thebacklistbook's reviews
301 reviews

Savor: A Chef's Hunger for More by Fatima Ali

emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

2.0

I first came across Fatima on her season of top chef. She was tenacious and more than a little pig-headed based on how they edited the show. I read this book because it was honestly a gut punch to learn that she had died of cancer. She was so young. I can't help thinking, if she had chosen to make her career in a country with universal health care could it have made a difference? 

This book takes you through her short life from soup to nuts. Or from dahl to sushi. I listened to this on audio because I knew I wouldn't get through it as a physical book. As it is I spent months listening to the audio. It contains both her perspectives and her mother's on key events from her life.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

adventurous challenging funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

We join Claire in the difficult task of convincing her daughter of the truth of her parentage. With a side order of trying to save a life, only to realise it isn't her place to play god. Bonnie Prince, indeed! In her attempt to share the truth with Brianna, Claire recounts the uprising of 1745. Of course seeing is believing... 

The pacing of this book is quite slow and of course it is very long. I strongly urge reading these books in the hardback format. it will seem to go by faster owing to the larger page size.

Everything Is Just Beginning by Erin Bartels
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.

I can't stand first person narrative unless it is directly relevant to the plot. also the format is unusual.

George Michael: A Life by James Gavin

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced

2.0

This book was a beast. Not only does it weigh a fair bit, it deals in heavy subject matter. George Michael was a deeply depressed individual. This book outlines his meteoric rise to the stratosphere of stardom. It also covers every dark spot on his record. From failed music tracks, fake girlfriends, and severe substance abuse to poor sexual decisions.

If you have come to this book looking for a bubblegum good time, you won't find it. If, however, you have come to better understand one of pop's favorite sons, read this book.

The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book is an interesting structure. It starts off with each chapter being a short story about different people. The common theme being the red garden and the town of Blackwell. Towards the end of the book it coalesces into one story.  This book was definitely engaging. It was also a rough read in terms of subject matter. If you have come to this book for magic, you will be disappointed. This is not that.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book is kind of like an extended twisty version of the gifts of the magi. It was way frustrating to get through and took me way too long to listen to it all. Partly because the narrator was super slow, even after 1.25 speed.

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Douglas Carlton Abrams, Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama XIV

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

3.0

This book is an extended conversation between the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. It is frankly a miracle that they had the time to put this together. It is also a miracle that the plane took off before the earthquake gripped the region. This book is a compendium of advice on how to be joyful.

Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang

dark informative reflective tense slow-paced

3.0

This book chronicles an all too common immigration experience. Ms Wang and her family fled oppression during a time when legal immigration was even harder than it is now for the Chinese. She chronicles a life of racism, inadequate healthcare, fear, and neglectful parenting.  

Listen To Me by Tess Gerritsen

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This one is done in multiple points of view. In this book it was handled very well, without switching to often. This particular novel focuses on Angela Rizzoli.

Angela believes firmly in see something, say something. So much so that she cries wolf often enough that Jane starts ignoring her calls, right when there really is something.
This book is very well plotted and paced. I really enjoyed my time with it.

The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism by William E. Cain, John P. McGowan, Barbara Johnson, Vincent B. Leitch, Jeffrey L. Williams, Laurie A. Finke

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

2.0

This is a philosophy text and was read for a course. I found the analysis portion dense and less than informative in some cases. It was used mainly as a jumping off point for ethical dilemma construction.