A wonder-filled, delightful tale, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter packs a ton of Cosmere magic in a petite, 360-page package. It is typical SandersoniaA wonder-filled, delightful tale, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter packs a ton of Cosmere magic in a petite, 360-page package. It is typical Sandersonian fare; heavy on the fantastic worldbuilding, with all the other elements being serviceable to good. Perhaps the most shocking aspect, to me, was the way this book manages to be a romance that's carried more by the worldbuilding and plot than the chemistry of the characters. Not saying that it's a bad relationship - just that it's fascinating how Sanderson, whose romances are not typically his strong suit, manages to write a romance book that's overall excellent but whose romance is still one of the weaker parts. Hoid's narration is sometimes a bit too on the nose, but overall, I enjoy the blunt explanations of ideas, concepts, and feelings. It's one of my favorite things about the fantasy genre, and few modern writers do it as cleverly as Sanderson....more
A fantastic little book, Grand Theft Horse tells a true-life story that's equal parts heart-wrenching, thrilling, and educational. G. Neri tells a stoA fantastic little book, Grand Theft Horse tells a true-life story that's equal parts heart-wrenching, thrilling, and educational. G. Neri tells a story that will resonate with any animal lover - and maybe even some who would not call themselves as much....more
I never quite wanted to hurl this book across the room, which is about all I can say good about it. Most of the recipes found therein were surprisinglI never quite wanted to hurl this book across the room, which is about all I can say good about it. Most of the recipes found therein were surprisingly complicated recipes with expensive ingredients requiring significant prep work and, often, numerous bowls; not what I anticipated from a one-pot cookbook....more
Imperfect, but still worth the read, On Censorship is a brief dive into one of the hottest topics in the US. While LaRue's case against cancel cultureImperfect, but still worth the read, On Censorship is a brief dive into one of the hottest topics in the US. While LaRue's case against cancel culture feels a bit one-sided (he covers almost exclusively attempts by the right to remove books from libraries) and I think discounts some valid concerns, overall his arguments are well worth considering....more
"Food Gifts" is an interesting crossover between America's Test Kitchen's science-driven, foolproof recipes and the stylized trendy cooking of Elle Si"Food Gifts" is an interesting crossover between America's Test Kitchen's science-driven, foolproof recipes and the stylized trendy cooking of Elle Simone Scott. With a large variety of recipes and incredibly detailed ideas and instructions for putting together gifts, it tries to pin gifting food down to a science. I'm not sure who exactly the target audience is, as it feels like ATK and Elle's audiences are quite different. While there were some features missing I would've loved to see - a table of all recipes and what allergens they contain or substitution guide might have been a nice touch for a book so focused on feeding others - overall I thought this was a fine book for those who want step-by-step instructions for creating beautiful edible gifts....more
A solid 70% of what I learned from this book was covered in the title. Rachel Toor's framework for the job application process is compelling, as she rA solid 70% of what I learned from this book was covered in the title. Rachel Toor's framework for the job application process is compelling, as she recommends new applicants focus more on what they can offer potential employers rather than dwelling on their own accomplishments. However, I felt like it drug on a bit, which is something quite unfortunate to say about such a slender book - it hovers around 200 pages with ample margins. ...more
I do not understand who this book is for. It is full of obscure ingredients and nontraditional flavor combinations but it doesn't include ingredient wI do not understand who this book is for. It is full of obscure ingredients and nontraditional flavor combinations but it doesn't include ingredient weights....more
All. The. Stars. I've long enjoyed Tenth Avenue North's music and Mike Donehey's writing, but this one blew it away for me. Grace in the Gray focuses oAll. The. Stars. I've long enjoyed Tenth Avenue North's music and Mike Donehey's writing, but this one blew it away for me. Grace in the Gray focuses on the mystery of disagreements within Christian circles. The beauty of this book, I think, is that it focuses more on the reasons we get upset over disagreements and how to combat them rather than specific issues, stances, or theological truths. Donehey strips down the Christian faith to the Apostle's Creed, and makes a compelling case for why we should speak to others - both within and outside the church - with curiosity rather than judgement or criticism. ...more
3.5* rounding up because it pleasantly surprised me. Off the Clock is an interesting crossover between productivity, self-help, and memoir. Filled with3.5* rounding up because it pleasantly surprised me. Off the Clock is an interesting crossover between productivity, self-help, and memoir. Filled with real-life anecdotes and practical principles, Off the Clock is a fairly enjoyable and actionable book for those motivated to seek a more balanced life and more time feeling like there is enough time....more
This book's honest portrayal of WWII and the way it shines light on some of the darker parts of American history make it a story that'll stick with meThis book's honest portrayal of WWII and the way it shines light on some of the darker parts of American history make it a story that'll stick with me for a long time. The characters were beautifully portrayed and made me feel the full weight of the horrors they were living through. I inhaled this book in under 48 hours and by the end there were tears. While it wasn't perfect, it was very good, especially on audio, where the dual narrators made it easy to follow, something that can't be said about all epistolary novels...more
A cute reference book. Although it only covers season one, it's still worth a flip through for due hard Rebels fans.A cute reference book. Although it only covers season one, it's still worth a flip through for due hard Rebels fans....more
This book felt dull and self-serving. Few of the stories were long or unique enough to fully engage me, and the number of times that there were James This book felt dull and self-serving. Few of the stories were long or unique enough to fully engage me, and the number of times that there were James Patterson name drops was excessive. There were a few selections that charmed me but overall there was not much magic or joy to be found here....more
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