes of reunification, the death of Kim Il-Sung and the dream of a liberated North Korea.
These are very short, beautiful poems about life in North Korea, the dreams and conflictions of those within the state. They are evocative poems that call the reader to listen to Bandi's dream of a free North Korea through themes of freedom, and birds in flight and freedom as love juxtaposed with a desolate, cold and frozen North.
The first half features more political charged poems directly critical of the regime and I found that I enjoyed these more than the last 2 chapters. While I enjoyed and understood these poems than others - overall, I think they were pretty understandable and digestible poems, not too complex.
I do feel that for most poems, in order to truly understand the metaphors for an indepth analysis and understanding of the poems, one may need to have more than a general knowledge of North Korea. For example, an understanding of the causes and effects of the ardous march, some details of Kim Il-Sung's cult of personaliity, the songbun class system and the Chollima movement. While not necessary, I think, I think it would help in better understanding and connecting to the poems as some of these crucial details are not mentioned or explained in the notes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of poems.
(Also wish the notes were put as footnotes along with the respective poems instead of endnotes because being at the end of the book, one wouldn't know they're there when reading the poems. And one won't know which poems actually have notes and which don't.)
These are very short, beautiful poems about life in North Korea, the dreams and conflictions of those within the state. They are evocative poems that call the reader to listen to Bandi's dream of a free North Korea through themes of freedom, and birds in flight and freedom as love juxtaposed with a desolate, cold and frozen North.
The first half features more political charged poems directly critical of the regime and I found that I enjoyed these more than the last 2 chapters. While I enjoyed and understood these poems than others - overall, I think they were pretty understandable and digestible poems, not too complex.
I do feel that for most poems, in order to truly understand the metaphors for an indepth analysis and understanding of the poems, one may need to have more than a general knowledge of North Korea. For example, an understanding of the causes and effects of the ardous march, some details of Kim Il-Sung's cult of personaliity, the songbun class system and the Chollima movement. While not necessary, I think, I think it would help in better understanding and connecting to the poems as some of these crucial details are not mentioned or explained in the notes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of poems.
(Also wish the notes were put as footnotes along with the respective poems instead of endnotes because being at the end of the book, one wouldn't know they're there when reading the poems. And one won't know which poems actually have notes and which don't.)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 9 by Koyoharu Gotouge
Start of entertainment district arc with hashira tengen uzui. It was very flashy!
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 8 by Koyoharu Gotouge
End of Muzen Train Arc and intro to a new Hashira.
Never bring up volume 8 to me ever. This vol on Rengoku will never bring me to tears and I will never be well.
Never bring up volume 8 to me ever. This vol on Rengoku will never bring me to tears and I will never be well.
Remnants of Filth: Yuwu (Novel) Vol. 5 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
This was such a slog to get through. For about 50% of the book nothing new or interesting happened, it was just Guxi being Guxi instead Mang being experimented on. Then it was a war I didn’t care about for a Chonghua I didn’t particularly care for in the name of an emperor I could care less about.
It was very lukewarm for me, nothing especially enthralling happened, and even though there’s only 2 volumes left I’m strongly considering DNFing this.
The characters now feel stagnant, and the plot too stretched out to be held together by any thick plot across all the volumes, such that each book feels like filler words for volume 7.
It was very lukewarm for me, nothing especially enthralling happened, and even though there’s only 2 volumes left I’m strongly considering DNFing this.
The characters now feel stagnant, and the plot too stretched out to be held together by any thick plot across all the volumes, such that each book feels like filler words for volume 7.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 7 by Koyoharu Gotouge
The beginning of the Mugen Train Arc with our intro to the flame Hashira Rengoku. It’s was good.
Remnants of Filth: Yuwu (Novel) Vol. 4 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
The first 25 to 40 percent of this book was so boring and slow and difficult to get through with the search for the Bat Island queen and whatever, and had the most, no doubt, unnecessary and frankly bare horrible smut scene just there as a jumpscare.
But then we were back to Chonghua and the plot began to pick up and move along and it was really interesting as near decade old secrets involving Gu Mang and the emperor are revealed.
It was good and engaging and eager to get to the next volume as Gu Mang’s memories begin to deteriorate yet again.
But then we were back to Chonghua and the plot began to pick up and move along and it was really interesting as near decade old secrets involving Gu Mang and the emperor are revealed.
It was good and engaging and eager to get to the next volume as Gu Mang’s memories begin to deteriorate yet again.
Coin Locker Babies by Ryū Murakami
Absolutely crazy, over the top and unhinged from the darker of the Murakamis. Nothing that happened was anything I was expecting. From the datura, to the sleazy band life and exploration of fame and so many things in between. Just crazy
Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Martin Dugard, Bill O'Reilly
This is an informative, thorough and intriguing look into the Camelot, into the White House and America during the early 60s. While on JFK and his presidency, it delves into the Jackie the First Lady, into Cuba, the missile crisis, the Vietnam War, King and the civil rights movement and so much more insight into the political climate of America and the concerns of Americans at that time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and is probably my favourite of the killing series so far, rivalled maybe by Killing the SS. It is intimately detailed in its look into the first family, the lives and believes, telling all about the hidden lives of all in Camelot. I’m always amazed how Riley and Dugard are able to be so detailed and thorough, while striving to maintain factual and impartial. They don’t stray away from showing JFK’s flaws, his womanising, his and his brother’s fencing with Johnson while also managing to sway your emotions with the inevitable end of the titular life.
I think any person interesting in politics, the hidden lives of the political elite and history would enjoy this work as I have.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and is probably my favourite of the killing series so far, rivalled maybe by Killing the SS. It is intimately detailed in its look into the first family, the lives and believes, telling all about the hidden lives of all in Camelot. I’m always amazed how Riley and Dugard are able to be so detailed and thorough, while striving to maintain factual and impartial. They don’t stray away from showing JFK’s flaws, his womanising, his and his brother’s fencing with Johnson while also managing to sway your emotions with the inevitable end of the titular life.
I think any person interesting in politics, the hidden lives of the political elite and history would enjoy this work as I have.
Remnants of Filth: Yuwu (Novel) Vol. 3 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
challenging
dark
This volume for me was better than the previous one, as Gu Mang's memories come back bit by bit and then crashing through a mirror, all at once. It was interesting to a more detailed look into Gu Mang navigating these new memories and also interactions with the Murong Mengze, Murong Chuyi and Jiang Yexue. We also take a trip back in time and explore glimpses of the days leading up to Gu Mang's defection which were the most interesting and intriguing points of the volume. I liked it, it was fast paced, engaging and covered a lot of plot compared to the previous volume. And as always a steep cliff hanger at Bat whatever Island with new revelations to ponder.