Scan barcode
foosreadsandwrites's reviews
280 reviews
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
3.0
It was pretty good - but at least 100 pages too long. I'll write something a little more descriptive soon!
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
5.0
I think I judge books most by their first line and last line. The middle all counts as one sentence . The last line in Things Fall Apart is really unassuming, but it made me think and I wanted to reread the full work to decide how I felt about it. A very engaging read!
March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin
5.0
I cried in thankfulness for Lewis' efforts. A moving record of what faith and action can do when put together. James 2:17.
March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin
5.0
This series has been so awesome to read. A really cool way to kick of a year of reading books from authors of color. John Lewis has done some truly incredible things.
Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
4.0
it was interesting!! felt like it ended a little weak, and I didn't want to go through the "bonus matter" at the end, which is the kind of thing I usually like to do. I'd say it's a better coffee on a Saturday book than a read-all-day book. nawmean?
Sirens by Joseph Knox
4.0
I held my breath every time I turned a page of SIRENS. It's a debut novel - this British dude, Joseph Knox's first book. He kills it. He kills it, butchers it, and serves it for dinner to a party of lovably despicable characters.
It's not perfect. I'll be honest, it's a little racy for me. Sex is portrayed super weird, no one's happy, there's blood and bodies and truly evil baddies.
But that is a footnote. It's lovely, too. Full of deep feeling, creativity, and an insight into human motivations. The main detective drunkard, Aiden Waits ("for no man") is a heartbreaker. He knows all, sees all; knows nothing, gets fleeced. It's noir for sure, just like the dust-jacket repeats. I read the Maltese Falcon and it wasn't my thing. SIRENS had me from "They'd never trust me in the daylight again." I couldn't stop reading.
You know when you're reading a book and you realize it's been hours? Or when you realize you don't want it to be over? SIRENS is like that. The most surprising thing for me is that I was surprised. I like detective lit. I like crime dramas (most of the time). I'm not big on gore and sadism but I like a good mystery. So in that vein, I've read Hammett, Doyle, Christie, Poe, Chesterton, and I've liked them all. But maybe if I rank these crime-writers will Knox, then you'll figure out my sensibilities.
Starting with the worst, progressing to my favorites:
(clipped, see the full review at http://skyfoos.blogspot.com/2018/02/sirens-by-joseph-knox-book-review.html)
It's not perfect. I'll be honest, it's a little racy for me. Sex is portrayed super weird, no one's happy, there's blood and bodies and truly evil baddies.
But that is a footnote. It's lovely, too. Full of deep feeling, creativity, and an insight into human motivations. The main detective drunkard, Aiden Waits ("for no man") is a heartbreaker. He knows all, sees all; knows nothing, gets fleeced. It's noir for sure, just like the dust-jacket repeats. I read the Maltese Falcon and it wasn't my thing. SIRENS had me from "They'd never trust me in the daylight again." I couldn't stop reading.
You know when you're reading a book and you realize it's been hours? Or when you realize you don't want it to be over? SIRENS is like that. The most surprising thing for me is that I was surprised. I like detective lit. I like crime dramas (most of the time). I'm not big on gore and sadism but I like a good mystery. So in that vein, I've read Hammett, Doyle, Christie, Poe, Chesterton, and I've liked them all. But maybe if I rank these crime-writers will Knox, then you'll figure out my sensibilities.
Starting with the worst, progressing to my favorites:
(clipped, see the full review at http://skyfoos.blogspot.com/2018/02/sirens-by-joseph-knox-book-review.html)