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theseasoul's reviews
456 reviews
Howling Dark by Christopher Ruocchio
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
|| 3 ⭐️ ||
Unfortunately wasn’t as gripping as the first book, and although it was okay overall, it was a struggle to keep trudging forward at some points. The fact that it was such a long book made it even harder. I’m not sure that I will continue with the rest of the series if it’s going to feel like such a slog… even if it was perhaps just a case of middle book syndrome. This one didn’t end on much of a cliffhanger, so I don’t mind.
Real Food for Fertility by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, Lily Nichols
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
4.5
|| 4.5 ⭐️ ||
Excellent resource for nerding out on the subject of fertility and hormone health. Being as thorough as it is, this book would be a great one to have on hand especially in the months (or even years, probably in my case) leading up to conception and beyond, or as a troubleshooting guide when struggling to conceive. It delves deeply into not just nutrition, but also lifestyle factors that affect fertility, an overview of fertility awareness, common reproductive disorders, etc. I was very impressed by just how much was covered in here. Most of it comes from a natural, ancestral-ish perspective, but the authors also get into the potential pros and cons of conventional birth control, fertility treatments, veganism etc. They’re fairly clear about their opinions on these things, but their statements are well-supported and readers are encouraged to do further research and to come to our their own conclusions.
Loads of studies are referenced, if that’s your kind of thing. Some pretty hefty science at some points, but it’s broken down really well for the average person.
A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
4.0
|| 4 ⭐️ ||
Very cool! I had a blast traversing through world history as told by this selection of objects. The author put just the right amount of effort into each object’s origin, how its significance contributed to history as a sweeping whole, and reflections by various experts in the field. The photographs of each object were very clear and well-printed.
My main complaint is that some of the earlier objects were dated back to long before the earth was created, and the author seemed to think that those who don’t support the theory of evolution are stupid and unscientific. There were also 2-3 objects chosen that depicted and celebrated homosexuality.
Placemaker: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace by Christie Purifoy
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
|| 4 ⭐️ ||
Very beautifully written reflections on the impermanence, transience, and messiness of making a place a home. I wasn’t expecting her metaphors to revolve primarily around trees, and I enjoyed that aspect a lot. The faith component was very light… God was only sprinkled in a few times, and I wish He had a stronger presence in this book. However it was still cool to reflect on the beauty of His creation through this woman’s contemplations. It was all so wonderfully picturesque.
From Queer To Christ: My Journey Into the Light by George Carneal
slow-paced
3.0
|| 3 ⭐️ ||
You can’t really rate someone’s testimony—a genuine confession of faith is always 5 stars. This man’s testimony was amazing to read; I just thought the flow of the story was a bit disjointed. There were also some aspects of his theology on homosexuality that I wouldn’t completely agree with (he seems to stand on side B, I would say I’m side Y). However, it’s clear that he really loves the Lord and seeks to honour him with his life. The gospel was very clearly shared and I appreciated that.
East by Edith Pattou
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
|| 4 ⭐️ ||
When a friend recommended this book to me based on her reading of it as a child, I was not expecting much. Maybe a cheesy and mostly childish fairy tale. So I was very surprised by the quality and enjoyability of the story. It does have a fairytale feel to it, but it’s splendidly written. It almost reminds me of the Princess Bride in a way… the classic adventurous plot and fantasy/magical setting. Pleasantly surprised and impressed by how fun this was to read, and so glad I gave it a go! It was a perfect bit of escapism for a sick day.
|| Content warnings ||
Main character’s mom is extremely superstitious. There are a few instances of fortune telling and weird spirituality. a secondary (tertiary?) character is an alcoholic.
How to Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
|| 4 ⭐️ ||
This is a great guide full of tools for enhancing your understanding of Scripture. Kay Arthur doesn’t just lay out the tools, but also goes into plenty of detail on exactly how to use them and get the most out of them. She even points out some of the common pitfalls of Bible interpretation and many ways to make sure you’re interpreting the text as accurately as possible. I was already using some of the tools she went over, but this book also reminded me of even more resources I can be using to deepen my study of the Word even more. This would be a great little book to keep on hand for referring back to.
Shattered by Dani Pettrey
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
|| 3.5 ⭐️ ||
I didn’t get into this quite as much as the first book, but a fun mystery and sweet romance all the same.
When My Heart Joins the Thousand by A.J. Steiger
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Well that got inappropriate real fast. DNF at 20%.
Unshaken: Ruth by Francine Rivers
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
|| 3.5 ⭐️ ||
This was alright. I thought Ruth and Boaz were painted as more perfect than they probably were in real life; attempts to add to their complexity kind of fell short. At the same time, this fictional expansion of Ruth’s faith and Boaz’s kindness was encouraging to me.