sareidle's reviews
123 reviews

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

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challenging hopeful informative slow-paced

4.25

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CatStronauts: Mission Moon by Drew Brockington

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes

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funny informative medium-paced

4.5

Haynes' voice shines through and strikes a balance between academic and entertaining. I learned a lot about the variance in Greek myths and how minor translation choices can make a huge difference in the audience's understanding of characters and motivation.
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The Secret History by Donna Tartt

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Tartt's writing is evocative without being overly descriptive - she is efficient in word choice that paints a clear picture of the characters and atmosphere of the story. While the page count is longer than most books I read, they seemed to fly by and I wondered what would happen to Richard and the Classics Department next. 
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Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara

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dark informative sad slow-paced

3.75

An extremely important book that highlights the human cost of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The author did a pretty good job focusing on the Congolese and their experiences as artisanal miners. It was devastatingly sad to learn of the generational suffering in the country. My only critique is that the author needed to provide a better call to action towards the conclusion. Yes, it is important for the Congolese to tell their own stories, but what can the international community do to make that possible and improve their conditions in the meantime?
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Chocolate Wars: From Cadbury to Kraft: 200 years of Sweet Success and Bitter Rivalry by Deborah Cadbury, Deborah Cadbury

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funny informative slow-paced

3.0

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A fun introduction to Persian folklore and fairy tales. I enjoyed spending time with the main character, Soraya, and watching her gain confidence and a strong sense of self. The beginning and end of the book were very engaging; I felt that the middle section lagged a bit. Overall, it was a nice read!
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Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall by Nina Willner

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emotional hopeful informative slow-paced

4.5

A moving portrait of a family separated by the division of Germany and their parallel lives on opposite sides of the wall. Willner demonstrates how the political becomes personal, as different GDR policies and local Communist party decisions affected her mother's communication with her siblings and parents. While most of the family survived the Cold War, a sadness lingers for all of the time lost that could have been spent together.
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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer

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emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

Bad Mormon by Heather Gay

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emotional informative fast-paced

3.5

This is a quick read that provides a unique perspective on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the consequences of expecting perfection from members. Heather has a strong voice and shares humorous anecdotes to lighten some of the religious trauma she experienced. The front half is much more insightful and reflective than the back half. I don't think she's fully processed her divorce and departure from the church - she's too quick to latch on to the "community" of the Real Housewives franchise. 
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