Tag: goodreads

  • Robopocalypse

    Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson My rating: 3 of 5 stars This one has been on my list for a while, discovered somewhere online. It seemed right up my alley. I was reminded to tackle it after my friend Emily read it recently, and I wanted to see if my impression lined up with her…

  • A Storm of Swords

    A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin My rating: 4 of 5 stars A few weeks ago I made a silver lining out of a flat rear tire on my bike to read this one on my commute to and from work, either walking through Danehy Park or taking the Red Line. Since my…

  • A Clash of Kings

    A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin My rating: 4 of 5 stars I suppose it’s problematic when I don’t write book reviews until well over a month after finishing the book in question. In my defense, I finished this book on the plane back from Cancun, and then immediately had two insane weeks…

  • Something’s Coming, Something Good: West Side Story and the American Imagination

    Something’s Coming, Something Good: West Side Story and the American Imagination by Misha Berson My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a Christmas gift this year from my mom. For those who are wondering why I’d receive a book seemingly outside my usual interests, that’s probably because you’re unaware that I participated a lot…

  • Mockingjay

    Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins My rating: 4 of 5 stars I finished this third and final book on the plane down to Cancun a few weeks ago. I didn’t get a chance to review it on account of the travel and then the end of the semester. Up front: I liked it, although not quite…

  • Catching Fire

    Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins My rating: 4 of 5 stars Finished this one a week ago. On a few levels, I liked this second book in the trilogy more than the first. In particular, the balance between world-building and action was better: I preferred the history over the combat. I would guess that is…

  • The Hunger Games

    The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book has been out for a while, and has been on my list for some time, based both on the general buzz and direct recommendations, not to mention that dystopian near-future young adult sci-fi is right up my alley. I got the…

  • The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet

    The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet by Neil deGrasse Tyson My rating: 4 of 5 stars Bought this with an old gift card at the Harvard Coop last week. I’ve long enjoyed Neil deGrasse Tyson’s hosting of NOVA scienceNOW (a show I DVR), as well as his various guest appearances on The…

  • Smoking Ears and Screaming Teeth

    Smoking Ears and Screaming Teeth by Trevor Norton My rating: 3 of 5 stars I checked this one out from the library at work. It’s a basic collection of science anecdotes, mostly from the Enlightenment period up through WWII. The author is a British marine biologist, so most of the scientists mentioned are British, and…

  • REAMDE

    Reamde by Neal Stephenson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Neal Stephenson is my favorite author, so it is probably no surprise that I tore through this book in just a couple of days and gave it five stars. I remain in love with his overly verbose writing style, and his nerdy asides. I’ll echo…