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oliviahamilton's reviews
102 reviews
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
medium-paced
4.0
Interesting ideas and actionable ways to integrate more deep work into our lives. Might have been more effective to read as a physical book instead of an audiobook - felt repetitive at times and I wished I could underline certain lines. I’ll probably look up a summary afterwards. Read over the course of a few months. Overall a worthwhile read.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I loved this book so much I recommended it to my own therapist…
The stories are brilliantly woven together - Lori as patient, Lori as therapist, and the (anonymized) stories of her patients. All experience major growth and a true character arc through their vulnerability.
The book also shows how vulnerability is a muscle; we can’t be honest with others until we learn how to be honest with ourselves.
Also enjoyed the memoir elements about the author’s career changes and major life choices, and how those choices informed her present self.
Highly recommend and would re-read.
The stories are brilliantly woven together - Lori as patient, Lori as therapist, and the (anonymized) stories of her patients. All experience major growth and a true character arc through their vulnerability.
The book also shows how vulnerability is a muscle; we can’t be honest with others until we learn how to be honest with ourselves.
Also enjoyed the memoir elements about the author’s career changes and major life choices, and how those choices informed her present self.
Highly recommend and would re-read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content
What I Talk about When I Talk about Running by Haruki Murakami
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Great to listen to the audiobook on or just after a run. I liked the memoir aspect of it too, and how so many of his reflections were informed by the way his running has changed over the decades. He talks about how thoughts you have while running are ephemeral: they come and go with no way to write them down. I feel similarly about this book — I didn’t write any quotes down (even though I could have once I stopped running) but it felt profound nonetheless. Would definitely read again if/when I get out of the running habit or am training for a race again.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
I was blown away by this book. It packs so much history and cultural criticism into a deeply entertaining (though, obviously, very dark) time travel story. Content warnings should be read carefully, but if you come to this book prepared, it will blow you away.
The audiobook acting (by Kim Staunton) was very well done and really brought the story to life. Will definitely be seeking out more audiobooks she has read.
Overall found the character development to be remarkable -- even when characters were frustrating me, their motives were clear. I'm a bit surprisedDana never told Rufus she was his great (x4ish) granddaughter, though I guess she feared he'd alter history to get back at her if he knew. I could have read 100 more pages of backstory, but I'm glad it doesn't drag on too long and keeps focused on the story.
The audiobook acting (by Kim Staunton) was very well done and really brought the story to life. Will definitely be seeking out more audiobooks she has read.
Overall found the character development to be remarkable -- even when characters were frustrating me, their motives were clear. I'm a bit surprised
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Slavery
One Of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
An interesting concept and a relatively quick read. I found the main character grating -- not because of her activism, but the simplistic way she viewed acceptable activism. I also found the explanation at the end rushed. Sometimes it felt like certain characters should have caught on to what was happening more quickly, and the "suspicious" ones should have been confronted more thoroughly, which was frustrating as a reader. It made it feel like they lacked depth, even though they all had interesting backgrounds. But the topic and conceit were interesting, and the way it explored the impact of racial trauma and social justice were thought-provoking and important. Seeing now that this author has mostly written YA, I see how that simplistic YA style leaked into this book that wrestles with very adult issues.
I wish there had been more exploration in the epilogue of King's rationale, or maybe some history of how Carlton Way had slowly convinced King this was the only option. It bugged me how he was the "perfect husband" til the very end. Also, why are the Wellness Center folks still black, albeit more white passing, if the goal is to turn into white families? Why make a black neighborhood at all if that is the goal? And why don't Keisha or Jasmyn bring up colorism more explicitly? I felt like the book was missing an exploration of colorism/the intersections of race and class. Jasmyn brings up the guilt a lot, but I would have loved a deeper character from Compton or her childhood. Overall, some loose ends but an interesting read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Pregnancy
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Police brutality, Medical content, and Cultural appropriation
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
A straightforward, well organized book about habit formation and change. There’s a reason it’s a new classic!
Happy to have read the full book, and I think it will be helpful to review the outline when I’m trying to form a new habit.
Happy to have read the full book, and I think it will be helpful to review the outline when I’m trying to form a new habit.
The Stranger by Albert Camus
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A lovely listen, Ann Patchett creates such rich worlds. I loved the complexity of adult kids learning about their parents’ lives before they were born. It’s difficult to make a story that spans decades make sense and pace well, and Patchett does this masterfully. Of course Meryl Streep is the best reader in the world.
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Listened to the audiobook, wonderfully read by the author!
I came across Suleika’s work through her newsletters, and slowly grew more curious about her story through her newsletter reflections, TED talk, and the American Symphony documentary. I sensed that even if it was sad, I would gain something from reading her story. The added recommendation from Ann Patchett didn’t hurt either.
I loved this book. I realized that I’ve never read a book about cancer written by the person themselves, maybe fearing it would be too sad. This is an emotional book, but its emotion comes from its depth. Each relationship is complex and nuanced, and Suleika explores how her (very relatable) early 20s immaturity/wrecklessness blends with a traumatic experience well beyond her years. About how it feels to need caretaking when you’re only a few years out of childhood. About the way illness impacts identity.
I listened to the first half over a weekend, took a few days break, then listened to the second half. Definitely not a book to read in one sitting, but it is absorbing and refreshingly true.
Highly recommend!
I came across Suleika’s work through her newsletters, and slowly grew more curious about her story through her newsletter reflections, TED talk, and the American Symphony documentary. I sensed that even if it was sad, I would gain something from reading her story. The added recommendation from Ann Patchett didn’t hurt either.
I loved this book. I realized that I’ve never read a book about cancer written by the person themselves, maybe fearing it would be too sad. This is an emotional book, but its emotion comes from its depth. Each relationship is complex and nuanced, and Suleika explores how her (very relatable) early 20s immaturity/wrecklessness blends with a traumatic experience well beyond her years. About how it feels to need caretaking when you’re only a few years out of childhood. About the way illness impacts identity.
I listened to the first half over a weekend, took a few days break, then listened to the second half. Definitely not a book to read in one sitting, but it is absorbing and refreshingly true.
Highly recommend!