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very informative, but...

Reviewed: 2019-10-06

ti me the goal of this book was to teach the reader about the vast impact that mosquitoes and their diseases have had on, and continue to have on, human populations. in that objective I would say that it completely successful. I have a much better understanding now of the impact of mosquito-borne disease on our world. The problem is that for more than 80% of the book it seems to be just a recounting of general history with a few additional remarks about how malaria affected the situation. usually I prefer long books as it means more value for your money, but I found that this book could have accomplished its purpose with being about half as long

over hyped - read River of Doubt

Reviewed: 2019-08-18

l I was hoping against reason that despite the reviews this book would be better. the story jumps around and although I didn't find it hard to follow, I found it unnecessary. the author travelling to the Amazon, a place he probably shouldn't be , was not an engaging part of the narrative. I am not convinced that 'the lost city' is anything besides dreams of explorers combined with old myths. author should have just focused on Fawcett and how this search for something that doesn't exist cost him so much (his and his son's death as well as complete abandonment of his family). despite the author trying to make some recent archeological findings into a form of Z / el Dorado, it is clear this was not what Fawcett sought and he was a desperate and troubled man.

good crime novel

Reviewed: 2019-07-31

this is overall a good non-fiction account of what happened in Colombia with Escobar. I think it is important as some of the current view seems to be that Escobar was some sort of hero who should be worshipped. this presents him as someone who really was a bad person, did a lot of killing, but also was occasionally nice. it was also presented in a clear way that showed why in that time and place they could not capture Escobar, but had to execute him

great expansion of Greek literature

Reviewed: 2019-07-14

just like the song of Achilles Miller again brings a book which expands on characters and themes from classical mythology. the way she gives depth to these characters and, possibly changes how we view their actions (Odysseus) is really clever. overall a highly enjoyable read.

great survival tale with a caveat

Reviewed: 2019-05-15

nobody can say that what alvarenga did was not a great feat of survival. his ordeal went on so long that it wasn't merely survival but it was subsistence living. what I would warn other readers about is two areas that caused me concern. firstly the type fishing that alvarenga was taking part in is horrible from an environmental stance. I understand that he was only meeting a market demand, but what they are doing to the fish and shark populations was brutal. secondly I think that the book demonized sharks too much. clearly alvarenga had a fear of them, but that doesn't mean that it is objectively justified. I don't think the author took enough time to explain that despite what the fishermen believe the sharks are not consummate man-eaters who are just waiting for a human to fall into the water so they can devour them.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

a good historical horror story

Reviewed: 2019-05-11

this is not the typical type of book I would read it, but the fact that it is historical fiction and a western theme made it more accessible. the story was very interesting and well laid out. the characters are also different from what you would typically expect. although I don't think that the ending was the best. Good narration

Great mix of stories

Reviewed: 2019-04-07

in many ways I think that King is a better short story writer than long. this collection is in example of that. some really great stuff is found here, including not all being horror. great use of different narrators

too modern of a mindset

Reviewed: 2019-02-05

I get what the author was trying to do with bringing a newer and feminine perspective to the Trojan War, but I find that it did not work for me. Briseis sounded like a modern person commenting on an ancient world. a world which was much harsher for sure, but everyone who was socialized in that world would not necessarily realize the problems of slavery, and gender rights. especially with the fact that she was okay being sold as a bride and having her own slaves before the fall of her city.

2 of 4 people found this review helpful

a great epic story

Reviewed: 2019-01-27

this book surprised me how much I liked it. anyone who has read the classical work knows how the stories end and character's fates. but what Miller did hear to get us to those endings is really something special. The layers and nuance added to each character really brings the story to life. a great work, with equally great narration

a tour de force

Reviewed: 2019-01-16

this is a great book by any standards but even more so perfect as an audiobook. the tension is real especially if you were like me and were not familiar with this case beforehand. I found this book had the perfect amount of focusing on the personal details and motivations and the larger scale political consequences. great narration as well. a book I would recommend any listener