Blood of Tyrants by Naomi Novik I listened to or read all the rest of these books and somehow skipped over this one, so I was glad to see what happened in the interim. I didn’t know who Junichiro was, for example, and missed how Temeraire and Izkierka came to have an egg and why …
Category: Book Review
Nov 19
Book Review: Braving the Wilderness
Braving the Wilderness: The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone by Brené Brown I think I’ve read all of Brene Brown’s books by now, and while they all start to run together, I think of them in aggregate as a “how to be a better human” required reading list. Or, listening, …
Nov 12
Book Review: Stay With Me
Stay with Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ This is an amazingly well written book with deeply flawed characters who are in turn both understandable and detestable. My opinions on the characters changed so much over the course of the novel. It stars out when Yejide finds out her husband Akin has–against her wishes–taken a second wife. …
Oct 31
Book Review: Small Great Things
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult The cover says this is Picoult’s most important book. As Handle With Care was a book about raising a disabled child, this book could be titled “A White Person’s Guide to Racism.” Picoult is a very accessible author;. Reading her is like reading the novel equivalent of a mainstream …
Oct 24
Book Review: Educated
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover This is a memoir of what I call the “my childhood was worse than your childhood” sub-genre. In fact, I would say that it’s a standout in this sub-genre, although “worst childhood” is not a contest anyone really wants to enter, much less win. It’s a good book, well-written …