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toastyghosty13's reviews
161 reviews
Ship of Theseus by J.J. Abrams
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
don’t have the time or gumption rn. plan to give it another shot at a later date
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
3.25
This book was a lot of affirmations and reflection on the rules of art and creativity. I own a physical copy of this but then it was recommended to listen to the audiobook, so I listened to the book while walking my dog. Part of me regrets listening because I feel like I did not fully absorb what this book talked about, and if you asked me to remember one of the affirmations I would not be able to tell you from memory. However, I think listening to it was also the right move because I remember my feelings in the moment while listening to it and it was calming and joyful.
If I owned the audiobook to this I would easily play it in the background while doing anything for my day to day tasks, even work. The author reads for the audiobook and he has a very soothing voice. I also found out he started a record company and is to attribute to the start and success of popular groups like the Beastie Boys. You can tell from the book that the author used his own experiences to write about the rules behind creativity and art, but abstracted enough away so that it can be applicable to your own perspective without any information on the author's experience. I am not sure that that makes much sense, but I feel like it will if you give it a listen.
This is a strange book in that I would listen to it how I listen to lofi hiphop while doing work or when I need to be productive. There are not many things outside of music that I feel that way towards. Listening to this book was extremely soothing, and I will probably look into getting my own copy of the audiobook to keep.
If I owned the audiobook to this I would easily play it in the background while doing anything for my day to day tasks, even work. The author reads for the audiobook and he has a very soothing voice. I also found out he started a record company and is to attribute to the start and success of popular groups like the Beastie Boys. You can tell from the book that the author used his own experiences to write about the rules behind creativity and art, but abstracted enough away so that it can be applicable to your own perspective without any information on the author's experience. I am not sure that that makes much sense, but I feel like it will if you give it a listen.
This is a strange book in that I would listen to it how I listen to lofi hiphop while doing work or when I need to be productive. There are not many things outside of music that I feel that way towards. Listening to this book was extremely soothing, and I will probably look into getting my own copy of the audiobook to keep.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was another romantasy book that has vampires and chosen one prophecy vibes. I don't even know if Oraya is actually a chosen one, but she definitely gives off that energy regardless.
I did like how this was a similar ish base concept to the book From Blood and Ash, where there is a main leading lady and a mysterious leading man comes into her life, where they forge a bond that stands against all other odds. I did find this book more engaging because they were in a hunger games esque competition, and thus it was far more interesting than FBAA imo.
I found the lore of the different vampire types to be confusing (probably because I was listening to the audio book and usually eyeball to read). My friend recommended this to me and told me that understanding the different types of vampires is not as important for this book, and that the next book will go into it further.
I plan on reading the next book and hope that it does not take a similarly boring turn as the FBAA universe does, because I could not get myself to finish it after the 3rd book.
I did like how this was a similar ish base concept to the book From Blood and Ash, where there is a main leading lady and a mysterious leading man comes into her life, where they forge a bond that stands against all other odds. I did find this book more engaging because they were in a hunger games esque competition, and thus it was far more interesting than FBAA imo.
I found the lore of the different vampire types to be confusing (probably because I was listening to the audio book and usually eyeball to read). My friend recommended this to me and told me that understanding the different types of vampires is not as important for this book, and that the next book will go into it further.
I plan on reading the next book and hope that it does not take a similarly boring turn as the FBAA universe does, because I could not get myself to finish it after the 3rd book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
This book has a very unique magic system and a loveable main character. I found it to be a really engaging story, but the magic system was a bit harder to follow (I mainly blame this on the fact that I was listening to an audiobook). Once I understood it further, it was a lot more interesting and hard to put down.
I do wish there was a bit more action than just at the beginning and end of the book. There was a lot of world building, which can sometimes get a bit boring, but it pays off in the end because it is really interesting once it comes together. The characters (the likeable ones, at least) were also super interesting with their own personal backstories of mystery and intrigue.
I have not read many books about magic that take place in the south (Beautiful Creatures is the only other I can think of) but I really liked that setting for this book and also really liked Bree as the main character. She has her own mysteries to unravel about her past and family (namely her mother who died when she was a child). I have plans to read the rest of the series.
I do wish there was a bit more action than just
I have not read many books about magic that take place in the south (Beautiful Creatures is the only other I can think of) but I really liked that setting for this book and also really liked Bree as the main character. She has her own mysteries to unravel about her past and family (namely her mother who died when she was a child). I have plans to read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Death of parent
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really liked the characters in this book, they all have their own unique personalities and whimsy. Takako goes through a rough patch with her boyfriend, who has been seeing someone else at the same time and is planning on marrying the other woman. He breaks up with Takako and she falls into a pit of despair. Her uncle Satoru calls her up and offers to have her work at his bookshop with him. What starts as a partially begrudging family reunion blossoms into a journey of Takako finding herself and the inner courage to stand up for herself.
While her love for her uncle and his book shop grow, Takako meets others that are living and working in the neighborhood. She makes friendships that last a lifetime and has a therapeutic experience, while also helping her uncle through his own similar experience.
I really liked this book as a light read. It is short, but does not lack in content or passion by any means. If anything, it made me want to open up my own used book store. This book was a joy to read, and I will be reading the 2nd book sometime in the future.
While her love for her uncle and his book shop grow, Takako meets others that are living and working in the neighborhood. She makes friendships that last a lifetime and has a therapeutic experience, while also helping her uncle through his own similar experience.
I really liked this book as a light read. It is short, but does not lack in content or passion by any means. If anything, it made me want to open up my own used book store. This book was a joy to read, and I will be reading the 2nd book sometime in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Infertility, and Abortion
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a really interesting book where people can enter a cafe and travel back in time. There are some rules that go with the time traveling, but it still does not stop the characters from having meaningful exchanges with whoever they see while time traveling.
At the risk of spoiling too much, it is best to not know much about this book besides the above when going into it. This book was very inspiring and very emotional. I do not recommend reading it between work meetings like I did, or you very well might find yourself ugly crying 10 minutes before a meeting (also like I did, thankfully no one showed up to the meeting).
This book is part of a series and I will definitely be revisiting in the future.
At the risk of spoiling too much, it is best to not know much about this book besides the above when going into it. This book was very inspiring and very emotional. I do not recommend reading it between work meetings like I did, or you very well might find yourself ugly crying 10 minutes before a meeting (also like I did, thankfully no one showed up to the meeting).
This book is part of a series and I will definitely be revisiting in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I read this book as a kid and loved it. I completely forgot everything about it besides some key points, and I am glad I found it on Everand to read again. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator does a great job.
I thoroughly enjoyed Katsa as a main character. I hope that there is more of her in the following books, since I know that they follow other characters for the most part.
Katsa and Poe were a lot of fun to read about and I loved their adventures. I will probably buy this as a physical copy and revisit the print version sometime soon. Read this if you like books about cool assassin girlies that have a good group of friends that make up a great found family.
I thoroughly enjoyed Katsa as a main character. I hope that there is more of her in the following books, since I know that they follow other characters for the most part.
Katsa and Poe were a lot of fun to read about and I loved their adventures. I will probably buy this as a physical copy and revisit the print version sometime soon. Read this if you like books about cool assassin girlies that have a good group of friends that make up a great found family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book was exceptionally dark. I thought I had an idea of what might happen in this book based on a different book I read by the same author (A Study in Drowning) and was still surprised. This book follows Marlinchen, the youngest of 3 girls in a family with a widower. She repeatedly draws the short end of the stick on everything from looks, social skills, chores throughout the house, and treatment from her father and sisters. Their mother is no longer with them and she does her best to enjoy life while being the daughter of an abusive father, the famed last wizard in the town they live in and who has also been cursed by a witch whose livelihood he ruined.
Marlinchen entertains her sisters' midnight shenanigans of sneaking out to see the ballet and she falls in love with the dancing, and more specifically the leading man dancing in it.
This goes on to be a story of betrayal and finding love in even the darkest of places. It is a very dark story that made it difficult to get through sometimes, but still was very satisfying to read. I recommend to anyone that likes dark books and characters who have all the odds stacked against them.
Marlinchen entertains her sisters' midnight shenanigans of sneaking out to see the ballet and she falls in love with the dancing, and more specifically the leading man dancing in it.
This goes on to be a story of betrayal and finding love in even the darkest of places. It is a very dark story that made it difficult to get through sometimes, but still was very satisfying to read. I recommend to anyone that likes dark books and characters who have all the odds stacked against them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Blood, and Death of parent
Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.25
I love reading about Geralt and his adventures with friends. I did find this book to be not as good as the prequel books, but it was still highly enjoyable. I think this was because it went from short story format in the prequels where each chapter had its own fun adventure to one overarching plot that was filled with political intrigue and war. I still enjoyed this book a lot and am very excited to read the rest of the series, especially because I have an illustrated version of it. Highly recommend to anyone that likes fantasy and adventure. The dynamics between Geralt, Ciri, Yennefer and other characters are a joy to read and provide a lighthearted shit eating grin humor between darker themes of eradicating the elves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Death of parent