Claudia Shannon
I found it to have a slightly slow start, because there were more chapters than I expected at the beginning leading up to the story proper. However the narrative was gripping and every page gave me new surprises. (I nearly put down the book when I picked it up from my e-reader and read that a character whom I know was dead wasn't, but it turned out the e-reader hadn't registered the last page I was on, hence the error.) It's actually a fun read when you imagine the characters speaking in the British accent (“cor blimey” anybody?) which I'm afflicted with due to my obsession this year with BBC programmes. A long read, but an enjoyable one.
This is the least scientific book I've read in a long time. It perpetuates the left/right brain myth, makes pseudoscientific claims, makes illogical arguments (splitting “persona” into “per sona” without a evidence-based reason and then claiming that because of such a split, a person's personality “persona” is made of their “per” voice “sona”!) and IT HAS NO CITATIONS even though it drops names of experts and inserts lots of fancy quotes from literature. I found it among the pre-loved books in my university and I'm glad to shred it today.
It appears that all the criticism raised against affirming the headship of men is because the questioner(s) confused men lording over women intimidatingly with God's original design of gentleness, respect and empowerment, and because the outworking of God's design was sinful in much of history, people deemed God's original design evil...
Just because the plan went awry doesn't mean the plan was evil in the first place! We've ruined it by trying to take matters, including that of correctly understanding and applying God's word, into our hands.
This is a terrifying and at times realistically disorienting (which is a good thing in fiction, not so much in real life) narrative of having a secret life as a computer hacker. It explores the myriad ways everything can go wrong. The greatest thrill in thrillers is not a single decision that dooms the characters we identify with, but a lifetime of decisions leading one to the apparent end of a rainbow which turns out to be down a rabbit hole — a phenomenon mirrored all too often by the true events of the times, events with which we don't want to scare our children but we do anyway. Tom Chatfield's “This is Gomorrah” illustrates one such lifetime. Especially in the 21st century and beyond, with technological advancements and challenges, we must be careful who we become when nobody seems to be watching, because our secrets define our destiny.
I thought I picked up a book meant for someone else until I realised the lessons in it apply to all. Serendipity.
It's a bit dated, so it may still have value as an object of historical intrigue (exercise-wise). This book is no longer in wide circulation — but you won't know why unless you actually procure a copy.
Another historical object of intrigue. Language has changed rapidly these years. Books can't catch up...!
I watched the movie long before I read this, and the book is just as disappointing as the movie. I can't agree more with the sentiment that both POVs sound the same.
If Joseph Bates' writing book (reviewed earlier) is yang, then Elizabeth Sims' one is yin. She's not afraid to speak her mind and has a liberating perspective on the creative writing process. This book is the mother of all bombs-that-blast-writer's-block.
Fantastic read.
This abridged version feels complex, like Richmal Crompton's “William” stories.
This book is sobering, especially in light of global crises. It's also brimming with confidence regarding data-intensive computing for all fields. Not sure if caution should rather be exercised.
Indie authors, please don't split entire stories into separate parts. I'd rather have the entire story rolled up in one book, or nothing at all. You lost me.
This is much more fast-paced than the previous book and I was caught up in the intricate plot.
The third book in the trilogy ruined my reading experience. I didn't get over after that.
29 minutes before finishing the book:
>> Been reading “Jane Eyre” (yes, the classic) and am horrified by the character of St. John Rivers. (Please don't condemn me for my choice of literature. I love reading and it pains me that people would assume I'm in the wrong for the literary choices I sometimes make.)
A very compassionate touch on living the writer's life. Highly recommended for writers new and experienced!
“Zero to Hero” (Peter Thiel) says that if one wants their business to break out, they should be a monopoly. A chapter in this book, though, gives me the impression that everyone has to compete in the business world. It's only true in general, and few entrepreneurs find the secret that's their cash cow. If that chapter on competition had swapped its fatalistic tone for an emphasis on self-education and networking, it would have been more helpful.
This is a funny book. If you like a quick and humorous take on a murder mystery, and you're in just for the plot, this is a nice read.
This guidebook takes an empathetic approach to outlining when it's many a writer's dreaded chore. Plenty of story examples demystify each step toward a novel outline. Highly recommended especially for self-proclaimed pantsers.
Compared with K.M.'s free writing guide “5 Secrets to Story Structure”, this book is packed with examples from literature and film to illustrate the different parts of a novel. It has a heavy-duty feel to it, more akin to a reference book than something to be read in one sitting.
Upon finishing the section on the resolution, I wondered why I had only finished half of the book. It turns out that the rest of the book talks about effective scenes and sentences, and I wanted to bludgeon myself for thinking, “I didn't see that coming.”