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troystory's reviews
199 reviews
Ancient Worlds: A Global History of Antiquity by Michael Scott
5.0
To be honest, I first bought this book because I was enamoured with its gorgeous cover (I still am!), but I've grown to be more in love with the book itself. Non-fiction books, and those about history especially, tend to read like lecture transcripts, which sometimes stops me from finishing them, no matter how interesting the subject matter. This one, however, was written beautifully. I have very limited knowledge of Ancient India and China, and Scott did an excellent job providing enough information for me to understand what he was talking about and what was going on, and I learned new things about Ancient Rome and Greece too, which was a fun surprise!
People think of globalisation as a new concept, but it's been around since these ancient worlds existed, and I think this book does a very good job with telling us about it and showing how important it is to recognize that. I would reread this book in a heartbeat, and I probably will. An amazing, well-written, fascinating history of ancient worlds! I highly recommend it.
People think of globalisation as a new concept, but it's been around since these ancient worlds existed, and I think this book does a very good job with telling us about it and showing how important it is to recognize that. I would reread this book in a heartbeat, and I probably will. An amazing, well-written, fascinating history of ancient worlds! I highly recommend it.
Children of Daedala by Caighlan Smith
3.0
I was really excited for this book because I loved the first one so much, and I'm glad this wasn't disappointing! It took me a while to get used to the writing style again (which actually helps with the characterization of the MC, as simple as it is), so at first I didn't like it, but the more I read, the more I found myself caught up in the story.
The MC is an interesting character, and I really loved learning more about her, and her relationship with other people. I also loved the plot twists and reveals and the conflicts. Generally, the book was evenly paced, and nothing felt too rushed or like it dragged on.
The one thing I would've changed is the MC's relationship with Elle (or Risa even). Look, she talks about dating boys and kissing boys like it's a chore, and doesn't really feel anything towards a certain boy when he kisses her, so the conclusion I came to was that she's gay. At first I thought gay for Elle, because of the way she talked about her, but I would've been fine with the MC in a relationship with any other girl. Hopefully that gets addressed in the next book!
But otherwise, I enjoyed reading this book, and I hope the sequel gets released soon!
The MC is an interesting character, and I really loved learning more about her, and her relationship with other people. I also loved the plot twists and reveals and the conflicts. Generally, the book was evenly paced, and nothing felt too rushed or like it dragged on.
The one thing I would've changed is the MC's relationship with Elle (or Risa even). Look, she talks about dating boys and kissing boys like it's a chore, and doesn't really feel anything towards a certain boy when he kisses her, so the conclusion I came to was that she's gay. At first I thought gay for Elle, because of the way she talked about her, but I would've been fine with the MC in a relationship with any other girl. Hopefully that gets addressed in the next book!
But otherwise, I enjoyed reading this book, and I hope the sequel gets released soon!
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
5.0
Wow, Sapiens was a true masterpiece. It was so fascinating, and it was written so well. History books tend to read like lectures, but this one felt like watching a BBC six-part historical drama, complete with a narrator. Absolutely riveting, and super inspiring! This book taught me about a lot of things I wouldn't have otherwise bothered to learn, and it opened up my interest in anthropology. A great read, even for people who don't normally like history books.
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
4.0
So, when I first read Georgia Peaches back in October, it wasn't my favourite book (and it still isn't), but I liked it more this time around because I related to Jo's gay struggles. And, of course, Mary Carlson seemed like the dream girl. Jaye Robin Brown has crafted an important and fantastic story, and it will definitely be a safe faven for LGBTQ+ religious teens, but I had some problems with the enforced stereotypes.
Listen. Dana was a great character, and not just because she was (sometimes) much-needed comic relief. She was Jo's one tie to her old life in Atlanta, one of her big problems during her senior year. And Mary Carlson, who by all means acted like a straight girl (at first), was complex and well-written and stunning. And Jo? I loved Jo, don't get me wrong. But she had this mindset that seemed too focused on enforcing lesbian stereotypes.
There are obviously lesbians out there who fit these stereotypes - who won't be caught dead wearing lavender v-necks or pale lip gloss or listening to Taylor Swift, but there are obviously other lesbians, like Mary Carlson, who can easily "pass for straight" because of their style and tastes.
So here's a breakdown of the things I liked:
1) The people Jo was friends with. I feel like queer books either try too hard to bring to life our gay tragedies, or they try too hard to make life seem perfect. Brown has a great balance between that - while most of Jo's friends are supportive, she does know people who aren't (Jessica, Mrs. Foley, most of the church), and that's a better representation of life. There will be allies amongst homophobes, and I'm glad this book got that down-pat.
2) Mary Carlson. Where do I even begin with her? Not only am I sure I now have a crush on a fictional character, Mary Carlson was the kind of person we all kind of aspire to be. She wasn't afraid of showing people who she was, she was sure in who she was, and she was a great friend and sister. Everything about her was amazingly done.
3) Jo's relationship with Elizabeth. I loved that Jo grew as a person, and she went from villanising Elizabeth (and calling her "Three") to accepting her as a member of her family. It warmed my heart.
The things I didn't like as much:
1) The enforced stereotypes. It's so hard to get away from them, I know, but just writing gay girls who live by these stereotypes can invalidate gay girls (like me) who don't cut their hair super short or hang out with the scene kids. Lesbians come in all flavors, folks.
2) The short epilogue! I totally wanted to know more about their summer trip, and the developments of Mary Carlson and Jo's relationship, and how Dana grew after her mistake.
Overall, I really liked this book. I'd recommend it to anyone because it still has great representation and loveable characters and relatable struggles.
Listen. Dana was a great character, and not just because she was (sometimes) much-needed comic relief. She was Jo's one tie to her old life in Atlanta, one of her big problems during her senior year. And Mary Carlson, who by all means acted like a straight girl (at first), was complex and well-written and stunning. And Jo? I loved Jo, don't get me wrong. But she had this mindset that seemed too focused on enforcing lesbian stereotypes.
There are obviously lesbians out there who fit these stereotypes - who won't be caught dead wearing lavender v-necks or pale lip gloss or listening to Taylor Swift, but there are obviously other lesbians, like Mary Carlson, who can easily "pass for straight" because of their style and tastes.
So here's a breakdown of the things I liked:
1) The people Jo was friends with. I feel like queer books either try too hard to bring to life our gay tragedies, or they try too hard to make life seem perfect. Brown has a great balance between that - while most of Jo's friends are supportive, she does know people who aren't (Jessica, Mrs. Foley, most of the church), and that's a better representation of life. There will be allies amongst homophobes, and I'm glad this book got that down-pat.
2) Mary Carlson. Where do I even begin with her? Not only am I sure I now have a crush on a fictional character, Mary Carlson was the kind of person we all kind of aspire to be. She wasn't afraid of showing people who she was, she was sure in who she was, and she was a great friend and sister. Everything about her was amazingly done.
3) Jo's relationship with Elizabeth. I loved that Jo grew as a person, and she went from villanising Elizabeth (and calling her "Three") to accepting her as a member of her family. It warmed my heart.
The things I didn't like as much:
1) The enforced stereotypes. It's so hard to get away from them, I know, but just writing gay girls who live by these stereotypes can invalidate gay girls (like me) who don't cut their hair super short or hang out with the scene kids. Lesbians come in all flavors, folks.
2) The short epilogue! I totally wanted to know more about their summer trip, and the developments of Mary Carlson and Jo's relationship, and how Dana grew after her mistake.
Overall, I really liked this book. I'd recommend it to anyone because it still has great representation and loveable characters and relatable struggles.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
5.0
Wow. When I first started reading this book, I was vaguely aware that there was a character called Piggy, someone was murdered, and it took place on an island. I knew all this information coming in, and when the murder didn't happen in the first few chapters, I was a little disappointed. What was with all this talk, anyway?
All that talk, which may seem boring and unimportant at first, really helped set it up. From the moment he started hunting the pig, Jack was caught up in the adrenaline of killing. He pulled most of the boys into that circle with him, eventually murdering someone.
And when that murder finally happened, I wasn't prepared. It was so savage, so primitive - the dance, the chant, the way they killed the boy. I feel like Golding's writing style was impeccable in this scene, because he wrote it so simply. Every boy tried to justify what happened in his own way, some in a less-insane way. I was enthralled after the first murder, and this book is just so haunting.
I definitely recommend this one if you aren't squeamish, or if the thought of reading about murder doesn't bother you. An excellent novel.
All that talk, which may seem boring and unimportant at first, really helped set it up. From the moment he started hunting the pig, Jack was caught up in the adrenaline of killing. He pulled most of the boys into that circle with him, eventually murdering someone.
And when that murder finally happened, I wasn't prepared. It was so savage, so primitive - the dance, the chant, the way they killed the boy. I feel like Golding's writing style was impeccable in this scene, because he wrote it so simply. Every boy tried to justify what happened in his own way, some in a less-insane way. I was enthralled after the first murder, and this book is just so haunting.
I definitely recommend this one if you aren't squeamish, or if the thought of reading about murder doesn't bother you. An excellent novel.
Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
4.0
Wow, I've been waiting for this book for a while, and I'm glad I read it. Overall, I think it was a great story. Leah was a realistic protagonist with relatable problems, and even if she wasn't always the nicest, everything she did was believable. Simon and Bram and Abby felt true to their characterization in Simon Vs The Homosapiens Agenda, and I loved Abby's process of coming to terms with the fact she's bi. I definitely reocmmend this.
While I do love this story, and I'm glad it has a friend group with more than 1 LGBT person, I wasn't a huge fan of Albertalli's writing. Sometimes it felt like she was trying too hard to sound like a teenager, but apart from that, I enjoyed everything about Leah On The Offbeat.
While I do love this story, and I'm glad it has a friend group with more than 1 LGBT person, I wasn't a huge fan of Albertalli's writing. Sometimes it felt like she was trying too hard to sound like a teenager, but apart from that, I enjoyed everything about Leah On The Offbeat.
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
5.0
When I first started this book, I was a little disappointed. There was more tell than show, and the plot seemed boring, and there was no depth to any of the characters except for Finn, who I knew was dead. However, after finishing the book, I'm absolutely in love with it. Although the writing doesn't live up to my expectations, it was its simplicity that was so amazing. First-person narrative often tells the story way too elaborately, but this book really did write the world through June Elbus's eyes. A simple story through the eyes of a simple girl. It was magnificent.
The more the story went on, the more I found myself wishing Finn was still alive. I fell in love with his character, and Toby too (although, I did find his constant use of "brilliant" annoying and stereotypical), and even June, who I felt connected to (in the sense that we both feel a little disconnected from modernity, like we belong in the past).
I think the main reason I loved this book was because it's exploration of grief felt so similar to what I went through and still am going through. It felt painfully close and too familiar. I think that, while this book is certainly amazing on its own, you have to have gone through a loss to feel its true impact. Still, I'd recommend it to everyone. An absolutely terrific novel!
The more the story went on, the more I found myself wishing Finn was still alive. I fell in love with his character, and Toby too (although, I did find his constant use of "brilliant" annoying and stereotypical), and even June, who I felt connected to (in the sense that we both feel a little disconnected from modernity, like we belong in the past).
I think the main reason I loved this book was because it's exploration of grief felt so similar to what I went through and still am going through. It felt painfully close and too familiar. I think that, while this book is certainly amazing on its own, you have to have gone through a loss to feel its true impact. Still, I'd recommend it to everyone. An absolutely terrific novel!
God: A Human History by Reza Aslan
5.0
Truly an amazing and life-changing book. I learned a lot about religion and my own beliefs through this book, and Aslan's writing style made it a very interesting read.
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
1.0
Personally, I hated this book. I found the writing quite like a 5-year-old's, there was no actual plot, the dialogue wasn't realistic, and the characters were all flat and stupid. The first half and second half of the book have no connection, they might as well be separate books. And don't get me started on Maria, the most obnoxiously stupid and self-absorbed character ever written. This book could have been so much more than it was. I was very disappointed with it.