pileofmonsters's reviews
22 reviews

Ghostly Tales: Spine-Chilling Stories of the Victorian Age (Books for Halloween, Ghost Stories, Spooky Book) by Chronicle Books

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dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

3.0

I skipped a few stories, read about half and then gave up after realizing I didn't capture any of it and wouldn't remember enough to continue later. This would be a great bedside book, though I have the ebook version which isn't as romantic.

Stories that haunted me for weeks later: "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad" by M.R. James, "The Signalman" by Charles Dickens

Don't buy a victorian ghost story book. Instead, look up your favorite victorian authors and see if they've written ghost stories.

The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us by Steve Brusatte

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

I think this book is incredibly interesting and maybe I'll read it a different time, but the audiobook version is impossible for me to listen to. it sounds like the guy is shouting.

An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski

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informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.0

I think this is probably a really great book if you're learning to act, I mean, it's one of the staples in your curriculum I'm sure. I'm not learning to act, but I like to read books that help me understand others better -- in this case, actors. despite only being 336 pages this was the longest book I've ever read. very wordy. still, I gained a bunch of perspective on all that goes into acting, including the personal sacrifice (previously I would have assumed only those who go to great lengths and destroy their bodies were making sacrifices). and it turns out acting is quite similar to lots of creative endeavors, at least in terms of where you draw your inspiration and the requirement to trust nature above all else. an insightful read, but I won't be going on to read the rest by this author because of the wordiness.

Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

The first two parts of the book were very educational about different types of neurodivergence and how white AFAB people experience the symptoms differently based on not just socialization, but also processing differences from what most white AMAB people experience. Covering all neurodivergencies (not just autism and ADHD), this book is for anyone seeking education. However, I'm also white, and probably raised in a similar environment as the author. Though she mentions differences in needs, race, status, etc., it's autobiographical as much as it's educational. That is to say: not highly researched scientific literature that provides perspectives from different backgrounds.

Keep in mind this is a general overview with summaries, it does not go into specific detail about anything. It will be useful for learning more about something where you have limited knowledge, not for diagnosing or defending a diagnosis. Also, it's a bit out of date, using old terminology and not including any of the recent research, which is a BIG gap. Always check the dates when reading books like this: if you want to know what's most recent, this book is not for you. If you aren't neurodivergent, however, it is a good supplement to other more recent research, if you want to learn more about it.

What I found most useful and helpful was Part 3, where the book dives more specifically into Well-Being, Home, and Work (literally the chapter titles), with practical tips for navigating your different environments. I'd like to see a full book about this that explores other environments, relationships, and connections, but these chapters gave me a good starting point. I'd never heard about sensory integration therapy and it's too bad the resources I've found are for children.

Run, Run Rabbit by C.M. Nascosta

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fast-paced

Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Unsinkable by Debbie Reynolds, Dorian Hannaway

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dark funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

She lived through many unfortunate experiences but never lost her kindness. This was an intense read, but it provided much perspective and insight on Hollywood history throughout her life, and her experiences as an actress, mother, wife, and friend. Many of the stories are basically appalling, but nothing we don't already know about what it was like being a young girl in Hollywood. I added my content warnings.

Content Warnings