mixedfeelings

10 Things That Never Happened | Alexis Hall

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I feel like this review is about to break some hearts… but here goes nothing… Even after a second read through, I still don‘t know what the 10 things are. I do still like this book, which is just so typical for an Alexis Hall book. Hall just has this amazing way of making me fall in love with the MCs.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics Unpopular opinion, but I don‘t like this one as much as Boyfriend Material, Husband Material, or For Real. I‘m just not as invested in the characters and the way Jonathan is so pissed at Sam to the point he won‘t even let him explain, but then he‘s all “you didn‘t have to leave” … 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 20h

GingerAntics … and he‘s hunting him down two days later and they all lived HEA just didn‘t work for me the way other Hall books did. Maybe it‘s just me, or maybe it‘s just the mood I‘m in. I felt like I liked it more the first time I read it, actually. #AlexisHall #10ThingsThatNeverHappened #audiobook #mixedfeelings 20h

22 likes2 comments

GingerAntics

God Is Not One (Enhanced Edition): The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter | Stephen Prothero

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Almost a so-so, but just on the pick side of the dividing line. Maybe it‘s just me.

I liked the discussion of the main religions in the world and how they are different. I agree with him that to reduce all religions to different expressions of the same deity or divine is reductionist and ignores the different traditions and aims of different world religions. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics I disagree with Prothero about Mr. Rogers being outdated, religion having no place in a romantic relationship, and that accepting the difference of the worlds religions means accepting, and not interfering in or passing judgement on their practices or shows of devotion because to desire to change them is futile and colonialist. These are “the way things are” in the “real world.” 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 12mo

GingerAntics Um, sure, suicide bombings, bombing abortion clinics, bombing military bases or offices, harming your own children (and/or others‘ children) for your god or traditions, claiming land for your god, etc is “the way things are” in the “real world;” however, to shrug and say we just need to understand the positions of these religious extremes… 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 12mo

GingerAntics instead of trying to make safe environments and societies for people of all beliefs is at best nihilistic in the extreme (in a way Prothero is not even open to the presence of), and at worst being complicit in the harming of innocent people. I can respect someone‘s faith and/or beliefs without condoning harm to others in the name of that faith or those beliefs. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 12mo

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GingerAntics For someone so focused on nurturing respect for all belief systems no matter how different they are from one‘s own, he does not extend this same respect to atheists (or agnostics to a slightly lesser degree). According to him, not all atheists are angry men, but he certainly considers atheism to be the hatred of god turned into religion. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 12mo

GingerAntics At one point he questions why all atheists can‘t just stop at agnosticism, but then he discusses agnosticism as sell outs and full of crap as much as atheists. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 12mo

GingerAntics Are we respecting all beliefs, or not? Are we giving up trying to convert everyone or change people‘s beliefs, or not? Are all forms of spiritual practice, faith, and religion unique and thus incomparable and acceptable the way they are, or not? 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 12mo

GingerAntics I felt like there was a huge double standard here once he got to the final chapter where he basically turned atheism, agnosticism, and belief in science into his whipping boy and the real problem in the world. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 12mo

GingerAntics He certainly mentioned Christopher Hitchens more than he mentioned some of the leaders and/or founders of some of the religions he claimed were the 8 biggest religions in the world. I would be interested in knowing what his personal vendetta against Hitchens and Sam Harris especially within the atheist movement. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 12mo

GingerAntics He takes the time to mention female atheists and how they too (conveniently) hate Hitchens and Harris, but then he insults them too for their atheism. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 12mo

GingerAntics Great discussion starter, but Prothero really needs to do some soul searching and start being honest about his anti-atheist and anti-agnostic biases. Still on the fence about reading Prothero‘s ‘Religious Literacy‘ seeing that he does not extend the same respect to everyone, just those he deems worthy by his own undefined logic. 12mo

GingerAntics #GodIsNotOne #StephenProthero #busbook #mixedfeelings #aslongasyouopenlyhaveatleastonegodyouregood 12mo

Texreader Very thoughtful. Thanks! 12mo

GingerAntics @Texreader I would still do this one as a group read, tbh. It does give some really good info and he presented this ancient pan-African religion that is like the 3rd or 4th largest religion practiced in the world, and I was thinking I‘ve never heard of this. How have I never heard of this? It‘s where voodoo and other traditional religions we are more familiar with came from. So that chapter was really cool. 12mo

17 likes13 comments

merelybookish

In Search of Lost Time | Marcel Proust

Beyond buying fewer books and reading what I already own, my main #readinggoal for 2023 is to tackle Proust's masterpiece. I doubt I'll make it through all 6 volumes but maybe halfway? But we'll see.
I turn 50 in 2023 so I plan to lean into "f*@k it, I'm 50" energy whenever I need to. If that includes giving up on Proust, so be it. ?

TheBookHippie Oh 50 is fun! I am planning this read for next year! I started once but need to start and finish!!! Happy 50th! The IDGAF is a fun part of aging. 🤫😂🙃 2y

TheBookHippie I mean 2024🙃😅😵‍💫 2y

xicanti Good luck! This is my project book for 2023, too. 2y

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Centique Happy 50th for 2023, 50 is great and that energy is real! I got through Book 1 and enjoyed it - but I switched to audio for a while as I seemed to take it in better, the long descriptions felt easier to follow that way for me. It was a special book for sure. 2y

Ruthiella Good luck! This series is on my book bucket list. 😃 2y

squirrelbrain I bought the first book in a used bookstore this summer. I should join you in your challenge as it‘s my 50th in 2023 too, but I think I‘m already over-committed to challenges. 🤔 2y

sarahbarnes I love it!! I only made it halfway through the first book last year. Maybe I‘ll join you in 2023! They‘re all sitting on my shelf after all. 😂 2y

jlhammar Wow, good luck! 2y

LeahBergen I read and liked the first volume but that‘s as far as I‘ve made it so far 😆 2y

batsy Good luck! Excellent reading plan and turning 50 vibes 👌🏾 2y

merelybookish @TheBookHippie Thanks! And it does feel like one of the perks. 😉 2y

merelybookish @xicanti Oh good! Keep me posted! Do you have a plan or playing it by ear? I ask because I have no plan yet.... 2y

merelybookish @Centique Thanks! And I may take that advice. I find it's helpful to have both audio & print for chunksters. 2y

merelybookish @Ruthiella Thanks! I was inspired by @HardcoverHearts She did a good book tube video on it. 2y

merelybookish @squirrelbrain Well let me know if you change your mind! And cheers to turning 50 as well. 😬😀 #mixedfeelings 2y

merelybookish @sarahbarnes Please do! 😀 Not sure how far I'll get! 2y

merelybookish @jlhammar Thanks! I'll probably need it. 2y

merelybookish @LeahBergen I think I read volume 1 back in my 20s. Hoping it resonates more now that I've achieved some wisdom.🤪 2y

merelybookish @batsy We shall see. My new vibes may mean the end of all challenges! 😆 2y

HardcoverHearts One option that is available if you hit a particular rough patch would be to switch to audiobook. Then when you are back into the story, go back to print. (Or not😉). I‘m so delighted that my video may have helped encourage you! 2y

xicanti @merelybookish I have a very complex plan: I‘m gonna start at the beginning and read some every day until it‘s over or I‘m super bored. I may come up with something more concrete once I‘ve got the first volume in hand. Right now, it‘s sat on the holds shelf and I won‘t get to the library until Tuesday. 2y

merelybookish @xicanti Haha. I may adopt a similarly complex plan. 😉 2y

merelybookish @HardcoverHearts Thanks for the suggestion and the inspiration! 2y

58 likes1 stack add23 comments

Cinfhen

Plunder: A Memoir of Family Property and Nazi Treasure | Menachem Kaiser

so-so

#MixedFeelings #NonfictionNovember

Parts of this book, a grandson‘s quest to reclaim owned property from his family‘s estate in Poland (which was lost to them during the Holocaust) was excellent. The parts of this book about Polish Nazi “treasure” hunters were at first interesting but soon became tiresome. And then at the very end, the author makes another swerve which could have been satisfying but he chooses to leave the reader wondering.

Cinfhen If you read this @jlhammar I‘d love to hear your thoughts!!!! 2y

jlhammar Interesting review! I'm hoping to get to it sometime in the year ahead. 2y

73 likes2 comments

lukulamppu

Ruin and Rising | Leigh Bardugo

so-so

I‘m not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I think the ending saved some of it but I just wasn‘t a fan of some of the things that lead there. I also found the pacing a little strange at points? I definitely prefer Six of Crows over this but at the same time I like that I read this series too because it fleshes out the world so much. #mixedfeelings

24 likes

GingerAntics

Midnight Sun | Stephenie Meyer

So many mixed feelings about this...novel? Attempt to cash in on her original success again?
#StephenieMeyer #MidnightSun #mixedmessages #mixedsignals #mixedfeelings

17 likes

Christyco125

If We Were Villains | M L Rio

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"I don't know, it's like I look at you and suddenly all the sonnets make sense. The good ones, anyway."
I found more in the story than a simple mystery of was there a crime or wasn't there. There is also a journey of self discovery as well as realizations of what makes a relationship real. However, I'm not sure if I like the end. #mixedfeelings #2017christyread #drama

11 likes

Iindseyo

The Son | Philipp Meyer

Catching up the pilot for The Son. The casting of Pierce Brosnan as a Texan patriarch is a bit of a head scratcher. Can't decide if I'm enjoying it or not. Have y'all watched it?? #adaptation

SheReadsAndWrites I saw the ads and was intrigued but haven't had a chance to watch. 😊 8y

Lola Watching now #mixedfeelings 8y

Iindseyo @Lola I know! I wanted to like it but it felt like it dragged. I'll probably give it another episode before I make a decision 8y

Lola @Iindseyosborne Ditto. And as always, I found the violence harder to watch than to read 😑 8y

29 likes4 comments

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