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nadia's reviews
520 reviews
The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science by Jeremy Graves, John Yates, Culadasa (John Yates), Matthew Immergut
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Wow — it took me 5.5 years to get through this book! Originally I was planning on only progressing through the book as I reached each meditation stage, but then I realised that take forever (even longer than what it did take me to read the book...) or that I may never get to the end.
So I decided instead to read it cover-to-cover, highlighting and taking notes along the way.
Overall, this is a fantastic book and highly recommended to anyone who wants to get more out of their mindfulness practice. However, while I originally thought it might be a 5-star read, the book does get a little too bogged down in technical terms, which are tricky to grasp, especially for the layperson.
So I decided instead to read it cover-to-cover, highlighting and taking notes along the way.
Overall, this is a fantastic book and highly recommended to anyone who wants to get more out of their mindfulness practice. However, while I originally thought it might be a 5-star read, the book does get a little too bogged down in technical terms, which are tricky to grasp, especially for the layperson.
The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
What an incredible, emotional, heart-wrenching book!
I'm so glad I started listening to audiobooks a few years back so I could experience The Only Plane in the Sky in this format, because reading this in print, while surely still being a 5-star read for me, would not have had the same impact.
I'm so glad I started listening to audiobooks a few years back so I could experience The Only Plane in the Sky in this format, because reading this in print, while surely still being a 5-star read for me, would not have had the same impact.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enríquez
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
A super solid collection of stories! I did not realise I was going into such dark, creepy, horror vibes, but I was here for it. As always, some stories were just okay, and even with some of my faves, I felt a little let-down with the endings. It's not that I'd need an explanation of what happens — oh no, that'd take away from the story — it's just that I felt like I spent time building up to an ending and then all of a sudden it was over. I guess you'd say it was a pacing thing.
Anyway, really good, with my faves being The Neighbor's Courtyard, Adela's House, and, Under The Black Water.
Anyway, really good, with my faves being The Neighbor's Courtyard, Adela's House, and, Under The Black Water.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
I think this was a solid, clever resolution to the trilogy! There were parts of this I really enjoyed and parts I never fully grokked — mainly around character alliances, motivations, and some of the fantasy elements — but just went with!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, and Colonisation
Cobble Hill by Cecily von Ziegesar
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I actually got into this a lot more than I thought I would. I decided to finally listen to this book, which I'd redeemed for free ages ago as part of Libro.fm's ALC Program, while in Cobble Hill.
Despite that, I didn't care for the characters at all and nothing really happens. Sometimes nothing really happens in a book but you still feel you took something deeper away from the experience of reading it. With this one, I didn't take anything away from it at all beyond the surface level entertainment I got from peeking into the characters' lives.
Also, lots of fatphobic comments in this one!
Despite that, I didn't care for the characters at all and nothing really happens. Sometimes nothing really happens in a book but you still feel you took something deeper away from the experience of reading it. With this one, I didn't take anything away from it at all beyond the surface level entertainment I got from peeking into the characters' lives.
Also, lots of fatphobic comments in this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Infidelity
The Spider Network: The Wild Story of a Math Genius, a Gang of Backstabbing Bankers, and One of the Greatest Scams in Financial History by David Enrich
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Perhaps not one for audio, as there were sooo many people introduced and I couldn't keep track of them, but I did enjoy this tale of financial fraud. Despite not remembering who was who, was always able to follow the general gist/the high-level arc. A tad on the slow, potentially dull side, but my interest was ultimately sustained.
Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
I found this utterly fascinating. Luckily I haven't had any direct experience with brain surgery — either via myself or my family — so I learnt so much about the different types of problems that can arise and how hospitals and treatments work with regards to neurosurgery.
I also liked the variety of personal stories that Henry Marsh shared.
There were some downsides to the book. I sometimes struggled with the narrative voice of Henry Marsh — sometimes coming across as arrogant and cavalier. The themes/structure of the book became a little repetitive too, causing me to sometimes drift in and out during certain stories.
Despite that, I'm a sucker for BTS stories and this was great one and and it left me feeling super grateful for good health and inspired me to really make each day count.
I also liked the variety of personal stories that Henry Marsh shared.
There were some downsides to the book. I sometimes struggled with the narrative voice of Henry Marsh — sometimes coming across as arrogant and cavalier. The themes/structure of the book became a little repetitive too, causing me to sometimes drift in and out during certain stories.
Despite that, I'm a sucker for BTS stories and this was great one and and it left me feeling super grateful for good health and inspired me to really make each day count.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Blood Feast: The Complete Short Stories of Malika Moustadraf by Malika Moustadraf
challenging
dark
fast-paced
3.0
Didn’t emotionally connect with this collection at all and found the stories seemingly underdeveloped and their pattern and theme repetitive/tiring.
But, especially after reading other people’s reviews and the excellent translation note from Alice Guthrie, it’s clear I missed the point of this one. Which makes me sad. 😩
Still, I was still intrigued by all of the settings and Guthrie's essay, which put all of the stories in context, really was great, winning this book points!
But, especially after reading other people’s reviews and the excellent translation note from Alice Guthrie, it’s clear I missed the point of this one. Which makes me sad. 😩
Still, I was still intrigued by all of the settings and Guthrie's essay, which put all of the stories in context, really was great, winning this book points!
Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
I found the setting of this story, and this history around it, fascinating but I struggled to stay engaged with this audiobook — it might have been the narrator's voice... I also struggled to keep track of the cast of characters/different factions, which is not really a fault of the author, and Paul French did do a decent job of trying to remind you of who everyone was. I felt the book picked up steam a lot more once Werner started his own private investigation into his daughter's murder , but I still found myself drifting in and out of focus.
Also, I knew nothing about this case going in...so I'm not sure how I feel about how Paul French approached the final sections of his book...
Also, I knew nothing about this case going in...so I'm not sure how I feel about how Paul French approached the final sections of his book...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Torture and Grief