An amazing book about the destructive “high conflict”, how to recognize it and how to get out and back to healthy constructive conflict. The author covers all kinds of conflict, from divorce counseling to guerilla warfare in Colombia, showing the underlying similarities and forces at play.
A very important book for this day and age. I believe everyone should go and read this book.
A very pleasant quick light sci-fi romp. I really enjoyed the unique main character & their perspective on the world.
Binged the whole book in one sitting! Another fascinating trip down a physics rabbit hole.
This was an unexpected read! I picked it up as something “short & light” to read, but I shouldn’t have underestimated Le Guin. This one packs a punch! I was most pleasantly surprised by the focus on what standing up and fighting against an oppressor does to the oppressed, and how it can scar & change an entire civilization.
A great conclusion to the build-up of the first two books! I love that a lot of the mysteries about koloss, Inquisitors and kandra were answered and not just left vague. I do feel like the last twist happened very quickly and almost out of nowhere, but it was very satisfying nonetheless. I’ll say that at time I felt that this last book slightly dragged on in the middle portion, focusing a lot on Spook and Sazed’s growth, but in retrospect it makes sense, given the ending. Those characters had to be built up, so that we care about them at the end to be satisfied with their fate. I especially liked how all of Sazed’s work and doubts led to the final conclusion and that all of those religions were useful in the end.
Raised the stakes appropriately after the first book, loved that the human/personal aspect wasn’t lost even with the shift in focus to geo-politics. Enjoyed how the mystery about the prophecy was slowly unraveling on the backdrop of a seemingly lost battle. The final reveal was very interesting and I’m dying to know what the ramifications of it actually are!
A very refreshing and unique read. The main character of the book is “you”, the reader, trying to read a story called If on a winter’s night a traveler. An easy recommendation for just about anyone.
Loved the atmosphere, the hinted at world, the unique narrator and enjoyed reading the book. The only thing that slightly soured the book for me was the ending. I expected a more satisfying conclusion.
Immediately got hooked on the premise of a heist style book, where the main goal is to overthrow a “God Emperor”! I love the constrained, but powerful magic system and how it interacts with the world! I did not expect how much I got invested in all of the characters. Very interested to learn what the foreshadowed issues that keep cropping up will turn out to be.
While I appreciated the concept for the time it was conceived at, a lot of the ideas seemed naive and simplistic through a modern lens.
Enjoyed this much more than Notes from Underground. While the narrator is an antisocial drunk who shuns society, the magical surrealism angle made it so much more enjoyable to read.
While I understand the significance of the work, I found it very tough to read through. But then again, that’s likely the point and only shows how the character is still relevant even today.
I enjoyed this book even more that I did Slaughterhouse 5! The ease with which Vonnegut can jump from light-hearted to absolutely grim in a split second is unreal! The subject matter is still very relevant and I fear might never not be.
An absolute masterpiece. Such a simple story, yet portrayed so beautifully. Calmly tragic, deeply moving. Do yourself a favor and go read it.
(from my original notes) Difficult, yet amazing!
Great introduction to bullet journaling. I especially enjoyed the parts about the “why” behind the practice. It’s by no means a miracle cure, but it’s a system that has worked well for me for over 5 years now. You don’t need this book to use the method. It’s a nice companion piece, if you wish to learn more.
My first cautious step into the world of poetry. I absolutely loved it!
This book rekindled my passion for reading after a longer pause. I recall that the theme that resonated with me the most was the fact that people chose to live without books.