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kcraig73's reviews
46 reviews
The Sea Beast Takes a Lover: Stories by Michael Andreasen
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
4.0
Nothing prepared me for how devastating this book is. The concept of each story seems so light and fun, I blindly entered each story thinking (and maybe hoping) that this one wouldn’t strike me so deeply. This is a great example of weird fiction but mostly it’s about loneliness and all the hopeless ways we try to find connection. Every story is beautiful and deeply weird, but each story conveys the completeness of the universe that it takes place in. I loved it all.
Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thích Nhất Hạnh
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Thich Nhat Hanh’s insight into Buddhism is a relaxation and compelling voice that gets down to the essentials of Buddhism as a whole and more specifically the Zen tradition. This book was a wonderful look at Christianity through Buddha’s eyes. While I’m sure that Christians do not feel the same (and many feel that Buddhism’s is a deeply inferior religion) Master Hahn’s guidance allows us to see them in a more compassionate light. There is no Christianity without Buddhism and no Buddhism without Christianity.
The Ruins by Scott Smith
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The writing in this is everything. Beautiful prose and perfect structure to keep you hooked. I could not put this book down when I read it. The ending is shockingly bleak but it feels right for this book. Overall, excellent a beautiful book that I had a fabulous time reading.
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
The title novella “Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke” is really the gem of this piece. The two other short stories included here are not nearly as strong as the original novella.
“Things Have Gotten Worse…” is a disgusting and twisted statement about devotion and the desperation for affection. Well executed with beautiful prose. My only complaint being…no one talked like that in chat rooms in the early 2000s.
“The Enchantment” felt stiff and forced. There was almost too much going on in the story to make it work. Some of the threads could’ve been cut and it would’ve been a much stronger more simplified piece that works in the pages it has.
“You’ll Find Its Like That All Over” feels unpolished and frankly, unfinished. I can see through to the “moral” of the story and the story itself is good but the execution feels stiff. It doesn’t flow like I would like.
Overall great but I would probably only ever reread “Things Have Gotten Worse…”
“Things Have Gotten Worse…” is a disgusting and twisted statement about devotion and the desperation for affection. Well executed with beautiful prose. My only complaint being…no one talked like that in chat rooms in the early 2000s.
“The Enchantment” felt stiff and forced. There was almost too much going on in the story to make it work. Some of the threads could’ve been cut and it would’ve been a much stronger more simplified piece that works in the pages it has.
“You’ll Find Its Like That All Over” feels unpolished and frankly, unfinished. I can see through to the “moral” of the story and the story itself is good but the execution feels stiff. It doesn’t flow like I would like.
Overall great but I would probably only ever reread “Things Have Gotten Worse…”
Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison
dark
fast-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
5.0
5 star read for me. I would definitely read again. The writing is somewhat elementary but I actually think that adds to it. Gruesome and dark, definitely some fucked up shit in here. Loved it. Check the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
The First One You Expect by Adam Cesare
dark
fast-paced
4.0
Purchased this book from Adam Cesar’s hands and he warned me it was a dark read. I didn’t find it overly dark for the genre, with only one heavy gore scene in the book (there were definitely details in there that I liked). Overall, a fun fast paced read. The main character isn’t what I would consider “likable” but he’s charismatic enough to hold the reader’s attention.
The only thing that I really don’t like about this book is the ending. It really feels like Adam Cesar just gave up writing it, put a slapstick 2 page ending on it, and called it a day. I feel like this book could’ve been double the length. Lots to explore here.
The only thing that I really don’t like about this book is the ending. It really feels like Adam Cesar just gave up writing it, put a slapstick 2 page ending on it, and called it a day. I feel like this book could’ve been double the length. Lots to explore here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
Leavings by Wendell Berry
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I lot of poems I didn’t like, but the few I did I really liked.
The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition by Brené Brown
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird by Andrew D. Blechman
informative
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
An informative read about the past and present of pigeon fanciers. I learned a lot about pigeons and the people who love them. A decent “birds’ eye view” of the topic.
However, there were a few notable and glaring issues with this book. The first and most notable is the author’s uncharitable treatment of the human subjects in this book. If Blechman’s goal was really to “treat [them] fairly and with the dignity that, like the rock dove, [they] all deserve” then he has failed miserably. I find myself feeling bad for these people who trusted Blechman and let him observe the most insulated parts of their lives, who trusted him enough to speak with enthusiasm about their niche hobbies freely, only to be mocked and maligned in the pages of his book. I can’t imagine how devastating that would be. I’m not sure I can respect an author who insists on taking cheap shots at his subjects for entertainment.
Lastly, there are moments in the book where the author has seemingly no idea what he is doing or what he is talking about. For example, as noted on page 215 he apparently arrives to tour the pigeon meat factory in sandals. Why on earth would you wear sandals to a pigeon meat factory? More to the point, why on earth would you wear sandals to an interview? Additionally, there was at least one mistake so glaring that it makes you question the whole of fact-checking on this book. Page 132-133 “Pigeons don’t carry the virus [West Nile Virus], either, because their body temperature is too high to host the bacteria.” I’m sorry? Bacteria? What are you talking about? Obviously, West Nile Virus is caused by a virus, not a bacteria. This is a mistake which should’ve easily been caught by the author, editors, or any early readers. How did this manage to get in the final printing?
While I love pigeons and found this book to be easily readable I don’t think I’ll be returning to it. Certainly not any time soon.
However, there were a few notable and glaring issues with this book. The first and most notable is the author’s uncharitable treatment of the human subjects in this book. If Blechman’s goal was really to “treat [them] fairly and with the dignity that, like the rock dove, [they] all deserve” then he has failed miserably. I find myself feeling bad for these people who trusted Blechman and let him observe the most insulated parts of their lives, who trusted him enough to speak with enthusiasm about their niche hobbies freely, only to be mocked and maligned in the pages of his book. I can’t imagine how devastating that would be. I’m not sure I can respect an author who insists on taking cheap shots at his subjects for entertainment.
Lastly, there are moments in the book where the author has seemingly no idea what he is doing or what he is talking about. For example, as noted on page 215 he apparently arrives to tour the pigeon meat factory in sandals. Why on earth would you wear sandals to a pigeon meat factory? More to the point, why on earth would you wear sandals to an interview? Additionally, there was at least one mistake so glaring that it makes you question the whole of fact-checking on this book. Page 132-133 “Pigeons don’t carry the virus [West Nile Virus], either, because their body temperature is too high to host the bacteria.” I’m sorry? Bacteria? What are you talking about? Obviously, West Nile Virus is caused by a virus, not a bacteria. This is a mistake which should’ve easily been caught by the author, editors, or any early readers. How did this manage to get in the final printing?
While I love pigeons and found this book to be easily readable I don’t think I’ll be returning to it. Certainly not any time soon.