vlpfeiffer's reviews
172 reviews

No Kidding by Vero Cazot

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

The Night Eaters, Book 1: She Eats the Night by Marjorie Liu

dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

challenging inspiring reflective

3.0

This is the first book I've ever picked up in the genre of philosophy. A lot of the ideas intrigued me and are not unfamiliar to me outside of the framework of Stoicism. Stoicism has a marked flavor of masculine toxicity and self-flagellation for being human, but also a grounded sense of mental self-control, logic through action, and letting go of the things outside our control. 

I found that I enjoyed the introduction by Gregory Hays more than the actual Meditations themselves. It was written in a more informative and educational way which helped me understand the context needed beforehand. Marcus' Meditations are written more like a journal of reminders - it seems Marcus is trying to convince himself of the same consistent ideas and of his own 'nature' when his physical actions and mental perceptions don't reflect how he feels he SHOULD behave and believe. So the disjointed and freeform conversation with himself is not a great introduction to the topic despite having some great insights sprinkled throughout. It's just a lot of repeating the same ideas over and over again.

Although it is comforting to know that a Roman King from thousands of years ago struggled with some of the same things I do, there are also moments of severe cultural differences that need to be accounted for. Marcus' privilege shines through his philosophy in his perspectives on what he categorizes as 'lesser beings' and needs to be looked at with some amount of understanding of the time and culture in regards to slavery and women in particular. 

If anything this book makes me more curious about the other Houses of Philosophy, particularly Epicurean and Existentialist ideas. I wouldn't recommend this book as a good introduction to philosophy but it also didn't scare me off from it altogether either. 

Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars by Jeff Lemire

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Daft Punk: A Trip Inside the Pyramid by Dina Santorelli

informative inspiring fast-paced

3.5

The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat by Matt Siegel

funny informative reflective fast-paced

2.0

Written like a drug fueled fever dream. Author bounced around in every chapter with no real main focus other than the flimsy thread of the chapter title. There were some interesting tidbits here and there but nothing really concise enough (except for the invention of cereal, really) to be considered anything more than a commentary than an actual recollection of history. 

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

3.0

One of the rare instances where the film is a markedly improved experience from its source material. While I enjoyed the science and especially Malcom’s theories I found most of the characters to be shallow and sometimes comical exaggerations. Several of the scenes could easily have been cut for a better focus on the central theme of human over reach and the underestimation of the unpredictability of nature. Which the film successfully does by trimming out the excess and makes it a far more enjoyable experience. 

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert
Did not finish book. Stopped at 53%.

Nothing against the genre or other people’s enjoyment but I can’t with this one. I found myself rolling my eyes at the insta love language, fawning over how perfect the other one is and how after only 3 days and barely knowing each other they are falling madly in love despite all circumstances. And the entire core plot is just too rushed and vague. How easily Bowen started to question everything in his life just because Evelyn showed up. I just found myself not caring even up to the actual sex scene where it felt so…staged? Oh no, look, there’s only one bed and we’re both drowning our sorrows in each other despite barely knowing each other. Bah, not for me. I guess I need to find more slow burns or more romance as sub plots. 

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0