Bird
Counselor 
Posts: 350
Custom Title: World Creator and Destroyer
Preferred Pronouns: they/them/their
HARD: 1700
MEDIUM: 400
EASY: 110
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Post by Bird on Aug 22, 2022 12:29:11 GMT -6
Title: Overcoming Burnout
Author: Nicole Rose
Genre: Nonfiction
What do you think of it?
The book details the author's journey through burnout, recovery from burnout, and how she altered her life and work to avoid hitting burnout again. It delves deep into why burnout happens, what contributes to it, how societal norms push us into burnout, and ways to recover and rebuild one's life to avoid falling into burnout again. I especially liked that the book detailed how burnout can cause chronic pain, physical illnesses, and mental breakdowns - so it shows the gravity of it, but also keeps us on a path of hope and healing. The book is also very real about how privilege can make burnout less likely, and how layered oppressions can increase it - offers recommended reading to delve into that a bit more for interested readers. Well written and a short and easy read. It's been helping me a lot with reevaluating how I do work and ways I can do work in a more healthy (and less prone to burnout) way.
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Title: The Sea is Rising and So Are We Author: Cynthia Kaufman Genre: Nonfiction What do you think of it? Fantastic little book. For those who are feeling doom about the climate catastrophe we are experiencing, this book will help you combat that nihilism. Each chapter is packed with the evidence, the work people are currently doing to repair our world, what we're up against power-wise, ways to organize to fight entrenched oil interests (who seek to make things worse), and how to engage in self care and community care as we do this work. It's a great how-to handbook that reads like you're sitting and having a discussion with a friend. Highly recommend.
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Post by RAVENEYE on Aug 22, 2022 19:57:14 GMT -6
Title: Overcoming Burnout
Author: Nicole Rose
Genre: Nonfiction
What do you think of it?
The book details the author's journey through burnout, recovery from burnout, and how she altered her life and work to avoid hitting burnout again. It delves deep into why burnout happens, what contributes to it, how societal norms push us into burnout, and ways to recover and rebuild one's life to avoid falling into burnout again. I especially liked that the book detailed how burnout can cause chronic pain, physical illnesses, and mental breakdowns - so it shows the gravity of it, but also keeps us on a path of hope and healing. The book is also very real about how privilege can make burnout less likely, and how layered oppressions can increase it - offers recommended reading to delve into that a bit more for interested readers. Well written and a short and easy read. It's been helping me a lot with reevaluating how I do work and ways I can do work in a more healthy (and less prone to burnout) way.
Ooo! I probably need to have this one on hand for the next time burnout hits.
Title: All Systems Red, Book 1 of the Murderbot Diaries Author: Martha Wells Genre: Sci-fi What do you think of it?I was going to post about it while I was reading it, but it's so short that I finished before I got to it. It's technically a novella, and the one novella that gets mentioned multiple times each year at the NebulaCon, so I figured I'd give a go and see what the fuss was about. It's a quintessential example of fiction that explores the "What it means to be human" theme by coming at the question from the POV of a nonhuman. The murderbot's voice is so relatable, real, and casual that it's often like it's speaking its experience to you. And the poor thing just wants to be left alone to stream its contraband downloads, but it has this pesky job of protecting humans to do first. And it doesn't like to be stared at or talked to, which makes this nonhuman so painfully relatable, as I'm sure most introverts can testify. So while the story is a simple one, it's also wise in its insights. Recommend it?
Definitely. Especially if you need a quick read. I couldn't put this one down, and resented having to stop reading. So that's a good sign, right? |
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Post by HDSimplicityy on Aug 23, 2022 22:46:52 GMT -6
Title: Overcoming Burnout
Author: Nicole Rose
Genre: Nonfiction
What do you think of it?
The book details the author's journey through burnout, recovery from burnout, and how she altered her life and work to avoid hitting burnout again. It delves deep into why burnout happens, what contributes to it, how societal norms push us into burnout, and ways to recover and rebuild one's life to avoid falling into burnout again. I especially liked that the book detailed how burnout can cause chronic pain, physical illnesses, and mental breakdowns - so it shows the gravity of it, but also keeps us on a path of hope and healing. The book is also very real about how privilege can make burnout less likely, and how layered oppressions can increase it - offers recommended reading to delve into that a bit more for interested readers. Well written and a short and easy read. It's been helping me a lot with reevaluating how I do work and ways I can do work in a more healthy (and less prone to burnout) way.
Huh sounds decent. Ive felt this a few times writing my book. Especially nearing the end. With a bunch of tasks and people to talk to currently, its tiring me out. |
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Post by HDSimplicityy on Aug 23, 2022 22:57:35 GMT -6
Title: All Systems Red, Book 1 of the Murderbot Diaries Author: Martha Wells Genre: Sci-fi What do you think of it?I was going to post about it while I was reading it, but it's so short that I finished before I got to it. It's technically a novella, and the one novella that gets mentioned multiple times each year at the NebulaCon, so I figured I'd give a go and see what the fuss was about. It's a quintessential example of fiction that explores the "What it means to be human" theme by coming at the question from the POV of a nonhuman. The murderbot's voice is so relatable, real, and casual that it's often like it's speaking its experience to you. And the poor thing just wants to be left alone to stream its contraband downloads, but it has this pesky job of protecting humans to do first. And it doesn't like to be stared at or talked to, which makes this nonhuman so painfully relatable, as I'm sure most introverts can testify. So while the story is a simple one, it's also wise in its insights. Recommend it?
Definitely. Especially if you need a quick read. I couldn't put this one down, and resented having to stop reading. So that's a good sign, right? Yeah thats a cool story. I read it last year. Wells writing style is funny. I just wish the human characters were smarter. Title: Blood of the Falcon Author: Raveneye
Genre: fantasy Yeeep Im still reading it. Many months later. I put it aside for a while and a few weeks ago got my reading rhythm back. Im a hundred or so pages from the end. Recommend?Yep. Its a good example of indie publishing. But I have not read any others. I like the characters, the dialogue is strong, descriptions cinematic. Very lush. The pacing and the plot though Ive struggled with. And tons of backstory. However I am liking the journeys Kieryn and Kelyn are on. Kieryn needs to stop asking so many questions. Make observations instead lol. I like to slow down when reading it. That helps me enjoy it. I can tell that you, Raveneye, but lots of love into this. Im planning on reading the rest of the saga another time; Im taking a break from fiction after I read it. |
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Post by RAVENEYE on Aug 24, 2022 11:08:05 GMT -6
Title: All Systems Red, Book 1 of the Murderbot Diaries Author: Martha Wells Genre: Sci-fi What do you think of it?I was going to post about it while I was reading it, but it's so short that I finished before I got to it. It's technically a novella, and the one novella that gets mentioned multiple times each year at the NebulaCon, so I figured I'd give a go and see what the fuss was about. It's a quintessential example of fiction that explores the "What it means to be human" theme by coming at the question from the POV of a nonhuman. The murderbot's voice is so relatable, real, and casual that it's often like it's speaking its experience to you. And the poor thing just wants to be left alone to stream its contraband downloads, but it has this pesky job of protecting humans to do first. And it doesn't like to be stared at or talked to, which makes this nonhuman so painfully relatable, as I'm sure most introverts can testify. So while the story is a simple one, it's also wise in its insights. Recommend it?
Definitely. Especially if you need a quick read. I couldn't put this one down, and resented having to stop reading. So that's a good sign, right? Yeah thats a cool story. I read it last year. Wells writing style is funny. I just wish the human characters were smarter. Title: Blood of the Falcon Author: Raveneye
Genre: fantasy Yeeep Im still reading it. Many months later. I put it aside for a while and a few weeks ago got my reading rhythm back. Im a hundred or so pages from the end. Recommend?Yep. Its a good example of indie publishing. But I have not read any others. I like the characters, the dialogue is strong, descriptions cinematic. Very lush. The pacing and the plot though Ive struggled with. And tons of backstory. However I am liking the journeys Kieryn and Kelyn are on. Kieryn needs to stop asking so many questions. Make observations instead lol. I like to slow down when reading it. That helps me enjoy it. I can tell that you, Raveneye, but lots of love into this. Im planning on reading the rest of the saga another time; Im taking a break from fiction after I read it. Bahahaha! I love this feedback, HD. Jeez, there's so much I'd change if I were writing this now. Oh, well. Live and learn. And yeaaaaaah, Kieryn ... whew, he changes so much throughout the saga. Book 2 is VERY rough on him. I admit, I enjoyed being cruel to him and turning him into ... well, no spoilers. By Book 5, God, he's my favorite in any story I've written since. |
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Post by HDSimplicityy on Aug 24, 2022 13:59:00 GMT -6
Yeah thats a cool story. I read it last year. Wells writing style is funny. I just wish the human characters were smarter. Title: Blood of the Falcon Author: Raveneye
Genre: fantasy Yeeep Im still reading it. Many months later. I put it aside for a while and a few weeks ago got my reading rhythm back. Im a hundred or so pages from the end. Recommend?Yep. Its a good example of indie publishing. But I have not read any others. I like the characters, the dialogue is strong, descriptions cinematic. Very lush. The pacing and the plot though Ive struggled with. And tons of backstory. However I am liking the journeys Kieryn and Kelyn are on. Kieryn needs to stop asking so many questions. Make observations instead lol. I like to slow down when reading it. That helps me enjoy it. I can tell that you, Raveneye, but lots of love into this. Im planning on reading the rest of the saga another time; Im taking a break from fiction after I read it. Bahahaha! I love this feedback, HD. Jeez, there's so much I'd change if I were writing this now. Oh, well. Live and learn. And yeaaaaaah, Kieryn ... whew, he changes so much throughout the saga. Book 2 is VERY rough on him. I admit, I enjoyed being cruel to him and turning him into ... well, no spoilers. By Book 5, God, he's my favorite in any story I've written since. It will be worth reading. To see your progress as an author go up makes it inspiring. You just have to be cruel to him. Why does that interest me already... |
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Post by RAVENEYE on Sept 1, 2022 9:43:14 GMT -6
Title: Emma
Author: Jane Austen
Genre: Story of Manners
What do you think of it?
It's been years since I read any of Austen's work, and it's refreshing and lovely to take it up again. My reading skill has improved since then, because I'm finding the reading this time effortless and quick. I don't *think* I ever read Emma before. Maybe I did? Anyway, having a blast reading it now.
Recommend it?
Of course. It's Austen. Besides being entertaining, it's good research for historical fiction, in style, dialog, and behavior.
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Post by havekrillwhaletravel on Sept 2, 2022 7:24:59 GMT -6
Title: EmmaAuthor: Jane Austen Genre: Story of Manners What do you think of it? It's been years since I read any of Austen's work, and it's refreshing and lovely to take it up again. My reading skill has improved since then, because I'm finding the reading this time effortless and quick. I don't *think* I ever read Emma before. Maybe I did? Anyway, having a blast reading it now. Recommend it?Of course. It's Austen. Besides being entertaining, it's good research for historical fiction, in style, dialog, and behavior. Oooh, I’ve only read Pride and Prejudice and I loved that book. Really should get around to reading more from her. |
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Post by RAVENEYE on Sept 2, 2022 11:23:39 GMT -6
Title: EmmaAuthor: Jane Austen Genre: Story of Manners What do you think of it? It's been years since I read any of Austen's work, and it's refreshing and lovely to take it up again. My reading skill has improved since then, because I'm finding the reading this time effortless and quick. I don't *think* I ever read Emma before. Maybe I did? Anyway, having a blast reading it now. Recommend it?Of course. It's Austen. Besides being entertaining, it's good research for historical fiction, in style, dialog, and behavior. Oooh, I’ve only read Pride and Prejudice and I loved that book. Really should get around to reading more from her. Yes! Pride and Prejudice is so lovely. Persuasion is my favorite of her novels though. It has a more mature tone than the others. In fact, I think she made the edits from a sickbed and it was posted posthumously. Anyway... |
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Bird
Counselor
Posts: 350
Custom Title: World Creator and Destroyer
Preferred Pronouns: they/them/their
HARD: 1700
MEDIUM: 400
EASY: 110
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Post by Bird on Sept 9, 2022 12:15:47 GMT -6
Title: Akata Woman Author: Nnedi Okorafor Genre: Young Adult Fantasy What do you think of it?
This is the third book in the Akata series, and it's FANTASTIC. Like, the first two books were already good, and this one managed to add even more awesomeness to the already awesome series.
The story is four teenagers learning Juju magic (as they are Leopard people that can use magic and walk between non-magic world and magic world), and this latest installment of their adventures include a dangerous journey deep into other dimensions and worlds to THE ROAD, which is both a monster and a highway of dead. All to obtain the missing artifact of a Spider God who will write them and their families out of existence if that artifact isn't returned in seven days. Fun times!!! Gorgeous description, and a fascinating romp into Nigerian folklore.
Recommend it? YES. Recommend the whole series!
Title: Revenger (first book) Shadow Captain (second book)
Author: Alastair Reynolds
Genre: Science Fiction
What do you think of it?
This two-book series is what happens when you combine the best parts of Firefly and Pirates of the Caribbean. Two sisters run away from home to sail on a spaceship run by ion thrusters and solar sails. Except their adventure is cut short with a deadly and horrifying pirate attacks their Captain's ship and takes one of the sisters hostage. The younger sister, Fura, survives and vows to find and free her sister no matter the cost. I couldn't put it down.
The second book is the aftermath of that epic quest. It was a bit slower than the first, but it painted a really interesting quest to seek the truth of the 'quions' that is used for trade and the truth of the 'Shadow Occupations.' Their actions triggers a system wide event that could lead to the end of their civilization.
Recommend it?
If you enjoyed Firefly and/or Pirates of the Caribbean, then you'll love these two books. : ) I adore the worldbuilding in it.
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Post by RAVENEYE on Jan 17, 2023 11:12:42 GMT -6
Title: The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Author: Charles Dickens
Genre: Classic Lit
What do you think of it?
It's interesting to read the last thing Dickens was writing when he died. I can definitely tell it's not as polished as Great Expectations. Apparently it will end on a big cliffhanger because it's actually unfinished. So readers get to see something of his creative process, and I keep wondering what he would have changed if he had lived a while longer.
I'm only 15% into the ebook, and I haven't figured out what the 'mystery' is or will be. Edwin Drood, a 20-ish year old, has made a brief appearance while Dickens introduces the growing cast of characters. I'm starting to get a clue that his beloved uncle is planning something underhanded toward him. Like murder?
Recommend it?
Not really. It's rough reading given the antiquated slang and long convoluted sentences. And, as I mentioned, the lack of polish. Dickens' prose is usually very graceful, but this is not yet reached that finished quality. I decided to read this novel in a hurry (bought a cheap copy and the .99 cent ebook versions) so I could read the modern novel Drood by Dan Simmons. "Drood" was the last word Dickens spoke on his deathbed.
I imagine it was because the dedicated author in him was distraught that he must finish writing the novel and never would. But apparently Simmons turns this haunting word into an epic supernatural thing, which sounds fun to read.
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Post by havekrillwhaletravel on Jan 19, 2023 4:47:05 GMT -6
Title: The Mystery of Edwin Drood Author: Charles Dickens Genre: Classic Lit What do you think of it?It's interesting to read the last thing Dickens was writing when he died. I can definitely tell it's not as polished as Great Expectations. Apparently it will end on a big cliffhanger because it's actually unfinished. So readers get to see something of his creative process, and I keep wondering what he would have changed if he had lived a while longer. I'm only 15% into the ebook, and I haven't figured out what the 'mystery' is or will be. Edwin Drood, a 20-ish year old, has made a brief appearance while Dickens introduces the growing cast of characters. I'm starting to get a clue that his beloved uncle is planning something underhanded toward him. Like murder? Recommend it?
Not really. It's rough reading given the antiquated slang and long convoluted sentences. And, as I mentioned, the lack of polish. Dickens' prose is usually very graceful, but this is not yet reached that finished quality. I decided to read this novel in a hurry (bought a cheap copy and the .99 cent ebook versions) so I could read the modern novel Drood by Dan Simmons. "Drood" was the last word Dickens spoke on his deathbed. I imagine it was because the dedicated author in him was distraught that he must finish writing the novel and never would. But apparently Simmons turns this haunting word into an epic supernatural thing, which sounds fun to read. I've always been too intimidated to read an incomplete novel, so I'm curious to find out what your thoughts are when you finish The Mystery ...
The premise of Dan Simmons' Drood sounds amazing!
Title: The Western Wind
Author: Samantha Harvey Genre: Historical
What do you think of it? The book is set in a poor, medieval village that's isolated from the rest of the world. The book charts the four days after the death of the village's richest resident in reverse chronological order.
I love books featuring clergy characters (I'm calling dibs on "priestpunk", you heard it here first  ). They're liminal figures who have to imperfectly navigate the boundary between the metaphysical and the real, and I find this struggle fascinating. This book's main character is the village priest, and we follow him as he's beset on all sides by problems mundane, personal and spiritual.
The prose is vivid and punchy; the cold, grim village leaps to life. I also think the author has a strong rhythm to her writing:
Recommend it? Yes ... though you might want to put it off if you're not in the mood for something miserable and stressful.
Title: The Bell at Sealey Head Author: Patricia McKillip Genre: Fantasy
What do you think of it? Sealey Head is a coastal village with an invisible bell that rings every day and a mansion linked to a fantasy world whose inhabitants play out a bizarre ritual. This was the perfect read after The Western Wind. It's cozy and colourful and brings to mind a Studio Ghibli film. McKillip's writing is also just gorgeous:
The pacing in the first half is glacial as the story juggles between four different characters. But then the story picks up, and the pages practically turn themselves.
Recommend it? Yes, if you want a beautiful, standalone fantasy.
Title: Our Man in Havana Author: Graham Greene Genre: Comedy/Spy thriller
What do you think of it? My second Greene, after reading The Power and The Glory (a priestpunk classic btw). Wormold is a British businessman in Havana who's briskly shanghai'ed into spying for his country. To provide for his daughter, Wormold begins making stuff up and passing his tall tales as field reports.
There's a lot packed in this book. The first half is a whimsical take on a spy novel, but things take a darker turn halfway through the story. The book is melancholic, gritty, cynical. With all these different threads, the book might've come off as directionless or disjointed. While I did found the tonal whiplash a bit striking in some parts, Greene is an amazing enough writer that he makes everything work. It also helps that his writing is stately and elegant:
Recommend it? Yes!
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Post by RAVENEYE on Mar 22, 2023 8:45:03 GMT -6
Title: Belman & Black Author: Diane Setterfield Genre: historical/horror/gothic/literary (hard to place) &What do you think of it?Just finished this one last week. At first I was put off by Setterfield's writing style/method, which pretty much skipped most setting descriptions in the first half of the book, and I'm a sucker for deeply immersive, atmospheric settings. I saw the need for it when I realized she was telling the ENTIRE life story of a single character, which meant most of that setting fluff had to be left out. I never learned WHEN the story took place, except that it was sometime in the Victorian era, which spans 60+ years. And that bothered me for a long while b/c I like to picture costume details even when they're not described, and this varied widely each decade of the 1800s. That aside, the book was addictive. I did not want to put it down, even when I had to. The story is "being told" by Mr Black about Mr Belman, which might also explain the lack of setting in the first half. The second half though, it rich with setting, b/c there's only a single setting to describe, the funerary goods emporium "Belman & Black." The historical and character study aspects are balanced by a mythological/supernatural angle that I won't spoil. The book is simply unforgettable. Gorgeously, uniquely written, epic somehow even though it focuses on a single character. Maybe because it plumbs the deepest thing we fear most. &Recommend it?Absolutely. A vastly intelligent, poetic read. &Beware the rooks. I'm never going to piss off a crow or a raven or any of their cousins. Ever. 
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Post by havekrillwhaletravel on Mar 24, 2023 6:37:34 GMT -6
Title: Belman & Black Author: Diane Setterfield Genre: historical/horror/gothic/literary (hard to place) &What do you think of it?Just finished this one last week. At first I was put off by Setterfield's writing style/method, which pretty much skipped most setting descriptions in the first half of the book, and I'm a sucker for deeply immersive, atmospheric settings. I saw the need for it when I realized she was telling the ENTIRE life story of a single character, which meant most of that setting fluff had to be left out. I never learned WHEN the story took place, except that it was sometime in the Victorian era, which spans 60+ years. And that bothered me for a long while b/c I like to picture costume details even when they're not described, and this varied widely each decade of the 1800s. That aside, the book was addictive. I did not want to put it down, even when I had to. The story is "being told" by Mr Black about Mr Belman, which might also explain the lack of setting in the first half. The second half though, it rich with setting, b/c there's only a single setting to describe, the funerary goods emporium "Belman & Black." The historical and character study aspects are balanced by a mythological/supernatural angle that I won't spoil. The book is simply unforgettable. Gorgeously, uniquely written, epic somehow even though it focuses on a single character. Maybe because it plumbs the deepest thing we fear most. &Recommend it?Absolutely. A vastly intelligent, poetic read. &Beware the rooks. I'm never going to piss off a crow or a raven or any of their cousins. Ever.  Ooh, that sounds intriguing. I'll have to add it to my to-buy list. |
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Post by Mazulla on Mar 25, 2023 18:09:08 GMT -6
Title: Belman & Black Author: Diane Setterfield Genre: historical/horror/gothic/literary (hard to place) &What do you think of it?Just finished this one last week. At first I was put off by Setterfield's writing style/method, which pretty much skipped most setting descriptions in the first half of the book, and I'm a sucker for deeply immersive, atmospheric settings. I saw the need for it when I realized she was telling the ENTIRE life story of a single character, which meant most of that setting fluff had to be left out. I never learned WHEN the story took place, except that it was sometime in the Victorian era, which spans 60+ years. And that bothered me for a long while b/c I like to picture costume details even when they're not described, and this varied widely each decade of the 1800s. That aside, the book was addictive. I did not want to put it down, even when I had to. The story is "being told" by Mr Black about Mr Belman, which might also explain the lack of setting in the first half. The second half though, it rich with setting, b/c there's only a single setting to describe, the funerary goods emporium "Belman & Black." The historical and character study aspects are balanced by a mythological/supernatural angle that I won't spoil. The book is simply unforgettable. Gorgeously, uniquely written, epic somehow even though it focuses on a single character. Maybe because it plumbs the deepest thing we fear most. &Recommend it?Absolutely. A vastly intelligent, poetic read. &Beware the rooks. I'm never going to piss off a crow or a raven or any of their cousins. Ever. My gosh, this sound so perfect for what I've been looking for. I have so many started but unfinished books, and I really just want something that will grab AND hold my attention. And I do so love gothic tales, especially if they have a supernatural twist.  Definitely going to look at this one. |
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). They're liminal figures who have to imperfectly navigate the boundary between the metaphysical and the real, and I find this struggle fascinating. This book's main character is the village priest, and we follow him as he's beset on all sides by problems mundane, personal and spiritual. 
Definitely going to look at this one.
You add them to your profile as you do them around the forum.
