Tag: 4 Star Reviews

All 4 Stars Reviews In One Place

“Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America” By Maggie Haberman Review

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Few journalists working today have covered Donald Trump more extensively than Maggie Haberman. And few understand him and his motivations better. Now, demonstrating her majestic command of this story, Haberman reveals in full the depth of her understanding of the 45th president himself, and of what the Trump phenomenon means.

I need to admit here that I was very skeptical about this book because I thought it would be another woke propaganda book about Donald Trump. But after reading this book I gotta admit it wasn’t that bad as I thought it would be. But of course I’m gonna explain everything in this review.

First of all I want to mention that this book is pretty well written. This book has a easy and simple writing style which makes this book quick read. Most of the nonfiction and politics books I’ve read then do sound like university text books, but this book is one of the rare nonfiction books which is actually fun to read. 

However the biggest issue I had with this book was the fact that this book is more of a fun-fact list of everything about Donald Trump rather than a coherent book about Donald Trump. This book lists all the facts about Trump which you might not have heard before. 

If you have read other books about Donald Trump then you will know most of the things this book talks about. Because this book is more or less a summary of all the other books and articles about Donald Trump.

So if you are like me and read countless books about Donald Trump then this book will feel like all the books about Donald Trump into one book. But at the same time I need to give this book extra points for being more fun to read than the other books about Donald Trump. So if you want to get into books about Donald Trump and all the shady stuff he has done during the presidency, then this book is a very good choice because it talks about the same things as all the other Donald Trump books.

For the most part this book seems very well researched which made me give this book some extra points for doing. Which really shows how much time the author used to research and write this book, which really made me like this book more. 

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“The Sun Also Rises” By Ernest Hemingway Review

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The quintessential novel of the Lost Generation, The Sun Also Rises (Fiesta) is one of Ernest Hemingway’s masterpieces and a classic example of his spare but powerful writing style. A poignant look at the disillusionment and angst of the post-World War I generation, the novel introduces two of Hemingway’s most unforgettable characters: Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley. The story follows the flamboyant Brett and the hapless Jake as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain with a motley group of expatriates. It is an age of moral bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love, and vanishing illusions. First published in 1926, The Sun Also Rises helped to establish Hemingway as one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century.

I wanted to to read this book for a very long time now, and now I read it. I gotta admit that this book is much better than I expected it to be which really surprised me a lot. But of course I will explain everything in this review so if you are interested than keep reading. 

The plot in this book is very comfy. Which really made it so fun for me. At the same time the plot in this book is very engaging, interesting and enjoyable. Because in a way the plot makes it seem like we as the readers are a part of the journey which the characters take in this book. 

I found the plot to be very compelling and fun to read. Because the plot gives us a vivid portrayal of the “Lost Generation” and their search for meaning in a rapidly changing world which I loved a lot in this book.

I got so hooked into the plot of this book that I read this book in one sitting which shows how engaged and interested in the plot I was as I was reading this book. 

The characters in this book are very good, because they felt like real human beings which I would be friends with in real life without any problems. The characters here are very good because they are very complex and memorable characters. 

The interactions between the characters is very realistic, the interactions is also pretty rich with unspoken tension and emotional depth. The characters’ flaws and desires are intricately woven into the narrative, providing a realistic and poignant exploration of human relationships

The only downside to this book is that it is very short, and I wish that it was longer than it is because I was so hooked in this book that a part of me didn’t want the book to end. 

The writing style in this book is very minimalistic. Which I don’t tend to like a lot, but this book offers us minimalistic writing style which gives the storyline in this book strength in a way. At the same time the writing style effectively captures the emotional undercurrents and sense of disillusionment which I loved a lot.

This book in my opinion is a must read, for everyone who loves to read books and wants to get into the classic books. This book is the perfect start into the classic books category because of how good it is.

This book gives us the themes of love, identity, and the search for purpose are central which is the main aspect of this book. The themes are very well explored in this book through the characters’ experiences and interactions,  which offers us a nuanced reflection on the human condition. Which I gave this book some extra points for doing.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Markus Fang: Preview” By Shannon Eric Denton & Ross Lamanna & Christian Duce Review

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10-Page Preview! Markus Fang focuses on a rookie covert agent, trained by a secret organization to battle an ancient society of evil. On his first field mission, Fang’s agency is all but wiped out and now he and a handful of survivors struggle to bring down this ancient order bent on world domination without the weapons, technology, and support network they were trained to use.

Let me start this review by saying that this one is just a preview for the entire comic book. And I read it because I wanted to see if the full comic book was worth the money and time I would spend on it. And I’m gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

This preview sets the stage for a very exciting narrative filled with suspense and adventure. Which really had me hooked into it from the first page of this preview, which really made me give this preview some extra points and at the same time it got me hyped about reading the full version of this comic book.

The concept of this preview is pretty engaging, because it is blending elements of mystery and action which I personally always love and which always gets me hooked up to it.

The storyline in this preview is pretty well-paced and gives us just enough intrigue in the storyline to get me hooked into reading the full version of this comic book.

The main character in this preview is very compelling because the main character has a lot of depth and charisma. Which makes the main character very easy to like him. His motivations are intriguing, and the preview hints at a rich backstory in the full version of this comic book. 

The side characters are also pretty good characters in this preview. The side characters add complexity to the storyline in this preview.

The artwork in this preview is dynamic and detailed which perfectly complementing the intense tone of the narrative in this preview.

The visuals in this preview enhance the action sequences and atmospheric settings which this preview tries to give us, which really helps this preview a lot. 

This preview gives us the themes of justice, identity, and adventure which are woven throughout this preview. And which add layers of depth to the storyline of this preview. These themes are thoughtfully explored, providing both entertainment and substance to the story of this preview.

So will buy and read the full version of this comic book ? Yes I will. It might take some time for me to actually read the full version of this comic book because I have been way too optimistic when creating my TBR list for this year and I don’t know if I get the time to read the full version of this comic book this year. But I will read the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Kord & Harley: Preview” By Matthew R. Adams Review

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10-Page Preview! The Catholic church has set up a secret order to deal with demonic activity and possessions lead by Father Merrick, a man with a long secretive past, and his ever-watchful assistant, Sister Margaret Day. Together they oversee and advise their unique Kord, an 11th century stone golem that has converted from Kabbalah to Catholicism, and Harley, a teenaged genetic creation formed by the combining of human and reptile DNA.

Let me start this review by saying that this one is just a preview for the entire comic book. And I read it because I wanted to see if the full comic book was worth the money and time I would spend on it. And I’m gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

This preview introduces to us a vibrant narrative of the preview which is filled with plenty of action and humor which I personally liked a lot. 

The concept of this preview is pretty unique because its bleeding the elements of adventure and camaraderie which had hooked me right into the storyline of this preview, which I gave this preview some points for doing.

The storyline in this preview is pretty well-paced, because it was able to keep my attention in the momentum of this preview and interest high throughout this preview

The main two characters in this preview have pretty distinct personalities and an intriguing dynamic which really made me give this preview some extra points for doing. 

The chemistry which the two main characters in this preview have is pretty engaging because their interactions hint at rich backstories and development which would be present of the full version of this comic book. 

The side characters in this preview are also pretty relatable and entertaining which also made me give this preview extra points for doing.

The artwork in this preview very well complements the lively tone of the story in this preview. Because the illustration are pretty good looking and dynamic which really enchases the reading experience.

The visuals in this preview effectively capture the energy and spirit of the characters and their adventures which again I really liked in this preview.

This preview gives us the themes of friendship, adventure, and teamwork which are woven into the storyline of this preview which I really liked a lot in this preview because it adds more depth into the storyline and narrative of this preview. Because these elements are thoughtfully explored, providing both entertainment and substance

So will buy and read the full version of this comic book ? Yes I will. It might take some time for me to actually read the full version of this comic book because I have been way too optimistic when creating my TBR list for this year and I don’t know if I get the time to read the full version of this comic book this year. But I will read the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“The Green Hornet: Parallel Lives #1: Preview” By Jai Nitz & Nigel Raynor Review

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10-Page Preview! Dynamite adds another one! This time around, Dynamite is the only place to read the story before the story of The Green Hornet! Only, this is the official prelude to the upcoming movie starring Seth Rogen and Jay Chou and the Green Hornet and Kato! How does one man’s actions affect another man’s? Either purposely or inadvertently. Or is it just destiny? This series shows how Britt Reid’s actions lead to Kato coming in contact with the Green Hornet and the pair becoming the Green Hornet and Kato. The lead up and origin of one of the first teams in comics! Featuring incredible covers by Paul (RED SONJA) Renaud!

Let me start this review by saying that this one is just a preview for the entire comic book. And I read it because I wanted to see if the full comic book was worth the money and time I would spend on it. And I’m gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

This preview introduces us to a very intriguing narrative that explores alternate dimensions and dual identities. Which I personally found to be very interesting and fun to read. And which really got me hyped to read the full version of this comic book.

The concept of this preview revitalizes the Green Hornet mythos with a clever twist which had gotten me very engaged in the dynamic plot and unexpected turns which this preview gives us glimpses off from the full version of this comic book.

The pacing in this preview is well-handled, which really makes it easy for us as readers to maintaining interest in the plot and narrative throughout this preview.

The 2 main characters in this preview which are The Green Hornet and Kato are portrayed with depth and complexity, which is showcasing both their iconic traits and new dimensions.

The characters interactions in this preview are pretty engaging. The interactions are hinting at rich backstories and evolving dynamics that promise further exploration in the full version of this comic book. 

The artwork in this preview captures the action-packed and adventurous tone of the story which really made me give this preview some extra points for, because it really plays very well with the mode of this preview. 

The illustrations in this preview are vibrant and detailed, effectively bringing the parallel worlds to life and enhancing the narrative’s excitement.

This preview gives us the themes of identity, duality, and heroism are woven throughout this preview which add layers of depth and intrigue to the storyline of this preview. These elements are thoughtfully presented, providing both entertainment and substance.

So will buy and read the full version of this comic book ? Yes I will. It might take some time for me to actually read the full version of this comic book because I have been way too optimistic when creating my TBR list for this year and I don’t know if I get the time to read the full version of this comic book this year. But I will read the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration” By Ed Catmull & Amy Wallace Review

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From Ed Catmull, co-founder (with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter) of Pixar Animation Studios, comes an incisive book about creativity in business—sure to appeal to readers of Daniel Pink, Tom Peters, and Chip and Dan Heath. Creativity, Inc. is a book for managers who want to lead their employees to new heights, a manual for anyone who strives for originality, and the first-ever, all-access trip into the nerve center of Pixar Animation—into the meetings, postmortems, and “Braintrust” sessions where some of the most successful films in history are made. 

This book is about Pixar and how it risen up to be one of the most well known animated movies company in the world. This book talks also about all the challenges Pixar faced as well as all the issues they had like when they are creating Toy Story or the mistakes they had.

I found this book to be very interesting because it gives us all the behind the scenes information on Pixar which I personally didn’t know about. Even thou as a kid I loved their OG movies like Toy Story, Cars, Wall-E and Monster Inc. 

This book also talks about the way artists behind the Pixar movies are taught to really see things, which I found to be very interesting. Because it really shows that at times the artists behind the Pixar movies aren’t the best at what they do, even thou it looks like they are the best at what they do. 

I personally found this book to be very interesting and enjoyable. Because of how well this book is told to us.

The writing style in this book, is very simple and easygoing which I really liked. Because it felt like having a chat with the author of this book rather than reading a book.

This book also gives us plenty of anecdotes and insights in Pixar, which I really liked because we really got a glimpse of how the Pixar company works from the inside.

But I need to admit here that I found some parts of this book to be boring and uninteresting. Because there are parts of this book, where it goes on way too long in my opinion about specific things which really made me annoyed and uninterested at times. 

This book shows at times how very passionate about animation the author of this book who is also the co-founder of Pixar really is. Which really made me like him a lot because you can very easily and clearly see his big love and passionate for animation.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Poor Unfortunate Soul” By Serena Valentino Review

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The tale of the sea king’s daughter, Ariel, is a beloved one of losing— and then finding— one’s own voice. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the mermaid wants more than her world can offer, and her father demands that she live within the confines of his domain. Her rebelliousness costs the little mermaid her voice and nearly her soul. But the power of good prevails, and Ariel emerges proud and unchanged.

This book is the third in the “Disney Villains” book series. I need to admit here that the deeper I get into this series, the more I find myself enjoying the books in this series and the series as a whole in general. But without making the intro longer than it needs to be lets get into the review.

As you can guess from the cover of the book or the summary of the book, this book is about Ursula from the story of The Little Mermaid. To be very honest here, I was never a fan of that story as a kid because I found it to be very boring and uninteresting. But after I read this book, I fully stand by saying that The Little Mermaid story should have been told from Ursula’s perspective. Because I found her perspective to be very interesting, and for me personally, Ursula’s perspective gave the story more depth and made the whole story so much more interesting. 

The plot in this book is very complex, but at the same time very interesting and at times very sad and tragic. As I’ve said above, Ursula’s perspective adds more depth and complexity to The Little Mermaid story, which really made the whole story more enjoyable and interesting for me personally. 

But for the most part, the plot in this book is very easy-going and simple. But at the same time, it gives us a lot of complexity and a fun aspect. 

The characters in this book have a lot of depth to them, which I personally thought was missing from The Little Mermaid Disney story, which was one of the main reasons why I disliked the story as a kid. 

Some of the characters from book 2 in this series have pretty big parts in this book as well. And this book is more or less what happened right after the events from book 2 in this series, named “The Beast Within”.

The characters we got in this book, which were also from book 2, had a huge character development from book 2, which really made them so much more complex and good characters than they were in book 2. 

As of Ursula and Ariel in this book, Ursula is a very badass and fucked up character because of all the things she does in this book. Which, in a way, gives her more layers than what she got in the Disney movies. In a way all of the fucked up things Ursula does in this book makes her feel more human because of how complex character she is in this book. 

When it comes to Ariel, we don’t get to spend much time with her. Because this book focuses on Ursula and her journey and story. Which made this book so much better for me, because I always found Ariel to be a very annoying character even as a kid watching The Little Mermaid animated movie. 

The writing style in this book is very YA typical, which of course means a simple and easy writing style, which makes this book a quick read. But even thou the writing style is simple and easy, it plays well with the easy-going plot of this book, making the plot and writing style in this book play together very well. 

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Crypterns Ep1 “Viva la Doge” By Dustin Plantholt & Gonzalo Martínez de Antoñana Review

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Set against the backdrop of Las Vegas’ Cryptocurrency scene, CRYPTERNS follows Ed, a deluded conspiracy theorist who dreams of being the First Man on Mars. With the help and hustle of his street-smart best friend Donna, the only thing crazy would be betting against them.

Its important to say that this comic book is the first part of a full comic book. So keep in that in mind during this review. 

This comic book introduces us to a pretty unique world where cryptocurrency and adventure collide. I know that cryptocurrency now on days is pretty much where all the scammers love to be. But this comic book in a way gives us a unique perceptive on the cryptocurrency world. 

The concept of this review is innovative and timely, because it is providing us with a clever take on modern digital culture. Which I personally really liked a lot. 

The storyline in this comic book is pretty well-paced and filled with wit which kept me at least pretty entertained and interested during the entire length of this comic book. 

The characters we are introduced to in this comic book, have a lot of charm to them and all of the characters in this comic book have their own distinct personalities which I gave this comic book some extra points for. 

The main character in this comic book is pretty relatable and intriguing. At the same time the main character was pretty likable and interesting as a main character. Which really made me like the main character a lot.

When it comes to the side characters in this book, they in a way add depth and humor to the narrative and the storyline as a whole. 

The interactions between the characters in this comic book feels pretty natural and dynamic in a way. 

The artwork in this comic book is pretty vibrant and lively, because it does capture very well the playful yet intriguing tone of the storyline of this comic book.

The artwork in this comic book effectively bring the world of “Crypterns” to life, enhancing the overall experience of this comic book. 

This comic book tries to give us the themes of technology, innovation, and humor which are woven throughout the storyline, and at the same time those themes do add layers of depth and relevance to this comic book as a whole.

These themes are thoughtfully explored, providing both entertainment and insight into the digital age. Which yet again made me give this comic book some extra points for.

So will buy and read the full version of this comic book ? Yes I will. It might take some time for me to actually read the full version of this comic book because I have been way too optimistic when creating my TBR list for this year and I don’t know if I get the time to read the full version of this comic book this year. But I will read the full version of this comic book at some point in time.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Sunrise on the Reaping” By Suzanne Collins Review

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As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

I need to admit here that I wanted to read it since this book was announced to be publish, and now I finally did. Without making the intro longer than it needs to be, lets get into the review.

I need to mention here because I was kind of disappoint in this book because after reading “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” in 2022, I was expected to love this book as much as I did “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”. But I cant say that I did. Yes I liked this book a lot but I didn’t love it. 

The plot here was very good here, but there were times I felt like this book was dragging a little bit especially at the beginning of this book which really made uninterested in this book. Since it took so damn long to give us the action here. But overall I had a lot of fun reading this book because it was interesting and enjoyable.

At the same time the action we actually got in this book felt at times very unrealistic. Before you comment that it is a fictional book, yes am aware of this. But I personally prefer the fantasy, utopia books to be at least somehow realistic. And as I’ve said, there are a handful of moments where this book abandoned all logic and realism. 

The characters in this book, were pretty okay. I really loved Haymitch in this book because he is an incredible character in this book and it really gives us more of his background and why he is such an underrated character in the main trilogy of the hunger games books. President Snow was also an incredible character in this book because we learn more about him after the events of becoming the president but before the first book in the original trilogy of hunger games.

I need to say that Haymitch didn’t feel like the same character we see in the original hunger games trilogy. Because he is very stand-offish and very calculated in this book  which I don’t remember about him from the original hunger games trilogy. It can be just my faulty memory when it comes to books I’ve read 5 ish years ago because in the 5 years time period since I read the original hunger games books, I have read a lot of books and because of this my memory can get a little blurry on some details.

When it comes to the rest of the characters I gotta say that they didn’t land well with me personally. Because I felt like they didn’t have a lot of personalities to them. I felt like the only reason why the side characters existed was to either die in the hunger games or be side characters no one really cared about. Of course it can be just me being too harsh on the side characters but thats just my thoughts which I had about the characters in this book. 

The writing style was pretty good, not as good as it was in “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”, but it still was pretty good. The writing style plays well with the storyline of this book which I really like. 

I gotta admit that the story has some very tragic moments which will live rent free in my head for a while because of how fucked up they were. I really linked a lot those tragic moments because it gave this book another depth if you will. But they also show how fucked up President Snow is and I personally have a love and hate relationship with President Snow. Because on one side I really love him because he is a very good and memorable character but on the other side I really hate him because of all the fucked up things he have done.

I Give This Book 4 / 5

“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” By Robert B. Cialdini Review

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In the new edition of this highly acclaimed bestseller, Robert Cialdini—New York Times bestselling author of Pre-Suasion and the seminal expert in the fields of influence and persuasion—explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically in business and everyday settings. Using memorable stories and relatable examples, Cialdini makes this crucially important subject surprisingly easy. With Cialdini as a guide, you don’t have to be a scientist to learn how to use this science.

I gotta admit that this book did surprise me a lot, because I was ready to not like it since I thought this book would be very university psychology text book like. But I need to admit I was wrong here and this book is actually very good. 

Reading this book have opened my eyes at how stores, sales people and fundraiser use psychology to get people to either buy something they might never need or sign up for some random shit which wont improve your life at the slightest.

I like this book a lot since it actually shows us real life tactics which so many people actually misuse now on days. And reading this book will actually open your eyes and make you aware how you might be manipulated to buy something or sign up for some random shit. 

This book talks about some heavy things in psychology, but it does it in a very interesting and fun way. Which doesn’t feel like reading a psychology textbook but rather it feels like reading a transcript of one of those very well done psychology YouTube videos. 

The writing style in this book is very easy and simple.  Which really made me give this book some extra points for doing. Because in a way the writing style makes it feel like having a long chat with the author because how easy and down to earth the writing style was even thou the author is a very educated man. 

This book gives us a lot of examples which we can see the tactics in action. I personally think that the majority of the examples used in this book could have been removes, or cut short. Because I found them to be not that great and very uninteresting to read.

The length of this book is pretty major, I personally read the new expended version of this book. I strongly believe that this book could have been cut short because there are times where it stretches point out of proportion and makes it boring.

But if you are like me and you have read some business books before reading this one, you will notice that this book repeats a lot of the same things from the majority of business books I’ve read. This book makes better points about some things than the business books I’ve read, but there is also times where this books makes worse points about some things than the business books I’ve read.

For me personally this book was very interesting and enjoyable to read, of course it could just be me because I enjoy reading psychology and business books. But there is something which really makes this book very relatable and easy to understand. Unlike some of the psychology books I’ve read in my time. 

I Give This Book 4 / 5