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A platform for describing love in its many forms, but neglects intimacy with the reader. Shows a remarkable ability to capture the ineffable aspects of an encounter, but too often gets lost in obtuseness.
Reading time 17 days, 20 pages/day
A brilliantly imaginative talent makes her exciting debut with this epic historical military fantasy, inspired …
A reimagining of China & Japan, with shamans & gods for interest, and war crimes & genocide for a horrifying reality check. Misleadingly begins with standard 'orphan goes to hero school' trope, but turns disturbingly dark without warning.
Reading time 6 days, 88 pages/day
Black sisters grow up as orphans in England. Staid & unremarkable. Potentially traumatic, but pulls its punches.
Reading time 4 days, 93 pages/day
Network Effect is a 2020 science fiction fantasy novel written by Martha Wells. It is …
She's perfected the MurderBot recipe: awkward AI-AI relationship, friendly humans, emotional discomfort, clever conflict.
Reading time 3 days, 117 pages/day
Louise Penny: Still Life
Still Life is the debut novel written by Louise Penny and published by St. Martin's …
A murder mystery with effortless characterisation and lots of pastries. Awkward autism portrayal?
Reading time 3 days, 126 pages/day
The Wind in the Willows is a children's novel by the British novelist Kenneth Grahame, …
Oh, hapless, feckless Toad! A tale of cleaning up after a narcissistic friend. Only two minor female characters.
A Dakhota woman connects with her heritage and finds belonging & purpose in the seeds she inherits from her female ancestors. Gentle despite colonial trauma.
Reading time 4 days, 90 pages/day
Berlin 1920 Two babies are born. Two brothers. United and indivisible, sharing everything. Twins in …
Brothers in a Jewish family strive to protect their loved ones from the increasing horrors of Nazi Germany. Boringly one-dimensional portrayal of Nazis - they're evil brutes, I get it. Distinct lack of emotional connection considering intensity of subject matter. Flat as a brick wall.
Reading time 7 days, 89 pages/day
This book is about science in its broadest human context, how science and civilization grew …
A journey through the universe, science & their development, brimming with passion & wonder. 50 years old but feels timeless, except nuclear angst has been replaced by climate angst.
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6dwtXsi8PsAwzmhJNj4khhr9-i5oAMj
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An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. No one can communicate with …
Disappointing sequel despite potential. Some dubious premises (surely a galactic empire would have first contact specialists?). Unclear motivations & prose: I rarely understood why particular choices were being made. Also an annoying inconsistency: internally, characters were flailing haplessly, but in actuality they were exceedingly competent.
Reading time 6 days, 80 pages/day
Edward Snowden, the man who risked everything to expose the US government’s system of mass …
I also grew up in a government town in the early days of home computers & the internet. Perhaps if I had stumbled across hacking I'd have ended up in a similar role to him, though I doubt I'd have his gumption to expose the gross overreach of the security services. Their capability was (and remains) alarming.
Reading time 9 days, 37 pages/day
E-Book Extras: ONE: Behind the Novel: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn; TWO: The …
Books are typically more complex & nuanced than their screen adaptations, but not this one! Lacks the tension, glamour & variety. Passable fluff.
Reading time 4 days, 110 pages/day
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