Gio'
Sphere – 3.5 Stars
Wow, this book loses serious steam in the second half.
The first half is exactly what you’d expect from Crichton: a tight technothriller, with enough science to pull you in and a robust but controlled pace. It’s innovative, creative, and close enough to reality that you can vividly imagine what’s happening.
Then comes the second half, which is a slog. The characters become more unrealistic and insufferable, and the story loses its grip. That said, there were still a few scenes that completely absorbed me.
The Egg and Other Stories – 4 Stars
This short audiobook surprised me in many ways—its length, the brevity of the stories, and their content.
While you can catch glimpses of Andy Weir’s signature wit, these stories are more about unexpected twists and clever turns. The result? Lots of fun from a talented writer.
A quick, enjoyable listen for those who appreciate tight, surprising storytelling.
South of the Border, West of the Sun – 4 Stars
What is Murakami’s superpower? His stories are so similar, and yet his writing pulls you in every time. Over the years, all of his books have blurred together in my memory, yet they remain mesmerizing.
His depiction of women and sexuality is not exactly smooth—at times even disturbing—but Murakami doesn’t seem to care. He writes unfiltered, presenting his world with all its beauty and flaws, which is oddly disarming.
This novel is, of course, well-written, with a structure that moves episodically through time yet feels clean and linear. There are autobiographical elements, making you question whether certain events actually happened to Murakami himself.
As always, his characters aren’t likable or unlikable—they simply exist for the reader to be drawn into their world. A unique author, flaws and all.
Across the Sand – 3.5 Stars
This book is an improvement over https://hardcover.app/books/sand, with tighter world-building and more developed story arcs. The setting feels richer, and the narrative has a solid direction.
That said, the plot felt a bit small in scope, which kept it from reaching a higher score. Still, it’s a solid continuation, and I’m interested to see what happens next.
We Used to Live Here – 4.5 Stars
A great debut that takes a familiar setup but avoids classic horror tricks, delivering a fresh, imaginative, and unsettling story. There are genuinely scary and anxiety-inducing moments, making it an engaging experience.
The writing felt a little bumpy, and the pacing uneven in the first half, but once the story found its rhythm, the second half was incredibly smooth and gripping—I couldn’t stop listening to the audiobook.
Looking forward to seeing what this author does next!
Pirate Latitudes – Did Not Finish
I’ve always been a huge admirer of Michael Crichton—I still remember reading Jurassic Park in a single afternoon back in 1990. Unfortunately, Pirate Latitudes felt weak and a slog, lacking the tension and engagement of his best work. The plot just wasn’t interesting enough, and I had to let it go midway. One less book from a great writer for me to read.
White Noise – Did Not Finish
I gave White Noise a shot, but ultimately did not finish it. I found it boring and self-indulgent, filled with endless dialogue and observations that went nowhere. The book seemed more interested in its own cleverness than in telling a compelling story. With nothing happening and no real engagement, it simply wasn’t worth my time.
Blood Meridian – Did Not Finish
I can see why Blood Meridian is considered a classic—the writing is strong, and the audiobook narration was well done. However, I found the story itself uninteresting and couldn’t connect with the characters. Maybe, at least for me, the book hasn’t aged well or doesn’t feel as relevant anymore.
Many reviews emphasize the book’s extreme violence, but in 2025, that aspect doesn’t feel particularly shocking or noteworthy. The violence had no impact on my assessment—my lack of engagement came purely from not being invested in the story or characters.
The Lathe of Heaven – Imaginative, Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi
⭐ 4.5/5
A great and imaginative novel that weaves together chaos (in a Michael Crichton-like way), free will, morality, and science fiction, all written in a clear and delicate style. The premise is fascinating, and the way the story unfolds feels both unpredictable and deeply thoughtful.
The novel maintains a strong grip for most of its length, but the final part loses a bit of its momentum—just enough to keep it from being a full 5 stars for me. Still, it’s an exceptional, intelligent sci-fi novel that balances deep themes with an engaging plot.
Golden Son – A Thrilling, Well-Written Sequel
⭐ 5/5
Color me impressed. While Golden Son follows a more traditional structure than Red Rising, it more than makes up for it with improved writing, relentless pacing, and expertly executed twists. The tension never lets up, and the story grips you from start to finish. The expanded world-building feels natural and full of things to explore, adding richness without slowing the pace. The combination of action, strategy, and character development makes this a truly exciting read—a rare sequel that surpasses the original.
The Sirens of Titan – Clever and Well-Written, but Lighter Than I Prefer
⭐ 3.5/5
Vonnegut’s writing is as sharp as ever—sophisticated yet straightforward, with some truly memorable, quotable passages. His ability to balance wit with deeper themes makes the book engaging, and the central idea—people living their lives unaware of larger forces at play, while even those who think they see the full picture might still be missing an even bigger scheme—was fascinating.
That said, the plot itself felt light, and I’ve reached a point where light sci-fi just doesn’t hold my interest as much anymore. While the book has its merits, I found myself more engaged with the writing and ideas than the actual story.
Radical Candor – Solid Leadership Advice, But a Bit Too Broad
4/5
I thought Radical Candor was a really good leadership book with a simple but powerful idea—be direct with feedback while also genuinely caring about the people you work with. Kim Scott explains this well, using personal stories and practical examples to make the concept clear.
What I Liked:
- Useful, real-world advice – The idea of balancing honesty with empathy makes a lot of sense, and the book gives solid tips on how to apply it.
- Engaging and easy to read – Scott keeps things conversational, with lots of relatable anecdotes.
- Applies beyond leadership – Even if you're not a manager, the book has good takeaways for how to communicate better.
What Didn't Work for Me:
- Covers too much – It felt like the book was trying to address every aspect of leadership rather than diving deeper into its core idea.
- A bit too corporate – Some of the suggestions, like printing out the framework and putting it on your desk, felt unnecessary.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, Radical Candor is a great resource for anyone who wants to improve communication and leadership skills. The key message is solid, even if the book could have been more focused. Worth a read, especially if you manage people or just want to get better at giving and receiving feedback.
Red Rising – A Well-Written, Engaging Start to a Series
Red Rising is a fast-paced, well-written novel that blends sci-fi, political intrigue, and raw survival in an engaging way. The writing style is immersive, keeping the momentum high without feeling rushed. The world-building is intriguing, balancing dystopian elements with a sense of scale and history that makes the setting feel lived-in.
What stands out most is how gripping the story is—once it gets going, it’s hard to put down. The stakes feel real, the conflicts intense, and the characters complex enough to keep you invested. While it doesn’t quite reach that perfect level for me, it’s a strong opening to a series, and I’m genuinely excited to see where it goes next.
There is a lot if inventiveness in the infrastructure of the story, that makes the read entertaining. In the end, though, there is also some tiredness and the usual empires and noble people doing political things. I think the world literature has enough space empires, so I'm not going to read the sequel.
Undecided between 3 and 4 stars. I'm going with 4 stars and kneel humbly in front of the great Gabriel García Márquez.
This is a small story with a short timeline. The Spanish is amazing and the city and the people are described so vividly and intensely that I really felt like I was in a movie. He could write about anything and be mesmerizing.
This book is lazy and pointless. There is really no meaning to all of this if not to generate income for the writer with very little mental effort. A total misuse of my time and of an Audible credit. I apologized to myself more than once but I still haven't totally forgiven myself for getting (and finishing) this book.
This little book is incredible and it goes up there with the best and most unforgettable books on the holocaust.
I read many of them and until now I always though that 3 books are above anything else: Survival in Auschwitz (If this is a man) by Primo Levi, Night by Elie Wiesel and the Anne Frank's diary.
Liliana Segre's story is not added to my personal list of must read on the topic.
I wasn't familiar with her at all, and I was captured by the vividness of her incredible, terrible story.