amsswim's reviews
238 reviews

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

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emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

The more non-fiction I read, the more critical I become of the content and format. This contained a lot of information I knew, but the format kept me interested and the writing made me feel like it was new/more meaningful. Touching on religion and politics in this country is a messy and long, but she managed to do it in a way that a wholeheartedly recommend. If after reading this you don't see any issues with the politics and type of religious lifestyle described, well...

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On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good by Elise Loehnen

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emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

I liked the layout of this book a lot. Good format and detailed points, and I actually liked her narration. I really liked the last chapter on sadness (a forgotten deadly sin). The reinforcement of individual stories and her own anecdotes paired with hard statistics worked for me. 

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Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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

5.0

This is one of the best books I have ever read, I am really glad I did. Was a recommendation from my friends Dhruva and Sophie as well as it being on 2022 best books list (I think). It deserves the recognition and more. 

I see this as a dystopian future story, similar to The Handmaids Tale, that could be based on how the incarceration system in the US. I want to believe people wouldn't watch murder for entertainment, but we justify a lot when "dealing with crime".

Let me know if you read this because I want everyone to read it. 

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Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

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adventurous funny hopeful 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

5.0

Now THIS is fantasy. I knew I loved Terry Pratchet but this world and characters is something I desperately want to be a part of. Probably will dive deeper into the greater series. Funny and sweet and enlightened to a greater political struggle. I love being just thrown into a world. Highly recommend to anyone.

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Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo

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emotional reflective tense medium-paced

3.0

Maybe it is my preference or what I was looking for but this was just alright to me. More of a story following various different families in the slum, which I loved hearing about their intertwining lives. I guess I wanted more history/information about Mumbai, and/or maybe her writing style wasn't for me. Something was off.

That being said I have been wanting non-fiction/historical books about India or the greater cultures of the Indian subcontinent, so if anyone has anything like that please share. Open for recs.

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The Storm is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything by Mike Rothschild

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emotional informative sad medium-paced

3.75

I liked this one. The information is well cited and time lined, the author kept me decently engaged the whole time, and the information came of pretty unbiased all things considered. He attempted to walk a centrist line and stayed pretty basic lib, but in that I think he failed to address some key pieces of what makes this movement more concerning. Probably good for an overview, especially if you have an interest in cults/cultish groups. Nice section on dealing with loved ones wrapped up in the movement too. 

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The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

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

5.0

Afternoon/evening listen today, trying to get back into reading after a hiatus. I can see why many people read it in school, classic teenage story. Did shed a tear. A good classic and quick read.

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-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

5.0

This was sweet and a nice change in pace for the type of books I usually read. The interweaving characters and plots is my favorite story telling type. Maybe a bit predictable, but it was the ride not the destination. Highly recommend.

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The Employees: A Workplace Novel of the 22nd Century by Olga Ravn

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Fascinating short story about the future of overworking employees and clones/androids/artificial humans. Abstract writing, the story progressed with official statements. Quick thoughtful read, the scratched both dystopian and science fiction itches. 
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

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emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is science fiction I would recommend to everyone. Great read. Makes you reflect on everything you have done in your life as well.

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