Book Review: Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Not quite as good as her first book, but well worth the read. I probably should have gotten the abridged version, because as usual I got tired of the anecdotes.
I find her types interesting — there are upholders, obligers, questioners, and rebels. Apparently most people are questioners or obligers (I think — I may be wrong about the obligers). (I’m a questioner, so for once in my life I’m not weird.) Then she classifies people in additional ways, like abstainers or moderators and so on. In fact, there seems to be some sort of classification or label in nearly every chapter!
Anyway, the information in the book is useful, and I am already using it in analyzing my own habits and improving them. Rubin’s reading voice is fairly pleasant (I listened to the Audible version), so I don’t hesitate to recommend the book.
Review: How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age by Dale Carnegie
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age by Dale Carnegie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was a teenager when my father recommended Mr. Carnegie’s original book to me, and at 48 I finally got around to reading this version. I’m glad that I did, as it was well worth the time. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who deals with other humans in any capacity at all. And yes, I’ll be suggesting it to my own daughter right away.
Review: Attack the Geek by Michael R. Underwood
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Attack the Geek by Michael R. Underwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excuse me, but SQUEE! More Ree Reyes! More Drake! More Eastwood and Grognard! Yes, more Geekomancy!
Michael Underwood is back with a delightful novella and if I have ANY complaints, it’s that this is a novella instead of a novel. That’s just because I am a greedy fangirl reader. The story itself is fully developed, and the novella is exactly the right format for it.
Attack the Geek definitely isn’t the place to start in the series, as it relies on previous knowledge of the characters and the universe, but if you’ve read the previous novels, you will NOT want to miss this installment when it is released on April 9.
Now I’m left hungry for Ree Reyes #3, though!
Tags: Fantasy, Michael R. Underwood, Ree Reyes
Review: Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fascinating stuff! Vast amounts of sheer geekery about sex, science, and the intersection thereof. If you’re looking for sex tips or salacious reading, look elsewhere. If you’re looking to howl with laughter without being able to explain WHY to most people, this is your book.
Okay, one might glean the occasional sex tip, but I don’t think they’re anything that common sense couldn’t tell you. And you’ll have to wait for the very last chapter for the best bit.
I’ll be adding more of Roach’s diverse works to my to-be-read stack soon!
Review: Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships by Tristan Taormino
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships by Tristan Taormino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have to be honest. When I initially heard about Opening Up by Tristan Taormino, it was in association with someone I can’t stand, and I childishly let that association color my impression of the book. I didn’t really consider reading it. I finally got around to reading (okay, listening to) it this past week, and I’m sorry I didn’t do so sooner. It’s so good that I’m considering purchasing a print copy to have on hand in my lending library, and maybe even an ebook copy so that I might easily reference passages from time to time.
None of the information is new to me, exactly, but it is put together very well. The sections on issues to consider/issues that might arise in each style of responsible non-monogamy were especially appreciated. I was disappointed that there isn’t a section in her web site for readers, but perhaps the print copy has reproducible checklists.
The chapter on STIs was very good, although I think that a list of specific STIs for which non-monogamous people should request testing would have been helpful.
In any case, I do recommend this book. It’s replacing Love Without Limits as my go-to recommendation for new polyfolk to read.
Review: Bonobo Handshake: A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo by Vanessa Woods
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews
Bonobo Handshake: A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo by Vanessa Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I nearly put this book down after the first chapter, because I wanted to learn about Bonobos, not atrocities in the Congo. I stuck with it because it was the most interesting of the audiobooks that were already on my phone when I was making a long drive, and I got halfway through it during that drive. I was hooked by then, and needed to know what happened to these particular Bonobos and the humans around them.
Now, I still don’t feel that I needed the explicit descriptions of violence. I could have understood what was going on without that. But then, I’m particularly sensitive to such things, and I did already have a pretty good idea of what was going on in that part of the world. I suppose some readers may have needed those descriptions to “get it.”
I really loved the relationships that developed between Woods and the various Bonobos, and how her network of friends and family grew over time. I am envious of the connection she has with her husband, Brian Hare. The information shared about the experiments is truly fascinating, and the competition/cooperation theme that runs through the book is vital to understanding not just chimpanzees and Bonobos, but humans.
I was listening to the book in the car the other day, and heard the following at the end of chapter 34. It caused me to cry.
“If there are those you love, whoever or wherever you are, hold them. Find them and hold them as tightly as you can. Resist their squirming and impatience and uncomfortable laughter, and just feel their heart throbbing against yours. Give thanks that for this moment, for this one precious moment, they are here, they are with you, and they know they are utterly, completely, entirely loved.”
All in all, yes, I recommend the book. Just be warned about those descriptions, and if you choose the audiobook version, don’t listen with little ones around.
Review: Bleeding Out by Jes Battis
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews, Reading
Bleeding Out by Jes Battis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Woof, I made it. I wasn’t sure that I would, as this novel started out normally and devolved into a stream-of-consciousness mess. I was seriously motivated to keep going, though, because I read the rest of the series and this is the last book in it.
So I pushed on through, got to a bit of light in the tunnel, and then there was more muck. Really, Mr. Battis — this is a popular work! Or did you just feel like, “Hey, this is the end of my contract, I can do whatever I want…” That’s the feeling I got, honestly. It doesn’t motivate me to pick up whatever Battis publishes in the future.
Tags: Jes Battis, Occult Supernatural Investigations, OSI
Review: Endgame by Ann Aguirre
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews, Reading
Endgame by Ann Aguirre
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Endgame is the final book in the Sirantha Jax series, according to Aguirre, and it definitely shows. Everything gets wrapped up very satisfactorily. Nothing new is introduced. Jax’s relationships with March and Vel are both expanded in a delightful manner, and I love the way that works out. She also gets to develop a not-quite-motherly relationship with Sasha, March’s adopted son.
The entire volume takes place on Laheng, home of the Lahengrin. We’ve only met the race through Loras so far in the series, but their story is touching. This is Loras’ story as much as anything, the story of the fight to free the Lahengrin from the Nicuans and from the need to be owned (or “protected” as it is called). The action is brutal — Aguirre doesn’t hide the realities of war. She doesn’t dwell on it in an obscene manner, though, so the book is readable.
Reading the ending of a wonderful series is also bittersweet, but at least Aguirre has stated that she’ll revisit this universe.
Tags: Ann Aguirre, Science Fiction, Sirantha Jax
Review: Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews, Reading
Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’m fairly sure that I missed a Kate Daniels book, because I don’t recall some of the events referred to in this book. That annoys me, and I’ll have to go back and read whatever the last one was out of order now. It’ll be worth it, though, because Ilona Andrews’ writing is always fun. Gunmetal Magic is no exception.
This is the first novel to focus on Andrea Nash, Kate Daniels’ best friend. Exposed as a shapeshifter, she’s been kicked out of the Order. She had just chosen to obey orders from a superior officer instead of fighting with the Pack, which led to a breakup with her lover Raphael. Now she has to rebuild her life from a shattered ruin.
Andrea is a fascinating character, abused repeatedly in her terrible childhood and raised to be ashamed of and hide her shapeshifting nature. Her relationship with Raphael is informed by their bouda nature, but her human side isn’t left out by any means.
I particularly enjoy the part that Atlanta plays in Andrews’ books, but as a near-native Atlanta I’m bound to be biased in that respect.
This volume and the bonus novella “Magic Gifts” are definitely worthwhile reading for any fan of the Kate Daniels series.
Tags: Fantasy, Ilona Andrews, Kate Daniels, World of Kate Daniels
review: In Session by M.J. Rose
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Book Reviews, Reading
In Session: Dr. Morgan Snow with Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher & Barry Eisler’s John Rain by M.J. Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’ve never read anything by any of these authors before, so my perspective on this piece is probably going to be skewed compared to that of most readers/listeners. However, it was free on Audible briefly and looked interesting, so I added it to my library. I happened to be in the car a long time today and this is what I had downloaded on my iPad, so this is one of the things that I listened to.
I found all three stories to be very engaging, and found myself interested in reading more about each character involved in the stories. What fascinated me the most, though, was Rose’s account of how the stories were written — the different ways the authors chose to work with her, how she prepared to write from the point of view of other authors’ very well-known heroes, and so on. I would recommend this to anyone interested in writing as a creative endeavor for that portion in particular.
The fact that the narrators who normally perform the voices of each character in their own series appeared in this performance adds an additional touch of professionalism to the recording, as well.
Tags: Barry Eisler, Berryfield Institute, Cotton Malone, Dr. Morgan Snow, Jack Reacher, John Rain, Lee Child, M.J. Rose, Steve Berry