tracithomas's reviews
935 reviews

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

PRK is a legend of investigative journalism. The complexity, nuance, and detail he puts into his books. He does so much research and then takes all this information and creates a narrative that is captivating and provocative. This book is a major wow. He tells a history of The Troubles and also solves a cold case contented murder. Unreal.

Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?: Adventures in Boyhood by Jay Ellis

lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

This is a sweet little memoir in essays from a celeb. There isn't anything here about his life as an actor or his journey to becoming one. It is all about his childhood, which he tells us clearly from jump. It isn't a life changing book, but it is also totally unoffensive and readable, with some fun antidotes stories, and childhood mess ups.

There Is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America's Biggest Catfish by Anna Akbari

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

3.0

This could’ve been a podcast or article. The subtitle gives it all away and I’m not sure the author earned the full length. I liked it and was entertained but found myself so far ahead of the story. 

Wonderland: A Tale of Hustling Hard and Breaking Even by Nicole Treska

reflective medium-paced

3.0

The writing in this book is the star for sure. Smooth sentences with a touch of bite. The storytelling is a little disjointed. I never really cared about Treska because I couldn't figure out what story she was telling. The subtitle and cover copy are misleading...it isn't really a story of hustlers so much as of Treska, which is fine, but itsn't what I thought I was getting. I just never felt connected to her or anyone in the family. Good book, if you like a true memoir.

A Day in the Life of America by David Elliot Cohen, Rick Smolan

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

This was a wild book and blast from the past. I loved seeing the images from 1986 and how frozen in time they felt. The photogs did a great job of capturing the extreme and the mundane of life in America. I wished the book included more POC and their cultures and their experiences. It is an overwhelmingly white book which is a bummer.

Lessons for Survival by Emily Raboteau

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

A lot of questions and reflections on race, climate, parenting, and community. I really loved how Raboteau explored these questions without being set on answers. Smart emotional writing. Sometimes I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to think. I could’ve used more guidance from Raboteau.

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A well written romance novel that deals a lot with grief and trauma and healing. I liked the story, but found the book to be excessively long and repetitive. If it had been shorter and moved a little more quickly I could've really loved it. I think the sex scenes were pretty good, not overly graphic but also not too tame either.

One Day in September: The Full Story of the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and the Israeli Revenge Operation "Wrath of God" by Simon Reeve

dark informative sad tense medium-paced

4.0

I enjoyed this one. Part true crime part history lesson. It’s especially interesting to read in 2024 as a look into the recent history of violence between Israel and Palestine. 
The writing is good, moves quickly, builds an engaging narrative. With all the people in the book, I wish the author reminded us who is who more often. It also drags a bit toward the end.

The Holocaust: An Unfinished History by Dan Stone

challenging dark informative sad slow-paced

4.0

This is an extremely well researched and detailed history of the Holocaust. It is very dense. I enjoyed it but struggled a bit with the writing style, finding the prose clunky and repetitive in parts. I deeply appreciate the reframing of so much of the Holocaust and the horrors being clearly and plainly stated. I do recommend this book but not as an entry point to the Holocaust bc of how much this book challenges and complicates well held beliefs. 

You're Only Old Once!: A Book for Obsolete Children: 30th Anniversary Edition by Dr. Seuss

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This is just a little Dr. Seuss book for adults from 1986. It is exactly what you expect from Dr. Seuss but doesn't really have much to say at all besides a joke about how horrible it is to grow old and how silly the poking and prodding of medicine are.