yvejr's reviews
130 reviews

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This book is a childhood favorite I decided to reread. As an adult reading it, I teared up even more. This book was very important to me in using my imagination, and to imagine friendships and resiliency after loss. 

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

It took me about 3.5 months to finish it. It has a slow-medium pace and I was reading other things. There were some difficult points, and I kept thinking it wouldn’t get worse - but it did, as the story picked up intrigue. Good rhythm. From page one right through the last appendix, there are layers of meaning and sizzling possibilities that make you think. Ultimately ends in a conversation of quantum mechanics which I did not see coming. Beautiful convergence of science, Buddhist ideas and Western philosophy- which for me was timely because only last year I learned about Heidegger and his being time ideas. This notion of being time has been on my mind ever since, which is ultimately why I was drawn to this title and had picked up this book while browsing at the library. Of course there’s the theme of history, identity, war and destruction that is inflicted on other nations but ultimately we are all interconnected on one planet. 

🤯 so impressed and floored by the ideas - made me very reflective. 
💗 loved the story; emotional at many points 
👏 such narrative skill and a unique story and idea 
🔁 recursive and layers of meaning 
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ five stars from me! 

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.

I’m gonna finish this one day. But the content itself is quite difficult for someone with trauma. The descriptions are enough to get my nervous system activated and it’s not the best use of my energy right now during my own healing. 

Writing Is Designing: Words and the User Experience by Michael J. Metts, Andy Welfle
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.

Lost interest in the topic. The book is an easy and informative read. 

Tea and Cake with Demons: A Buddhist Guide to Feeling Worthy by Adreanna Limbach
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.

Too many books to read right now. This seemed like nice intro to Buddhism. I didn’t see much about worthiness here. I might return to this book in the future but I’m not scrambling to read it. 

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

Interesting book, but not quite holding my interest. It’s a bit slow but intriguing themes of war & colonization parallels to the real world.  I’m not very excited to start a series - I didn’t know it was the first book I’m a series when I started it. I might return to this one day but honestly is the sort of thing I’d love to see adapted to a tv show. 

Old Lady on the Trail: Triple Crown at 76 by Mary E. Davison
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.

Lost interest- might pick it up in the winter when I can’t go out hiking. It reads like a trail journal - sometimes very exciting and beautiful and other times a bit routine and boring. Just like I imagine a long hike feels. :) 

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

This was a good book though once I visited Wikipedia to learn more about the Biafra war, it was harder to keep reading. While reading the book, I recommend not learning about it if you don’t already know. It’s kind of amazing I didn’t know about it already. That must be why the author wrote it - so many of us in the US were so unaware of what was happening and the real cause behind it. Tragic. Excellently done and wonderfully narrated. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Rape, and Body horror

The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao by Martha Batalha

adventurous funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness by Pooja Lakshmin

3.25

I liked this book and learned some things from it. I recommend it to anyone working on self care.  This book emphasizes the fact each individual is in a system and is not alone.  Systems fail us. At the same time, caring for ourselves can help transform the systems slowly over time. It’s not presented as the one solution for all systemic issues, but as part of it. Maybe like a sea change.