mkduds's reviews
777 reviews

Audiobook review. This was an interesting book. Similar to Die With Zero, it asks you to think about how much you really need to work for the life you want. Audiobook probably isn’t the best format for the book and I listened fast,  but it was interesting, if not influential on me. 

A great book for anyone teaching K-8 math. Or for someone who has the time and is trying to figure out why their kids are learning math the way they are. I found this book very valuable as a math leader and can’t wait to put the learning into action. 

Audiobook review. I enjoyed this book and how it was structured. The characters were likeable and the premise believable. I’m not sure why it wasn’t called “The House Swap,” as the holiday season felt minor to me. 

Audiobook review. This was a very enjoyable book. The characters were interesting and relatable and it’s very well written. 

I love Taylor Swift. And I love reading about her. Clearly, this author is a longtime fan and knows her music. However, the errors in this book are too big to ignore. The author claims that the lines in “State of Grace” about “twin fire signs, four blue eyes” being about Harry Styles. He is neither a fire sign nor is he famous for blue eyes. In fact, Wonderland tells us that his eyes are green. Okay, but maybe his eyes look blue sometimes. That could be it. But then on one page, the author tells us that Kanye didn’t announce his support of Trump until after the election. Two pages later, we are at the VMAs in fall 2016, “a few days after Kanye announced his support of Trump.” Both can’t be true, let alone that the VMAs were in August of 2016, which is not the fall in the northern hemisphere. He even misquotes the new lyric in “Better Than Revenge.” How is that possible when lyric booklets and lyric videos exist?!?! Who edited this book?!?!

Bigger issues were chapters with half-ideas or things that were never explained but a basis for a whole chapter (like the New Romantic movement). 

Other issues: the lack of organization, the lyrics dropped in (which would make no sense to a casual or non-fan and for the rest of us was like being hit over the head because half the time they didn’t make sense), never explaining how Taylor reinvented pop music (who invented it in the first place and how did she reinvent…that would be am interesting book), and the author knowing what audience he wanted to write for. I don’t think this should have been published under this title and it seems clearly rushed. Really embarrassing for a 58-year old professional writer. 

I learned some new facts about Swift, but I don’t know if I should believe them based on the inconsistencies throughout. I finished it, so it’s 2 stars for me, but this is one of the worst books I’ve read. 

This is an enjoyable read-aloud and a good book for discussion about adults who behave badly. Plus, Matilda is just the most likeable character. 

I really enjoyed this book, but it was quite sad for my children. They (9 and 6) were hysterical at the end. 

Enjoyable story about a family, but for me, it was nothing special. 

Could not finish this. 

Audiobook review. This is some good satire. I liked what was done with the movie to give more depth to some parts of this book.