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Phil in SF

kingrat@sfba.club

Joined 1 year, 1 month ago

aka @kingrat@sfba.social. I'm following a lot of bookwyrm accounts, since that seems to be the only way to get reviews from larger servers to this small server. Also, I will like & boost a lot of reviews that come across my feed. I will follow most bookwyrm accounts back if they review & comment. Social reading should be social.

2024 In The Books

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Phil in SF's books

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2025 Reading Goal

28% complete! Phil in SF has read 8 of 28 books.

stopped reading A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham (Long Price Quartet)

Daniel Abraham: A Shadow in Summer (EBook, 2007, Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom) No rating

From debut author Daniel Abraham comes A Shadow in Summer, the first book in the …

This book could have been better if there was a lot more tell and a lot less show. There's some complicated world-building, some complicated social prescriptions, and an obtuse conspiracy. I can't make sense of most of it. 16% in, I'm done.

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Ramona Emerson: Exposure (2024, Soho Press, Incorporated) 5 stars

Loved this paranormal murder mystery

5 stars

Loved this book. This is how you write people working in police without pretending like there are a "few good apples" and pretending like police is what keeps sanity. This book tackles heavy topics of child abuse in churches. I also learned about Larry Casuse who kidnapped the mayor of Gallup (Larry does not have a Wikipedia page) to highlight the plight of Navajo nation people who are tormented in Gallup and he was shot dead by the police. A+++

reviewed His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (Temeraire, #1)

Naomi Novik: His Majesty's Dragon (EBook, 2006, Del Rey / Ballantine) 4 stars

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise …

Not my thing after all

4 stars

The origin story of the dragon Temeraire, captured from the French by the captain of an English ship, William Laurence. The person who drew the short straw is rejected as a rider by Temeraire, and Laurence becomes the rider in his place, but must give up his career in the navy. Training and battles in the dragon air service follow.

It is well-written, but the extended treatment of the proper relationship between riders and dragons was not interesting enough for me to want to seek out the sequels. People who like tales of manners will find this more enjoyable.

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Tim Voors: Not alone (Paperback) 4 stars

A stunning illustrated memoir of one man's journey across New Zealand's stunning yet challenging Te …

Sweet and easy read

4 stars

Man this dude was lucky; this could be a tale of warning (at one point he heads off into the hills with a cyclone coming)… but he wasn’t the only one doing this. He makes this walk seem accessible, which is inspiring, but also worries me a bit. But on the flip side, it’s an easy and beautiful and inspiring read. I think he benefitted from the hospitality of the girls more than he let on, but it was also cool to see how things worked for them. Will give this to my mum, I know she will enjoy it a lot. Very pretty book.

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