My husband and I just had an interesting conversation about whether this one or the first one is the better book. We agree the writing is better on thMy husband and I just had an interesting conversation about whether this one or the first one is the better book. We agree the writing is better on this one, there were some things that we liked a lot more here and were really interesting, but other things that we enjoyed ore in the first one. I think they really come out as a draw and I'm super interested in reading what comes next (though, why does it have to be Christmas?).
That said, after pondering it I decided that this is *not* a fair play mystery, I don't think that you can genuinely guess who did it based on the clues in the rest of the book (though, I feel like this was an intentional choice by Stevenson for the sake of the twist). Which is fine it's fine, it's just that we are repeatedly told this is a fair play mystery (by the character, not the actual author) so I feel the need to point out it actually isn't....more
I always enjoy Randall Munroe's books and prefer them in audio where I get to hear Wil Wheaton chuckle to himself as he reads. Though, I am one of thoI always enjoy Randall Munroe's books and prefer them in audio where I get to hear Wil Wheaton chuckle to himself as he reads. Though, I am one of those ADHD people who gets dopamine from learning things and so find a book with a little interesting tidbit and a lot of amusement to be a nice happy place for me....more
On the one hand, I didn't solve who the murderer was before the reader was meant to. On the other hand I don't think this was a trueActually 3.5 stars
On the one hand, I didn't solve who the murderer was before the reader was meant to. On the other hand I don't think this was a true fair play story, I don't think if knowing who did it you could go back through and see the hints you missed. I can see that the authors started to thread those hints in, but she didn't pull them all the way through, keeping it from actually being fair play. Though it didn't feel like a badly put together mystery while reading it.
I really enjoyed the character, and the setting was a truly living character for this one that was executed so well. I'd definitely pick up the next one....more
I'm genuinely at a loss on what to rate this but I think it's worth a higher rating than it's got, if for no other reason that's it's an interesting pI'm genuinely at a loss on what to rate this but I think it's worth a higher rating than it's got, if for no other reason that's it's an interesting piece of art really worth listening to. So I'm settling on 3.5 stars and rounding up to raise it's rating here.
Do NOT go into this expecting typical James Patterson. This is not that....more
I saw a review here that said: "A retired policeman who is stupid and knows little about criminals." and basically, yeah. I loved the little village aI saw a review here that said: "A retired policeman who is stupid and knows little about criminals." and basically, yeah. I loved the little village and all the people, but man I spent the last 50-30% of the book being in awe at how not good at this Luke is....more
I thought this would be a great way to sample Poston's writing without committing to long novel. This was fine, I think I wish it had been a touch lonI thought this would be a great way to sample Poston's writing without committing to long novel. This was fine, I think I wish it had been a touch longer because this didn't really give you the room to buy into her superstition as a real layer of magical realism rather than just in her mind and my understanding of Poston's work is that you are meant to buy into the magic. Though I would read more of her work based off the writing in this....more
It is true that you can probably get all of this on James' YouTube channel, but you'd spend hours sifting through the content and Actually 3.5 stars.
It is true that you can probably get all of this on James' YouTube channel, but you'd spend hours sifting through the content and watching the ones you wanted and needed. I appreciate that it all got put into one handy reference.
Between this and the World Atlas, I preferred the Atlas which had a lot (though not all) the same information but also had fascinating info about coffee growing around the world. But if you just want a basic: Make great coffee at home reference then this is the one you want.
Again, the audio is less useful as a book you'll refer back to over and over, but I do love listening to James talk....more
The problem here is that I was misled. The description for this book says it is a "mystery" and on Audible it is listed as "Mystery, Thriller and SuspThe problem here is that I was misled. The description for this book says it is a "mystery" and on Audible it is listed as "Mystery, Thriller and Suspense, Mystery" so it is understandable that I thought this would be a mystery, but it distinctly is not.
Yes. It probably falls under Thriller. It's definitely Suspense. But it's not a mystery.
And while I love a good mystery I fall somewhere between "ok with" and "really don't want anything to do with it" on thriller and suspense books. So while I suspect that if I actually enjoyed, or even wanted to read, a thriller/suspense novella this would have been at least a 3.5 star for me it distinctly is not....more
For ages I saw people raving about this book and I didn't really bother to pay attention to it because I don't generally like paranormals with the faeFor ages I saw people raving about this book and I didn't really bother to pay attention to it because I don't generally like paranormals with the fae in them (similarly I'm not much into vampires) but I kept hearing about it and finally decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did.
This was the perfect blend of cozy with stuff happening for me. I really enjoyed the whole reading experience and found the audio book to be a great way to take this book in....more
Basically, this is an essential read if you are autistic or love someone who is or even if you just want to do better for the ND peoI have no notes.
Basically, this is an essential read if you are autistic or love someone who is or even if you just want to do better for the ND people, clients, employees etc... in your daily life. Also if you suspect you might be autistic or have self identified as autistic - especially if you are deciding about pursuing diagnosis.
This is also a highly recommended read if you are ADHD (what Price refers to as a sibling condition) - love or know and ADHD person, suspect you are ADHD etc... as well as for other nuerodivergent peeps, it's about being autistic but will probably be interesting to others.
So, basically, if you have enough of a reason to be looking at and considering this book, the answer is yes, yes you should read it....more
This is probably actually a 4.5 but I'm rounding up because I had so much fun reading it, and I feel like having fun was it's whole damn purpose. So eThis is probably actually a 4.5 but I'm rounding up because I had so much fun reading it, and I feel like having fun was it's whole damn purpose. So extra points for executing the landing without a hitch.
This is basically a book by a Gen X hard core Geek TO all the Gen X hard core, life long geeks, in every way from the writing to the casting. We just had a great time reading it which was actually made better after I listened to the audible interview with Felicia Day about the making of it.
I first came across Felicia years ago when I randomly bought a graphic novel of made from the Guild show and then promptly binged the show. We loved Geek and Sundry (especially Wil's board game stuff). And while this book was it's very own thing it just felt... comfortable and cozy. And I love it for that....more
I really really like Bodard's Xuya universe, I find the mindships fascinating and really enjoy the mix of science fiction and the almost historical feI really really like Bodard's Xuya universe, I find the mindships fascinating and really enjoy the mix of science fiction and the almost historical feel of the cultural elements. The mysteries are interesting and never conform to the genre tropes, and this one even had a romantic plot line thrown in.
Bodard, along with Becky Chambers and Martha Wells is one of the reasons I'm reading science fiction so much this year and I'm glad I get to read more in this universe....more
I did not find this as engaging and captivating as I had hoped I would based on how I feel about her comedy. But as a late blooming queer person who iI did not find this as engaging and captivating as I had hoped I would based on how I feel about her comedy. But as a late blooming queer person who is also autistic and ADHD I so appreciated being invited into Hannah's personal journey and seeing both some of myself and someone unlike me too. I'm so grateful to Gadsby for being willing to lay her trauma bare like this so others could see and relate to it. I can't imagine being this brave.
I also really appreciate the lessons on queer history in Australia.
The book was sometimes hard to read and I took occasional mental health breaks as needed, but definitely worthwhile....more
I knew who had done immediately (and why). There was no mystery at all. Not interesting. And also, I'm pretty tired of having to read about how Doyle I knew who had done immediately (and why). There was no mystery at all. Not interesting. And also, I'm pretty tired of having to read about how Doyle clearly doesn't see women as human beings.
The character is a cultural landmark, and those remaking him have done better than the original in everyway so far as I can tell. Time to go back to Nero Wolf and Archie....more
My husband and I have been listening to a wide variety of mystery and detective audio books before bed together and we recently deci1.5 stars at best.
My husband and I have been listening to a wide variety of mystery and detective audio books before bed together and we recently decided to give Holmes a try, and I gotta say we probably won't be listening to more.
I don't know if we shouldn't have started at the beginning or what but nothing about this book worked for us. The Holmes Shows His Amazing Detection Skills wasn't interesting at all. Doyle's White Colonialist identity was so evident it was distracting from the actual story. And this is basically the ultimate Woman in the Refrigerator.
I am not a stranger to reading content written in a different time when different sensibilities existed and bigotry wasn't seen as something to hide. I've learnt to read with a critical eye and weigh the balance of what was normalized, what we'd change now, vs the other merits of the work. But frankly, there just wasn't enough redeeming in this to outweigh the rest. We're pondering trying Sign of the Four or Baskerville but so far no one is feeling excited about it....more
We love the Nero Wolfe TV show (2001) so I've started reading the books because I'm sadly so late to the game. We picked up this set of novellas becauWe love the Nero Wolfe TV show (2001) so I've started reading the books because I'm sadly so late to the game. We picked up this set of novellas because one of them was adapted into the show, it was fine but I didn't like it as much as the full length novels I've read....more
Still giving Dresden/Iron Druid vibes, but not quite as witty or funny as those. Though this installment had a lot more humour than book one. InterestStill giving Dresden/Iron Druid vibes, but not quite as witty or funny as those. Though this installment had a lot more humour than book one. Interested to see what we think of the next novel....more
Loading...
