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[behaveyourshelves]

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Amazon link

For

a casual voice taking on a monumental subject

i.e. encountering Tumblr citations and SC dissent excerpts in one book

inspiration

Not for

a lot of content that you couldn't curate or find on your own

i.e. nuance behind the decisions she was a part of

i.e. biographical exploration beyond a handful of anecdotes

[behaveyourshelves]

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Amazon link

For

entertainingly exploring the unsung work of sex researchers

laughing out loud in public

first-person research anecdotes

Not for

acknowledging the existence of pan/bi/asexuals

being as memorable as one would expect, given the subject matter

[behaveyourshelves]

The Buried Giant

Amazon link

For

sophisticated prose, much like your standard fantasy offering, with much of the expository cut out

posing questions on the dependence of peace (personal or otherwise) on subjective truths

experiencing plot points with the characters (the fog of missing memories, the atmosphere of meandering travels)

Not for

everyone

action-filled pacing littered with twists and turns

[behaveyourshelves]

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Amazon link

For

A credible delivery of an underserved voice

Stress and tension leveled in troubles that most people can empathize with

Not for

Deviating from the trope of a person with ASD also being a STEM prodigy

Satisfying exploration of the main character’s relationship with his mother

[behaveyourshelves]

Crazy Rich Asians

Amazon link

For

Plentiful, crazy rich descriptions about food, fashion, and family dynamics

Effective tourism promotion for Singapore

Occasional humor

Not for

At least one additional layer to the characters, which leads to...

Characters you can fully invest in

Artful construction or content beyond travel blog-type prose

[behaveyourshelves]

Without You, There Is No Us: Undercover Among the Sons of North Korea's Elite

Amazon link

For

The only kind of “slice-of-life” narrative you’d get from a trip to North Korea

Confirmation of your worst fears in frank detail and personable retelling

Not for

Revelations

Gaining/regaining optimism

Supporting the cause of Christian missionaries

[behaveyourshelves]

I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined)

Amazon link

For

Casual explorations of moral conundrums 

Hot-button topic essays with occasionally contentious content that’s still somewhat endearing

Articulating the roots of what’s been bothering me about Kobe Bryant for majority of my life

Not for

Argumentation that satisfies your everyday college debater slash habitual devil’s advocate

One purposeful paragraph after another

[behaveyourshelves]

The Book Thief

Amazon link

For

Characters you invest in

A rare, effective first-person perspective

Liberal use of figurative language that prevails, more often than not

Not for

Keeping your heart in one piece

Breezing through undistracted by some of the book's gimmicks

Reading on the subway (the final chapter should be read away from public eye)

[behaveyourshelves]

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Amazon link

For

Being shaken by an unflinching story

Heavy issues handled with deft and artful prose

A voice that evolves along with the point in time that's revisited

Not for

An ending that comes at an expected juncture

[behaveyourshelves]

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Amazon link

For

Nuanced and nostalgic understanding of high school-era thought processes and dynamics

A coming-out story that's lighter than most

Charming and witty first-person POV

Not for

An entirely engaging take on the falling-for-mystery-penpal trope

An entirely engaging story in general, past the very readable writing style

[behaveyourshelves]

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Amazon link

For

Inspiring not only tolerance but solicitation of contrasting opinions

An abundance of fascinating detail

A master class in politics and leadership

Not for

Finishing a book in one or two sittings

Those who have neither the time nor patience for secondary characters' personal histories related at length

[behaveyourshelves]

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Amazon link

For

A very emotional narrative befitting a conflicted teenager that's neither overwrought or off-putting

Complicated feelings that are familiar but rarely expressible

Characters

Not for

Plots (which tbh would have taken away from its intricate subtlety)

[behaveyourshelves]

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism

Amazon link

For

Instant empathy

Poignant, evocative insight from a truly different perspective

Truly the most informative read in the fewest words

[behaveyourshelves]

The Mind's Eye

Amazon link

For

Intriguing stories that argue how regularly we undervalue our vision

Those of you who, like me, self-diagnose as having prosopagnosia

...And also those who don't

[behaveyourshelves]

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

Amazon link

For

Engaging account of history

Perfectly handpicked snippets from correspodence of historical figures

Connecting events from hundreds of years back to to modern events

Not for

Reading strictly about Lafayette and his foibles

Consistently seamless flow from one account to the next

Inspiring confidence in how knowledgeable you are in US history (except that's just me, isn't it?)

[behaveyourshelves]

The Rook

Amazon link

For

Creating a fascinating mish-mash genre out of sci-fi, office politics, mystery thriller

Brilliant use of plot device to advance character development

Acing the Bechdel test

Not for

A tone that stays either conversational or formal in the same paragraph

Those who dislike reading back-stories and its elements (i.e. if you can’t stand the work that goes into tabletop RPG's, I can’t see you liking this book format)

[behaveyourshelves]

Half of a Yellow Sun

Amazon link

For

Different perspectives on African tribes/identities, class tension, politics, and even daily lives - and subsequently thrusting these in the backdrop of the Nigerian conflict

Story arcs woven into a careful portrayal of history

Wanting a sister

Masterful character development, for some

Not for

Masterful character development, for others

Subplots that always were concisely explored to the extent that they are needed and/or wanted