Category: Uncategorized

Categories
Uncategorized

The Centre

by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, Review 11 of 2023

Something is amiss in this suspenseful and strange novel about language and identity. When Anisa learns of a secret language learning organization, her quiet life is changed forever. Without spoiling anything, this book says a little about a lot of topics but left me a bit disappointed at the end. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warning: Cannibalism, Death, Racism

Highlight the content above for content warnings (spoilers)

Categories
Uncategorized

King: A Life

by Jonathan Eig, Review 10 of 2023

This comprehensive biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and death, complete with references to recently released FBI investigation reports, is a must read for biography enthusiasts and worth the effort even for those who are not. It was a heavy lift at over 20 hours of audio, but Dion Graham, an expert narrator, made it easy to listen to. 

It’s tempting to simply idolize and ignore the complexity of figures such as King. This type of thinking comes at the expense of recognizing that we all have a role to play in changing the world and the country for the better. It has been 55 years since Dr. MLK Jr. was killed, and in many ways the U.S. is still inching toward the vision King proclaimed. This is a timely examination of a life lived with conviction.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Categories
Uncategorized

Mountains Made of Glass

by Scarlett St. Clair, Review 9 of 2023

This unexpectedly spicy, little fairy tale retelling has left me with conflicted feelings. I laughed, I cringed, I blushed. It shares the problematic romantic origin of Beauty and the Beast but I loved that the female lead is definitely a force to be reckoned with. The narration was a little distracting at times because the narrators had very different accents. Overall though, I enjoyed the mystery aspect, the nods to multiple fairy tales, and the fast pace. I would recommend it to my spicy book loving friends.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content warning: Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship

Categories
Uncategorized

Radical Inclusion

by David Moinina Sengeh, Review 8 of 2023

This book explores inclusion, the “I” in the increasingly popular acronym, DEI. In David Moinina Sengeh’s personal and professional anecdotes we can see the possibility for true inclusion in organizations and communities. His coalition’s struggle for pregnant students’ education in Sierra Leone is evidence that progress toward inclusion is possible today. I enjoyed this book and I’d recommend it for anyone interested in social inclusion and/or shifting cultural beliefs.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Categories
Uncategorized

Hello Stranger

by Katherine Center, Review 7 of 2023

Katherine Center does it again, another meet cute (or two) and more loveable characters in zany situations. You’ll see the ending coming a mile away but you’ll enjoy the ride anyway. There are some heavy topics covered so take a peek at the content warnings but everything is covered gently.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: Death of parent, Bullying, Medical content

Categories: Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

Categories
Uncategorized

The Lonely Hearts Book Club

by Lucy Gilmore, Review 6 of 2023

One word review: Heartwarming! Oh, you want more information? Okay, the story is told through the perspectives of multiple narrators but centers on Sloane, a librarian who becomes the unexpected heroine of her own life as she is empowered by the love of her found family. This book is about loneliness, love, and being open to connection and community. I loved the literary references, the intergenerational friendships, and the diversity of characters. The book navigates some heavy topics in a respectful way without drowning the reader. 

Would like to give it a 3.5 out of 5 but since I have to pick I’m giving it a 4. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: Grief, Death, Cancer

Categories: Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

Categories
Uncategorized

Hestia Strikes a Match

by Christine Grillo, Review 5 of 2023

The main character in this novel, Hestia, finds herself dating again in her early forties in the midst of a recently rekindled civil war. Her husband has fled to join the Union cause, her parents are fleeing to the Confederate south, and Hestia is looking for love and companionship at home. 

While I loved the absurdly mundane nature of the dystopian world and the found family Hestia fosters throughout the novel. I struggled with listening to some of the voice acting.The text is read word for word including “he said” and “she said” so excessively it was difficult to stick with.

I wanted to love this book but ended up just liking it. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: War, Violence, Racism, Grief, Death

Categories: Fiction, Alternate History, Speculative fiction

Categories
Uncategorized

The Battle for Your Brain

Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology

by Nita A. Farahany, Review 4 of 2023

This is a timely examination of some key questions we should be asking ourselves as neurotechnology and AI become more and more common. Should we be giving our brain data away in exchange for convenience? Who should have access to brain related data? What does the future of brain enhancement look like? Without question, there is a lot to be gained from emerging neurotech, but are we equipped to manage the full range of consequences? Dr. Farahany explores these questions and more in this intriguing and accessible book. 

This is a great read for those who are using brain related technology, want to be, or are interested in bioethics and privacy in the digital age.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: (referenced) Child Death 

Categories: Nonfiction, Science, Technology

Categories
Uncategorized

Go as a River: A Novel

by Shelley Read, Review 3 of 2023

I was inspired to request this novel solely based on the beautiful cover as well as the blurb by Bonnie Garmus and was disappointed to find that this did not compare to Lessons in Chemistry. That being said, it was an engaging story and I was compelled to see it through. The main character, Victoria, is easy to root for and I appreciated how the book leans into the value of female friendships.

The story and narration were good but I couldn’t help getting hung up on the clumsy writing (there is some distractingly excessive foreshadowing) and disappointingly one dimensional representation of the characters of color (that lean into stereotypes). It wasn’t terrible, but I wouldn’t recommend this over several other books I’ve read in the last year or two. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC

Content Warnings: Racism, Lynching, Addiction, Death, Abuse, Neglect

Categories: Fiction, Historical fiction, Family Saga

Categories
Uncategorized

The Four Workarounds

by Paulo Savaget, Review 2 of 2023

As a person who’s always worked for or with “scrappy” organizations it was refreshing to read something in the professional development category that doesn’t glorify traditional business models and celebrates the innovations that are born from restraints. I appreciated the conversational tone, pragmatic approach, and personal anecdotes and thought Savaget’s framework is a useful tool to add to my problem solving toolkit. I would recommend this for anyone who wants to solve overwhelming and complex problems. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!