A little nonfiction to kick off the weekend.
A little nonfiction to kick off the weekend.
I unknowingly read this series out of sequence. I‘m actually glad I did. I liked the second book but, having really enjoyed this one, I might have been disappointed. “The Shadow Intelligence” was a masterfully plotted espionage thriller. The twists were unexpected and pacing increased as the story moved the reader along toward the chaotic, crescendo ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
NEXT!
#BookMadness #MarchMadness #ReadingBracket2024 #TopRead2024
January: The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
February: Dead Wake by Erik Larson
March: View From the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman
Bonus: The Burning God by R.F. Kuang (from January)
This “novel” is making me so incredibly mad. 😡
As a writer, it is fascinating to see the work that Harper Lee and Tay Hohoff, Lee‘s editor, put in to mold an American classic into existence. But to market this as anything more than an unedited first draft of “To Kill A Mockingbird” is disingenuous at best.
Apart from the academic, there is no literary value to publishing “Watchman”. It was an obvious cash grab, and a stain upon Lee‘s legacy.
…but first…
Instead of my annual rereading of “To Kill A Mockingbird”, I thought I‘d finally read the original unpublished first draft of it.
We shall see if this is an abomination or not, whether it should have ever seen the light of day, or is a valuable companion to the original giving more depth to already beloved characters.
Very enjoyable espionage thriller. I figured out the twist about 2/3rds into the book, but a fun read nonetheless. Will definitely be going back to read the first in this series, but first…
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Didn‘t realize it was No. 2 in a series until I was knee-deep and could not turn back. 🤣
Another solid historical outing from Neal Bascomb. I knew Germany was close to creating an atomic bomb, I just didn‘t realize how close and how many times the Allies had to employee this ragtag unit from Norway thwart the German program. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Grabbing another quick non-fiction read with Neal Bascomb.
Speeches inspiring art students to create good art. Speeches inspiring comic book creators to create good art. Speeches to inspire comic book dealers to sell good art. Essays about interviewing Lou Reed. Essays about interviewing Stephen King.
Water = Coffee. Coffee = Happiness. Water is essential to happiness.
Neil Gaiman is my favorite hoodie. Baggy, unfashionable (I see the looks I get when I say that my Top 3 authors are Dickens, Gaiman, and whoever I‘m currently reading), and immensely comfortable as well as comforting. Thankful, I‘m not sure that I‘ll ever run out of material.
A solid 4 ⭐️ IMO. Bascomb keeps the reader engaged with novel-like pacing and structure. I love history, and I‘m seeing more and more historians embrace this ethos. They are seeing the value in good storytelling, not just in-depth research.
Anyone else have years like this? Just me? Cool.
Well except readers. They are my ppl.
.
📸:: Death Wish Coffee Co.
Bite-sized WWII nonfiction about the capture of one of Germany‘s most infamous SS officer, Adolf Eichmann, in Argentina.
Powerful and beautiful. A lovely Irish Christmas story—a remarkable tale for the zealots and heathens alike. Claire Keegan well earned every accolade garnered for this novella. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / 5
I know nothing of this book except that BooksAreSick on IG absolutely loved it. Looks like it is only about a 2-hour read so I should knock it out today!
REREAD: Sarah Vowell is a Gen X historian with a Gen X wit, which is to say this book is a dark, wisecracking comedic take on U.S. history. While Vowell very much shows her personal interest in the Lincoln assassination, she also reminds us that Garfield and McKinley were assassinated as well, you know. And one of the assassins even had ties to a 19th Century biblical sex cult-turned-kitchenwares company. But we already knew that. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Rereading because Sarah Vowell is hilarious and super American history nerdy. 😂 🤣 😂
“Dead Wake” by Erik Larson is an exhilarating journey through history, written with the finesse of a master storyteller akin to Tom Clancy, Ian Fleming, or Robert Ludlum. Larson skillfully navigates between the roles of hunter and hunted, immersing readers in the heart-pounding suspense of the era.
Back to some good old non-fiction. This Erik Larson book has been on my TBR List for some time. Bon voyage!
M‘eh. Just wasn‘t my cup of tea. But I‘m not a Lovecraft fan, so maybe I‘m just not familiar enough with the mythology of Cthulhu. I very much enjoyed the way James Lovegrove wrote Holmes and Watson. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Next up… since no one—not even Xiran Jay Zhao—knows when Iron Tyranny will come out.
This was a very fun read. "Fourth Wing" offers an enjoyable dragon-riding fantasy, but the intense love story occasionally feels excessive, lingering too long across multiple chapters. While crucial to the plot, it becomes a bit gratuitous. Fortunately, the narrative regains momentum with a thrilling battle and a surprising cliffhanger, redeeming the overall experience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I guess I‘m doing this.
This modern masterpiece of military fantasy seamlessly blends intricate storytelling with historical inspiration, immersing readers in Fang Runin's transformative journey from a war orphan to a powerful shaman. Kuang skillfully navigates the complexities of war, trauma, and revolution, drawing parallels to the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. I mourned each chapter as it brought closer to the inevitable, gut-wrenching end.
Look, I am well aware that I am not the target audience for this novel. But I follow the author on social media, and I love her content and how much she loves her fans. The writing was good. The story was good. The plot twist at the end was excellent. I can understand why her fans love this book. I may even eventually pick up and read the second book in the series, but it‘s a beach read for me.
I follow the author on #bookstagram and #booktok. So I am finally going to grab it off my formidable TBR list.
An utterly enthralling and dizzying story of plot twists and betrayal for the heroine. Rin escaped her poverty-stricken youth to become a soldier at the nation‘s military academy. When thrown into a war, she discovered a power that turned her into a weapon. As Rin learns a jaded lesson in the corruption of power, she finds herself slowly discovering a path for herself—a path where she controls her destiny rather than being a pawn in her own life.
Third checkout is a charm. I only have a quarter of the book left. Hopefully, life will settle enough for me to knock this one out in a couple of nights.
Another fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride from Shane Kuhn. Loved “The Intern‘s Handbook” series and really wish Kuhn would write more. It was a quick-read for sure and the plot twists definitely kept the reader guessing. Jason Bourne, James Bond, or the Gray Man fans would enjoy this novel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
An excellent debut nonfiction book from an established historical fiction author who already knew his way around the library stacks and primary sources. Don‘t skip on the Author‘s Note at the end better understand the difficulties in sourcing an historical account of the American expansion, especially when focusing on a specific historical story such as the kidnapping of Jemima Boone.
Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3980645611
I absolutely loved Matthew Pearl‘s historical fiction, and have had this nonfiction book on my TBR for a while. Let‘s see how many extra books I can cram in before the new year.
Another masterclass in the spy procedural by le Carré. I have genuinely loved every book he‘s written except “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.” So very odd.
This one, however, restored my faith and enjoyment of John le Carré‘s writing. Was very interesting to see how the Brits viewed Trump even in the midst of their own ultra conservative party enjoying a renaissance at the same time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I love that Nix‘s Old Kingdom series isn‘t a chronological series but allows him the freedom to bounce around in time. Book 6: Terciel & Elinor jumps some 30 years prior to the birth of Sabriel, the main character of the first book in the series. He also has managed to produce six books in the series that can be read independently of the series and in any order. The creative freedom absolutely shows in each book, a tremendous gift for the reader.
I started this series last December. Might as well finish it this December.
I. Can‘t. Even.
POV: nonfiction author losing credibility by the fourth paragraph after stating he was a comic book fan since the 60s, yet didn‘t know that the comic book Steve Rogers grew up in the Irish neighborhoods of the Lower East Side. The author was obviously not a Capt America fan until 2011 when the movies inexplicably moved Steve Rogers to Brooklyn. 🤷♂️
Oh so close! I started reading this and about halfway through I was not sure I even liked the MC, Kate Moore, an ex-CIA agent, who literally becomes so sloppy that even through her suspicions doesn‘t see red flags all around. Then the suspense really amps up in the final third and the book went from a 3-star to a 5-star, but in the final pages the ending fell flat for me. I did like the book so I give it 4-stars.
I don‘t mean to pile on during #NaNoWriMo, but how‘s your #Goodreads #ReadingChallenge going this year?