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briangal's reviews
157 reviews
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I came to this book after DNFing Red Rising. I stopped RR at 80% and read the synopsis on Wikipedia. This was free on Audible, and I had heard it was better than the first book. It was, certainly. I still couldn't bring myself to like it. I don't like the main character, and I can't tell if his character is deliberate or a reflection of the author, as the other characters don't seem to be very distinctive. It had interesting points, mainly the reflective internal monologue , but the space battles were uninspiring - some ships appeared, but mine is bigger - oops more ships appeared and it looks like I've lost - hold on... Surprise, I've actually won - I'm the best, so I am. I simplify for effect, but it's the impression I'm left with. Perhaps it's the point of view style I can't get with. However, I have found Empire of Silence from Christopher Ruocchio. It's also first person but noticeably different and much higher quality...
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
- 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? No
3.0
An interesting book with an engaging high concept. The arc from start to finish is enjoyable and emotional, if a little predictable. One theme was the main character (Charlie) and his emotional deficit compared with his newfound intelligence. The author chose to show this as anger. I couldn't shake the discomfort of seeing Charlie get angry with Alice, and rationalise that it was her fault. It seemed a very dated attitude and probably one the author thought was normal in 1958. Even though I was aware of the publication date, it still made me feel uncomfortable at times. However, this did not stop me developing empathy for Charlie and feeling it a little at the book's climax. Glad I read it.
The Storyteller: Verhalen over leven en muziek by Dave Grohl
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Started it it over a year ago at our easter holiday lodge, but couldn't give it my full attention. Then it lived by my bedside where I chipped away at a page or two before sleep, and then it seemed to gather dust. But... just picked it up yesterday - read a chapter as I sat on the edge of the bed. Oh aye, I thinks to myself, this is quite good, isn't it... So here we are, after powering through two thirds of a near 400 page tome, I'm left wanting more. Laughter, happiness, pathos, poignancy... all of that. As a father of three daughters who has lost both parents in the last few years, you could guess where those trigger points are if you've read it. I found it relatable, obviously because of some overlap in our musical tastes, but this book would satisfy anyone who likes a good story, and this man can tell a story. Nice one.