johnbat's reviews
86 reviews

How To Be a Stoic by Epictetus, Lucius Annaeus Seneca

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Lost interest
Moby Dick - Rehearsed by Orson Welles

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adventurous challenging mysterious fast-paced

4.5

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky

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adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is a duel-perspective narrative that is BRILLIANTLY told. I loved how the author used unique language in the perspective of each character to incite differing images of the story. 
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Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

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dark emotional funny tense medium-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

4.75

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Finna by Nino Cipri

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

5.0

The Racial Contract by Charles W. Mills

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

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The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

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

3.0

I would agree with the overall themes and ideas in this book about the trajectory of modern civilization, but I found the philosophy to be somewhat sloppy. Additionally, there seem to be self-contradicting points, especially toward the end, as well as outdated (if not fictionalized) takes on religion and ancient pre-history civilization.