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bethbarron's reviews
477 reviews
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez
informative
3.75
None of this was shocking, per se, but Du Mez draws lines between many events, both cultural and political, that make a lot of our current situation and that of the last 30-40 years much more understandable.
Would be nice if "the church" could be on the right side of history for once, but this book does a great job exposing the greed and hypocrisy we find instead.
Would be nice if "the church" could be on the right side of history for once, but this book does a great job exposing the greed and hypocrisy we find instead.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
3.75
What a read.
Ok. First half - so good. Really invested in the story. Lots of threads. Loved it
Second half - still good, but the ending fell a little flat I guess. But if you think of it in the camp of all the classic fairy tales King mentions and weaves into the story, it really fits.
Overall, I enjoyed it!
Ok. First half - so good. Really invested in the story. Lots of threads. Loved it
Second half - still good, but the ending fell a little flat I guess. But if you think of it in the camp of all the classic fairy tales King mentions and weaves into the story, it really fits.
Overall, I enjoyed it!
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
3.5
I've never seen the movie and somehow missed reading this in high school (and college).
This edition does have the author's original final chapter, which really settled the book. I'm not sure it was the best idea to leave it off the original US printing, but anyway.
This is a pretty graphic novel from the main characters first-person perspective recounting his time as a violent teenager, time in prison, "healing," and release.
There are many political facets at play and the core question of -- if you take away someone's right to choose evil, does it make them good?
Beyond the psychosocial aspects of this, the authors use of language is absolutely brilliant. He essentially creates his own language, Nadsat, that is used by teenage gang members in the novel. It's a mix of Russian and English and has an incredible impact on the novel itself - graphic events perhaps feel less graphic because of the language, etc. It's really a wonderfully written piece, if disturbing at the very heart of it.
This edition does have the author's original final chapter, which really settled the book. I'm not sure it was the best idea to leave it off the original US printing, but anyway.
This is a pretty graphic novel from the main characters first-person perspective recounting his time as a violent teenager, time in prison, "healing," and release.
There are many political facets at play and the core question of -- if you take away someone's right to choose evil, does it make them good?
Beyond the psychosocial aspects of this, the authors use of language is absolutely brilliant. He essentially creates his own language, Nadsat, that is used by teenage gang members in the novel. It's a mix of Russian and English and has an incredible impact on the novel itself - graphic events perhaps feel less graphic because of the language, etc. It's really a wonderfully written piece, if disturbing at the very heart of it.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
3.0
This felt like 3 books - Feyre's childhood, her move to Prythian and budding romance, and Under the Mountain.
The first two thirds are slow moving and the final third goes so quickly.
Tamlin was underwhelming. Lucien was so kind. I knew pretty quickly that Rhysand wasn't all bad and I was annoyed that Feyre didn't figure out the riddle more quickly.
Intriguing enough to read the second novel in the series!
The first two thirds are slow moving and the final third goes so quickly.
Tamlin was underwhelming. Lucien was so kind. I knew pretty quickly that Rhysand wasn't all bad and I was annoyed that Feyre didn't figure out the riddle more quickly.
Intriguing enough to read the second novel in the series!
Cover Story by Susan Rigetti
3.5
I love a novel reminder that most narrators are fully unreliable.
Because this is composed of journal entries, emails, and slack conversations, it would be better consumed as a physical book or ebook rather than an audiobook
Because this is composed of journal entries, emails, and slack conversations, it would be better consumed as a physical book or ebook rather than an audiobook
The Maid by Nita Prose
4.0
This was a really sweet read, very much in the way of a light British crime novel.
Monster: The Perfect Edition, Vol. 1 by Naoki Urasawa
4.0
I really enjoyed this! It's wild how much detail can be conveyed in black and white images. The plot was very interesting, but did not resolve - I guess I need volume 2?!
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
3.5
This blows The Guest List out of the water - a much more dynamic plot with so many moving parts and surprises.
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4.0
I really liked how TJR centered Carrie's flaws without shying away from them. The character arcs were wonderful. Also really smart of whoever to have this released during the US Open. As a former tennis player, I really enjoyed the focus on strategy and analysis of the game. Carrie is an unlikely central figure, but I love that.