dozens started reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
basement book club!
Reviews and Comments
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dozens started reading House of Leaves
time to take another stab at house of leaves
dozens reviewed Strixhaven by Wizards RPG Team
Review of 'Strixhaven' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Why I Picked It Up ##
I'm running a campaign for my friends!
It's D&D Hogwarts!
## What I Liked About It ##
It introduced a bunch of social mechanics that I really liked, and that my players enjoyed.
It's very playful and lighthearted.
It did a pretty good job at encouraging the players to be fantastic heroes, but also high school students with jobs and extracurricular activities and relationships to maintain. I dig that "slice of life" kind of writing.
## What I Didn't Like ##
The pacing gets really off towards the end. Year 4 is basically "drop out of school to fight the big bad guy." Kind of like how the last Harry Potter book was all camping.
It also got a little formulaic. Each trimester of each school year followed the same outline: 1) Wacky social encounter, 2) Combat!, 3) Exams. Which worked okay, I guess. …
Why I Picked It Up ##
I'm running a campaign for my friends!
It's D&D Hogwarts!
## What I Liked About It ##
It introduced a bunch of social mechanics that I really liked, and that my players enjoyed.
It's very playful and lighthearted.
It did a pretty good job at encouraging the players to be fantastic heroes, but also high school students with jobs and extracurricular activities and relationships to maintain. I dig that "slice of life" kind of writing.
## What I Didn't Like ##
The pacing gets really off towards the end. Year 4 is basically "drop out of school to fight the big bad guy." Kind of like how the last Harry Potter book was all camping.
It also got a little formulaic. Each trimester of each school year followed the same outline: 1) Wacky social encounter, 2) Combat!, 3) Exams. Which worked okay, I guess. But you always kind of knew what was happening.
I also don't feel like my players were ever really in any real physical danger. If you're running this, you'll need to spice up your encounters quite a bit.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
If you are somebody who complains about how unbalanced the "Three Pillars" of D&D are (Combat, Social, Exploration), then you should play this module for a spotlight on Social, with some good combat and exploration to boot.
I'm running a campaign for my friends!
It's D&D Hogwarts!
## What I Liked About It ##
It introduced a bunch of social mechanics that I really liked, and that my players enjoyed.
It's very playful and lighthearted.
It did a pretty good job at encouraging the players to be fantastic heroes, but also high school students with jobs and extracurricular activities and relationships to maintain. I dig that "slice of life" kind of writing.
## What I Didn't Like ##
The pacing gets really off towards the end. Year 4 is basically "drop out of school to fight the big bad guy." Kind of like how the last Harry Potter book was all camping.
It also got a little formulaic. Each trimester of each school year followed the same outline: 1) Wacky social encounter, 2) Combat!, 3) Exams. Which worked okay, I guess. But you always kind of knew what was happening.
I also don't feel like my players were ever really in any real physical danger. If you're running this, you'll need to spice up your encounters quite a bit.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
If you are somebody who complains about how unbalanced the "Three Pillars" of D&D are (Combat, Social, Exploration), then you should play this module for a spotlight on Social, with some good combat and exploration to boot.
dozens reviewed The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
In an isolated college town in the hills of Southern California, a freshman girl stumbles …
Review of 'The Dreamers' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Why I Picked It Up ##
I was going for a run on a beautiful trail on the Mystic River outside of Boston and needed a book. This was available, was on some 'best of' fantasy lists, and the summary looked good. Also I definitely do judge a book by its cover. All the time.
## What I Liked About It ##
It was kind of dreamy? It was slow and meandering and just really steady: there was no real tension or build-up. Which I'm going to complain about in the next session. But it also made the experience of reading it very consistent and reliable. It was a good running companion for that reason. Not to distracting or engrossing.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Well, there was no tension or rising action. No character development to speak of. I probably wouldn't be able to read a …
Why I Picked It Up ##
I was going for a run on a beautiful trail on the Mystic River outside of Boston and needed a book. This was available, was on some 'best of' fantasy lists, and the summary looked good. Also I definitely do judge a book by its cover. All the time.
## What I Liked About It ##
It was kind of dreamy? It was slow and meandering and just really steady: there was no real tension or build-up. Which I'm going to complain about in the next session. But it also made the experience of reading it very consistent and reliable. It was a good running companion for that reason. Not to distracting or engrossing.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Well, there was no tension or rising action. No character development to speak of. I probably wouldn't be able to read a print version of this and enjoy it.
It was also extraordinarily poorly timed. It came out January 2019? Which is the last possible time you could release a book about the spread of a super contagious virus and have it be about pretty much nothing other than the spread of a super contagious virus. In 2022, the premise is not novel or interesting, because we have all been living it for the last two years.
Also the 'magical' bits of it, while probably the most interesting, came too little and too late in the story. They were delightful. And I wish there was a way for us to have enjoyed them throughout.
All that being said, I wouldn't be shocked if this gets made into a "Walking Dead" kind of survival horror show or movie. The sleepwalkers were most definitely zombies. And it had the exact same kind of fear of infection as a zombie flick. If there will be coronavirus survival horror movies, they will look like this.
## What I Want To Remember ##
Strange Matthew and Mei? Their relationship was interesting. Maybe I'm wrong though, and I only think they are interesting because they are kind of the main characters.
## Who I Would Recommend It To ##
Tough one! This won't sit well with most readers because its slow and not much happens. And also the whole premise is too mundane and ordinary now. And the fantasy bits come too late.
I could only recommend this to the kind of person who, for example, actually enjoyed the pages of scenic description in the lord of the rings books.
I was going for a run on a beautiful trail on the Mystic River outside of Boston and needed a book. This was available, was on some 'best of' fantasy lists, and the summary looked good. Also I definitely do judge a book by its cover. All the time.
## What I Liked About It ##
It was kind of dreamy? It was slow and meandering and just really steady: there was no real tension or build-up. Which I'm going to complain about in the next session. But it also made the experience of reading it very consistent and reliable. It was a good running companion for that reason. Not to distracting or engrossing.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Well, there was no tension or rising action. No character development to speak of. I probably wouldn't be able to read a print version of this and enjoy it.
It was also extraordinarily poorly timed. It came out January 2019? Which is the last possible time you could release a book about the spread of a super contagious virus and have it be about pretty much nothing other than the spread of a super contagious virus. In 2022, the premise is not novel or interesting, because we have all been living it for the last two years.
Also the 'magical' bits of it, while probably the most interesting, came too little and too late in the story. They were delightful. And I wish there was a way for us to have enjoyed them throughout.
All that being said, I wouldn't be shocked if this gets made into a "Walking Dead" kind of survival horror show or movie. The sleepwalkers were most definitely zombies. And it had the exact same kind of fear of infection as a zombie flick. If there will be coronavirus survival horror movies, they will look like this.
## What I Want To Remember ##
Strange Matthew and Mei? Their relationship was interesting. Maybe I'm wrong though, and I only think they are interesting because they are kind of the main characters.
## Who I Would Recommend It To ##
Tough one! This won't sit well with most readers because its slow and not much happens. And also the whole premise is too mundane and ordinary now. And the fantasy bits come too late.
I could only recommend this to the kind of person who, for example, actually enjoyed the pages of scenic description in the lord of the rings books.
dozens reviewed White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton
Review of 'White Trash Warlock' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This was damn fun.
Super bonus points for taking place in my city. And also for some reason not actually naming the landmarks. But it was fun recognizing Lakeside, the clocktower, and Casa Bonita among others. I wonder how much of my enjoyment was from this alone.
Bonus points for good queer representation.
Quick, fun read. Good enough that I immediately ordered the next in the series.
dozens reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2021
Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Why I Picked It Up ##
Because Susanna Clarke. She has earned my undying affection with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
## What I Liked About It ##
Dreamy spaces. The mystery. One of my favorite parts was actually Piranesi's journals. I adore a good information system.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Nothing? Maybe the ending didn't quite satisfy my lust for vengeance? But in the end, the beloved child of the house didn't thirst for vengeance, and so I suppose I mustn't.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
Everybody. It's short. The payoff is good.
Why I Picked It Up ##
Because Susanna Clarke. She has earned my undying affection with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
## What I Liked About It ##
Dreamy spaces. The mystery. One of my favorite parts was actually Piranesi's journals. I adore a good information system.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Nothing? Maybe the ending didn't quite satisfy my lust for vengeance? But in the end, the beloved child of the house didn't thirst for vengeance, and so I suppose I mustn't.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
Everybody. It's short. The payoff is good.
Because Susanna Clarke. She has earned my undying affection with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
## What I Liked About It ##
Dreamy spaces. The mystery. One of my favorite parts was actually Piranesi's journals. I adore a good information system.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Nothing? Maybe the ending didn't quite satisfy my lust for vengeance? But in the end, the beloved child of the house didn't thirst for vengeance, and so I suppose I mustn't.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
Everybody. It's short. The payoff is good.
dozens rated Sorrowland: 5 stars
dozens rated The lathe of heaven: 5 stars
The lathe of heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
“The Lathe of Heaven” ; 1971 ( Ursula Le Guin received the 1973 Locus Award for this story) George Orr …
Rosewater by Tade Thompson (The Wormwood Trilogy, #1)
Rosewater is a town on the edge. A community formed around the edges of a mysterious alien biodome, its residents …
dozens reviewed The Owl Service by Alan Garner
Brilliant. Not at all clear that it's a children's book. An extraordinary re-creation of a …
Review of 'The Owl Service' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
very short book, very quick read, very haunting and beautiful.
it was difficult to read at times because the language was so foreign to me. the whole thing had this dreamy otherworldly quality to it.
I loved the bits of Welsh mythology.
The ending was simultaneously beautiful and perfect, and way too abrupt and unresolved.
I'd recommend it to everybody!
dozens reviewed Brand New Cherry Flavor by Todd Grimson
Review of 'Brand New Cherry Flavor' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Why I Picked It Up ##
Watched and loved the TV show. Wanted to read the book it was based on.
## What I Liked About It ##
Interesting blend of noir, mystery, survival zombie horror, and Hollywood showbiz.
It meandered here and there, in a good way: I like it when the author pauses to describe somebody's outfit, or what they're eating, or that they spent the morning swimming.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
It seemed really long for what it was. Maybe that's my fault though: I took my sweet, sweet time reading it.
There were way too many characters. There could have been one detective instead of like five cops. There could have been maybe 2 producers/hollywood types instead 3 - 5.
Edit: The ending! Forgot to mention the ending. The final confrontation was classic slasher film twist content, and I liked it quite …
Why I Picked It Up ##
Watched and loved the TV show. Wanted to read the book it was based on.
## What I Liked About It ##
Interesting blend of noir, mystery, survival zombie horror, and Hollywood showbiz.
It meandered here and there, in a good way: I like it when the author pauses to describe somebody's outfit, or what they're eating, or that they spent the morning swimming.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
It seemed really long for what it was. Maybe that's my fault though: I took my sweet, sweet time reading it.
There were way too many characters. There could have been one detective instead of like five cops. There could have been maybe 2 producers/hollywood types instead 3 - 5.
Edit: The ending! Forgot to mention the ending. The final confrontation was classic slasher film twist content, and I liked it quite a bit. But the epilogue of sorts after that with Lisa and Track in the desert? That felt weird. I don't know, maybe it's also thematically correct "The end, or is it??? Dun-dun-dun."
## What I Want To Remember About It ##
This is one of those rare cases in which the TV show is much better than the book.
The show was tight and focused. TV's Boro was much more interesting and compelling, whereas the book's Boro was just this bad guy? Also, the supernatural elements of the book were just sprinkled in here and there in a way that would have made them really weird on TV, so they made the right choice to up the magic stuff.
The TV show ended about a third of the way through the book, which was surprising to me. Hope they pick it back up. I'm curious to see what they'd do with the rest of the material.
Watched and loved the TV show. Wanted to read the book it was based on.
## What I Liked About It ##
Interesting blend of noir, mystery, survival zombie horror, and Hollywood showbiz.
It meandered here and there, in a good way: I like it when the author pauses to describe somebody's outfit, or what they're eating, or that they spent the morning swimming.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
It seemed really long for what it was. Maybe that's my fault though: I took my sweet, sweet time reading it.
There were way too many characters. There could have been one detective instead of like five cops. There could have been maybe 2 producers/hollywood types instead 3 - 5.
Edit: The ending! Forgot to mention the ending. The final confrontation was classic slasher film twist content, and I liked it quite a bit. But the epilogue of sorts after that with Lisa and Track in the desert? That felt weird. I don't know, maybe it's also thematically correct "The end, or is it??? Dun-dun-dun."
## What I Want To Remember About It ##
This is one of those rare cases in which the TV show is much better than the book.
The show was tight and focused. TV's Boro was much more interesting and compelling, whereas the book's Boro was just this bad guy? Also, the supernatural elements of the book were just sprinkled in here and there in a way that would have made them really weird on TV, so they made the right choice to up the magic stuff.
The TV show ended about a third of the way through the book, which was surprising to me. Hope they pick it back up. I'm curious to see what they'd do with the rest of the material.
dozens reviewed American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Review of 'American Gods' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Why I Picked It Up ##
Bookclub! Last month bookclub read a sad book. So this month the theme was "a book that was turned into an easy-going movie", so we read Stardust, and later we're apparently going to watch the movie together.
## What I Liked About It ##
Simply a varietally correct fairy tale. Quick read. Tristan remained pretty insufferable right up till the end. His change of heart was swift and abrupt, but like I've said elsewhere, love doesn't really have to make sense in fairy tales. It just happens.
I really liked the stormlords as tertiary characters, and the witches too. Pleased with how everybody's stories came to a conclusion at the end.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Can't really think of anything. I guess the women in the story don't have much agency. Except for the witches. Witches do whatever the hell …
Why I Picked It Up ##
Bookclub! Last month bookclub read a sad book. So this month the theme was "a book that was turned into an easy-going movie", so we read Stardust, and later we're apparently going to watch the movie together.
## What I Liked About It ##
Simply a varietally correct fairy tale. Quick read. Tristan remained pretty insufferable right up till the end. His change of heart was swift and abrupt, but like I've said elsewhere, love doesn't really have to make sense in fairy tales. It just happens.
I really liked the stormlords as tertiary characters, and the witches too. Pleased with how everybody's stories came to a conclusion at the end.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Can't really think of anything. I guess the women in the story don't have much agency. Except for the witches. Witches do whatever the hell they want.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
Anybody who likes stories, especially of the Neverending Story / fantasy fairy tale variety.
Bookclub! Last month bookclub read a sad book. So this month the theme was "a book that was turned into an easy-going movie", so we read Stardust, and later we're apparently going to watch the movie together.
## What I Liked About It ##
Simply a varietally correct fairy tale. Quick read. Tristan remained pretty insufferable right up till the end. His change of heart was swift and abrupt, but like I've said elsewhere, love doesn't really have to make sense in fairy tales. It just happens.
I really liked the stormlords as tertiary characters, and the witches too. Pleased with how everybody's stories came to a conclusion at the end.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Can't really think of anything. I guess the women in the story don't have much agency. Except for the witches. Witches do whatever the hell they want.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
Anybody who likes stories, especially of the Neverending Story / fantasy fairy tale variety.
dozens reviewed I am not okay with this by Charles Forsman
"Sydney appears to be a normal, rudderless, suburban 15-year-old freshman. But she harbors a secret …
Review of 'I am not okay with this' on 'Goodreads'
1 star
Why I Picked It Up ##
Watched the show, wanted to see what the book was like.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Glorifying suicide.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
Nobody, ever. This book is probably actively harmful.
Why I Picked It Up ##
Watched the show, wanted to see what the book was like.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Glorifying suicide.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
Nobody, ever. This book is probably actively harmful.
Watched the show, wanted to see what the book was like.
## What I Didn't Like About It ##
Glorifying suicide.
## Who I'd Recommend It To ##
Nobody, ever. This book is probably actively harmful.
dozens reviewed Helgoland by Carlo Rovelli
In June 1925, twenty-three-year-old Werner Heisenberg, suffering from hay fever, had retreated to the treeless, …
Review of 'Helgoland' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Author: "I'm a physicist, not a philosopher."
Also author: proceeds to spend half the book pondering the nature of meaning, knowledge, experience, and existence
---
The first half of the book is an interesting history of quantum physics.
The second half of the book is a treatise on "quantum physics and the meaning of life" that remains beyond my ability to understand after a casual reading.
---
Short, interesting, thought provoking. No reason not to read it if you have a free afternoon.
dozens reviewed On the House by John Boehner
John Boehner's largely political autobigraphy of his time in the U.S. Congress from 1991 to …
Review of 'On the House' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
It was good.
## Why I Picked It Up ##
Mel had checked it out and finished it up, so I decided to read it real quick before it was due.
## What I Liked About It ##
I didn't really know anything about Boehner before reading this besides that he was speaker of the house.
I like that hatred for Ted Cruz is apparently universal and without end. It's the one thing you can really count on to bring up all together.
## What I want to remember ##
I didn't know about his anti-corruption crusade upon joining the house. That was neat.
He alleges he got his start in politics by serving on his Home Owners Association. And then.. poof! Speaker of the House!
## What I didn't like about it ##
The whole chapter about high school sports. Nobody cares that you played football in high school, …
It was good.
## Why I Picked It Up ##
Mel had checked it out and finished it up, so I decided to read it real quick before it was due.
## What I Liked About It ##
I didn't really know anything about Boehner before reading this besides that he was speaker of the house.
I like that hatred for Ted Cruz is apparently universal and without end. It's the one thing you can really count on to bring up all together.
## What I want to remember ##
I didn't know about his anti-corruption crusade upon joining the house. That was neat.
He alleges he got his start in politics by serving on his Home Owners Association. And then.. poof! Speaker of the House!
## What I didn't like about it ##
The whole chapter about high school sports. Nobody cares that you played football in high school, John.
## Who I'd recommend it to ##
Political junkies