Chandler

Major takeaways (whether actually stated in the text or by my own understanding):
1) Start with yourself - no one can give more than they have themselves
2) In the first 30 seconds, add value to a friendship and to people by complimenting or being genuine to people.
3) Trust people and let them know that they are needed in your life, for your goals/dreams and for theirs.
4) We are all connected, and people are valuable.

While I enjoyed the premise of this book, I found little to no meat into which I could sink my teeth. I wanted to know how to kill the spiders, or at least make progress, and instead got narrative of the author's experience. Don't get me wrong, it was a great experience, but I found myself wanting more depth and more solutions–or at the very least, more questions that would help me work things out.

I just think Farmer missed the mark on this one. The book was enjoyable, but the meat of the book (or rather the really interesting parts) were diluted by stories of teenage love and childishness. I completely understand that, perhaps, that was part of the narrative: what would happen if a child steps into the shoes of a great leader? However, I wanted to Matt to leave behind the childishness and truly step into his role of El Patrón... I didn't even mind that he wanted to be his own person, but I just wanted him to accept the role.

I wanted the questions that Farmer posed to be more fleshed out. I wanted to be immersed in the world of Matt and to see the consequences of his decisions as they happened, but I didn't get to see that. I didn't like many of the characters that were in this second book, with the exception of Matt and Cienfuegos. They, too, were boring and underdeveloped.
There were many moments of rising tension that were just brushed aside, and frankly, the climax wasn't exciting as a result.

I liked the world that Farmer created, however, I just think it fell flat in the end.

Quite outdated and not much in terms of a single, looking-for-love gay man. I suppose my main takeaway from the book was:

Work to love yourself.
Don't feel like you have to be perfect
Do more to meet people and go on a lot of dates (easier said than done if others aren't attracted to me much)

From the book:
“1. Recognize that mate shopping is not necessarily fun.
2. Establish a master plan
3. Go for volume.
4. Use the Two-Hour date
5. Screen for “relationship-style-preference” first”

I know I am not the target audience for this book. I am a bit too old for it. However, the book lost itself about halfway through. Very little actual plot. Perhaps it was to drive home the “clues within clues” bit, but because we don't see the main antagonists until the very end, the actual tension doesn't increase. I was bored of watching the kids go from place to place, have a near escape, and then get together and try again. Some of the characters are forgettable and flat, so I cared even less to read their individual adventure, especially since it really didn't amount to much. Finn, Philby, Charlene, Amanda, and Jess are great. Willa is forgettable and Maybeck is a token black character, that the author doesn't know what to do with–bringing up real struggles of being black and addressing racial issues, but then just lets the issue fizzle out and not go anywhere and the other characters kind of laugh it off. I get that this was written in 2010 and is a kid's story and the characters are children, however, it seems more could have been done with Willa and Maybeck. Overall, the narrative could have been streamlined and had more buildup to the actual confrontation. I skimmed the last 150 pages and honestly, they weren't really needed.

Overall the weakest of the Kingdom Keepers books so far. I'm intrigued by the premise, so I will continue to read the books. I also don't think the author does a good job describing or clueing in the readers that have never been to Disney World. He names a ride and then just proceeds to describe very specific details of the ride without actually describing the ride and the setting.

Like other reviewers mentioned, not what I was expecting from the book. I suppose the title should have tipped me off in regard to the cheat sheets. The cheat sheets were over a variety of topics and had interesting tidbits, but as the author mentions in the first couple pages, this book is not one that you read cover to cover, but rather dip into when you need a cheat sheet about a given topic.

I would much rather just read books about those topics and learn more information. The book was written in a witty, humorous way, which could be entertaining to some. I found it annoying and it made me trust the author's credibility as much.

Fun for some, interesting tidbits, not one I would ever pick up again.

A truly shocking and abhorrent account of Jeffrey Epstein and the power that accompanies wealth in this world. This book is the account of the reporter that further exposed Jeffrey Epstein through her articles and video documentary in the Daily Herald. She gives an entertaining account of her life and experiences in those moments and the hard work that she did to find sources and evidence against Epstein. Julie K. Brown doesn't hold back and tells multiple stories of the victims of Epstein. Brown tells these stories with respect toward those involved.

This was a great book to read in order to understand the important role of journalism/journalists and the checks and balances that their work provide. It is so important to support this type of journalism and to regain trust in our news sources, for they provide an important service to the people of the world.

Great book, difficult subject matter.

I love reading about the cultural and historical contexts in which certain films were being made and what led to the creation of the great movies of history. That was probably the most interesting part to me. I enjoyed reading the work that went in to each and every Star Wars project and really put into perspective how I, as a younger fan, take for granted certain pieces of knowledge–that Darth Vader is Luke's father, for example. The book really put it in perspective of how new and shocking that piece of information was to original audiences.

I also loved learning about why such a vast and explorative extended universe exists in comic books, novels, roleplaying games, etc. I forget the the world was not used to sequels and remakes like they are now or even long-form story-telling to the level of Star Wars or more so, Marvel now.

The book is not perfect and I'm sure there is bias in its telling of George Lucas. However, it is an interesting read about the history of Star Wars.

An important story that I wish I had read in my teen years. Still an important story now as an adult, but I wish I would have had the same mentality portrayed in the book–to love yourself and the skin you're in–as a teen. Then again, maybe I wouldn't have had the same mentality and understanding as I do now. But all the same, this book is beautiful. A simple coming-of-age story, not complicated, and not overly dramatic or too unrealistic in its portrayal of teenagers.

Definitely a book I would read to kids and teenagers!


Quotes:

“Gotta realize that all you are is all you got.”

“To look in the mirror and like what you see, even when it doesn't look like your idea of beauty.”

“″You gotta love yourself, baby. If you don't, who will?″”

“You have to take a stand when things aren't right.”

“Call me by my name! I hear Akeelma say, and I scream it out, too. “Call me by my name! I am not ugly. I am not stupid. I am Maleeka Madison, and, yeah, I'm black, real black, and if you don't like me, too bad ‘cause black is the skin I'm in!”

A short, straight-forward look into the #MeToo movement and the numbers behind sexual harassment and abuse. This book is a great resource, as it also includes suggestions for both individuals and organizations on how to make cultural changes to minimize sexual harassments from happening or what to do when one gets reported.

And just like that, Roshani Chokshi pulls the various plotlines together and ends the whole thing. The pacing, character development, plot, emotions, action, etc. finally hits just right. I read that Chokshi initially didn't plan on writing a fifth book, but ultimately did. Seems like that was the right choice. This series isn't gold, but it's got a diverse cast and tells some great stories. I liked this last book the best.

With it's visually stunning cover art, I can see this being a great coffee table book. The content is actually interesting and enjoyable, with each little essay focusing on one film/literary combo. I liked the essays that offered new information and analyzed things a little more, however, most essays didn't seem to do that. I wanted more depth, but I can see that that's not what the author intended for this book, which I totally understand.

DNF at 20%

I quite like Marlee Matlin as an actor and I was interested in hearing her stories and experiences, but I did not like the writing of this book. It jumps around way too much and I found myself disinterested in most of the stories being told–admittedly, I expected and wanted to learn more about her work in the Deaf community and as a Deaf actor in Hollywood. I know she is more than just a deaf actor, however, that was what pulled me into reading this book. When it was about her drug use and relationships, I was bored, sadly.

Just not for me.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Rounded up to 4 stars

A very entertaining read. Not exactly what I had imagined, however, I loved revisiting the different philosophical takes and perspectives and combining it with D&D and other fantasy works. Very fun to read. Not all of the essays were as entertaining or impactful, but it was a good read.

Quotes:

“Philosophers test moral theories by subjecting them to “thought experiments,” hypothetical situations set up and considered in an attempt to decide whether particular moral theories give the right answers in all possible circumstances. D&D games are nothing but thought experiments, hypothetical situations in which hypothetical people do hypothetical things. Of the various story-telling art forms that can serve as a source for thought experiments, D&D is particularly suitable because the D&D player is an active participant in the story, forced to make decisions based on the situations described by the Dungeon Master.”“As the Book of Exalted Deeds says, “Let their choices be difficult but not deadly ... Let their choices and actions matter.” “Where do we get evil? “The sad truth of the matter,” says Arendt, “is that most evil is done by people who never made up their mind to be either good or bad.”” “The primary sources of evil are indifference and self-deception. Both lead me to a life of convention, simply living up to the code of conduct given to me by my society. Arendt says that most people live like this; “they get used to never making up their minds.”” “we don't have much time to really think, and when we do, we don't want to spend our time thinking about what is ugly and bad. It is much more comfortable to think of evil as something done by villains in movies. There is something rather disturbing about the thought that one can become evil gradually. Once you realize that you can be evil without knowing it, you realize that you can be evil without knowing it.” “Every character has a bit – or a lot – of the player in them. With every character I make, I bring a new side of myself to the foreground, for the examination of myself and of others. And in doing so, I learn more about myself, and about my fellow players who are doing the same.” “A man defines himself by his make-believe as well as by his sincerest impulses.” “As Tolkien explains: “Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.”” “in The Will to Power: “‘Truth' is therefore not something there, that might be found or discovered – but something that must be created ... . It is a word for the ‘will to power.'”14” “Fantasy succeeds when it transports us to an imaginary land, and we escape the grayer parts of our own for a little while.” “Escapism is frequently described negatively (especially in relation to fantasy role-playing), but Tolkien reminds us that there are nobler escapisms. Beyond the desire to be free of traffic noise or workplace drudgery, there is also the desire to escape injustice, pain, sorrow, and, greater than these, death.” “It is the mark of a good fairy-story, of the higher or more complete kind, that however wild its events, however fantastic or terrible the adventures, it can give to child or man that hears it, when the “turn” comes, a catch of the breath, a beat and lifting of the heart, near to (or indeed accompanied by) tears, as keen as that given by any form of literary art, and having a peculiar quality.10” “Remember that fantasy succeeds when it satisfies the desire to escape into a different kind of world, but Chesterton's Doctrine of Conditional Joy and Tolkien's concept of eucatastrophe remind us that, at its heart, fantasy is about satisfying the desire to escape sorrow, injustice, and death, not the cultural or technological trappings of everyday life.” “One key method employed by any dominant and dominating system of power (political, social, pedagogical, you name it) is to curtail any collective change that might threaten its claims to legitimacy. One of the best ways to do this is to limit the ability of those under its power to imagine a different kind of reality.” “To limit the imagination is to limit critical thinking in the most brutal way, which keeps people subjected and afraid of change.” “The first step in all of this is, of course, to imagine oneself as a completely different person – but a different person who yet relies 100 percent on the mind and experiences of the creator. We find this mantra repeated in various editions of the Player's Handbook. In the second edition we are told: “The character you create is your alter ego in the fantasy realm of this game, a make-believe person who is under your control and through whom you vicariously explore the world the Dungeon Master (DM) has created.”7 In the fourth edition we are called to “take a minute to imagine your character. Think about the kind of hero you want your character to be. Your character exists in your imagination – all the game statistics do is help you determine what your character can do in the game.”8 In other words, the entire game is there merely to support your own creative vision, not to dictate it to you or to play it for you.” “Irigaray argues that we have an imaginary body that is largely imbued with fantasy. In other words, my body, as imagined by my mind (or ego) is not an objective representation of how it actually is (which is impossible to access) but is an artificial creation resulting from my entrance into language and society with others. What language says about bodies – male and female – within a cultural framework largely determines what we imagine our bodies are, what they can do, and what they look like.” “she asks, that is so captivating in the performance of drag? Whether in a show on a cruise ship or mildly exaggerated butch/femme identities in the gay and lesbian communities, drag reveals something that otherwise remains largely concealed from us. Namely, drag illustrates that gender itself is performative.” “Aristotle said that “there is also need of passage of time and the habits formed by living together, for as the adage has it, it is not possible for people to know each other until they have eaten together of the proverbial salt, nor is it possible, before this occurs, for them to accept each other and to be friends until each appears as lovable and is trusted” (1156b26–29).” “For since they wish to live with their friends, they pursue and share in those things in which they suppose living together consists” (1172a7–8).”

An incredibly interesting book rife with so many good and pertinent topics and research. It discusses several topics/theories of communication, sociology, and psychology with the end result being 7 different recommendations on how to live in our modern world.

1. Use social media for connection: Enhance, Don't Eclipse. Dian down the outrage, dial up the empathy, and create room for mistakes.
2. Embrace the power of the collective but temper it with dissent and innovation
3. Take the antidote: Regulate Your Emotions
4. Build more inclusive in groups.
5. Remember, you're not the Da Vinci Code guy
6. Listen to People's Stories, Real and Fictional
7. Build and support architectures of serendipity

Overall, a strong book that I would love to read again and explore more of its concepts.d

Quotes:
“Even worse, as group consensus builds, people stop feeling comfortable expressing a more nuanced or complex take on the issue. People with weaker or opposing opinions sense the leanings of the group and opt for silence rather than risk censure or damage to their reputations. This silence convinces the group at large that there are no opposing beliefs, and everyone moves closer to the loudly vocal opinion through the processes of conformity.”

Rating:
3.5 ⭐
Rounded down to 3

Summary:
Top-tier hockey jock Preston is forced to switch schools. At his new school, he is forced to room with his teammate, Jeremy. Preston has been abused by his father for years, which causes him to shut everyone out and live a life devoid of love and of anything other than hockey, the gym, and sleeping. Jeremy begins to find cracks in Preston's cold mask that he uses to shut out everyone, and is able to see a side of Preston that others cannot. The two find love in each other and Preston's father gets what he deserves.

Review:
I mostly skimmed the parts about hockey (I know and care very little about the sport), but I enjoyed the book for the most part. Preston was incredibly unlikable in the beginning. I understand that it's due to the abuse and everything, but it was a little too unrealistic–growling at literally everything everyone said or did. His change was sweet, but it did seem a bit quick to me. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book. I liked the love and warmth that Preston felt from Jeremy's family.

Summary:
Tan France, from Netflix's Queer Eye, tells his story starting from early child memories to eventually going on and creating his fashion business, to meeting his husband, then eventually being convinced to go through the audition process for a new Netflix show. The audiobook is read by Tan and is absolutely wonderful.

Review:
Absolutely recommend the audiobook for this one. The book is read by Tan France and, therefore, you are able to hear his voice and his personality through the entire process. I loved hearing the stories from behind the scenes of how everything came together. I will be honest, France does have a lot of confidence and opinions on ways of presenting oneself. It can come off a little judgey. For me, some of the issues show some of the toxic beliefs that are held within the gay community–something that France mentions but doesn't expound on much–where gay men are expected to be ripped, have flawless hair, skin, and teeth, and to be knowledgeable and stylish in everything.
I really like what France has to say, for the most part, however, it all just feels exhausting (but this is a personal complaint about the gay community that I have. It is such a small part of the book, but worth mentioning).

I love the feeling of found family and the example of a healthy gay marriage between Tan and Rob France. Tan talks about wanting gay friends, which he was able to find through the other guys of the Fab Five. It does make me sad, since that is something that I have always wanted too–a strong group of gay men who are just friends–but I am unable to find a group in my area.

The book is great. Tan France is great. The book jumps around and it covers a multitude of topics–representation, Tan's life, racism and discrimination after 9/11 and in his childhood, inclusion and media representation, queer love and life, etc.

I want to like this book. The thoughts and concepts explored in this book are questions that I've had before: What is happiness? Why do difficult things happen to people? Why is this life unfair and what does it all mean?

However, the book itself is just not entertaining or funny enough for me to recommend this or rate this better. It just wasn't for me and I think there is a better way that these questions and themes could have been explored.

This book is an adventure story from a book-lover. The concept and the magic of the worlds that books contain is great. I love the idea of a story reader bringing to life the story and the books whispering to the reader, especially children. I think a lot of elements in this story were great, however, it was just too long and boring. The pacing was off, in my opinion, and near the end, I just wanted to be done with it.

An adventure book about books. 3 stars, wish it was better. May read the sequels.

A slow, but lovely look at relationships, memories, and family dynamics. Alice loses her memory of the last 10 years and realizes that she isn't living the life she thought she would. She must decide what is important to her and figure out what it was that she forgot.

I enjoyed the book, once I realized that this book isn't an exciting thriller (as I initially thought from the title and the mystery behind what happened to her marriage). I realized that the other is asking the reader, what would happen if you woke up one day and lost 10 years of memories? Is it more important to see the world how you once did or how life is now? What would happen to relationships and people if we stepped back from the situation, remembering that life is short and fragile and that most of the things don't actually matter?

I appreciated the look into the lives of those who struggle with infertility. It isn't something that is talked about much, even though it is fairly common, so it was nice to see.