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the_midwest_library's Reviews (796)
How to Think Like a Woman: Four Women Philosophers Who Taught Me How to Love the Life of the Mind
informative
fast-paced
I really enjoyed this, I thought the weaving of the authors personal life into the lives of these philosophers and their theories was so well executed. This isn't an area I encounter a ton so it was refreshing to muse over as a societal and feminist narrative.
I finished this, it's so short hahaha I enjoyed this and the context does add to some of the decisions made in the past few books and the emotional reactions especially for some of our dear friends. I do think it was a bit...short. Idk the ending felt weird in tone compared to the build up to it but overall I still loved it!
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Take my five stars you son of a bitch. For being over 1000 pages it really didn't feel like it was that long. I actually wanted more ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ and now I have to wait for the next installment with everyone else.
I really loved this if I had any complaints it would be that I needed more Dayne. I love him, give him to me.
The politics were good, the action was fabulous. I'm nervous about where we will end up after this.
I really loved this if I had any complaints it would be that I needed more Dayne. I love him, give him to me.
The politics were good, the action was fabulous. I'm nervous about where we will end up after this.
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Quite enjoyed this nonfiction pick, this explores the impact of the foster and adoption systems in the US on children, specifically with a focus on a TX family who were split up, fostered out and ultimately became national news when the children were victims of a murder suicide by their placement family.
I think this is a powerful, short read. I wish there was a bit more in this on comparing and contrasting various US states and what trends they are seeing in programs that focus on rehabilitation, stabilization of the biological family instead of swift removal like we saw in the TX system. Overall a really good read, but it's a book simply telling you a small story, and not one that suggests reform which I like to muse over a bit more when I read these types of nonfiction books.
I think this is a powerful, short read. I wish there was a bit more in this on comparing and contrasting various US states and what trends they are seeing in programs that focus on rehabilitation, stabilization of the biological family instead of swift removal like we saw in the TX system. Overall a really good read, but it's a book simply telling you a small story, and not one that suggests reform which I like to muse over a bit more when I read these types of nonfiction books.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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:
No
I'm going to give this novella 5 stars. I thought it was great, honestly I really enjoyed not only the characters we focused on but the added context really made the experience of the first two books even richer. I absolutely think reading this as book 2.5 is the move, and I don't feel like this information was "needed" in books 1 or 2 but it felt so rewarding to get it here in book 2.5. Im scared of the next one though
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Okay so I loved this, where the first book did take a lot of inspiration from other fantasy works and could at times feel a scooch tropey this one takes a complete 180 and really settles into its own. I loved this, the characters are well fleshed out and each have their own arcs that are so well developed.
Now does this have a few flaws? Absolutely. Especially Ella's chapters, no offense to Ryan but sometimes it's painfully clear this book was written by a man hahaha but it's not offensive or anything, it makes me chuckle. There was a line where Ella thinks something to the effect of wishing that she could have a broken bone instead of dealing with the pain in her heart from the death of a loved one 😂😂 what a wacky thought girl.
But truly this book was fabulous. Our main character is growing, the secondary characters don't feel lesser than and everyone is impacting the overall plot with every second they are on the page.
I'm excited to continue in this world!!!
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Def a great novella and really adds some wonderful context to the first book. I'm glad I picked this up and read it. I almost wish this were longer but I will take what I can get hahaha
informative
fast-paced
This is a really short almost poetie story about Antigua from the perspective of both an Antiguan and also an unnamed tourist who is having a parallel experience while visiting. lt touches on the gains, beauty, benefits that the tourist and other white travels experience while contrasting to the political corruption and cultural degradation that Antigua experiences. I quite enjoyed this!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
But what if I want to give it five stars in my heart?? It's not like logically a five star read for me ...but it could be.
The start of an indie fantasy world that is classic in nature, dare I say it, a little expected but in the best ways possible. I can completely understand why people compare this to Faithful & Fallen because they are similar but I think where they are different is where Of Blood and Fire excels. The focus on a few key POVs (instead of literally like 500 in F&F) allows us to really sink our teeth into these characters and follow our reluctant chosen one on this quest.
Our main trio of boys are stupid and young, but they are likeable and self reflective. I found them charming. The story can be called expected but it was done so well why should I be mad at it. Plus this is the first book, this world is just now starting to grow and I expect that as things develop it will forge its own path forward and give me something a bit more novel. And if not, I'm enjoying this ride, the writing is really good and sometimes a return to form is what I want from fantasy. I loved this. Plus dragons.
BUT I REALLY NEED RYAN TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FRITZ MOTHER FUCKER I STG
The start of an indie fantasy world that is classic in nature, dare I say it, a little expected but in the best ways possible. I can completely understand why people compare this to Faithful & Fallen because they are similar but I think where they are different is where Of Blood and Fire excels. The focus on a few key POVs (instead of literally like 500 in F&F) allows us to really sink our teeth into these characters and follow our reluctant chosen one on this quest.
Our main trio of boys are stupid and young, but they are likeable and self reflective. I found them charming. The story can be called expected but it was done so well why should I be mad at it. Plus this is the first book, this world is just now starting to grow and I expect that as things develop it will forge its own path forward and give me something a bit more novel. And if not, I'm enjoying this ride, the writing is really good and sometimes a return to form is what I want from fantasy. I loved this. Plus dragons.
BUT I REALLY NEED RYAN TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FRITZ MOTHER FUCKER I STG
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Conflicted on this one, this is a very short historical/Arthurian fantasy story. I would not classify this as epic fantasy as the scope was quite small as was the plot and book itself. My biggest issue was that this feels like a short story. There just isn't enough land out for me to fall head over heels. But that doesn't mean it's a bad book.
I actually quite liked the female MC and felt she was very capable. The overall world is really interesting I wish we got a bit more worldbuilding. The plot is "basic" but I'm enjoying the journey.
But the book has very simplistic prose for me, it reminded me of YA books like Vespertine and Sorcery of Thorns. Both of those YA reads are quite good but I had different expectations going into those than I did going into this. My biggest complaint however is that it ends on a cliffhanger. With barely 300 pages and you end on a cliffhanger? I'd rather the plot resolve a bit more and have a meatier book.
I actually quite liked the female MC and felt she was very capable. The overall world is really interesting I wish we got a bit more worldbuilding. The plot is "basic" but I'm enjoying the journey.
But the book has very simplistic prose for me, it reminded me of YA books like Vespertine and Sorcery of Thorns. Both of those YA reads are quite good but I had different expectations going into those than I did going into this. My biggest complaint however is that it ends on a cliffhanger. With barely 300 pages and you end on a cliffhanger? I'd rather the plot resolve a bit more and have a meatier book.