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sifuCJC

sifuCJC@bookwyrm.social

Joined 3 years, 8 months ago

I read only nonfiction for years. Now, I'm getting back into fiction. (he/him)

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sifuCJC's books

2025 Reading Goal

44% complete! sifuCJC has read 23 of 52 books.

Matt Haig: The Life Impossible (Paperback, 2024, Canongate Books)

When retired Maths teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island …

A mystical exploration tale

I liked it. A fish-out-of-water story, or really, Brit-out-of-Britain. And I do love a mystical story. By 'mystical,' I mean one where the world isn't what it seems.

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Jason Stanley: Erasing History (2024, Footnote Press Ltd)

Combining historical research with an in-depth analysis of our modern political landscape, Erasing History issues …

Clear and concise

If the quote I'm pasting below sounds like something you're interested in reading about, then this is the book for you. Note though that I transcribed this from the audiobook, so it may not have the exact same notation as in the print or digital editions of the book.

"Democracy is an ideal. It is an ideal in which every citizen has political equality rooted in the recognition of all people's full humanity. And realizing the ideal of political equality is impossible without an understanding of who has been denied it---and why."

Elena Ferrante: The Story of a New Name (Hardcover, 2016, Thorndike Press)

Friends Lila and Elena are now in their twenties. Marriage appears to have imprisoned Lila. …

The precariousness of circumstance

In a violent town with violent circumstance (domestic abuse, etc.), what prospects did a young woman have in the '60s? All the while I'm reading, inside I'm screaming like at the final-girl in a horror movie, "Get out! Get out!"

An excellent portrayal of learning how childish we are in an adult world, of learning how deeply the world is stacked in favor of men, of learning how opportunities are pure luck when coming from poverty.

I might have to take a break before reading the next one; I'm so tense. But this was good to read right after the first one as it picks up directly.

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reviewed My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (Neapolitan, #1)

Elena Ferrante: My Brilliant Friend (Paperback, 2012, Europa Editions)

From one of Italy's most acclaimed authors, comes this ravishing and generous-hearted novel about a …

An extremely engaging character and book

I had thought this novel was light (I'm not sure why, the name, the cover?). It definitely is not. It's about dealing with social violence and even psychopathy, all while growing up.

But it's written so well. And the narrator's friend is a character for the ages.

Be ready to read the next in the series; this book ends on what felt to me like an inciting incident of a climax. Not exactly a cliff-hanger, but I need to continue.

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Lisa Feldman Barrett: How Emotions Are Made (AudiobookFormat, 2017, Brilliance Audio)

The science of emotion is in the midst of a revolution on par with the …

Fascinating Theory with Practical Applications

Even though it's been a few years since I listened to this one, it often resurfaces in my thoughts. In short, the theory of #emotion presented in this book is powerful because of its flexibility and its ability to explain: - how #reframing is even possible - how there can be such large #emotional differences between cultural groups - how it could have been possible that the way humans construct emotion has changed over the course of #history

David Mitchell: The Bone Clocks (Hardcover, 2014, Random House)

Following a scalding row with her mother, fifteen-year-old Holly Sykes slams the door on her …

Too frustrating to recommend

I did make it through, but I cannot recommend this one.

The prose was so obfuscating that I'd just stop bewildered asking, 'What was that for?" I decided to continue seeing that there was some skill there. But, out of the four POV characters, two were a-holes. So I was frustrated and annoyed. Eventually, many hours later, the plot resolution did have gripping scenes; that was nice. But then the denouement was sooo freekin' depressing. So the ending didn't save it like I'd hoped.

Just can't recommend. I did not have any fun with it.

Alex Michaelides: The Silent Patient (2019)

A compelling investigation

This was definitely an interesting book; I flew through it. The unfolding story was very compelling. The psychological investigations were pretty intense, much more than I had expected.

But, although I don't know much about the profession, the characters didn't seem to act like therapists to me. And the ending didn't work for me, though it was well thought out, so I can see where it might land for others.

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