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wampusreynolds's reviews
486 reviews
Magic of Impromptu Speaking: Create a Speech That Will Be Remembered for Years in Under 30 Seconds by Andrii Sedniev
3.0
This was a free Kindle book that I had cast aside last year because the book was pretty rote and uninteresting at the time. I got asked to do standup comedy recently and started reading this again. I will say there are sentences and pieces of advice in this book I enjoyed and consider helpful. However, there seems to be a bit of impromptu writing with unsourced claims and empty promises. I do think Mr. Sedniev's personality is charming and his stories are quirk and funny. This book just seems a little slapdash.
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
4.0
The North Korean's story is heartbreaking, aggravating and fascinating. Demick's reporting is top-notch and important.
Scaramouche (Scaramouche, #1) by Rafael Sabatini
4.0
That was a far more enjoyable read than it should have been. Inspired to read Sabatini after seeing Captain Blood with Errol Flynn, Scaramouche had a higher rating than others. It's not just a straightforward adventure, and the humorous interjections from Sabatini about why Andre-Louis Moreau should be regarded differently than how he had just been portrayed were utterly delightful. One plot twist does defy logic and make a character seem very dense, but wonderful use of history and characters to tell a wild tale.
Norwood by Charles Portis
4.0
I laughed out loud reading this novel more than any other book besides Moby-Dick, but this one was way shorter so I'll say they're more densely packed.