Chuck
I enjoyed this rule book. I've played the first edition, and this new edition looks like it streamlines while maintaining the essence of what makes Monsterhearts special. The only critique I'd make is that the game seemed eager to let me know it is LGBTQ friendly, to the point I found it cloying. I recommend this game if combining high school hormone-fueled drama with supernatural powers sounds like a good time to you.
The story is like watching a complicated movie, where you think about it afterward to put the pieces together. especially in the second half, the story seems fragmented and some mental assembly is required. Yet the emotional current that runs through the book is strong and clear. I don't think the writing style is for everyone, but I really liked it.
I've used this book to help me refresh my high school German for two trips now, and both times, I feel the book helped me prepare.
I like the format. I feel like the chapters are segmented well – each feels worthwhile without being overwhelming. I like that we follow the same family through the book through extensive dialogs, and that the narrative builds on what we've learned about them. I also like the way that grammar is presented: the characters use the language feature in context, then at the end of the chapter the pattern is explained.
I'll echo what others have said. The vocabulary is dated, though my first instinct is to leave the original material and augment it, perhaps by having the children in the story grow up and have kids of their own who use more modern vocabulary. The other material are short vignettes about life in Germany, and to me, this is where the book feels at its oldest and the elements I'd most likely replace. Until that were to happen, I'll continue to use this book while supplementing with some newer material.
Ready Player One is a celever romp through 80's geek culture, set in a moderately interesting world. While I was moved to finish it, I'm not sure how it will stand the test of time. In tone, it reminded me of Redshirts by Scalzi, which I think did a better job of integrating the nostalgic material into the story.
Read the first third of the book, enjoyed it thus far. It's a dark world, which became a turn off due to a personal setback.
Had this book been titled Types of Racism or the like, I would have viewed this book more favorably. However, halfway in, I realized it would not give the kind of guidance I was seeking in, well, how to be an antiracist. I found his tale of his journey inspiring but not instructive enough, so it's just not what I was looking for.